Arriving in Taipei: Airport MRT, Paying by Bank Card, and EasyCard

How to get from Taoyuan airport into Taipei by the Airport MRT, how to tap a contactless bank card on the Taipei Metro, where to buy an EasyCard, the metro passes and the emergency numbers.

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✓ Checked and fact-checked November 4, 2026

A Taipei street in the evening after rain, scooters waiting at a crossing beside arcaded shopfronts, a metro viaduct and green mountains beyond

Most international flights to Taipei land at Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), west of the city. File the Taiwan Arrival Card before you fly, and check what Taiwan customs allows, especially on pork products.

The Airport MRT

The Taoyuan Airport MRT runs from the airport terminals to Taipei Main Station (A1). The operator’s timetable shows the first listed departure at 05:30 and the last at 23:38. Its timetable page does not give fares or journey times, and the airport’s fare page did not load for us on 4 November 2026.

For a short stay, Taoyuan Metro sells two combined tickets at A1 Taipei Main Station and at A12 and A13, the Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 stations:

Airport MRT round trip plus a Taipei Metro 48-hour pass: NT$520.
Airport MRT round trip plus a Taipei Metro 72-hour pass: NT$600.

Taxis from the airport

Taiwan’s Tourism Administration says only that “Charges may be added for highways or late-night travel.” We found no official page that sets out the airport taxi surcharge, so ask the driver before you set off. The Taoyuan Airport taxi complaint line is +886-3-398-5558.

Tapping a bank card on the Taipei Metro

Taipei Metro accepts “physical contactless bank cards: Visa, Mastercard, JCB, UnionPay, Diners Club, or Discover cards” at the gates. Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay work when they are linked to a bank card. On an iPhone, Apple Pay Express Mode works only when the card is set as the “Express Transit Card”.

Ticket counters take Visa, Mastercard and JCB. The ticket machines take cash only for single-journey tickets.

Infographic, step 2 of 5. Tap your bank card at Taipei Metro gates: Visa, Mastercard, JCB, UnionPay, Diners Club and Discover. Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay linked to a bank card work too. Ticket counters take Visa, Mastercard and JCB. On iPhone, set the card as your Express Transit Card for Express Mode. — Step 2 of 5. Illustration by Travel Smarter Asia.

EasyCard

EasyCard is Taipei’s stored-value travel card. The company says “These standard fare cards cost NT$100 each, exclusive of a deposit and balance”, and sells them at “Four major convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Hi-Life, OK Mart)” and its customer service centre.

Taipei Metro passes

Taipei Metro sells unlimited-travel passes at every station information counter, valid from first use:

24 hours: NT$180.
48 hours: NT$280.
72 hours: NT$380.

Infographic, step 4 of 5. Taipei Metro passes, unlimited rides from first use: NT$180 for 24 hours, NT$280 for 48 hours, NT$380 for 72 hours. Sold at every Taipei Metro station information counter. — Step 4 of 5. Illustration by Travel Smarter Asia.

If you would rather not rely on roaming, a Saily eSIM bought before the flight is working by the time you reach the Airport MRT. It is one profile for the whole trip, so you top up Saily for the next country instead of buying another SIM.

Emergency numbers

The Tourism Administration lists these, all free to call:

Police: 110.
Fire and ambulance: 119.
Emergency call with poor mobile reception: 112.
24-hour toll-free travel information hotline: 0800-011-765.

It also warns that phones without VoLTE cannot call 110, 112 or 119, because Taiwan switched off its 3G network on 30 June 2024. Check that your phone supports VoLTE on a Taiwanese network before you travel. If your trip ends in the south, the metro from Kaohsiung’s airport covers the Red Line into the city.

Infographic, step 5 of 5. Emergency numbers, free to call in Taiwan: 110 police, 119 fire and ambulance, 112 with poor reception. Travel hotline, 24 hours, toll-free: 0800-011-765. Phones without VoLTE cannot call 110, 112 or 119, because Taiwan switched off 3G. — Step 5 of 5. Illustration by Travel Smarter Asia.

Saily, a data eSIM you install before you fly and top up per country Our full write-up. (affiliate link)