Transportation

Getting around

By air

Of the 16 domestic airports in Taiwan, 9 are inside the island, 2 are helicopter ports and 5 of the smaller airports are located on the outlying islands.

Getting to Taipei
Airports in Hsiaokang, Taichung, Chiayi, Tainan, Hualien, Pingtung, Ma Kung, Taitung, Kinmen and Matsu all offer flights to Taipei Songshan Airport.

Getting to Kaohsiung
Passengers can get to Kaohsiung International Airport from Taipei Songshan Airport as well as from airports in Taichung, Ma Kung, Hualien and Kinmen.

Getting to Tainan
There are daily flights from Taipei to Tainan Airport.

By train

There are two main rail lines in Taiwan. The West Line, which is an electric line, originates in Keelung and makes stops in Taipei, Hsinchu, Chiayi, Tainan before reaching Kaohsiung, its final destination. The East Line includes both the Taitung Line and the Beihui Raiway. The Taitung Line starts in Hualien and runs to Taitung while Beihui Railway originates at the South Shenghu Station (a station of the Ilan Line) to Hualien and then connects with Taitung Line. With the construction of the Nanhui Railway (from Pingtung to Taitung), there is now a complete circle of rail transportation on the island.

By long-distance bus

There are many bus companies in Taiwan offering convenient service to and from the cities and outlying areas.

Dragon Bus offers passengers bus service between Taipei and Taichung. You can catch the bus at 180, Fuxing Nanlu Yiduan, Taipei and 27-3, Shuangshi Lu Yiduan, Taichung.

Taichung Bus also provides bus route from Taichung to Taipei. The cost is about NT$ 200 and increases to NT$ 260 on holidays. In addition, it also offers bus service from Taichung to Kaohsiung. The cost is about NT$ 200, NT$ 250 on holidays.

Yalan Bus provides bus service between Taipei and Hisinchu. Passengers can catch the bus at Guangfu Lu, Dunhua Nanlu, Fuxing Nanlu or Xinsheng Nanlu in Taipei, or at Hsinchu Railway Station and Guangfu Lu in Hsinchu. The service runs from 05:30 to 23:00, leaving approximately every 10 to 20 minutes.

By taxi

Taxis in Taiwan are well-marked yellow vehicles easily recognized by the traveler. Most taxis in Taiwan are equipped with a mileometer and passengers are charged an initial fee plus a surcharge for each 300 meters traveled. The initial flat rate fee is about NT$ 70 for the first 1.5 km (about 0.9 miles), then a distance surcharge of NT$ 5 per 300 meters (about 328 yards) is applied. An extra fee, equivalent to 20 percent of the total price, is applied for overnight service (from 23:00 to 06:00). Taxi service from Chiang Kai-shek International Airport to downtown Taipei typically costs approximately NT$ 1,200 and the fare from Kaohsiung International Airport to downtown Kaohsiung should run approximately NT$ 300.

 By public bus

The public bus is a common sight in Taiwan. It offers a convenient way for passengers to visit the sights in the interior parts of the island. The cost ranges from NT$ 15 to NT$ 20.

By tour bus

To make your tour within Taiwan more convenient, Taiwan Tourism Bureau offered the Tour Bus System with quality service which covers all the hot itineraries and attractions within the island.

For more information on Taiwan Tour Bus, please visit http://www.taiwantourbus.com.tw/english/index.php

By subway

The subway is the most convenient mode of transportation in Taiwan. It offers passengers comfortable and safe surroundings from 06:00 to 24:00 daily. The cost ranges from NT$ 20 to NT$ 65, depending on the distance traveled.

By ferry

The ferry is an ideal way to appreciate the beautiful sights of Kaohsiung harbor. Ferry operators also offer night tours on weekends and public holidays at 16:30 and 19:30.