Travel within Taiwan
Taiwan being a develop country, it is efficient, convenient, fast and easy to travel around within Taiwan.
When driving in Taiwan, is good to prepare and planed your routes of advance before moving out, because the directional signs are in Chinese and of course with "English" too (but the English are mainly form of Ping Ying). Beware of the rugged mountain road, all roads linking the east and west are never straight raod, is always rugged because you need to round the mountain to get across to the other side of the country.
If you want to make use of the public transport, it is good to get someone to write your destination in Chinese and show it to the driver (Taixi or Buses).
When driving in Taiwan, is good to prepare and planed your routes of advance before moving out, because the directional signs are in Chinese and of course with "English" too (but the English are mainly form of Ping Ying). Beware of the rugged mountain road, all roads linking the east and west are never straight raod, is always rugged because you need to round the mountain to get across to the other side of the country.
If you want to make use of the public transport, it is good to get someone to write your destination in Chinese and show it to the driver (Taixi or Buses).
Following are introduction of various means of transport for your reference:
Travel within the city:
Mass Rapid Transit (MRT 捷運）
The faster way to go around the city of Taipei and Kaohsiung, these are the two cities in Taiwan that operate this metro system (underground, sub-way or MTR). It is safe, clean, convenient and reliable. Directional signs and ticket machines are in both Chinese and English.
You may get the "easy card" (in Taipei) from the MRT station instead of buying your ticket at the machines each and every time you need to travel. In Kaohsiung you don't use "easy card", but the "i-card".
Use your smart phone to download the MRT station map for your easy travelling.
City Bus:
Buses are still the favorite public transportation for most Taiwanese. The good points are the flat rate bus fare and the extensive network, which reaches a lot of places where the train may not reach.
Almost all city buses have English LED displays signs at the front inside the bust to announce the next station.
If you are not sure which side of the road to board the bus, check the bus stop's information, it show the direction of the bus rotues.
The interesting part of the bus is sometime you board at the front door sometime you board at the back door, it all depend on you pay first or you pay later. The fare for bus is a flat rate, it is not important of how far you travel, you may drops coins into the box next to the driver or use your "easy card" to pay for your fare.
Taxi
Taxi are common and obviously more for local travelling, but in the smaller city you may not be able to find taxi on the road, you normally need to "dial-a-cab", ask people around you (remeber we told you that Taiwanese are friendly people) or check with your smart phone for "dial-a-cab".
Taxi also be able to travel from city to city, do not worry about the driver will cheat you, they always clock the meter, but you must check with them does that include toll fees, some taxi driver absorb the toll fees some don't. Oh, yes you can check with the taxi driver about the estimate fare before you move out, this is to make sure you have enough cash in hand, then ask them to clock the meter.
Rent a bicycle
You are able to rent bicycle in most of the cities, the city bicycle are run by the city government, and normally those outside the place of interest's bicycle are run by privately or by the authority concert.
City bike or "Public bike for rent" in Taipei is known as "U-bike", New Taipei is known as "U-bike" and "New-bike", Kaohsiung known as "City-bike", Tainan known as "Tainan Tour-bike", Taichung known as "i-bike" and Pingtung known as "P-bike".
There is bicycles for long distance trips, for example a round island expedition, for this check with the respectable manufacture in Taiwan, Giant (http://giant-bicycles.com)
Rent a Scooter:
There are lots of scooter renting companies, but before you rent the scooter you need to prodcue a valid "international dringing license".
We do not encourge renting and riding scooter in major cities, e.g.: Taipei, New Taipei, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung. These cities are full of scooter and you as a new rider in major city may not be safe because you are not familar with the palces and also there are many other area of traffic rules which will be very much difference from the country you are from, for example there is a so call "waiting area" for left turn scooter at the raod junction for left turn scooter, there are scooter lane design for scooter use only and some traffic lights are design for scooter only and express way is not allow too.
Anyway, it is not easy for a foreigner to rent a scooter in Taiwan, reason is that most of the scooter renting companies are privately run, the owner of the stall will have problem going after you for any traffic fines after you left Taiwan if there is any.
