New to Taipei? How to get around by MRT, bus, YouBike, TPASS and taxi

On this page

1. Just landed with no EasyCard. How do you ride the MRT?
2. Where do you buy an EasyCard, and where can you top it up?
3. When does the Taipei MRT run, and when is the last train?
4. What are the rules on the MRT? Can you be fined?
5. What is TPASS, and is it worth it?
6. How do you ride a bus in Taipei? Tap on, or tap off?
7. Can you ride a YouBike without a Taiwanese phone number?
8. Where are the nearest MRT and YouBike stations to Seal Co-living's houses?
9. How much do taxis cost? Is it more at night?
10. Missed the last train. How do you get home?
11. Do the MRT and buses still run in a typhoon?
12. Frequently asked questions
13. Sources

The short version

1. On day one, before you have a transport card, tap a credit card at the MRT gate, or use Apple Pay or Google Pay with a credit card linked.
2. Buy an EasyCard at an MRT station in your first week. The same card works on the MRT, buses and YouBike, and it gets you the transfer discounts that a credit card never will.
3. On the bus, tap your card when you get on and again when you get off.
4. If you commute every day, load the TPASS pass (NT$1,200 for 30 consecutive days) onto your EasyCard.
5. Register as a YouBike member once you have a Taiwanese phone number. Until then, rent with a credit card as a single rental.
6. Before a late night out, look up the last train at your own station. 24:00 is only when the last trains leave the end of the line.

Just landed with no EasyCard. How do you ride the MRT?

A credit card is the fastest way in. Taipei Metro's fare gates accept Visa, Mastercard, JCB, UnionPay, Diners Club and Discover cards, and Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay with a credit card linked. On an iPhone, set that card as your Express Transit card and the gate reads it without Face ID or a passcode.

You pay the normal single-ride fare, and Taipei Metro adds no handling fee. What you miss out on is the MRT-bus transfer discount, the frequent rider rebate and TPASS.

Cash is fine too. Ticket machines in the stations sell single-ride tickets at NT$20 to 65 a trip, valid only on the day you buy them. If you'd rather not queue, the Taipei Metro Go app sells QR single-ride tickets, paid by credit card or e-payment. One ticket covers one person.

Still at Taoyuan Airport? Read How to get from Taoyuan Airport to Taipei: Airport MRT, buses, taxis and late-night arrivals first.

Where do you buy an EasyCard, and where can you top it up?

The EasyCard (悠遊卡) is Taipei's rechargeable transport card. Every Taipei Metro station sells it, at the information counter or from an EasyCard vending and top-up machine, and so do retailers appointed by EasyCard Corporation. The card itself isn't free; check the price posted where you buy it.

Convenience stores are the easiest place to add money. At a 7-ELEVEN, FamilyMart, Hi-Life or OK Mart that displays the EasyCard logo, the cashier will top up any amount. Machines in MRT stations only take multiples of NT$100. A card holds up to NT$10,000.

The easiest way to lose money for nothing is the overtime charge. Tap in and out at the same station more than 15 minutes apart (say you went down to the wrong platform and want to leave), or take more than 2 hours between two different stations, and an extra NT$20 comes off your card automatically.

Keep several EasyCards in your wallet and press the whole wallet to the reader, and it may fail to read, or charge you twice. Pull out the card you want to use. Co-branded EasyCard credit cards depend on where you tap: on the credit card reader you pay by credit card, and on the stored-value reader the fare comes out of the card balance.

When you leave Taiwan, take the card to an MRT information counter and return it. You get the balance back, minus a handling fee worked out under EasyCard's terms and conditions. Refunds over NT$1,000 can't be done at the counter, so you apply on the EasyCard website instead. You can also pay with an EasyCard at convenience stores, and other ways to pay are covered in Banking in Taiwan as a foreigner: what to bring to open an account, how to pay rent by transfer, and whether mobile payments work.

When does the Taipei MRT run, and when is the last train?

