Taipei Transportation

This card is a great way to save money if you are going to be traveling on the MRT for a week or more.

You "buy" it by putting a small deposit which is refundable, then you just recharge it when you need to, and you get 20% off each trip you make!

Also with this card you get 50% off city bus fare if you connect within two hours!

And, all you have to do is swipe the card at the terminal station and you can see how much it costs for your trip and how much you have left!

It's the way to go!

another great and inexpensive way to get around Taipei is the city bus!

I've never seen so many busses and motor scooters in my life! LOL!

The busses connect with the MRT stations, and you get a discount on bus fare, 50% off, if you ride the MRT also within two hours!

The train is the public transport system I used most frequently when I was in Taipei. It is just too convenient for you to travel around, especially for tourist like me, who are first time visiting her.

Easy and useful guides for traveling to the places of interest- All you need to do when you have decided to go to one of those places of interest or shopping mall is, walk to the counter at any of the train station. Request for a train guide booklet, when you reach the destination station, there will be guides and signs for those popular places that you wish to go. So, you will never worry about being lost!

Fare- the ticket prices are quite economical. Day passes are available and its good if you are planning to travel far from the city center or lots of places.

Food- You can have light, delicious and economical food- the sushi store, right at the train station. I used to pack some sushi with fresh juices at the beginning of my trip early each day at those store, as it is quite yummy, and of course convenient!

The planes are close and so are the trains. But they are expensive and if you have another choice then.. Why???
Especially in the hot, humid taipei summer why pay through the nose to sit in a non-air-condtioned train for hours?

The long-distace busses (out of Taipei) are amazing!! Easily the BEST bussed I have ever traveled on!
The have huge comy seats which you can easily curl up and sleep in. They have movies with speakers that play through your seat backs. They have huge widows and you will have no strangers sitting next to you and drooling on your shoulder.

Busses leave from stations all over Taipei city and take you to any major city in Taiwan (never more than 10 hours away.)
Take the night busses for the longer trips.

Now - this took me quite by suprise... there are TONS and TONS of scooters all around Taipei. Large super bikes are quite rare to find but this handy lil vehicle can be seen zipping around every corner and even on the walking path. Hence pedestrians, be warned. :)

From Asia, most of the major airlines fly direct to Taipei and fleets include both Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airline and the local carrier EVA Air. In fact, it seems that LUFTHANSA plans to resume operations back again to Taipei which means a boost to economy.

Tix prices depends on availability of special rates as mine was on SQ.

The subway system in Taipei is known as the Metro and there are 4 main routes around the Taipei area which is clearly marked by colors of BLUE, RED, BROWN and GREEN.

It covers the main visitors district (and is pretty easy to get around as well) but do remember that once you are out of the train lines - there are no distinctive routes to show you where you are - and signboard indicators to the next train station is limited so mark your area and remember how to get back to your station.

If you are on a budget like me - perhaps one should not think of taking the abundance of cabs around - but it is recomended that your destination as well as your place of stay is translated into Chinese characters to reduce any communication issues that might occur.