Rent a car
It will be fun and very much convenient way to get around Taiwan is to rent a car, but driving in major cities can be extremely stressful and dangerous for inexperienced and unfamiliare with Taiwan roads conditions' driver. Taiwan is a left hand drive country, the highway speed limit is 100kmph to 110kmph, the other raods speed limits generally range from 50 to 70kmph and speed traps are very common.
Rental fees depend on the model and capacity of the car you want, a 1,600c.c. Japanese made car is about NT$2,200 or above for one day. Please check with the company whether the rentaled car come with insurance,. Suggest that you rent your car with a bigger and more reliable car renting company.
You can also rent a car with driver, which we recommend for those first timer in Taiwan. Of course you can engaged me too.
Travel within the city:
Mass Rapid Transit (MRT 捷運）
The faster way to go around the city of Taipei and Kaohsiung, these are the two cities in Taiwan that operate this metro system (underground, sub-way or MTR). It is safe, clean, convenient and reliable. Directional signs and ticket machines are in both Chinese and English.
You may get the "easy card" (in Taipei) from the MRT station instead of buying your ticket at the machines each and every time you need to travel. In Kaohsiung you don't use "easy card", but the "i-card".
Use your smart phone to download the MRT station map for your easy travelling.
City Bus:
Buses are still the favorite public transportation for most Taiwanese. The good points are the flat rate bus fare and the extensive network, which reaches a lot of places where the train may not reach.
Almost all city buses have English LED displays signs at the front inside the bust to announce the next station.
If you are not sure which side of the road to board the bus, check the bus stop's information, it show the direction of the bus rotues.
The interesting part of the bus is sometime you board at the front door sometime you board at the back door, it all depend on you pay first or you pay later. The fare for bus is a flat rate, it is not important of how far you travel, you may drops coins into the box next to the driver or use your "easy card" to pay for your fare.
Taxi
Taxi are common and obviously more for local travelling, but in the smaller city you may not be able to find taxi on the road, you normally need to "dial-a-cab", ask people around you (remeber we told you that Taiwanese are friendly people) or check with your smart phone for "dial-a-cab".
Taxi also be able to travel from city to city, do not worry about the driver will cheat you, they always clock the meter, but you must check with them does that include toll fees, some taxi driver absorb the toll fees some don't. Oh, yes you can check with the taxi driver about the estimate fare before you move out, this is to make sure you have enough cash in hand, then ask them to clock the meter.
Rent a bicycle
You are able to rent bicycle in most of the cities, the city bicycle are run by the city government, and normally those outside the place of interest's bicycle are run by privately or by the authority concert.
City bike or "Public bike for rent" in Taipei is known as "U-bike", New Taipei is known as "U-bike" and "New-bike", Kaohsiung known as "City-bike", Tainan known as "Tainan Tour-bike", Taichung known as "i-bike" and Pingtung known as "P-bike".
There is bicycles for long distance trips, for example a round island expedition, for this check with the respectable manufacture in Taiwan, Giant (http://giant-bicycles.com)
Rent a Scooter:
There are lots of scooter renting companies, but before you rent the scooter you need to prodcue a valid "international dringing license".
We do not encourge renting and riding scooter in major cities, e.g.: Taipei, New Taipei, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung. These cities are full of scooter and you as a new rider in major city may not be safe because you are not familar with the palces and also there are many other area of traffic rules which will be very much difference from the country you are from, for example there is a so call "waiting area" for left turn scooter at the raod junction for left turn scooter, there are scooter lane design for scooter use only and some traffic lights are design for scooter only and express way is not allow too.
Anyway, it is not easy for a foreigner to rent a scooter in Taiwan, reason is that most of the scooter renting companies are privately run, the owner of the stall will have problem going after you for any traffic fines after you left Taiwan if there is any.
Rent a car
It will be fun and very much convenient way to get around Taiwan is to rent a car, but driving in major cities can be extremely stressful and dangerous for inexperienced and unfamiliare with Taiwan roads conditions' driver. Taiwan is a left hand drive country, the highway speed limit is 100kmph to 110kmph, the other raods speed limits generally range from 50 to 70kmph and speed traps are very common.
Rental fees depend on the model and capacity of the car you want, a 1,600c.c. Japanese made car is about NT$2,200 or above for one day. Please check with the company whether the rentaled car come with insurance,. Suggest that you rent your car with a bigger and more reliable car renting company.