At 06:00 every day, the first trains set off from all their starting points at once, end stations included. The last trains leave the end stations at 24:00. From there, a last train still takes a while to reach your stop. Taipei Metro's own example: the last train out of Tamsui at midnight reaches Guangci/Fengtian Temple at about 1 in the morning. So 24:00 is not the last train time at your station.

Every station has its own last train in each direction. Before a late night, look up the station you'll be boarding at, in the Taipei Metro Go app or on the first and last train times page of the Taipei Metro website. Trains also come less often after 23:00, roughly every 8 to 15 minutes depending on the line. A few extra minutes on the platform is normal.

What are the rules on the MRT? Can you be fined?

Past the yellow line in front of the fare gates, no eating or drinking. Not even plain water. Chewing gum and betel nut (檳榔, a nut some people in Taiwan chew) count too. Get caught and you can be fined NT$1,500 to 7,500 under Article 50 of the Mass Rapid Transit Act. If you feel unwell and need water or medicine, go and find the station staff.

Moving day, dragging a suitcase? You can still take the MRT. Each piece just has to stay within 165 cm on its longest side, and 220 cm for length, width and height added together.

What is TPASS, and is it worth it?

The TPASS pass for Keelung, Taipei, New Taipei and Taoyuan (基北北桃都會通) costs NT$1,200 and runs for 30 consecutive days from the day you first use it. Ride as much as you like during that time without paying anything more. It covers:

• Taipei Metro, New Taipei Metro and light rail, plus the Taoyuan Airport MRT
• City buses in Keelung, New Taipei, Taipei and Taoyuan
• Taiwan Railway trains of any type, as long as both your stations lie between Keelung and Xinfu in Taoyuan, or between Badu and Fulong (Shen'ao and Pingxi lines included). The exception is reserved-seat trains that sell no standing tickets, such as tourist trains, group trains, the Taroko Express, the Puyuma Express and EMU3000 trains
• Some national highway and intercity coach routes, listed in an annex to the pass's terms of use
• YouBike, with the first 30 minutes of every rental free in Taipei and New Taipei (2.0E e-bikes excluded)

The pass can only go on an EasyCard, or on the tap-to-ride feature (嗶乘車) of the Easy Wallet app on an Android phone. Credit cards and payment-app ride codes won't work. You can buy it at any Taipei Metro station, or at the ibon and FamiPort kiosks in convenience stores.

After you buy it, you have 30 days to start it. Your first tap at an MRT or Taiwan Railway gate, or on a bus, sets it going. Tapping at a YouBike dock doesn't. For the YouBike discount, you also have to register as a YouBike member with the same EasyCard.

You can renew from 10 days before it runs out, and the new pass kicks in automatically the day after the old one ends. You can also give the pass back partway through. The refund is NT$1,200, minus NT$300 for every day used, minus a NT$20 fee. By day 4 there is nothing left to refund.

Whether it pays off comes down to how often you ride. One trip each way every working day comes to about 44 a month. After the 15% frequent rider rebate, the pass pays off once your average single fare goes above about NT$32. Rides on TPASS don't earn the rebate, so it's one discount or the other. We worked through the full numbers in Living in Taipei in 2026: how much does it cost per month?.

How do you ride a bus in Taipei? Tap on, or tap off?

When your bus comes into view at the stop, wave it down early, then tap your card as you board. Press the bell as your stop gets close and tap again on the way out. Taipei buses switched to tapping on and off on 1 Feb 2020. You pay for the number of fare sections you ride, and tapping twice doesn't cost you extra. A full fare is NT$15 per section (the cash and ride-code fare published by the Public Transportation Office, Taipei City Government, or PTO).

If you forget to tap off, your card won't be blocked, but you lose the transfer discount on your next MRT, bus or YouBike ride. With an EasyCard, changing from MRT to bus, or bus to MRT, within 1 hour knocks NT$8 off each time on a standard card. Take a YouBike or a taxi in between and it no longer counts as a direct transfer. Bus-to-bus transfers get a discount too. The discount applies when you pay with an e-ticket card and change within 1 hour onto one of the joint-operation bus routes designated by the PTO; how much you save depends on your fare type.

