Getting Around Taiwan: HSR, Trains, Buses, Scooters & More

Taiwan's transit is a model of density and integration—clean, punctual, bilingual, and affordable.

1. High-Speed Rail (HSR)

• Taipei ↔ Zuoying (Kaohsiung) in 1h 45m (345 km).
• 12 stations, 300 km/h, 98%+ on-time.
• Reserved/non-reserved; Early Bird 35% off (book 28 days out).

2. Conventional Rail (TRA)

• Loop line around island (mountain line scenic, coastal line faster).
• Local, Express, Tze-chiang (limited express), Puyuma/Taroko (tilting express).
• EasyCard works; bikes allowed on designated cars.

3. Metro Systems

• Taipei Metro: 6 lines, 131 stations, 5M+ daily rides.
• Kaohsiung Metro: 2 lines, circular light rail (Circular Line).
• Taoyuan Airport MRT: Airport → Taipei Main in 35 min (Express).
• Taichung Metro Green Line: 2020 opened, expanding.

4. Intercity Buses

• Ubus, Kuo-Kuang, Free Go, Aloha — frequent, Wi-Fi, USB, reclining seats.
• Taipei ↔ Taichung 1.5h; Taipei ↔ Kaohsiung 4.5h (cheaper than HSR).

5. Local Buses & Scooters

• City buses: EasyCard/iPASS, Google Maps integrated.
• Scooters: 14M+ registered (50cc–150cc). International Driving Permit + Class 2 license required. Helmet mandatory.
• YouBike (public bike-share): 1,000+ stations in 6 cities.

6. Taxis & Ride-Hail

• Yellow taxis: meter starts NT$85/1.25 km.
• Uber (legal, taxi-partnered), LINE Taxi, 55688.

7. Domestic Flights

• Taipei (TSA) → Kinmen, Matsu, Penghu, Green Island, Orchid Island, Taitung, Hualien.
• Uni Air, Mandarin Airlines, Daily Air.

One card (EasyCard/iPASS) covers rail, metro, bus, bike, convenience stores. Taiwan moves seamlessly.