Which option suits you?
| Option | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Airport MRT express | Most travellers going to Taipei Main Station or a metro-connected hotel | Change at Taipei Main Station to reach most hotels |
| Airport MRT commuter | Late arrivals after the last express, or stations the express skips | About 13 minutes slower; same fare |
| Kuo-Kuang bus 1819 | Travellers staying near Taipei Bus Station | Road traffic; check times on the route page |
| Taxi | Groups, heavy luggage, door-to-door, arrivals after the last train | Highest cost; fare depends on distance and traffic |
The fares and times in this guide were checked on 3 October 2026 using Taoyuan Metro's timetable and fare search and the station timetables for that date. Timetables can differ by date, so check yours before you fly.
How does the Airport MRT work?
The line runs from the airport terminals to Taipei Main Station (A1). Express trains (purple) stop only at A1 Taipei Main Station, A3 New Taipei Industrial Park, A8 Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, A12 Terminal 1 and A13 Terminal 2. Commuter trains (blue) stop at every station (Taoyuan Metro train introduction, checked 3 October 2026). Terminal 2 is the first airport stop on the way to Taipei, so trains to Taipei leave Terminal 2 about three minutes before Terminal 1.
| Taipei-bound, 3 October 2026 | From Terminal 2 (A13) | From Terminal 1 (A12) |
|---|---|---|
| First train | 05:55 express | 05:58 express |
| Express departures | :10, :25, :40, :55 past the hour | :13, :28, :43, :58 past the hour |
| Commuter departures | :04, :19, :34, :49 past the hour (times shift slightly after 23:00) | :07, :22, :37, :52 past the hour |
| Last express | 22:55 | 22:58 |
| Last commuter to Taipei | 23:35 | 23:37 (arrives 00:26) |
From the Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 station timetables. Trains shown after 23:35 at Terminal 2 are airport-bound commuter services that end at Terminal 1, not Taipei.
The fare is the same on both train types: NT$160 for a full-fare single journey from either terminal to Taipei Main Station. The fare search shows the express taking 36 minutes from Terminal 1 and 39 minutes from Terminal 2 for most of the day, rising to 39 and 42 minutes for the last few evening expresses. A commuter train takes about 49 minutes from Terminal 1.
How do you pay?
You have four ways to pay at the Airport MRT gates, all at the posted single-journey fare:
- Single-journey token from the token machines or the information counter. It is valid only on the day of purchase, and unused tokens can be refunded only that day (single-journey ticket rules).
- EasyCard, iPASS or icash. Taoyuan Metro sells EasyCard and iPASS standard cards at NT$100. Its machines add value in multiples of NT$100, and the information counter accepts any amount (stored-value cards). iPASS also lists a joint e-ticket service counter at Taoyuan Airport (iPASS sale points). EasyCard lists card and top-up machines at the Kuo-Kuang bus stations in both terminals (EasyCard top-up points).
- Contactless bank card or phone. Visa, Mastercard, JCB and UnionPay contactless cards, and Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay, are accepted at the gates (Taoyuan Metro bank-card page).
- Transport codes in the iPASS MONEY or Alipay apps, for users already registered with those services.
Each passenger taps their own card or token. Taoyuan Metro's rules allow two hours between entering and leaving the system for a journey between stations (terms of use).
If you will ride the city metro and buses during your stay, a stored-value card earns its NT$100 through the metro–bus transfer discount. If you will only use the metro, the same contactless bank card also opens Taipei Metro gates at full fare (Taipei Metro bank-card page, checked 3 October 2026). Our EasyCard vs iPASS guide compares the two cards, including where to refund them before you fly home.
When is the bus or a taxi better?
Bus. The Highway Bureau's route page lists Kuo-Kuang route 1819 between Taipei Bus Station (臺北轉運站) and Taoyuan Airport Terminal 2 (route 1819, checked 3 October 2026). Its fare and departure times are on that page; the late-arrival guide linked below lists the overnight departures from Terminal 2. Choose the bus if your hotel is close to Taipei Bus Station or another stop on the route and you prefer a seat without changing trains. Allow extra time, because it uses the roads.
Taxi. A taxi takes you door to door without a change at Taipei Main Station. It suits a group sharing the cost, travellers with more bags than they can manage through gates and escalators, and anyone whose address is a long walk from a metro station. Airport taxis are metered, with tolls added; the late-arrival guide linked below gives the airport's estimate for a trip to Taipei City and where the taxi desks are. Ask at the official taxi desk in arrivals for the expected fare to your address, and confirm whether the driver takes cards before you set off. Our cash or card in Taipei guide covers when to carry cash.
High Speed Rail. The Airport MRT also reaches A18 Taoyuan HSR Station, 18 minutes by commuter train from Terminal 1 for NT$35 (fare search, 3 October 2026). That route is useful if you are heading south. For central Taipei, the direct Airport MRT is simpler.
What if you land late?
Work backwards from the last trains. Allow time for immigration, baggage and customs, then compare that with the last express (about 22:55–22:58) and the last commuter to Taipei (23:35 from Terminal 2, 23:37 from Terminal 1). If you will miss them, the realistic options are a taxi or staying near the airport until the first train at 05:55. Our guide to landing at Taoyuan late at night compares those choices.
For the trip home, Taoyuan Metro offers In-Town Check-In at A1 Taipei Main Station and A3, listed among its station services. Check your airline's eligibility before relying on it.