Routes, estimated arrival times and fare section points are all on the 大臺北公車 (Greater Taipei bus) website at ebus.gov.taipei. At the stop, the QR code on the sign brings up live arrivals. Ride codes from apps such as Easy Wallet, iPASS MONEY, icash Pay and LINE Pay Money work on buses as well.

Can you ride a YouBike without a Taiwanese phone number?

Yes, as a single rental (單次租車). YouBike is Taipei's public bike-share system. Download the YouBike app, open the side menu, go to 會員登入/註冊 (member login and sign-up) and choose 單次租車. Verify your email address and add a credit card. A hold of NT$3,000 goes on the card first, and each authorisation lasts 120 hours, after which you authorise again. If you rent and return normally, the hold is cancelled when it expires. How soon that amount is released depends on the bank that issued your card.

Once the card is linked, go back to the home screen and tap 掃碼借車 (scan to rent). Scan the QR code on the dock's screen, or type in the verification code. When the screen says 請取車 (take your bike), pull the bike backwards out of the dock. To return it, push the lock into the slot and wait. The bike only counts as returned once the screen shows 還車成功 (return successful), so don't push it in and walk straight off.

Single rentals pay the full rate, and Taipei's subsidy for the first 30 minutes doesn't apply to them. YouBike also tells riders to get public bicycle accident insurance before riding. What it covers, and how to sign up in the app, is on the public bicycle insurance page of the YouBike website.

Once you have a Taiwanese number, becoming a member works out much cheaper. You will need:

• A Taiwanese mobile number. The verification code comes by text message, and the number becomes your account
• Your national ID card, ARC (Alien Resident Certificate) or passport number. Fill in your real-name details when you register and your first card is automatically covered by the accident insurance, with no premium to pay
• The EasyCard or iPASS card you want to link. To link a credit card or e-payment account instead, register in the app

Getting a number is covered in How to get a phone number in Taiwan: prepaid SIM, eSIM or monthly plan, and the ID you need. YouBike fares in Taipei are below, and anything under 30 minutes is charged as 30 minutes.

Members who rent a YouBike 2.0 in Taipei get the first 30 minutes paid for by Taipei City Government. The subsidy began on 28 Feb 2024; for the end date, check the announcements of the city's Department of Transportation. Your card balance has to be at least NT$0 before you can rent; if it has gone negative, top up first. And after returning a bike, you can't take out another 2.0 at the same station for 10 minutes.

Where are the nearest MRT and YouBike stations to Seal Co-living's houses?

Walking times in the table are estimates. To see which YouBike stations are close by, open the neighbourhood page in the third column (data from OpenStreetMap). At a viewing, you can also just ask us for the easiest walk from the house to the MRT.

How much do taxis cost? Is it more at night?

Taxis run on the meter, at rates in force since 1 Apr 2023. The first 1.25 km costs NT$85, then it's NT$5 for every 200 metres. In traffic, whenever the car is moving at 5 km/h or less, another NT$5 is added every 60 seconds. Get in between 11 at night and 6 the next morning and each trip costs NT$20 more. Over Lunar New Year, add NT$30 per trip on top. Drivers aren't allowed to charge extra for opening the boot for your luggage, or for a booking made by radio dispatch.

Not every taxi takes credit cards. That depends on the fleet.

To book by phone, call 0800-055850 free from a landline, or 55850 from a mobile, where you pay for the call. The line covers Taipei, New Taipei and Keelung, and pressing 2 once you're through gets you English service. For app bookings, the PTO lists apps run by fleets rated excellent in its evaluations, such as Taiwan Taxi (台灣大車隊), 台北衛星, Yoxi, Q-Taxi and Taxi Go 大車隊. The PTO's published list of dispatch fleets also includes some that take bookings through Uber's system.

If you think the driver took a long way round or charged too much, write down the plate number, the driver's registration certificate number, the time and the place. Report a detour or a refused ride to the police. For an inaccurate meter or overcharging, call the PTO on 02-2759-2677.