You can also rent a car with driver, which we recommend for those first timer in Taiwan. Of course you can engaged me too.
Travel from City to City:
By Air:
Domestic flight in Taiwan is quite common, for people who want to save time and want to travel to outlying island (Lanyu, Lvdao, Kinmen, Mastu and Penghu).
Domestic Airports:
Taipei Songshan Airport, Hualien Airport, Taitung Airport, Lanyu (Orchid Island), Lvdao (Green Island), Taichung Airprot, Chiayi Airport, Tainan Airport, Kaohsiung Airport, Kinmen Airport, Magong Airport (Penghu), Wang'an Airport (Penghu), Qimei Airport (Penghu), Matsu Edigan and Mastu Nangan.
Following are the destination for domestic flights:
Taipei to Hualien, Taitung, Kinmen, Magong (Penghu), Matsu Deigan and Mastu Nangan.
Kaohsiung to Hualien, Kinmen, Magong (Penghu), Wang'an (Penghu) and Qimei (Penghu).
Taichung to Hualien, Kinmen, Magong (Penghu) and Mastu Nangan.
Chiayi - Kinmen and Magong (Penghu)
Taitung - Taipei, Lanyu (Orchid Island) and Lvdao(Green Isalnd).
By Ferry:
To visit to outlying island, other than by air you may opt for ferry too.
But depend on which outlying island you are going to, following we show you the duration and port of call:
1. From Taitung Fukang Port to Lvdao (Green Island) takes about 50 minutes to 1hour.
2. From Taitung Fukang Port to Lanyu (Orchid Island) takes about 2 hours.
3. Going to Matsu from Keelung will take about 10 hours.
4. Going to Kinmen from Kaohsiung Will take about 8 hours
5. Going to Penghu from Kaohsiung will take about 4 to 6 hours.
6. Going to Penghu from Taichung takes about 1hour and 50 minutes.
7. Going to Penghu from Chiayi takes about 70 minutes.
8. Going to Little Liuqiu from Pingtung Tunggang take about 20 minutes.
Taiwan High Speed Rail
The THSR runs from Taipei to Kaohsiung in 1 hour 35 minutes to 2 hours which travel at the speed of about 300kmph for the distant of 345 Km., currently eight stations are operating on the western corridor: Taipei, Banqiao, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Taichung (also known as Wuri), Chiayi, Tainan and Zuoying (kaohsiung). Other than Taipei, most of the stations are outside city center, this mean you have to take shuttle service for a travelers looking to stay in the heart of major cities. For Zuoying (Kaohsiung) station there is MRT to connect to the town center and railway to connect to other citiies of the southern part or eastern part of Taiwan.
By Rail Way
The TRA forms a loop around Taiwan and it connects all cities, including the western line, the estern line, the northern line and the souther line, provides convenient travel in a number of train's classes:
Tze Chiang Line (Ziqiang Hao 自强号）
The fastest and stop at lesser stations.
Fare is the second highest if high speed train is also take into consideration.
This car come with air-conditional and assigned seating.
Taroko Express （太鲁阁号）
Also know as Tze-Chiang Line - Taroko Express, is a sub-line of Tze Chiang, therefore, the fare rates is the same as Tze Chiang line.
Assiged seats with no standing ticket.
Mainly travel between Changhua to Taipei and Hualien.
Speed of train is the same as Tze Chiang Line with air-conditional.
Puyuma Express （普优玛号）
Is a new line, started it operation in year 2014, is the Taitung Governmentt and Taiwan Railway project.
Spees of train and fare rates are the same as Tze Chaing line, assigned seat with no standing on board.
Mainly travel between Changhua to Taipei via Hualien to Taitung.
Chu-Kuang Line (Juguang Hao 莒光号）
Speed of train is fast but second to Tze-Chiang line.
Fare is lower than Tze-Chiang line, with assigned seating and standing ticket is possible, therefore, during the Taiwan holiday season this train can be very packed, sometime you don't even have a place to stand.
Car is with air-conditional.
Fu-Hsing Line (Fuxing Hao 复兴号）
Stop at more station as compare to Tze-Chiang and Chu-Kuang line.
Because of more stoping time, the train is a much slower train.
With air-conditional, seating and standing capacity, seating ticket is not assigned.
