Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) sits roughly 40 km from central Taipei. There are six ways in, ranging from NT$135 to NT$1,500+ — each with very different trade-offs on speed, cost and convenience. This guide compares them all with real 2026 figures and tells you exactly which to choose for your situation.
Taoyuan International Airport (IATA: TPE) is located in Taoyuan City, approximately 40 kilometres from Taipei Main Station and around 45–50 km from central districts like Xinyi or Ximending. That sounds far, but Taiwan's infrastructure is excellent — every option on this page gets you into central Taipei in under an hour under normal conditions.
There are six main options, each with very different trade-offs on price, speed and convenience. This page compares them all in one place with honest, scenario-based advice. All fares are approximate 2026 references and may change — verify current prices at the airport or operator websites before travel.
Cheapest: Bus Route 1819 (Kuo Kuang Coach) — NT$135–140 per person to Taipei Main Station, ~55–70 min, runs 24 hours.
Best value: Airport MRT Express — NT$160 per person to Taipei Main Station, ~35–39 min, every 15 minutes, traffic-free.
Most convenient: Private Transfer — fixed price NT$1,200–2,000+ per vehicle (not per person), door-to-door to your hotel, ideal for families and groups.
Klook has Airport MRT tickets, Private Sedan/SUV/Van transfers, and shared shuttles — starting at NT$135 (MRT) up to approximately NT$3,500 (Private Van). Pre-book with your flight number — no language barrier on arrival.
No time to read the full breakdown — find your situation and go.
NT$135–140 per person
Kuo Kuang Coach Route 1819 runs from T1 and T2 directly to Taipei Main Station for NT$135–140. Journey time 55–70 minutes. Runs 24 hours, making it the go-to option for late-night arrivals after the MRT closes. Best for solo travellers and pairs travelling light who are not in a hurry.
NT$160 per person
The Airport MRT Express (red service) from T1/T2 reaches Taipei Main Station in 35–39 minutes, every 15 minutes, completely immune to road traffic. Connects directly to all Taipei MRT lines. Has luggage storage space. Recommended for most travellers — solo, couples and small groups alike.
NT$1,200–2,000+ per vehicle
Pre-book via Klook or similar platforms. Driver meets you in Arrivals with a name board. Fixed price, door-to-door, no luggage struggle. Best for families with young children, heavy bags or groups of 3–5 people — when split, the cost per person is often comparable to a taxi but far more comfortable.
Fares, times, pros, cons and the honest verdict on each option. All figures are approximate 2026 references.
The Express train (直達車, red) is the best overall option for most visitors. It departs Terminal 1 (station A12) and Terminal 2 (A13) every 15 minutes from 06:00 to 23:00, stops only at Taipei Main Station (A1) and takes 35–39 minutes. Seats are comfortable with generous overhead racks and floor space for large suitcases. At Taipei Main Station it connects directly to every Taipei MRT line — Blue (Bannan), Red (Danshui-Xinyi), Green (Songshan-Xindian), Orange (Zhonghe-Xinlu) — without leaving the station. A notable bonus: City Check-in service operates at Taipei Main Station for select airlines (EVA Air, China Airlines and others), letting you check bags and collect boarding passes up to 3 hours before your outbound flight without hauling luggage to the airport first.
The Commuter train (普通車, blue) runs the same route but stops at every station, including Sanchong (A4), Xinzhuang (A3) and Taoyuan City (A8) en route to Taipei. Journey time to Taipei Main Station is 50–53 minutes. Seats are standard hard MRT plastic. The fare is identical to the Express (NT$160). The Commuter service is worth considering if your hotel is near an intermediate station — for example Sanchong or Xinzhuang — where getting off mid-route saves a transfer. For Taipei Main Station and onward, the Express is the better choice.
Airport buses are the cheapest way in and the only public transport running around the clock. Route 1819 (Kuo Kuang Coach) is the most popular: it runs from T1 and T2 directly to Taipei Main Station, also stopping at Zhongxiao Fuxing, for NT$135–140 per person. Frequency is every 15–20 minutes; journey time 55–70 minutes when traffic is light, but can stretch to 90+ minutes during rush hour (08:00–10:00 and 17:00–19:00). Route 1960 runs to Taipei City Hall (Xinyi district, near Taipei 101) for NT$135, operating 06:00–01:10. Route 5201 serves Banqiao on the western side. Buses load from Level 1 of the Arrivals hall at both terminals — buy tickets at the kiosk or on board.
Taxis in Taiwan are metered, honest and safe — drivers do not negotiate fares in advance and the meter always runs. The total fare from Taoyuan Airport to central Taipei is approximately NT$1,100–1,500, including the mandatory NT$40 highway toll added to the meter. Journey time is typically 40–55 minutes outside peak hours. Night surcharge (23:00–06:00) adds roughly 20–25%, pushing totals to NT$1,400–1,700. Taxis are a practical choice when luggage is heavy, when travelling in a group of 3–4 people (the per-head cost becomes reasonable), or when your hotel is not near an MRT station. Use only the official taxi rank in the Arrivals area — never accept offers from individuals approaching you inside the terminal.
