Here’s the travel guide for Deep China Travel:
Getting around Taipei using the MRT is brilliantly simple and efficient! It’s absolutely the best way for travelers to explore the city. Taipei’s MRT system is clean, safe, affordable, and incredibly well-connected, zipping you effortlessly to almost every major landmark and neighborhood. Simply grab an EasyCard (available at station kiosks or convenience stores like 7-Eleven), tap in when you enter a station, and tap out when you leave. EasyCard top-ups are a breeze. Use Google Maps or the official Taipei MRT app for real-time schedules and the easiest route planning. Stations have clear maps and signage in English, and announcements are multilingual. Just follow the colored lines to your destination!
The dense network covers central Taipei comprehensively, making attractions like Taipei 101 (Taipei 101/World Trade Center Station), Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (CKS Memorial Hall Station), and the bustling shopping district of Ximending (Ximen Station) incredibly accessible. Trains are frequent, especially during peak hours (every 2-6 minutes), and run from around 6:00 AM until midnight. Fares are distance-based but very reasonable (generally NT$20-50 per trip), and using the EasyCard gives you a discount. Seriously, navigating Taipei using the MRT is so straightforward it takes all the stress out of getting around, freeing you up to focus on the amazing sights, sounds, and tastes of the city.
How Can I Navigate Taipei’s Key MRT Routes?
Understand the main lines for efficiency. The Taipei MRT consists of several color-coded lines:
- Red Line (Tamsui-Xinyi Line): Crucial! Links Tamsui (old street, riverside) in the north to Xiangshan (Elephant Mountain trailhead) in the east, passing through Taipei Main Station (transport hub), CKS Memorial Hall, and Taipei 101. Essential for north-south and core east-west travel.
- Blue Line (Bannan Line): The major east-west artery
