The Taipei MRT: A Complete Guide for First-Timers
travel · 1 min read · June 2026

The Taipei MRT: A Complete Guide for First-Timers

The Taipei Metro is the city's lifeline — clean, punctual, and surprisingly intuitive once you understand a few basics. Here's everything you need to ride like a local.

Getting Started

Buy an EasyCard at any station. The card itself costs NT$100 (non-refundable), then you add value. Most rides cost NT$20–65 depending on distance. Tap in, tap out. The fare deducts automatically.

NT$20–65
Per ride depending on distance. The Airport MRT is NT$160 to Taipei Main Station.

The Lines That Matter

Interior of a Taipei MRT train car with passengers
FIRST SIGHTWEBGLInside a Taipei MRT car: clean enough to eat off the floor, though you'd get fined for trying. · Color and grain by First Sight · Superia. · First Sight 色彩與顆粒調校 · Superia
Red Line
Tamsui-Xinyi
The main north-south artery. Connects Tamsui (waterfront), Taipei Main Station, Daan (residential), and Xinyi (financial district/Taipei 101).
Blue Line
Bannan
East-west across the city. Key stops: Taipei Main Station, Zhongxiao Fuxing (shopping), Taipei City Hall (MRT + bus hub).
Green Line
Songshan-Xindian
Serves Songshan Airport, Nanjing Fuxing (major transfer), and Xindian (riverside district).
Brown Line
Wenshan-Neihu
The only driverless line. Great views above ground. Connects to the zoo and Maokong gondola.

MRT Etiquette

The MRT is library-silent. Keep conversations quiet.Unwritten rule #1

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Stand right on escalators, walk left. Wait for passengers to exit before boarding. Priority seats are genuinely reserved — offer them without being asked. No eating or drinking (seriously, you'll get fined NT$7,500).

Art Stations Worth Seeing

Art installation inside a Taipei MRT station
FIRST SIGHTWEBGLTaipei's MRT stations double as art galleries. Some are worth the visit even if you're not going anywhere. · Color and grain by First Sight · Superia. · First Sight 色彩與顆粒調校 · Superia
Illustration: Commuters walking through a station corridor.
FIRST SIGHTWEBGLIllustration: Commuters walking through a station corridor. · Color and grain by First Sight · Superia. · First Sight 色彩與顆粒調校 · Superia

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall: The dome ceiling is stunning. Dalongdong: Traditional temple motifs in modern mosaic. Beitou: The station itself is a work of art, matching the hot spring district's aesthetic.

Airport MRT

Direct line from Taoyuan International to Taipei Main Station (35 min, NT$160). Runs 6:00–23:00. The express skips local stops — check the train type before boarding.

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