A pre-booked private transfer is the most stress-free option, particularly for families, groups or anyone arriving on a late flight. Book through Klook or similar platforms before you travel. Your driver meets you in Arrivals holding a name board, loads all luggage and drives directly to your hotel. The price is fixed in advance — no surprises for tolls or night surcharges. Approximate fares: Sedan (1–3 passengers) NT$1,200–1,600; MPV (4–6 passengers) NT$1,600–2,200. Divided among four people, the per-head cost is comparable to a taxi but the experience is significantly smoother — especially valuable after a long flight with tired children or when you simply do not want to navigate luggage through an MRT station at midnight.
There is no HSR station inside Taoyuan Airport. To use the high-speed rail you need two legs: first take the Airport MRT Commuter train to Taoyuan HSR Station (A18), approximately 17 minutes; then board THSR to Taipei Main Station, approximately 20 minutes. The THSR fare for Taoyuan–Taipei is around NT$155, giving a combined journey cost of roughly NT$315+ per person — nearly double the Airport MRT Express and with no meaningful time saving for a Taipei-bound traveller. This option only makes sense if you are continuing south from the airport — for example to Taichung (THSR ~30 min, NT$375 from Taoyuan) or Kaohsiung Zuoying (~90 min, NT$845), bypassing Taipei entirely. THSR Taoyuan Station operates 06:20–23:45.
Five common arrival scenarios — with a direct, honest recommendation for each.
This is the right choice for the majority of visitors. The Express train leaves every 15 minutes, is completely unaffected by traffic, arrives at Taipei Main Station in 35–39 minutes and connects to every MRT line in the city. Buy an EasyCard at the Airport MRT counter in Arrivals (B1 level) and load it with NT$500–1,000 — it will serve you for your entire trip. If your hotel is in Ximending, Zhongshan, Xinyi, Songshan or anywhere else on the Taipei MRT network, you can reach it with at most one transfer from Taipei Main Station.
The NT$25 saving over the Airport MRT is small, but if you are budget-conscious the 1819 bus is a perfectly respectable choice. It is also the right call for late-night arrivals — it runs 24 hours, which the MRT does not. Board from Level 1 of Arrivals at T1 or T2. Buy your ticket at the kiosk before boarding (cash or EasyCard). Avoid the 1819 during morning (08:00–10:00) and evening (17:00–19:00) rush hours, when the journey can stretch to 90 minutes or more in heavy traffic.
When you are travelling with children, a stroller, or four large suitcases, the economics shift. Dragging bags through the Airport MRT, up escalators and through transfer corridors is genuinely unpleasant. A pre-booked private transfer from Klook means your driver loads everything and drops you at the hotel entrance — NT$1,200–1,600 for a sedan, NT$1,600–2,200 for an MPV, fixed price regardless of traffic. Split among four people, that is NT$400–550 each — a reasonable premium for the simplicity. A metered taxi works too if you have not pre-booked; use the official rank only.
The Airport MRT last service from the airport is around 23:00–23:30. If your flight lands after that, your public transport option is Bus Route 1819 (24 hours, NT$135–140 to Taipei Main Station). From Taipei Main Station you can take a city taxi to your hotel — most central hotels are NT$150–250 from there. Alternatively, a pre-booked private transfer is the most relaxing option for a tired late-night arrival, with no need to figure out connections. A metered taxi from the airport is always available but costs NT$1,400–1,700 including the night surcharge.
If your itinerary takes you straight to Taichung or Kaohsiung without stopping in Taipei, skip the city entirely. Take the Airport MRT Commuter train (blue) from T1 or T2 to Taoyuan HSR Station (A18) — about 17 minutes. Then board the THSR south: Taichung is about 30 minutes (NT$375), Kaohsiung Zuoying about 90 minutes (NT$845). This route is faster and more direct than going into Taipei and doubling back. THSR Taoyuan operates 06:20–23:45. Tickets can be bought at the station or in advance at the THSR website.
Hotels near the airport, neighbourhood guides and everything you need to know before you arrive.
Staying a night near the airport before or after a flight? The 7 best hotels in Taoyuan — with shuttle service, dining and easy highway access.
See Taoyuan Hotels →If your trip departs from TSA (Haneda · Gimpo · Hongqiao) rather than Taoyuan — 5 hotels near Songshan Airport, a 5–10 minute walk to the terminal.
See Songshan Hotels →Six neighbourhoods compared — Ximending, Zhongshan, Xinyi, Da'an and more — with hotel picks at every price point and MRT access notes.
Open Neighbourhood Guide →Visas, EasyCard, currency, eSIM options and a pre-departure checklist — everything you need to know before landing in Taipei.
Open Practical Info →Now you're in the city — here's how to use it. All 6 lines explained, how to buy and top up your EasyCard, fares, etiquette rules and the 20% discount.
Read the MRT Guide →Now you're in the city — MRT, bus, YouBike and taxi compared with fares, journey tips and how to make the most of your EasyCard.
Full Transport Guide →Decided to pre-book through an app? Compare Private Sedan / SUV / Van / Shared Shuttle / Airport MRT voucher / Bus 1819 — honest pros and cons of every booking option.
Compare All Transfer Services →The complete Taipei guide covers day-by-day itineraries, neighbourhood hotel picks, the best food and every attraction — all in one place.