Taoyuan Airport to Taipei: Prices, Last Trains and Which Option to Pick

Taoyuan airport to Taipei: the short answer

Getting from Taoyuan airport to Taipei takes 35 minutes to about an hour, and costs anywhere from NT$133 to around NT$1,400. If you land during the day with one suitcase, take the Airport MRT express: NT$160 to Taipei Main Station in about 35 minutes. If you land late, carry two or more big bags, or are traveling as a family, skip the train and get a car, either an airport taxi (meter plus 15%, usually NT$1,100 to 1,400 into the city) or a driver booked in advance.

That is the whole decision in two sentences. The rest of this guide gives you the exact numbers, the last-train times that catch people out, and how to pick based on when you land, how much you carry and how many of you there are. Times and fares below were checked against official timetables and recent reporting in October 2026; they do change, so confirm the night before you fly.

Photo: Subscriptshoe9 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

The airport isn't in Taipei

Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) sits in Dayuan, Taoyuan, about 40 km west of central Taipei. Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are a few minutes apart and both have their own Airport MRT station (A12 for Terminal 1, A13 for Terminal 2), bus counters and taxi ranks. Whatever you choose, the trip starts the same way: clear immigration, collect your bags, and then follow the signs.

Option 1: the Airport MRT

The Taoyuan Airport MRT runs from both terminals to Taipei Main Station (A1). Two kinds of train share the line:

• Express (purple): stops only at A13, A12, A8, A3 and A1. About 35 minutes from Terminal 1 to Taipei Main Station, a few minutes more from Terminal 2, according to National Taiwan University of Science and Technology's arrival guide.
• Commuter (blue): stops at every station and takes roughly 50 minutes.

Both cost the same: a single ticket from the airport to Taipei Main Station is NT$160. You can tap an EasyCard, buy a token at the machines, or use a contactless credit card at the gates.

Last trains are the part to plan around. From the official Terminal 1 timetable and Terminal 2 timetable, toward Taipei:

• : First express | From Terminal 2 (A13): 05:55 | From Terminal 1 (A12): 05:58
• : Last express | From Terminal 2 (A13): 22:55 | From Terminal 1 (A12): 22:58
• : Last train to Taipei (commuter) | From Terminal 2 (A13): 23:35 | From Terminal 1 (A12): 23:37

Express trains leave every 15 minutes through the day. After the last express, only slower commuter trains run, and after about 23:35 nothing goes to Taipei at all. Trains after midnight on the timetable are "airport-bound only" and won't take you into the city.

Good for: one or two people, one suitcase each, staying near an MRT line, landing between 6:00 and about 21:30.

Watch for: Taipei Main Station is huge. You will walk several minutes underground to reach the Taipei Metro, and if your apartment or hotel is not on a convenient line, you still need a taxi at the other end. With two large suitcases, the transfer is where the trip gets miserable. Our Taipei MRT and EasyCard guide explains the city network you transfer onto.

Option 2: the airport bus

Several bus companies run from the arrival halls into Taipei. The one most newcomers need is Kuo-Kuang route 1819 to Taipei Main Station (it now stops at the Taipei Bus Station, 4th floor, bay 409). According to NOWnews reporting in 2025, it runs 24 hours a day, takes about 55 minutes in normal traffic, and costs NT$133 on standard four-across buses or NT$164 on roomier three-across buses. Buy tickets at the Kuo-Kuang counter in the arrival hall or tap an EasyCard.

Good for: budget arrivals, anyone landing after the last train who is staying near Taipei Main Station, and travelers who prefer a seat and a luggage hold to a crowded train.

Watch for: road traffic can stretch the trip well past an hour at rush hour. You also still arrive at Taipei Main Station, so the "last mile" problem is the same as the MRT. Other routes go to Xinyi, Songshan and Zhongshan hotels; check the route board at the counter before you buy.

Option 3: an airport taxi

Taxis wait outside both terminals around the clock. Airport queue taxis use the meter and are allowed to add a 15% surcharge. Under the 2026 rate reported by United Daily News, the meter starts at NT$105 and adds NT$5 every 200 meters, with the 15% on top. In practice that comes to about NT$1,100 to 1,400 to central Taipei, the range NTUST gives incoming students in the guide linked above. Over Lunar New Year, airport taxis add NT$100 per ride, as PTS reported for 2026.

Good for: two or more big suitcases, two to three people splitting the fare, late arrivals, and anyone whose address is far from an MRT station.

Watch for: a standard taxi fits about two large suitcases in the trunk. With three or four people and full luggage, you may need a van, which the taxi desk can arrange but not always quickly. Have your address written in Chinese, because many drivers do not read English addresses.

What about Uber? Uber operates in Taiwan and can pick up at Taoyuan. The price is shown before you book, so you know it upfront, and it often lands in a similar range to a taxi. It surges at busy times, and you need working data on your phone to book it, which many people don't have in their first 20 minutes on the ground.