Local Express (Qujian Kuai 区间快） and Local Train (Qujian Che 区间车）
These two lines are to support the Fu-Hsing and Tze-Chiang line, it travel to some smaller stations.
Mainly is a short to medium distance commuter train.
All trains are with air-conditional.
Buying your train ticket:
Buying through Internet
Go to the Taiwan Railways Administration Wesite and click "English" at the top right hand icon to start your booking.
The "English" site is for foreigner to book their train ticket in advance.
After your booking and payment online, you may collect your train ticket at the "Ticket Counters" in any train station, post office or convenience store(7-eleven, Hi-life, Family mart or OK mart) 30 mintues before boarding.
Show your passport to the courter and tell them you are here to collect your train ticket will do.
You may go to any of the convenience store to purchase your train ticket too, but is better to go online to booked your ticket, because the ticketing machine in the convenience store need you to key in your local ID number which you do not have, so if going to the convenience store to do you purchase you may ask your Taiwanese friend, the Homestay Owner or the convenience store's staff (but the convenience store's staff is not obligated to do it for you).
If you find the above train lines are complicated, foret about it, just go to the train station, convenience store or go online to do your purchase, that way is much easier, you just need to input your boarding station and destination the computer will do the search for you. At this point of time.
By long distant bus (Intercity bus service)
Buses are cheaper than trains, and your boarding time is not tide up, because the buses normally move out almost every half an hour. So your waiting time could be at most half an hour in the bus station.
The good buses will have extremely comfortable ari-condition coach with big coy single massage seats, movies andon-board toilet.
Make sure you keep your ticket after you board the bus, cause upon you delight the driver will required you to return the bus ticket, if you lose it you might be ask to pay for the fare again.
For intercity buses, the west coast has more than the east coast, because population in Taitung is about 220,000 and with a 176Km coaster line and Hualien has populartion of 330,000 and with the ccoaster line of 124Km. So if you intend to travel from West coast to East Coast is best transport is by railway.
The fomous bus companies are Kuo-Kuang, Ubus, Ho-hsin, Aloha and Kamalan. Most of these buses terminal are near to the railway station. Ticket are to be purchase in the terminals.
By Air:
Domestic flight in Taiwan is quite common, for people who want to save time and want to travel to outlying island (Lanyu, Lvdao, Kinmen, Mastu and Penghu).
Domestic Airports:
Taipei Songshan Airport, Hualien Airport, Taitung Airport, Lanyu (Orchid Island), Lvdao (Green Island), Taichung Airprot, Chiayi Airport, Tainan Airport, Kaohsiung Airport, Kinmen Airport, Magong Airport (Penghu), Wang'an Airport (Penghu), Qimei Airport (Penghu), Matsu Edigan and Mastu Nangan.
Following are the destination for domestic flights:
Taipei to Hualien, Taitung, Kinmen, Magong (Penghu), Matsu Deigan and Mastu Nangan.
Kaohsiung to Hualien, Kinmen, Magong (Penghu), Wang'an (Penghu) and Qimei (Penghu).
Taichung to Hualien, Kinmen, Magong (Penghu) and Mastu Nangan.
Chiayi - Kinmen and Magong (Penghu)
Taitung - Taipei, Lanyu (Orchid Island) and Lvdao(Green Isalnd).
By Ferry:
To visit to outlying island, other than by air you may opt for ferry too.
But depend on which outlying island you are going to, following we show you the duration and port of call:
1. From Taitung Fukang Port to Lvdao (Green Island) takes about 50 minutes to 1hour.
2. From Taitung Fukang Port to Lanyu (Orchid Island) takes about 2 hours.
3. Going to Matsu from Keelung will take about 10 hours.
4. Going to Kinmen from Kaohsiung Will take about 8 hours
5. Going to Penghu from Kaohsiung will take about 4 to 6 hours.
6. Going to Penghu from Taichung takes about 1hour and 50 minutes.
7. Going to Penghu from Chiayi takes about 70 minutes.
8. Going to Little Liuqiu from Pingtung Tunggang take about 20 minutes.
Taiwan High Speed Rail
The THSR runs from Taipei to Kaohsiung in 1 hour 35 minutes to 2 hours which travel at the speed of about 300kmph for the distant of 345 Km., currently eight stations are operating on the western corridor: Taipei, Banqiao, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Taichung (also known as Wuri), Chiayi, Tainan and Zuoying (kaohsiung). Other than Taipei, most of the stations are outside city center, this mean you have to take shuttle service for a travelers looking to stay in the heart of major cities. For Zuoying (Kaohsiung) station there is MRT to connect to the town center and railway to connect to other citiies of the southern part or eastern part of Taiwan.
