We love the awesome public transportation in Taipei – especially the MRT!
We would write a reference guide for you on the practical details of how to use the it but the MRT has already done that for you! Their online English Operation Information Leaflet. is thorough and very user friendly. In fact, their whole site is chock full with helpful info!
Also, Wander Wisdom has an excellent article on why Taipei’s MRT is one of the top subway systems in Asia!
Once you start using the MRT yourself we’re sure you’ll be hooked! If you want some ideas for places to enjoy at each stop, check out the rest of our site. 🙂 And please if you find a hidden gem we missed – let us know!!
Taoyuan airport mrt
A small update on the MRT. Until April of 2017, the only airport in Taipei with a direct metro connection was Songshan airport (TSA). It does have international flights, but only to Japan, mainland China, and Korea. Most international travelers will arrive in Taoyuan airport (TPE) That now also has a express line to downtown Taipei! The airport express runs on a slightly different system from the Metro and it is a long walk between Taipei Main’s regular MRT lines over to Taoyuan purple line. In fact, we suggest using the Beimen stop to do the transfer. The other big tip for using this line is that there are two different types of subway routes going each way. So its not enough just to check that you are going in the right direction. If you are trying to go to the airport make sure to get on the express train otherwise it will take twice as long which could be the difference between making your flight or not.
Single use MRT rides
Recently, we had a friend visit, and we used the MRT tokens to jump around on a few stops with her. Before we talked about how the downloadable usage leaflet is very helpful. It is, but they don’t cover single use trips in detail. The tokens aren’t really well 
explained, mainly because as a tourist you will get a greater value from a day or multi-day pass.
If you decide you need a single ride token, go to any MRT station. Inside there will be a number of automatic kiosks like the one you see us using here. Above the Kiosk is a station map. If you look closely, you will see a number next to each other station. That is the cost to get to your destination from your current location. The kiosks can be used in English, will accept coins, and give change. I have a sample of a fare map below. Most single trips are going to be in the 20-30 NT range. Super cheap! But if you are going to do more than 3 or 4 trips, a unlimited day pass for 150 NT is the way to go.
Don’t forget that when you scan your token on the way in, you have to keep it to get through the turnstile on the way out at your destination station. To exit, there is a small coin sized slot that you drop your token into. It will happily take your coin and let you pass through. If for some reason you
didn’t put enough fare on it, you will have to take it to the station attendant next to each bank of turnstiles so you can pay the difference. 
Remember these are one-way “tickets” and you don’t get to use it for multiple rides.
Routes:
We hope you are now feeling inspired and empowered to go jump on an MRT line and explore! If you want some suggestions for great places to check out off of each line click bellow.
- Things to do off the MRT’s Brown Line – a station by station guide
- Things to do off the MRT’s Green Line – a station by station guide
- Things to do off the MRT’s Blue Line – a station by station guide
- Things to do off the MRT’s Red Line – a station by guide
- Things to do off the MRT’s Orange Line – a station by station guide (we’re still developing this one!)