Taiwan

Getting around Taiwan: trains, buses, driving and domestic flights

Take the THSR high-speed rail for every west-coast leg (Taipei–Kaohsiung in 1 h 35 – 2 h) and TRA express trains for the east coast to Hualien and Taitung. Use the MRT and city buses inside Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung, buses for Sun Moon Lake and Alishan, and flights only for Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu. Rent a car or scooter for Kenting, Taitung and the islands; skip driving in Taipei.

Not field-verified

Source checked: A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
Field checked: Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
Plan calculated: Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.

Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

Updated Sep 20265 min read

GuideTaiwan

Key facts

Default west-coast mode: THSR high-speed rail: Taipei–Zuoying (Kaohsiung) 1 h 35 – 2 h, about NT$1,490 standard reserved; non-reserved cars cheaper
East coast: TRA express only: Taipei–Hualien 2–2 h 30, NT$440; seats open 28 days ahead and sell out Fri–Sun
City transport: MRT and buses in Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung and Kaohsiung; NT$20–65 a Taipei MRT ride, NT$15 bus sections; tap EasyCard
Intercity bus: NT$300–700, about 4–5 h Taipei–Kaohsiung; also Sun Moon Lake, Alishan and Yilan routes
Domestic flights: About 1 h to Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu, Taitung; NT$1,800–3,000 one way; fog and wind cancel island flights
Car and scooter: Scooter NT$400–600 a day, car NT$2,000–3,500; you need a licence Taiwan recognises for that vehicle class, and an IDP must match it
Taxi: Taipei flag fall about NT$85–100, night surcharge; cheap for three or four people
Best pass: EasyCard for city transport and convenience stores; THSR and TRA multi-ride passes exist — compare against your route before buying

Summary by route, month and cost

Match the mode to the leg, not to the whole trip. Almost every first trip is one west-coast rail spine plus city transport, with a bus or a short flight for the outliers.

Costs below are 2026 estimates in NT$; the site converts them to your currency. Book THSR and TRA seats early for weekends and Lunar New Year, when trains and roads fill for several days.

Summary by route, month and cost
Route or need	Best mode	Time	Cost (2026 estimate)
Taipei – Taichung	THSR	about 1 h	NT$700
Taipei – Tainan	THSR	1 h 20 – 1 h 45	NT$1,350
Taipei – Kaohsiung (Zuoying)	THSR	1 h 35 – 2 h	NT$1,490 standard reserved
Taipei – Hualien	TRA express	2 – 2 h 30	NT$440
Taipei – Kaohsiung	Intercity bus	4 – 5 h	NT$300–700
Taipei – Sun Moon Lake	Bus (via Puli)	3 – 4 h	NT$400–500
Taipei – Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu	Domestic flight	about 1 h	NT$1,800–3,000 one way
Inside Taipei	MRT and bus	—	NT$20–65 a ride; NT$15 bus sections
Kenting, Taitung, islands	Car or scooter	day legs	Scooter NT$400–600/day; car NT$2,000–3,500/day

THSR stations in Taichung, Chiayi and Tainan sit outside town; add a shuttle train or bus of 15–30 min.

Step by step: choosing and booking each leg

Start with the rail spine. The THSR covers Taipei, Taichung, Chiayi, Tainan and Kaohsiung, so any west-coast itinerary is a sequence of short hops. Buy a reserved seat for a fixed time, or a non-reserved car ticket for flexibility at a lower fare. EasyCard is not a ticket on reserved seats.

For the east coast there is no high-speed line. TRA express trains run Taipei–Hualien in 2–2 h 30 and continue to Taitung; tickets open 28 days ahead and Friday-to-Sunday services sell out, so book the day your window opens. Standing tickets exist but are no fun for two hours.

Inside cities, tap an EasyCard on the MRT and buses in Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung and Kaohsiung. Trains run about 06:00 to midnight, with no food or drink past the gates. For Sun Moon Lake, Alishan and Yilan, intercity buses are cheap and direct; several companies share terminals, so check the floor and counter at Taipei Bus Station for your route.

