The short answer
Use the MRT for almost everything. Pay with an EasyCard (or, since July 2026, a tap of your contactless credit card or phone at the MRT gates). Fill the gaps with city buses, take a YouBike for short hops, and save taxis or Uber for late nights, heavy bags and the odd awkward trip.
We lived in Taipei for years, and the MRT is the thing we loved most about the city: it is amazing, and so convenient. The buses come a close second. They are friendly for visitors and much easier to navigate than they look, so don't be shy about using them.
- MRT hours 06:00 to 24:00 daily, with last trains varying by station
- MRT fares from NT$20, charged by distance
- Bus fares NT$15 per section on Taipei and New Taipei city buses
- Cards EasyCard or iPASS work on the MRT, buses and YouBike
Which to use when
| Getting around by | Best for | How to pay |
|---|---|---|
| MRT | Almost every sight, neighborhood and night market in the city | EasyCard or iPASS, a single-journey token, or a contactless bank card or phone |
| City bus | Places a short walk from the MRT, and cross-town trips the MRT does in a dogleg | EasyCard or iPASS (tap on and off), or exact cash |
| YouBike | Short hops between stations and the last stretch to where you are going | Registered card, or a credit card through the YouBike app |
| Taxi or Uber | Late nights, luggage, groups, and the airport by car | Cash, card or the app |
The guides
- TransportThe MRTSix lines, color codes, hours, fares and the rules (no eating or drinking).
- PayingEasyCard, iPASS and tapping your credit cardWhere to buy and top up, and when your own card is enough.
- TransportCity busesNT$15 a section, tap on and off, and how to find your bus.
- TransportYouBikeTaipei's public bikes, and how visitors rent one with a credit card.
- TransportTaxis and UberMeter fares, the night surcharge and rides to the airport.
- ArrivingGetting to TaipeiFrom Taoyuan and Songshan airports, and by high speed rail or train.
Good to know: every place in this guide comes with its nearest MRT station, line and code, like MRT: Taipei Main Station (Red Line, R10). Station codes are on every sign and map, so you can navigate without reading a word of Chinese.
Sources: Taipei Metro routes and service hours, Metro tickets and Regulations for Use of the Taipei Metro System (amended February 2026); Taipei e-bus fare information; Focus Taiwan on credit card and phone payments (June 30, 2026). Checked October 2026.