Missed the last train. How do you get home?

A taxi is the realistic answer. Phone numbers, apps and the night surcharge are all in the section above. Sharing the ride home with housemates and splitting the fare makes it a lot cheaper. Next time you plan a late one, check the last train from the station you'll be heading home from before you go out.

Do the MRT and buses still run in a typhoon?

The MRT mostly keeps going, though not always on every section. Above ground, on viaducts and surface track, trains slow down once gusts reach force 8 on the Beaufort scale. When gusts hit force 10, or the average wind reaches force 7, trains on those sections stop, then run on to the terminus to let everyone off once the wind eases. Underground sections that the wind doesn't affect keep carrying passengers, with adjusted intervals. The Wenhu Line uses the same thresholds, but it slows down and stops as a whole line, and Taipei Metro doesn't mention any exception for underground sections on it.

Buses run fewer services. Take Typhoon Bavi (巴威) on 9 Jul 2026 as an example. According to the Department of Transportation, once work was called off, buses were cut back in line with the wind, could stop running altogether at an average wind of force 10 or more, and mountain and leisure routes might be suspended. YouBike shut down completely at 2 the next morning, after the work and school closures had started, and only came back once the typhoon had passed.

Earthquakes can stop trains too. At an intensity of 2 or more on Taiwan's seismic scale, trains at a platform hold there, and trains between stations slow down and stop. Service resumes once the track has been checked. If your train stops suddenly, there's no need to panic.

On typhoon or heavy rain days, this is where to look:

• Work and school closures: the 天然災害停止上班及上課情形 (work and school closures due to natural disasters) page on the website of the Directorate-General of Personnel Administration, Executive Yuan. Full-day closures are normally announced between 7 and 10 in the evening the day before
• Typhoon tracking: the Typhoon News page of the Central Weather Administration, Ministry of Transportation and Communications
• Bus services: the 大臺北公車 website, or the 1999 Taipei Citizen Hotline (02-2720-8889 from outside Taipei)
• MRT: the news, station display screens and announcements
• YouBike: disaster notices on the website of the Department of Transportation, Taipei City Government

There's plenty more to sort out in your first weeks here. Work through Your first month in Taipei: the order and deadlines for your ARC, phone, bank account and health insurance and tick things off as you go.

Frequently asked questions

Can foreigners buy TPASS?

Yes. The official FAQ says there are no restrictions on who can buy it, so anyone with an EasyCard that can take the pass can get one. Each ride is for one person only, though. Two people can't use the same card to go through the gates or board a bus together, and the second rider counts as having no ticket.

You tapped in with your phone and it died before you got out. What now?

Pay for the trip another way to get out, and keep the receipt. Before you next go into the MRT, take that receipt to an information counter and have them correct your entry and exit record.

How do you find something you left on the MRT?

Report it in the Taipei Metro Go app. If something matching turns up, Taipei Metro will phone you. You can also call 02-2536-3001, extension 9, and ask customer service to help look for it. Umbrellas are held at the individual stations.

Can you pay for a taxi with an EasyCard?

According to the PTO's FAQ, when you pay by EasyCard, check the fare at the end of the ride, tap after that, and ask for a receipt. Whether a particular taxi takes EasyCards is something to ask the driver as you get in.

Sources

(All accessed on 9 Oct 2026)