By Rail Way
The TRA forms a loop around Taiwan and it connects all cities, including the western line, the estern line, the northern line and the souther line, provides convenient travel in a number of train's classes:
Tze Chiang Line (Ziqiang Hao 自强号）
The fastest and stop at lesser stations.
Fare is the second highest if high speed train is also take into consideration.
This car come with air-conditional and assigned seating.
Taroko Express （太鲁阁号）
Also know as Tze-Chiang Line - Taroko Express, is a sub-line of Tze Chiang, therefore, the fare rates is the same as Tze Chiang line.
Assiged seats with no standing ticket.
Mainly travel between Changhua to Taipei and Hualien.
Speed of train is the same as Tze Chiang Line with air-conditional.
Puyuma Express （普优玛号）
Is a new line, started it operation in year 2014, is the Taitung Governmentt and Taiwan Railway project.
Spees of train and fare rates are the same as Tze Chaing line, assigned seat with no standing on board.
Mainly travel between Changhua to Taipei via Hualien to Taitung.
Chu-Kuang Line (Juguang Hao 莒光号）
Speed of train is fast but second to Tze-Chiang line.
Fare is lower than Tze-Chiang line, with assigned seating and standing ticket is possible, therefore, during the Taiwan holiday season this train can be very packed, sometime you don't even have a place to stand.
Car is with air-conditional.
Fu-Hsing Line (Fuxing Hao 复兴号）
Stop at more station as compare to Tze-Chiang and Chu-Kuang line.
Because of more stoping time, the train is a much slower train.
With air-conditional, seating and standing capacity, seating ticket is not assigned.
Local Express (Qujian Kuai 区间快） and Local Train (Qujian Che 区间车）
These two lines are to support the Fu-Hsing and Tze-Chiang line, it travel to some smaller stations.
Mainly is a short to medium distance commuter train.
All trains are with air-conditional.
Buying your train ticket:
Buying through Internet
Go to the Taiwan Railways Administration Wesite and click "English" at the top right hand icon to start your booking.
The "English" site is for foreigner to book their train ticket in advance.
After your booking and payment online, you may collect your train ticket at the "Ticket Counters" in any train station, post office or convenience store(7-eleven, Hi-life, Family mart or OK mart) 30 mintues before boarding.
Show your passport to the courter and tell them you are here to collect your train ticket will do.
You may go to any of the convenience store to purchase your train ticket too, but is better to go online to booked your ticket, because the ticketing machine in the convenience store need you to key in your local ID number which you do not have, so if going to the convenience store to do you purchase you may ask your Taiwanese friend, the Homestay Owner or the convenience store's staff (but the convenience store's staff is not obligated to do it for you).
If you find the above train lines are complicated, foret about it, just go to the train station, convenience store or go online to do your purchase, that way is much easier, you just need to input your boarding station and destination the computer will do the search for you. At this point of time.
By long distant bus (Intercity bus service)
Buses are cheaper than trains, and your boarding time is not tide up, because the buses normally move out almost every half an hour. So your waiting time could be at most half an hour in the bus station.
The good buses will have extremely comfortable ari-condition coach with big coy single massage seats, movies andon-board toilet.
Make sure you keep your ticket after you board the bus, cause upon you delight the driver will required you to return the bus ticket, if you lose it you might be ask to pay for the fare again.
For intercity buses, the west coast has more than the east coast, because population in Taitung is about 220,000 and with a 176Km coaster line and Hualien has populartion of 330,000 and with the ccoaster line of 124Km. So if you intend to travel from West coast to East Coast is best transport is by railway.
The fomous bus companies are Kuo-Kuang, Ubus, Ho-hsin, Aloha and Kamalan. Most of these buses terminal are near to the railway station. Ticket are to be purchase in the terminals.
