Taipei's city buses go where the MRT doesn't, and they are friendlier for visitors than most people expect. That was our experience living here: the buses are easy to navigate, and once you have ridden a couple, they become a natural part of getting around. A ride costs NT$15 a section, and with an EasyCard you simply tap on when you board and tap off when you leave.
- Fare NT$15 per section (adult), card or cash
- Cash exact change only: no tickets or change on board
- Card tap on when you board and tap off when you get off
- Transfer NT$8 off the next ride when you change between bus and MRT within an hour on a card
Fares
Buses in Taipei and New Taipei charge by section. Most rides in the city are one section, NT$15. On longer routes split into two or more sections, crossing the dividing point adds one more section. You can pay by card or in cash, but drivers don't sell tickets or give change, so carry coins if you are paying cash.
| Passenger | Fare per section |
|---|---|
| Adult | NT$15 |
| Seniors 65 and over (foreign visitors included, with ID) | NT$8 |
| Children 115 cm to under 150 cm tall, or 150 cm and over but under 12 (with ID) | NT$8 |
| Children under 115 cm, or under 6 with ID | Free with a paying passenger, up to four per passenger |
How to ride
- Find your bus. Google Maps handles Taipei bus routes well, and the city's Taipei e-bus site shows routes and arrival estimates. Note the route number and the stop name.
- Flag it down. Several routes share most stops, so raise your hand as your bus approaches to let the driver know you want it.
- Tap on. Board at the front and tap your EasyCard or iPASS on the reader.
- Press the bell before your stop.
- Tap off. Since 2019, every passenger on Taipei and New Taipei city buses is expected to tap both when getting on and when getting off. Skip the tap-off and you lose your transfer discounts.
Good to know: the MRT started taking contactless credit cards in July 2026, but for buses we would still carry an EasyCard or iPASS. It is the simple, sure way to pay, and it gets you the transfer discount.
Bus and MRT together
Buses and the MRT work as one system. Change from the MRT to a bus, or the other way round, within an hour on a stored value card and an adult saves NT$8. That makes it painless to ride the MRT most of the way and finish with a short bus hop.
→ The MRT · → EasyCard and iPASS
Sources: Taipei e-bus fare information; Taiwan News on tapping on and off buses (July 1, 2019); Taipei Metro Metro tickets (transfer discounts); EasyCard how to use. Checked October 2026.