By Saaya.M
This article tells you basic information about how to get to Taiwan (Taipei) by airplane and some major transportation systems in Taipei.
Airplane (carriers) / Airports
There are many airlines you could use to go to Taiwan. In this article, while it depends on where you are coming from, I would like to introduce to you some major carriers that have many flights from many countries, both Full Service Carriers and Low Cost Carriers.
China Airlines
Taiwan's national carrier China Airlines flies to 102 cities across Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania, and it is one of its two major airlines along with EVA Air. People often misunderstand that China Airlines is a Chinese airline; however, it is a Taiwanese company headquartered in Taipei Taoyuan International Airport.
EVA Air
EVA (Evergreen Airways) is a Taiwanese airline which flies to over 40 international destinations in mainly Asia, but also Australia, Europe, and North America. It is the second largest airline in Taiwan. EVA Air collaborates with Japanese Sanrio Company which is known for Hello Kitty. Therefore, this airline is popular especially among the younger generation.
TigerAir Taiwan
TigerAir is a Singaporian company, however, TigerAir Taiwan operates flights in Taiwan by the Taiwanese company. They fly to Asian countries such as Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Philippines, etc. This is the only LCC that is operated by Taiwan.
Jetstar
Jetstar Japan is a Japanese LCC. It provides flights to several cities in Japan from Taiwan. Right now, you cannot fly into Taiwan without transferring through Japan, however, there are many people still using Jetstar (Jetstar Pacific) as it has many cheap flights from Australia to Japan.
Here are two major international airports in Taiwan you may consider using.
Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE)
Taoyuan International Airport is Taiwan’s busiest and largest airport located in Dayuan district, Taoyuan. In 2016, it was ranked the best international airport in Asia-Pacific region by Airports Council International. In 2017, the Taoyuan airport MRT line was opened and it became easier to access between the airport and Taipei city for about 40 minutes.
Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA)
This airport is located in Songshan, Taipei. You can access there by MRT or bus easily. It is a mid-size airport, however, it flies to international destinations including South Korea, Japan and some cities in China. It’s also scheduled flights to domestic destinations to Taitung, Kinmen, Penghu, etc. As the government is expanding Taoyuan International Airport, they decided to close the Songshan airport by 2020 or at least by 2025.
Taipei MRT
To explore Taipei wisely, you cannot miss using the MRT. MRT is a government-owned metro running through Taipei and New Taipei City. Since the first line was opened in 1996, today, it has six train lines, one gondola line, one light rail and one airport line to Taoyuan airport. The MRT map is as below, and I will explain each line shortly.
Main MRT lines
The Red line
The Red line takes you between Tamsui - Xinyi. This line can be the busiest line among other MRT lines since there are some popular tourist destinations such as the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Taipei 101 and Tamsui. You can transfer to the Danhai light rail line at Hongshulin station.
The Blue line
This is another busy line. The blue line connects: Banqiao and Nangang. Many tourists use this line since you can access Longshan Temple, the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and also a popular shopping area in Zhongxiao Dunhua.
The Green line
This line is used by many students since it takes them to the Gongguan area which has two major universities: the National Taiwan University and the National Taiwan Normal University. It connects between Songshan and Xindian.
The Brown line
The brown line connects Wenhu and Neihu. As not many people use this line, it consists of only three cars. Still, this line is very useful if you want to visit Taipei Zoo and Maokong. This line connects the Gondola line at Taipei Zoo station.
The Orange line
This line starts from Nanshijiao station into two last stations; Luzhou and Huilong. This line users are mostly from New Taipei area like Sanchong. It may not be used often by tourists, however, it still takes you to some tourist destinations such as Xingtian Temple and Dongmen.
The Yellow line
This is a newly opened line in January, 2020. It connects New Taipei Industrial Park to Dapinglin. This new line allows people to transfer Taoyuan airport line not only from Taipei station but also New Taipei Industrial Park station.
Special MRT/LRT lines
The Danhai light rail line
The line connects between Hongshulin and Danhai mountainous areas in Tamsui District, New Taipei city. It currently has 11 stations, and additional 9 stations are still under construction.
The Taoyuan airport line (The Purple line)
You can access Taoyuan airport from Taipei city and vice versa. Unlike other MRT and LRT lines, this line has two types of train system; local and express trains. Each car has a certain space for storing suitcase and it makes your trip between the airport and Taipei much easier.
The Gondola line
The Taiwanese government also runs a special gondola line between Taipei Zoo station and Maokong station. Besides the regular cabins, they also offer crystal cabins that you can enjoy the unbelievable panorama view of Maokong. Maximum capacity is 8 people for regular and 5 for crystal cabins.
Although there is no station that you can take all the MRT lines from, there are some stations that allow you to transfer between lines. Stations like Taipei Main Station, CKS Memorial Hall station, Songjiang Nanjing station and so on. To take the MRT, you can buy a token as a ticket or use an IC card called an easy card (悠遊卡). Taking the MRT line usually costs a minimum of NT$20 each time. There are also some reasonable and convenient travel passes that you can use for MRT. For detailed information, please check my other article:Travel Tips in Taipei.
Bus/walking
Taipei also has many buses that could make your trip easier. Taiwan’s bus transportation system is developed, however, it is a little confusing for tourists to use. Most of Taiwan’s buses have signs and announcements both in Chinese and English, but as there are many companies operating buses in Taiwan, it is not always consistent. If you cannot speak or read Chinese, I strongly suggest you use Google Maps or ask the staff at the information centre as in big cities like Taipei, there is usually a bus terminal and there is always someone to ask for help.
One you get on the bus, there is a sign with Chinese characters: 上/下. This tells you when you have to pay. 上 means “up”, and this tells you that you have to pay “before” you take the bus. If it has a sign of 下(down), it means that you have to pay “after(when)” you get off the bus. The bus fares vary by city, and in Taipei, a single zone fare is NT$15. You can pay by either cash or IC cards (Easy cards). Please be aware that the sign can be changed as it enters the new zones. Also, please note that in the Taipei Metro Area, passengers are now required to swipe their e-ticket when boarding and getting off the bus.
Of course, you can walk to your destinations, too. In some areas in Taipei, there are nice sidewalks especially along the park and public schools. However, it’s not always safe to walk on the street in Taipei since the traffic is very busy and many scooters and cars travel quickly along the streets.
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