Taoyuan Airport to Taipei by MRT: arrival guide

From Taoyuan Airport, Taoyuan Tourism lists the Airport MRT Express at 35 minutes between Taipei Main Station and Terminal 1, and 39 minutes to Terminal 2. Choose the train by its stopping pattern and your hotel’s station, not by the airport line alone. For mobile data on arrival, see our Taiwan eSIM plans.

Plan the Airport MRT and the final leg together

For an arrival at Taoyuan International Airport, save your terminal, airport rail station and accommodation’s final station or pickup point. The Airport MRT can get you into Taipei, but a booking address and the correct entrance matter just as much as the airport train.

The useful starting codes are A12 for Airport Terminal 1, A13 for Airport Terminal 2 and A1 for Taipei Main Station. Confirm your arrival terminal with your airline and use the station signs to match the route you prepared. This guide covers Taoyuan arrivals into Taipei; it does not cover arrival at Songshan Airport. Taoyuan Metro’s passenger guide

Choose a train by its stopping pattern

Taoyuan Metro distinguishes Express, Commuter and other service patterns in its current station guide. Express services have selected stops; Commuter services stop at each station. Read the destination and service information before boarding instead of assuming every train follows the same pattern. Official train service notes

If A1 is your chosen interchange, prepare what comes after it: the onward line, station, exit and walk or pickup to your property. If another stop fits your route better, verify that the service you choose calls there. Check current train information near departure and again on arrival, particularly if your flight is delayed.

Arrival decision	What to check online	What to save on the phone
Airport rail	Terminal station, train destination and stopping pattern	A12 or A13, intended destination and service choice
Onward metro	Route from the interchange to the accommodation’s station	Line, direction, transfer and final station
Final entrance	Property’s preferred exit, address and check-in instructions	Traditional Chinese address and entrance details
Transfer alternative	Availability from your terminal to your address	Booking confirmation and meeting instructions

The airport railway connects with other rail and metro services, so choose a route around the actual destination rather than the airport line alone. Taoyuan Tourism’s Airport MRT overview

Download the route map before you need it

Taipei City Government directs passengers to download the metro Route Map or Operation Information Leaflet, or scan a station information-counter QR code. Its guidance says metro stations no longer provide paper maps or brochures. Prepare the download while you have a working connection. Official metro map guidance

Save a readable copy, then check it offline. Add your chosen route as a short note because a network map does not tell you which entrance your accommodation recommends. Keep the accommodation name and address in Traditional Chinese as well as the booking’s English wording; you can show the original address when asking for help.

Save the final walk separately: Google Maps does not provide offline walking or transit directions. Google Maps offline guidance

Complete the Taiwan Arrival Card online

Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency says foreign nationals entering on a visitor visa or under visa exemption complete the Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC) entirely online, free of charge, within three days before arrival, at twac.immigration.gov.tw. Use that official address, and check the agency’s page for the current rule before you fly. Do it on home Wi-Fi and keep the confirmation where you can open it offline. National Immigration Agency’s TWAC notice

Train times and paying for the ride

Taoyuan Metro’s timetable for the Terminal 1 station (A12) shows the first train toward Taipei Main Station at 05:58 and the last at 23:37, with departures roughly every 6 to 15 minutes. It calls the timetable a reference and says actual times depend on operating conditions, so check on your arrival date. Taoyuan Metro timetable for A12

Taoyuan Tourism lists EasyCard, iPass and ICASH 2.0 among the cards the Airport MRT accepts. If your flight may land close to the last train, agree a pickup or know how you will get to your hotel by road. Taoyuan Tourism’s Airport MRT page

If the trip continues to mainland China or Hong Kong, the China, Hong Kong, Macao & Taiwan (Greater China+) eSIM covers all four on one eSIM, and its page lists the data, days and start rule. For Japan or South Korea as well, compare East Asia eSIM plans.

Prepare the phone without starting validity accidentally

Read the selected eSIM package’s compatibility, installation and activation instructions. Confirm Taiwan is usable coverage for the option you choose, and match its validity to the trip; the plan’s own facts list both. Use the eSIM installation guide to prepare the setup; install only when the package instructions say to, because installation can start some plans’ validity.

Store the setup instructions somewhere accessible. If your confirmation is buried in an email account that requires a new login, resolve that before departure. Keep account recovery and booking access practical without relying on receiving an unexpected verification message overseas.

Ask your accommodation how it wants to hear from you on arrival. Agree a method supported by the phone service you intend to use and save the details with the booking. If a pickup depends on a telephone call, settle the calling arrangement before departure.

Complete the arrival checklist before leaving the terminal

• Open the saved accommodation address and booking reference.
• Confirm the rail destination and your onward route.
• Send a check-in or arrival message if the property expects one.
• Keep a working contact channel for a prearranged pickup.
• Put the route note within easy reach and preserve battery for the final entrance.

Taoyuan Tourism lists Wi-Fi on the Airport MRT, but treat it as a possible extra connection rather than the basis of your arrival plan. A saved route remains useful when a connection is unavailable. Airport MRT services

Common questions

How long does the Airport MRT take from Taoyuan Airport to Taipei Main Station?

Taoyuan Tourism lists the Express at 35 minutes between Taipei Main Station and Terminal 1, and 39 minutes to Terminal 2. The Commuter train stops at every station, so it takes longer. Check the service you board.

Are Taoyuan and Songshan the same arrival?

No. This workflow starts at Taoyuan’s A12 or A13 airport rail stations. Check the airport on your flight booking.

Is an Airport MRT ticket the whole hotel journey?

Plan the onward route separately. Your property may require another line, a walk or a pickup after the airport railway.

Can I rely on collecting a paper metro map?

Download one before departure; the city government directs passengers to digital maps and station QR codes.

Do I need to fill in an arrival card for Taiwan?

Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency says foreign visitors on a visitor visa or visa exemption complete the Taiwan Arrival Card online, free of charge, within three days before arrival. Use only the official website, twac.immigration.gov.tw, and check the current rule before you fly.