Taichung City is Taiwan’s second-largest city, and it’s around 140 km away from the Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), which serves Taipei and northern Taiwan. Three possible transportation options exist from Taipei Taoyuan Airport to Taichung: taxi or private transfer, bus, and train. A taxi takes around 1 hour and 35 minutes in average traffic conditions, the bus takes about 2 hours and 10 minutes and the train takes more or less 1 hour and 20 minutes, excluding any potential wait times.
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Transfer Options from Taipei Airport to Taichung
Welcome PickupsAugust 7, 2023
Comparison of the options
How to get from Taipei Airport to Taichung by taxi
Whether you’re arriving at Terminal 1 or Terminal 2, taxi services are readily available from Taipei Taoyuan Airport to Taichung 24/7 at a metered rate. The taxi option is excellent if you’re a group of up to 4 passengers. The total travel time by taxi is about 1 hour and 35 mins in light traffic and the great thing about this transport option is the possibility of reaching your destination with zero transfers and no unnecessary stops.
Taxi fare from Teipei Airport to Taichung City
Both private transfer companies and the city’s regular taxi drivers offer rides to Taichung. A sedan-sized taxi can take up to 4 passengers, and the fare for a standard cab from Taipei Airport to Taichung is around €64 (TWD 2,200). The trip’s price may vary depending on traffic or other factors such as an applicable excess-luggage fee or for a taxi of a bigger size etc.
Cost
€64
Trip Duration
95 Min.
Prices may vary unless booked in advance.
Covenience
Safety
Value for Money
Taxis at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are available 24/7, all year round.
Where do I get a taxi from?
You can easily locate the taxi stands outside the Arrivals Halls of both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.
Convenience
The easiest way to get to Taichung City from Taipei Airport is by taxi as you won’t have to worry about checking bus and train schedules or catching a connection. With an airport taxi, you get to unwind and relax in privacy as soon as you land, as your driver takes you to the door of your accommodation in Taichung.
Editor’s Note
If you’re travelling with many pieces of luggage and children, the easiest and safest way to travel from Taipei Airport to Taichung is by far a taxi or private transfer for your total peace of mind!
Useful Tips
How to get from Taipei Taoyuan Airport to Taichung by bus
There are two major bus companies you can use to get from Taipei Airport to Taichung; the Kuo-Kuang Motor Transport bus (Line #1860) and the U-bus (Line #1623) – each of them covers a different route but a stop at Taichung is included. The total journey on the bus takes about 2 hours and 10 minutes due to the several stops, and a single ticket costs around €8 (TWD 280) per person.
Bus fare from Taipei Airport to Taichung
You can use either the Kuo-Kuang bus or U-bus to reach your destination; a single ticket on either of the services costs about €8 (TWD 280).
Cost
€8
Trip Duration
130 Min.
Waiting time is between 30-60 minutes for the U-bus and 60-120 minutes for the Kuo-Kuang bus.
Convenience
Safety
Value for Money
U-bus operates between 01:01 and 20:01, while the Kuo-Kuang bus runs between 10:20 and 18:20.
Where do I get the bus from?
You can find both the Kuo-Kuang #1860 and the U-bus #1623 at Taoyuan International Airport. Kuo-Kuang leaves every 60-120 minutes, and it departs from Terminal 1 – Boarding No.3 and Terminal 2 – Boarding No.2. The frequency of the U-bus #1623 is between 30-60 minutes, and it departs from Terminal 1 – Boarding No.13 and Terminal 2 – Boarding No.4. There are signs throughout the airport that can help you find the departure points for each provider.
Convenience
Although buses offer a direct mode of transport to Taichung from Taipei Airport, there are multiple stops along the way that in combination with wait times – if your arrival is not 100% in line with a bus departure, can increase your travel time considerably. Moreover, the buses can get quite crowded during peak times, which may be uncomfortable and unsafe if you’re travelling with younger or older family members or several luggage items.
Editor’s Note
Bus companies have ticket offices around the train station, and the respective bus usually stops right outside the associated office.
Useful Tips
Getting the train from Taipei Airport to Taichung
There is no direct connection by train from Taipei Airport to Taichung; you’ll have to make two transfers. You’ll start by taking the Airport Metro Line (Commuter) for 20 minutes to Taoyuan HSR Station, where you’ll change to the high-speed train that will take you all the way to Taichung HSR Station, a 40-minute trip. Taichung HSR Station is located on the city’s outskirts, specifically in Wurih District, so from there, you will have to walk 5 minutes to Xinwuri Station and board the TRA train to Taichung Railway Station, which takes up to 15 minutes to reach the city centre of Taichung. In total, it takes roughly 80 minutes to get by train from Taipei Airport to Taichung.
