Taiwan
How to get to Taiwan: airports, flights and border crossings
Fly into Taoyuan (TPE) for Taipei and the north; it is the only airport with a rail link, and the MRT runs roughly 06:00–23:00, so land before 22:00 or plan a taxi. Songshan (TSA) is closer but has few long-haul flights. Kaohsiung (KHH) suits the south. There are no scheduled ferries or land crossings from the mainland for most travellers.Fly into Taoyuan (TPE) for Taipei and the north; it is the only airport with a rail link, and the MRT runs roughly 6:00 AM–11:00 PM, so land before 10:00 PM or plan a taxi. Songshan (TSA) is closer but has few long-haul flights. Kaohsiung (KHH) suits the south. There are no scheduled ferries or land crossings from the mainland for most travellers.
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GuideTaiwan
Key facts
- Main gateway
- Taoyuan International (TPE), about 40 km southwest of Taipei
- Airport railcheck
- Airport MRT TPE–Taipei Main Station, roughly 35–50 min, NT$150–160 (2026 estimate)
- Rail hourscheck
- Airport MRT roughly 06:00–23:00; late arrivals use bus or taxi
- City airport
- Songshan (TSA) is on the Taipei MRT, mostly regional and domestic routes
- Southern gateway
- Kaohsiung (KHH) has its own MRT station and some international flights
- Land or sea entrycheck
- No scheduled cross-strait ferries for most foreign passports; small islands have domestic ferries only
- Entry rulecheck
- Visa-free entry for many passports, typically 90 days — confirm your own
Summary by airport, month and cost
Taiwan has two international airports that matter for a first trip and one regional one. Which you pick decides your first hour, not your whole trip: TPE and TSA both serve Taipei, and KHH serves the south.
Peak months are Chinese New Year (late January to mid-February), the April school holidays and October. Fares and hotel rates rise then; the quiet windows are late February to March and September.
| Airport | Best for | Transfer to the city | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taoyuan (TPE) | Taipei and the north | Airport MRT 35–50 min, NT$150–160 (2026 estimate); buses and taxis also run | Two terminals; the only long-haul gateway with a rail link |
| Songshan (TSA) | Central Taipei | Taipei MRT, a few stops from the centre | Mostly regional and domestic flights; convenient but limited long-haul |
| Kaohsiung (KHH) | Tainan, Kenting, the south | MRT from the terminal | Some international flights; useful if you skip Taipei on arrival |
| Taichung (RMQ) | Central Taiwan | Bus or taxi; no rail link | Few international routes — check before booking |
Step by step
First, check which airports your route actually serves. From North America, nonstop flights land at Taoyuan; from Europe, most routings go through Istanbul, Dubai, Doha, Amsterdam, Frankfurt or Vienna, and a few carriers fly nonstop from London. From Australia and New Zealand, expect one stop in Southeast Asia or Hong Kong.
Second, book the arrival time around the airport MRT. Trains run from roughly 06:00 to 23:00, so a landing after about 22:00 usually means a bus, a taxi or a night in an airport hotel. If your fare is cheaper on a late arrival, price the taxi into the decision.
Third, sort entry before you fly. Many passports get 90 days visa-free, but the list changes and some nationalities need a travel authorisation or a visa arranged in advance. Check the official Bureau of Consular Affairs pages for your passport, and make sure it has at least six months of validity left.
Fourth, plan the first transfer. From TPE, the Airport MRT runs to Taipei Main Station, where you can change to the city MRT or the high-speed rail south. From TSA you are already on the Taipei MRT. From KHH the MRT reaches the city centre and the high-speed rail station.
Fifth, buy connectivity on arrival rather than before: SIM and eSIM counters sit in the arrivals halls at TPE and KHH, and the airport has free Wi-Fi for the first hour.
- Land before 22:00 if you want the MRT
- Check your passport's visa-free days on the official site
- Keep six months of passport validity
- Buy a SIM or eSIM at arrivals
- Book high-speed rail seats for the south if you arrive in a holiday week
Notes
Flight times are long-haul and indirect from most of Europe, so a one-stop routing is normal. Nonstop options from North America exist but are limited to a few cities.
Typhoon season runs roughly July to September. Flights are usually rescheduled rather than cancelled, but build a spare day into a tight itinerary in those months.
There is no practical land or sea arrival from mainland China for most foreign travellers, and no scheduled cross-strait ferry. The small islands — Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu — are reached by domestic flight or domestic ferry from Taiwan itself, not as an entry point.
Travel insurance is worth arranging before you fly: the national health insurance does not cover visitors, and a typhoon delay or a scooter injury is the usual claim.
| Route | Typical flight time | Stops |
|---|---|---|
| US West Coast to TPE | 12–14 h | Nonstop on several carriers |
| US East Coast to TPE | 16–20 h | Usually one stop |
| UK to TPE | 14–17 h | One stop; a few nonstops from London |
| Canada to TPE | 12–18 h | Nonstop from Vancouver; one stop from Toronto |
| Australia to TPE | 9–13 h | One stop in Southeast Asia or Hong Kong |
| New Zealand to TPE | 13–16 h | One stop |
| Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong to TPE | 2–5 h | Nonstop |
Times are 2026 estimates and vary by route and season.
FAQ
Sources and verification date
Questions people ask
What is the best airport to fly into for Taiwan?
Taoyuan (TPE) for Taipei and the north — it has the Airport MRT, roughly 35–50 minutes to Taipei Main Station. Songshan (TSA) is closer to central Taipei but has few long-haul flights. Kaohsiung (KHH) is the better arrival if you start in the south.
How long is the flight to Taiwan from the US, UK, Canada, Australia and NZ?
Roughly 12–14 hours nonstop from the US West Coast, 16–20 hours from the East Coast with a stop, 14–17 hours from the UK with one stop, 12–18 hours from Canada, 9–13 hours from Australia and 13–16 hours from New Zealand. All are 2026 estimates.
Can I enter Taiwan by land or sea?
Not from mainland China for most foreign passports: there is no scheduled cross-strait ferry and no land crossing open to general tourism. Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu are reached by domestic flight or domestic ferry from Taiwan, so they are side trips, not entry points.
Do I need a visa to enter Taiwan?
Many passports get 90 days visa-free, but the list changes and some nationalities need a travel authorisation or a visa arranged in advance. Check the official Bureau of Consular Affairs pages for your passport before booking, and keep at least six months of passport validity.
How do I get from Taoyuan Airport to Taipei?
The Airport MRT is the default: roughly 35–50 minutes to Taipei Main Station for about NT$150–160 (2026 estimate), running from about 06:00 to 23:00. Outside those hours, use a bus or taxi, or stay near the airport and travel in the morning.
Is it cheaper to fly into Kaohsiung instead of Taipei?
Sometimes, if your route already serves it and you plan to start in the south. Otherwise the fare difference rarely beats the cost of adding a domestic hop or a high-speed rail ticket north.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialTaiwan Tourism Administration
- officialBureau of Consular Affairs, Taiwan (visa and entry)
- officialTaoyuan International Airport
- officialTaoyuan Airport MRT
- secondaryWikivoyage – Taiwan