1. 1.Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation (Taipei Metro), routes and train intervals: Bannan Linemetro.taipei/cp.aspx?n=EAD981369A065968&s=3092796CF14AC78E
2. 2.Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation (Taipei Metro), routes and train intervals: Bannan Line: Songshan-Xindian Linemetro.taipei/cp.aspx?n=EAD981369A065968&s=0F3F913C344BA050
3. 3.Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation (Taipei Metro), routes and train intervals: Bannan Line: Tamsui-Xinyi Linemetro.taipei/cp.aspx?n=EAD981369A065968&s=1CC297E1D0B4C7B1
4. 4.Taipei Metro FAQ "What are Taipei Metro's operating hours? Can they be extended?"metro.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=566DA580861CEE77&sms=87415A8B9CE81B16&s=679D2B6A5D346EB2
5. 5.Taipei Metro: single-journey ticketsmetro.taipei/cp.aspx?n=CEF54168B23F73B4&s=AD70DC4F6A708EA7
6. 6.Taipei Metro: riding with a credit cardmetro.taipei/cp.aspx?n=CEF54168B23F73B4&s=151E77D8CFF23F98
7. 7.Taipei Metro FAQ "Is there an extra fee for riding the MRT with a credit card or ride code?"metro.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=566DA580861CEE77&sms=87415A8B9CE81B16&s=6E646E2C40403CE7
8. 8.Taipei Metro FAQ "How do I buy and use a QR single-journey ticket?"metro.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=566DA580861CEE77&sms=87415A8B9CE81B16&s=8C08AE729070BC2E
9. 9.Taipei Metro: stored-value cardsmetro.taipei/cp.aspx?n=CEF54168B23F73B4&s=9C19A1790ED1E5B4
10. 10.Taipei Metro FAQ "Two-way MRT and bus transfer discounts"metro.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=566DA580861CEE77&sms=87415A8B9CE81B16&s=1CDFC00134A98701
11. 11.Taipei Metro: frequent rider rebate schememetro.taipei/cp.aspx?n=AB56163F79ECB2C2
12. 12.Taipei Metro: TPASS commuter monthly pass of the Executive Yuan, Keelung-Taipei-New Taipei-Taoyuan pass (terms of use and FAQ, notice of 115-06-30, ROC calendar)metro.taipei/cp.aspx?n=CEF54168B23F73B4&s=BB3631329CC1A297
13. 13.Taipei Metro FAQ "The no eating or drinking rule in the MRT system and where it applies"metro.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=566DA580861CEE77&sms=87415A8B9CE81B16&s=CBB430D2363C29FC
14. 14.Mass Rapid Transit Act, Article 50 (Laws & Regulations Database of the Republic of China)law.moj.gov.tw/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=K0120001
15. 15.Taipei Metro FAQ "Rules on personal belongings and luggage"metro.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=566DA580861CEE77&sms=87415A8B9CE81B16&s=4878D2C91C044C0A
16. 16.Taipei Metro FAQ "How the MRT system prepares for and responds to typhoons"metro.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=566DA580861CEE77&sms=87415A8B9CE81B16&s=5B788CE0DCBB4FF6
17. 17.Taipei Metro FAQ "What does the MRT system do when an earthquake strikes?"metro.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=566DA580861CEE77&sms=87415A8B9CE81B16&s=847EA7D963E533A0
18. 18.Taipei Metro FAQ "What should I do if my phone is lost, broken or out of battery before I exit, and I can't open my ride code or mobile payment?"metro.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=566DA580861CEE77&sms=87415A8B9CE81B16&s=07B0DA3F7617399B
19. 19.Taipei Metro FAQ "How to report and look for items lost in the MRT system"metro.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=566DA580861CEE77&sms=87415A8B9CE81B16&s=609D08500F8C9D4C
20. 20.EasyCard Corporation, how to top upeasycard.com.tw/introduction?id=2
21. 21.EasyCard Corporation, how to top up: how to use the cardeasycard.com.tw/introduction?id=1
22. 22.EasyCard Corporation, how to top up: returning a cardeasycard.com.tw/introduction?id=3
23. 23.Public Transportation Office, Taipei City Government (PTO), FAQ "Cash fares on the bus"pto.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=6B4D38874E971F4B&sms=87415A8B9CE81B16&s=0F49146BC682FAB4