How much is the train from Taipei Airport to Taichung?
The metro from Taoyuan Airport to Taoyuan HSR costs a minimum of €0.70 (TWD 25), while for a ticket without a reserved seat (cheapest) on the THSR from Taoyuan HSR to Taichung HSR Fare, you’ll have to pay €14.90 (TWD 520). Lastly, the TRA to downtown Taichung costs €0.45 (TWD 15) per traveller. This brings the total cost of the combined train trip to €16.05 (TWD 560).
Cost
€16.05
Trip Duration
80 Min.
The wait time for the Metro is 20 minutes and 30 minutes for the Taiwan High Speed Railway.
Convenience
Safety
Value for money
Trains generally run from 06:00–24:00 in intervals ranging from a few minutes to an hour (depending on the time of day). Unless you are catching a train at night, you won’t need to wait long for a train.
Where do I get the train from?
From Taoyuan Airport you’ll need to head to the MRT Station and take the commuter train to Taoyuan HSR Station. The metro is clearly signposted, so you’ll have no trouble finding your way around the airport. Once you’re there, there’s a passageway on the second level of Taichung HSR Station which you can use to walk to Xinwuri TRA Station.
Convenience
The train option is the least convenient due to the several transfers needed, so it’s only recommended as an option for experienced travellers – and mainly those travelling solo, light and on a budget.
Editor’s Note
Tickets for the non-reserved THSR seats can be purchased from the TRA website, ticket windows, or ticket vending machines at train stations 4 days prior to boarding. It’s common to be asked for your phone number and passport number if you want to buy tickets online.
Useful Tips
Welcome Pickups transfer
Book a trained, English-speaking taxi driver to pick you up at the same price as a regular cab from the line
If you feel more relaxed knowing that somebody is waiting for you, you may as well book a Welcome Pickups transfer. As soon as you arrive at the airport you will be greeted by your driver. He will be waiting for you at the terminal of your arrival with a sign that has your name on it. Your driver will help you out with your luggage and together you will make your way to the vehicle. While he is driving you to your accommodation, the driver can give you some tips and recommendations on what to do during your holidays in Taipei. Our drivers are hand-picked and speak fluent English. No need to worry about miscommunication issues that you may face with the local taxi drivers regarding your destination. Relax and enjoy your ride.
Read morePrices
DAYTIME
€139.0NIGHTTIME
€166.8 Same price as a regular taxi from the line
PRICES FOR
Sedan Car
4 pax, 4 pieces of luggage
Welcome Pickups has a Net Safety Score of 99 of 100
We’ve introduced a metric indicating how safe travellers feel when using our services during the COVID-19 pandemic. After every ride, we ask each traveller to leave a review.
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20 minute gap between transfers
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Regular Car Sanitisation
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Contactless ride
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Sanitiser in every car
Frequently asked questions
How can I travel from Taipei Airport to Taichung?
The distance from Taipei Airport to Taichung is approximately 140 km, and there are three ways to make that trip. You can take a cab, a bus, or a train. Despite being the more expensive choice, an airport taxi is the most convenient option as it requires no changes and you can travel knowing your personal belongings and travel companions are safe. Buses are reasonably priced but the slowest option available. Lastly, seasoned travellers on a budget may choose to use the train, which requires two changes but is a faster alternative than the bus – especially if you happen to have no wait times between transfers.
Is there a direct train from Taipei Airport to Taichung?
There is no direct train from Taipei-Taoyuan Airport to Taichung. The combined train journey to Taichung takes roughly 80 minutes. From your airport terminal, head to the Taoyuan Airport MRT Station and take the Commuter train for 20 mins to Taoyuan HSR Station. From there, you’ll transfer to the high-speed train for a 40-min journey to the Taichung HSR Station.
Keep in mind that from there, you’ll have to walk around 5 mins to the Xinwuri TRA Station to board the bullet train, which will take you to downtown Taichung in approximately 15 mins. The total journey will cost you a minimum of €16.05 (TWD 560), depending on how early you book your tickets and the seat class you choose.
What’s the cost of a taxi from Taipei Airport to Taichung?
Although it’s a more expensive option than the bus and the train, a taxi is favoured for offering a direct, private trip to Taichung. A local cab will cost you approximately €64 (TWD 2,200) and will take around 1 hour and 35 mins to get from Taipei Airport to Taichung under light traffic conditions. For an even smoother, personalised experience, guaranteed on-time pickup and door-to-door drop-off, you can pre-book your private transfers with Welcome Pickups.
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