Fly only to the outlying islands. Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and Taitung are about an hour from Taipei, but fog and wind cancel flights to Matsu and Penghu often, so keep a buffer day before an international departure.

Rent a car or scooter for Kenting, Taitung and the islands, where buses are thin. You need a licence Taiwan recognises for that vehicle class, and an international driving permit must match it. Renting a scooter without a motorcycle licence is illegal and voids insurance. In Taipei, skip the car: parking is scarce and the MRT is faster.

Book THSR and TRA seats 28 days ahead for weekends and holidays.
Load an EasyCard on day one; it works on city transport and in convenience stores.
Show taxi drivers the address in Chinese characters.
Keep one buffer day before any island flight.

Notes and traps

The biggest time sink is the gap between a THSR station and the town it serves. Taichung, Chiayi and Tainan stations are outside the centre, so budget 15–30 min for the shuttle train or bus, and more with luggage.

Express seats to Hualien are the second trap: they are the only rail link to the east coast and they sell out on weekends. If you cannot get a seat, consider a bus or a flight to Hualien instead of standing.

Island flights are weather-dependent. Matsu and Penghu see fog and strong wind cancellations, so do not put one on the last day of a trip.

Driving rules differ from home. An international driving permit is accepted for many nationalities but not all, and it must match the vehicle class. Scooter rentals without a motorcycle licence are common on paper and illegal in practice; an accident there means no insurance.

Lunar New Year closes small shops and restaurants for several days and fills every train and highway. Book transport and stays well before, or travel outside the week.

Notes and traps
Trap	What to do
THSR station outside town	Add 15–30 min shuttle train or bus
Hualien express sold out	Book at the 28-day window, or fly or take a bus
Island flight cancelled by fog or wind	Keep a buffer day before flying home
Scooter rented without a motorcycle licence	Illegal and uninsured — do not
Lunar New Year travel	Book trains and hotels weeks ahead

Fares and schedules change; confirm on the operator's site before you travel.

Questions people ask

What is the best way to get around Taiwan?

The THSR high-speed rail for the west coast (Taipei to Kaohsiung in 1 h 35 – 2 h), TRA express trains for Hualien and Taitung, and the MRT and buses inside cities. Use buses for Sun Moon Lake and Alishan, flights for Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, and a rental car or scooter for Kenting and Taitung.

Do I need a car in Taiwan?

No for the west coast and Taipei, where rail and MRT are faster and cheaper. A car or scooter helps in Kenting, Taitung and on the islands, where buses are thin. You need a licence Taiwan recognises for that vehicle class, and an international driving permit must match it.

Are there rail or bus passes for Taiwan?

EasyCard covers city MRT and buses and is the pass most travellers use. THSR and TRA sell multi-ride and joint passes, and some tourist passes bundle rail with buses; compare the price against your actual routes before buying, since point-to-point tickets are often cheaper.

How do I get from Taipei to Kaohsiung?

THSR high-speed rail, 1 h 35 – 2 h, about NT$1,490 standard reserved; non-reserved cars are cheaper. Intercity buses take 4–5 h for NT$300–700. TRA conventional rail takes 4–5 h.

How do I get to Hualien and Taitung?

TRA express trains only: Taipei to Hualien in 2–2 h 30 for about NT$440, continuing to Taitung. Seats open 28 days ahead and sell out Friday to Sunday, so book early or consider a flight or bus.

Can I use EasyCard on the high-speed rail?

No. EasyCard is not a ticket on THSR reserved seats. Buy a THSR ticket for a fixed train, or a non-reserved car ticket, and use EasyCard for city MRT and buses.

How do I get to Penghu, Kinmen or Matsu?

Domestic flights of about an hour from Taipei, NT$1,800–3,000 one way. Ferries also run from some ports. Fog and wind cancel island flights often, so keep a buffer day before an international departure.

Deep dive

Every source; changeable facts are marked check