24. 24.PTO FAQ "Fares for ride codes"pto.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=6B4D38874E971F4B&sms=87415A8B9CE81B16&s=BC2AF6F9BD52E893
25. 25.PTO FAQ "What happens if I don't tap my card when getting off the bus?"pto.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=6B4D38874E971F4B&sms=87415A8B9CE81B16&s=43DB666603EABBED
26. 26.PTO FAQ "How does Taipei offer bus-to-bus transfer discounts?"pto.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=6B4D38874E971F4B&sms=87415A8B9CE81B16&s=F62226B708551FBC
27. 27.PTO FAQ "How can I look up bus fare section points?"pto.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=6B4D38874E971F4B&sms=87415A8B9CE81B16&s=11C6FE63C30AA574
28. 28.PTO: notice to passengers on Taipei City buses (PDF, revised 115-02-01, ROC calendar)www-ws.gov.taipei/Download.ashx?u=LzAwMS9VcGxvYWQvNDU4L3JlbGZpbGUvMjI1NjIvODIyODQ1My84M2QwNzNhZi03ZmZlLTQ5YzktOTAwNC05OTMzZjBjYmJhNDcucGRm&n=44CM6Ie65YyX5biC5biC5Y2A5YWs6LuK5pWs5ZGK5LmY5a6i5qKd5qy%2b44CNMjAyNjAyMDHkv67oqIIucGRm&icon=.pdf
29. 29.PTO: e-bus (bus arrival information)pto.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=AAEEE8A01971ECFB&sms=D0111F238E458DC8&s=7DDD3DEB00DE6DFA
30. 30.PTO FAQ "How are taxi fares calculated?"pto.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=6B4D38874E971F4B&sms=87415A8B9CE81B16&s=63C0CCF302898D25
31. 31.PTO FAQ "Is there a charge for opening the boot?"pto.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=6B4D38874E971F4B&sms=87415A8B9CE81B16&s=D96493237E1C14FE
32. 32.PTO FAQ "Do taxis accept credit cards?"pto.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=6B4D38874E971F4B&sms=87415A8B9CE81B16&s=62960E3460E518D2
33. 33.PTO FAQ "When should I pay the fare when taking a taxi with an EasyCard?"pto.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=6B4D38874E971F4B&sms=87415A8B9CE81B16&s=56E3F951DF39DF03
34. 34.PTO FAQ "How can passengers protect their rights when taking a taxi?"pto.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=6B4D38874E971F4B&sms=87415A8B9CE81B16&s=BB32F7A39CF66C1D
35. 35.PTO: taxi booking hotlinepto.gov.taipei/cp.aspx?n=00988479A42B11C4
36. 36.PTO: taxi booking appspto.gov.taipei/cp.aspx?n=D7B007E1091B54A2
37. 37.PTO: taxi section (information on taxi dispatch operators, 115.9.4, ROC calendar)pto.gov.taipei/Content_List.aspx?n=C221DF62D0DCD709
38. 38.YouBike (Taipei City): faresyoubike.com.tw/region/taipei/rate/
39. 39.YouBike (Taipei City): how to registeryoubike.com.tw/region/taipei/signup-way/
40. 40.YouBike (Taipei City): single rentalyoubike.com.tw/region/taipei/rent-way/single/
41. 41.YouBike (Taipei City): public bicycle insuranceyoubike.com.tw/region/taipei/insurance/
42. 42.Department of Transportation, Taipei City Government, "Taipei public transport measures for Typhoon Bavi"dot.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=7458DE3859C7A192&sms=72544237BBE4C5F6&s=51908D39B3A58B0E
43. 43.Department of Transportation, Taipei City Government, "YouBike and shared scooters suspended during Typhoon Bavi"dot.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=7458DE3859C7A192&sms=72544237BBE4C5F6&s=78CCDC4374C7E728
44. 44.Department of Transportation, Taipei City Government, "Typhoon Bavi moves away, Taipei public transport back in service"dot.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=7458DE3859C7A192&sms=72544237BBE4C5F6&s=3F0EF62883880AE3
45. 45.Directorate-General of Personnel Administration, Executive Yuan: work and school closures due to natural disastersdgpa.gov.tw/typh/daily/nds.html
46. 46.Central Weather Administration, Ministry of Transportation and Communications: Typhoon Newscwa.gov.tw/V8/C/P/Typhoon/TY_NEWS.html