Option 4: a pre-arranged pickup

A driver meets you in the arrival hall with your name, helps with bags and takes you straight to your door. The route and price are agreed before you fly, and the driver watches your flight, so a two-hour delay doesn't mean nobody is there.

Good for: first arrivals, families, late-night landings, anyone with lots of luggage, and anyone landing without a local SIM.

Watch for: it costs more than the train or bus. You need to send your flight number and address in advance, and if you change flights, tell the driver.

Which one should you pick?

Here is how we'd decide, based on the three things that actually matter.

By landing time

• Landing before about 21:30: the Airport MRT express is the default. Immigration and baggage usually take 30 to 60 minutes, so you'll still be well ahead of the last express.
• Landing 21:30 to 22:30: it's a coin toss. A delayed flight or a slow immigration line pushes you onto the slower commuter train or past it. If you're staying near Taipei Main Station, keep bus 1819 as your backup; otherwise book a car.
• Landing after 22:30: don't plan around the train. Take a taxi, or book a pickup before you fly.

By luggage

• A carry-on and a backpack: any option works. Take the MRT.
• One big suitcase: MRT is fine if your final stop is close to a station.
• Two or more big suitcases, or boxes: get a car. Dragging them through Taipei Main Station and up and down metro stairs is the hardest part of the trip.

By group size

• Solo: MRT by day, taxi or pickup at night.
• Two people: two MRT tickets (NT$320) plus a short city taxi is still cheaper, but a single taxi at NT$1,100 to 1,400 split two ways takes you door to door. With more than one suitcase each, we'd pay the difference.
• Three or four, or a family with kids: book a van-sized pickup in advance. A standard taxi won't fit you and your luggage.

Our pick: if you land before 9:30 pm with one suitcase, take the Airport MRT express. Any later, or with two or more big bags, get a car, and if it's your first time arriving in Taiwan, book it before you fly.

If you land late at night

Late arrivals need a plan before boarding, not at the arrivals hall:

• Check the last train against your landing time plus an hour. Use the timetable links above.
• Decide your fallback in advance: bus 1819 if you're near Taipei Main Station, a taxi if not.
• Write your address in Chinese and save your host's phone number.
• Sort mobile data first. Phone carriers have counters in the arrival halls. Our guide to opening a bank account and getting a phone plan covers what to buy.
• Tell your landlord or host if you'll arrive after midnight, so someone is there with keys.

Before you leave the airport

1. Withdraw some Taiwan dollars from an ATM in the arrival hall. Our guide to money before you arrive covers cards and cash.

2. Get a SIM or activate an eSIM.

3. Buy or top up an EasyCard at a convenience store or MRT counter.

4. Save your address in Chinese and in a map app.

For everything after that first ride, our first 72 hours in Taipei checklist picks up where this guide ends. If you haven't booked a place yet, read where to stay your first two weeks first.

Skip the arrivals-hall decisions: TRA Live airport transfer

If you'd rather not work any of this out after a 14-hour flight, our airport transfer service does it for you. Here's how it works:

• You send your flight details and address in advance. Taoyuan (either terminal) or Songshan, pickup or drop-off.
• We confirm the driver and vehicle before you fly, and size the car to your group and luggage.
• Your driver tracks your flight and waits for you in the arrival hall, then helps with the bags.
• Fixed price, agreed upfront, with no meter running in traffic. We quote individually based on your terminal, destination, time and vehicle size.
• We handle the Chinese for you: we pass your address and flight details to the driver in Chinese, so you don't need to explain anything on arrival. Drivers don't always speak English, but you won't need them to.
• Late-night arrivals need to be booked ahead. If you land late at night, tell us when you book so we can arrange a driver in advance.

It works well for late arrivals, families, and anyone moving to Taipei with more than a suitcase. If you're also starting a home search, the driver can take you straight to your short-term place. Message us on LINE with your flight number for a quote.

FAQ

How much is the Airport MRT from Taoyuan airport to Taipei?

A single ticket from either terminal to Taipei Main Station costs NT$160, whether you take the express or the commuter train. The express takes about 35 minutes from Terminal 1.

What time is the last Airport MRT to Taipei?

The last express leaves Terminal 2 at 22:55 and Terminal 1 at 22:58. The last commuter train toward Taipei leaves Terminal 2 at 23:35 and Terminal 1 at 23:37. Check the official timetable before you fly, since schedules change.

How do I get from Taoyuan airport to Taipei after midnight?

Kuo-Kuang bus 1819 runs 24 hours to Taipei Main Station (NT$133 to 164). Airport taxis also run all night, at the meter plus 15%, usually NT$1,100 to 1,400. A pre-booked pickup is the easiest option if you have heavy luggage.

How much is a taxi from Taoyuan airport to Taipei?

Usually NT$1,100 to 1,400 to central Taipei. Airport taxis charge the meter plus a 15% surcharge, and add NT$100 per ride during Lunar New Year.

Is Uber available at Taoyuan airport?

Yes. Uber shows the price before you book, and it is often similar to a taxi, more when demand surges. You need mobile data on your phone to book it.

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