Getting Around Taiwan: EasyCard, HSR & MRT Guide
An EasyCard covers city buses and MRT nationwide on one card, High Speed Rail (HSR) covers the west-coast long hops between cities in under two hours for the busiest routes, and Taiwan Railway’s regular trains plus intercity buses fill in everywhere HSR doesn’t reach. This guide goes deeper into the mechanics of each than a general itinerary post does, specifically EasyCard logistics, HSR booking windows, and when a bus, regular train, or domestic flight beats HSR outright.
EasyCard: one card, the whole country
Buy an EasyCard at any convenience store (7-Eleven, FamilyMart) or MRT station kiosk on arrival for NT$101 ($3.15), then load it with cash at the same kiosks or convenience store counters. It works on MRT systems in Taipei and Kaohsiung, on city and intercity buses nationwide, and at convenience stores for everyday purchases. Reload as you go rather than estimating a lump sum upfront, kiosks are everywhere and reloading takes under a minute.
Verdict: buy this in your first hour on the ground and never think about city-transit payment again for the rest of the trip.
Taipei MRT vs. single-ride tickets
Taipei’s MRT covers the tourist core well, Zhongshan, Ximending, Shilin, Da’an, all reachable without a taxi. For a single day of moderate sightseeing, the EasyCard’s pay-per-ride fare usually beats a day pass. The Taipei Metro (MRT) Unlimited Travel Pass runs NT$136 ($4.25) and only pays for itself once you’re taking four or more rides in a day, museum-hopping or covering multiple districts without returning to base.
Verdict: default to EasyCard pay-as-you-go, upgrade to the day pass only on genuinely heavy-transit days.
Kaohsiung MRT: smaller network, same logic
Kaohsiung’s MRT is a smaller two-line system than Taipei’s, but it still reaches the city’s main draws, Pier-2 Art Center, the Love River, Lotus Pond. The Kaohsiung Metro (MRT) Unlimited Travel Pass runs NT$202 ($6.29), the same “four-plus rides” math applies before it beats a pay-as-you-go EasyCard.
Verdict: same rule as Taipei, EasyCard first, day pass only if you’re genuinely riding often that day.
High Speed Rail: fare tiers and booking mechanics
Taiwan’s High Speed Rail (THSR) runs the west coast spine, Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung, in standard and business class, standard covers nearly every traveler’s needs. Taipei to Kaohsiung runs under two hours in standard class, a route that would take most of a day by regular train or bus. Multi-day travelers who plan to ride HSR several times inside a short window can compare the THSR Pass (2-3 day flexible) at NT$2,207 ($68.89) or the broader Taiwan PASS (rail + MRT + tourist shuttle) at NT$1,706 ($53.25), both against booking single legs directly.
Book through Klook’s THSR ticket product or Taiwan Railway’s official booking channels well ahead of your travel date. Standard weekday travel needs only a few days of lead time; Lunar New Year, Tomb Sweeping Day, and any long domestic weekend can sell out a week or more ahead, book those windows as early as your dates are confirmed.
Verdict: default to standard class and single-leg tickets unless you’re riding HSR multiple times inside a short window, book early for any date overlapping a Taiwanese holiday, and don’t assume same-week availability during those stretches.
Regular trains and intercity buses: where HSR doesn’t reach
HSR only runs the west coast. Hualien, Taitung, and the entire east coast rely on Taiwan Railway’s regular (non-HSR) trains and intercity buses instead. The Taiwan Railway Formosa Express Themed Train is one example of the regular network’s inventory. Smaller mountain and coastal towns off both the HSR spine and the main rail lines, Wulai and Jiaoxi among them, are usually faster and just as cheap by intercity bus or a short scenic train connection than forcing an HSR-plus-transfer route.
Verdict: default to HSR for the west-coast spine, default to Taiwan Railway or intercity buses for the east coast and smaller towns off that spine, don’t force an HSR transfer when a direct regional train or bus covers the same ground.
When a domestic flight beats HSR
For the far south (Kenting-adjacent Hengchun) or outlying islands like Penghu and Kinmen, a short domestic flight or ferry beats HSR outright, HSR simply doesn’t reach those routes. The Kaohsiung-Penghu Ferry runs NT$822 ($25.65) and is the practical option for that specific island hop, no flight needed if a ferry schedule fits your dates.
Verdict: HSR for the mainland west coast, ferry or flight for outlying islands, don’t try to route an island trip through the rail network at all.
Airport transfers: Taoyuan and Songshan
Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) serves nearly all international arrivals and connects to Taipei via the Taoyuan Airport MRT, the cheapest option into the city center. Private transfers and the CitiAir Bus cost more but save a transfer if your hotel isn’t near an MRT-connected station. Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA), used mostly for domestic flights and some regional international routes, sits directly on the MRT network already, no separate airport rail system needed.
Verdict: Taoyuan Airport MRT for the lowest cost if your hotel is near a station on that line, a private transfer or bus if it’s not, and don’t overthink Songshan, it’s already on the regular MRT.
Putting it together: a realistic multi-city transit day
A Taipei-to-Kaohsiung travel day looks like this: EasyCard-covered MRT or taxi to Taipei Main Station, THSR standard class to Kaohsiung (under two hours), then EasyCard-covered MRT or bus from Kaohsiung Station to your hotel. No separate ticketing system to learn beyond the one HSR booking itself. Adding the east coast (Hualien, Taitung) to that route means a Taiwan Railway regular-train leg or an intercity bus, budget extra time specifically for that leg since it isn’t on the HSR network at all.
How this differs from the general itinerary guide
The Taiwan budget itinerary guide covers EasyCard and HSR at the level a first-time itinerary needs, enough to plan how many days and which cities. This guide goes deeper into the actual mechanics, MRT day-pass math, HSR fare tiers and booking windows, and when a regular train, bus, or ferry beats HSR outright, for anyone who wants the transit layer solved in detail before landing. Pair this with the Taiwan pre-trip checklist for the full arrival sequence, EasyCard purchase, map app setup, and first HSR booking all happen in roughly that order.
Transit details verified as of July 13, 2026.
Book these while you’re there
Taipei: Cultural Food Tour at Local Market with 12+1 Tasters
Taipei 101 Observatory Ticket
Taipei: National Taiwan Beer Brewery Tour Unlimited Tastings
Taiwan High Speed Rail Ticket for non-Taiwanese
Full-Day Private Northern Taiwan Tour from Taipei with Pickup
Taipei National Palace Museum Guided Tour
National Palace Museum Ticket in Taipei
#taiwan#transportation#easycard#hsr
Frequently Asked Questions
How far ahead should you book Taiwan's High Speed Rail?
A few days ahead for a standard weekday trip, one to two weeks ahead around Lunar New Year, Tomb Sweeping Day, or any long domestic weekend, when Taipei-Kaohsiung seats sell out well before departure.
Is the THSR or an intercity bus better between Taipei and Kaohsiung?
THSR, for that specific route, under two hours versus 4-5 hours by bus. Buses and Taiwan Railway's regular trains win on routes HSR doesn't reach directly, the east coast (Hualien, Taitung) and smaller towns off the west-coast HSR spine.
Do you need a different EasyCard in each city?
No, one EasyCard works nationwide across Taipei, Kaohsiung, and most other cities' buses and MRT systems, plus convenience store purchases. Reload it as needed rather than buying a new one per city.
What's the cheapest way from Taoyuan Airport into Taipei?
The Taoyuan Airport MRT, cheaper than a private transfer or taxi, with a direct line into the city. Private transfers and buses cost more but save time or hassle if your hotel isn't near an MRT-connected station.