Taipei Metro (for 2023) 🚄 The Complete Guide to 131 Stations and 6 Lines

Getting Around Taipei || Your Pocket Guide to the Taipei Metro (2023 Update)

Public transport in Taiwan is a dream and getting around couldn’t be easier. This is thanks to the Taipei Metro (more commonly known as the Taipei MRT).

Taipei is not a small city after all.

Sure you can get around on foot here and there, but when it comes to it, if you’re wanting to get from 象山 to 淡水, trust us, you ain’t walking!

The quickest, most efficient, and cost-effective way to get about in Taipei is without any doubt, the Taipei Metro.

So today we bring you a complete go-to guide on how to use the Metro in Taipei, and the key stations and stops to get familiar with.

Taipei Metro || Quick Facts

Taipei Metro || The Lines

Taipei Metro || The Airport Line

Taipei Metro || The Easycard

Taipei Metro || Other Tickets

Taipei Metro || A Look Inside

Taipei Metro || FAQs

PSST – if you want to see just how easy it is to ride the Metro in Taipei, check out our video with Alex below who shows us around.

Taipei Metro – Quick Facts

The Taipei MRT is widely regarded to be one of the world’s safest, cleanest and most efficient underground systems.

With lines to queue up, people waiting patiently, trains regular and always on time – the experience is a simple and smooth one even if you’re a newbie to life in Asia.

Taipei Metro – The Lines

The Taipei MRT has a total of 6 lines as of 2022.

These lines are:

• Wenhu Line (Brown)
• Tamsui / Xinyi Line (Red)
• Songshan / Xindian Line (Green)
• Zhonghe / Xinlu (Orange)
• Bannan Line (Blue)
• Circular Line (Yellow)

Each line has a varying number of stations but all play a key role in getting the 2 million daily riders around the city.

Here’s how each line stacks up with stations.

Wenhu Line 文湖 – The Brown Line

The Brown Wenhu Line (also known as Line 1) runs from Taipei Zoo to the Exhibition Centre, all based towards the east of Taipei city.

The 24 stations span over 25 kilometres in total.

The Wenhu line opened for passengers when in March 1996.

During rush hour on Line 1 trains come every 2 and a half minutes and during late evening (beyond 11pm) you’ll have to wait 12 minutes maximum for a train.

Tamsui-Xinyi Line 淡水信義 – The Red Line

With 28 stations the red line is Taipei’s longest, coming in at a total over 32 kilometres.

The two end points of the 淡水信義 line are in fact two of Taipei’s best spots:

Tamsui (淡水) – the wonderfully charming district that sits at the confluence of the Taiwan Strait and the Tamsui River.

Elephant Mountain AKA Xiangshan (象山) – a hugely popular hike with locals and tourists alike that provides amazing views of Taipei including the iconic 1010 building.

Line 2 hosts a number of key stations also as it cuts through the heart of the city:

• Taipei 101 – the world’s formerly tallest building
• Xinyi Anhe – home of LTL Taipei
• Da’an Park
• Taipei Main Station
• Shilin – Taipei’s biggest and most famous night market.

Songshan-Xindian 松山新店 – The Green Line

The green line plays host to 20 stations in total covering a distance of just over 20 kilometres.

At peak hours trains arrive every 3 minutes, with the longest possible wait being 12 minutes after 11 pm.

The green line comes from the south of the city, through the central area, and veers off east.

Included on this line is the famous Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial which draws thousands of visits every month.

Zhonghe-Xinlu 中和新蘆 – The Orange Line

The orange line splits off into two directions ending at either Luzhou or Xinzhuang.

In total there are 26 stations, 17 on the Luzhou side and, 21 on the Xinzhuang side – with 12 of the stations shared.

The line covers just shy of 30 kilometres in total.

The line covers mainly the south and western areas of Taipei city and was first opened on Christmas Eve of 1998.

Bannan 板南 – The Blue Line

The blue line covers 23 stations and just over 26 kilometres in total.

As with Line 1, the Bannan line starts at the Exhibition Centre on the far eastern side of the city, and cuts right through the centre of the city before finishing down in the southwest, at Dingpu station.

The blue line also cuts through Taipei Main Station making it a busy line for travellers with its easy connections to Taoyuan International Airport.

Circular 黃 – The Yellow Line

The final of the 6 main lines of the Taipei MRT is the yellow line.

With 14 stations, covering just over 15 kilometres this is the shortest line of the six.

The line is also the newest, opening in January 2020.

There are still a number of stations under construction on this line, and the planned completion is not until 2029, so expect this line to change and evolve year on year.

Currently, stage 1 (the western section) is the only section complete and running.

22 Chinese Colors And Meanings | PLUS Free Quiz

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Taipei Metro – The Airport Line

If you are reading this, chances are you are coming to Taipei soon. If so you’ll likely be landing at Taoyuan Airport and wanting to get to your accommodation quickly, without hassle.

QUICK NOTE – there is another airport called Songshan Airport but this is used far less especially internationally.

Thankfully for us all, the process is simple and seamless.

For someone with a rather poor sense of direction, I navigated this so easily. I actually ended up going back on the Airport line without any hassle to grab my girlfriend 3 days after arriving, and I didn’t get lost once!

Trust me, that’s a big win for me!

Anyway the Airport Line picks up from Terminals 1 and 2 and you’ll end up at Taipei Main Station, where you can continue your journey from there.

ONE KEY THING TO NOTE – there is a commuter train and an express train. Be sure to take the EXPRESS TRAIN.

Taking the commuter version still gets you to your destination, but it’ll take a damn sight longer given the fact the Express train takes 3 stops, and the commuter equivalent takes 12.

Also be sure to go the correct direction! The airport is located in the middle of the line. Most of you will need to head towards TAIPEI MAIN STATION, but there will be some of you who need to go the other way. Check before arriving where you are and the route needed.

Taipei Metro – The Easycard

The easiest way to get around Taipei day to day is using the Easycard. See what they did there!

You can grab an Easycard straight at the Airport which is signposted.

This means there’s no need to keep buying single tickets for every journey.

Even if you spend a long weekend in Taiwan, I’d recommend you get one of these.

EASYCARD COST – the standard fare cards come to NT$500 (about 17USD), which includes of a NT$400 balance and NT$100 deposit.

Take the card back when you depart, and get your deposit back before setting off home.

DID YOU KNOW – you can also use the Easycard in a taxi or as currency in convenience stores in Taipei!

Taipei Metro – Other Tickets

If you’d rather purchase tickets as you go then you have a number of options which include the following:

I maintain the best way to get around is by purchasing the Easycard upon arrival, you have plenty of options and staff at stations and counters are always willing to help as best they can.

There is another alternative also which is a monthly 1280 NTD pass that allows you to all-you-can-ride on MRT and bus, and gives you 30 minutes free on each uBike ride

Taipei Metro – A Look Inside

Want to see the Taipei Metro in action?

Check out our Taipei expert Alex who shows us around here…

Taipei Metro – FAQs

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