Comparison · Taiwan
Taipei's Two Airports, TPE vs TSA: Where to Land?
Taipei has two airports, Taoyuan (TPE) and Songshan (TSA). Compare how to get into the city from each, which areas they suit and what to check on your ticket.
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Taipei has two airports
Search for flights to Taipei and you will see two airports: Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) and Songshan Airport (TSA). A search for just 'Taipei' can mix both in the results, so always check whether the airport code on your ticket is TPE or TSA before you book.
According to our Taipei guide, Songshan sits in the city and the MRT takes you straight into town, while from Taoyuan the Airport MRT Express reaches Taipei Main Station in about 35-40 minutes. Which flight uses which airport varies by airline and season, so check your ticket and the airline's official information.
This article does not cover terminals or facilities at either airport. For those, see each airport's official website. Here we compare how to get into town from each and which areas they suit.
Taoyuan (TPE): the Airport MRT Express is easiest
From Taoyuan International Airport, the Airport MRT is the easiest way to Taipei Main Station. Take the purple Express train, not the commuter. It takes about 35-40 minutes and costs about NT$150-160.
The airport bus runs to Taipei Main Station and major hotel areas. It takes about 50-70 minutes, and some services run late at night. Fares vary by route, so check official information.
A taxi is convenient late at night or with lots of luggage. Use the official taxi rank; the ride into the city takes about 40-60 minutes. Taxis are metered and the fare varies by distance and time, so check official information.
Songshan (TSA): in the city, on the Wenhu Line
Songshan Airport sits in the city, and the brown Wenhu Line of the MRT takes you straight into town. It takes about 10-20 minutes and costs about NT$20-30.
Our guide does not list taxi fares or airport bus details from Songshan. Check the airport's official information if you need them. In the city, yellow taxis are plentiful and fairly cheap.
The Taipei MRT is clean, simple and covers most sights. Keep in mind from the moment you board at the airport that eating and drinking, even water or gum, is banned in stations and on trains.
Which airport suits which part of town
Start with where you are staying. The MRT covers most sights, so check the MRT station and line nearest your hotel first.
Coming from Taoyuan, the area around Taipei Main Station is the easiest: the Airport MRT, high-speed rail and regional trains all meet there, which suits a first visit. From Songshan, the Wenhu Line runs straight into the city, so check which line your hotel's station is on as well.
- Taipei Main Station: the Airport MRT Express arrives here, so it is the easiest base from Taoyuan (about 35-40 min). Evenings are a bit quiet
- Ximending: pedestrian streets full of snacks and shops, with fair hotel prices. Close to Longshan Temple
- Zhongshan: quiet lanes with cafes and boutiques on two MRT lines. Near Ningxia Night Market
- Xinyi: the modern district around Taipei 101 and big malls. Hotels are pricier
- Taoyuan airport bus: it runs to Taipei Main Station and major hotel areas, so check official information for a stop near your hotel
Checking your ticket and switching airports
Your outbound and return flights may use different airports. If you arrive at Taoyuan and leave from Songshan, for example, double-check the day before which airport your departure uses. Going by the airport code on your ticket (TPE or TSA) avoids confusion.
If you land at Taoyuan late, our guide notes that some airport bus services run late at night and that a taxi is convenient at late hours. Our guide does not give Airport MRT operating hours, so check official information.
Our guide does not cover transfers between the two airports or how long they take. If you are connecting in Taipei between flights that use different airports, check each airport's official information and leave plenty of time. Compare fares together with the time and cost of getting from the airport to your hotel.
At a glance
Choose by your flight and where you are staying. All times and fares below are approximate.
- Location: Songshan (TSA) is in the city; from Taoyuan (TPE) the Airport MRT Express reaches Taipei Main Station in about 35-40 min
- Rail: Taoyuan has the purple Airport MRT Express (Taipei Main Station, about 35-40 min, about NT$150-160); Songshan has the brown MRT Wenhu Line (about 10-20 min, about NT$20-30)
- Bus: Taoyuan has the airport bus (Taipei Main Station and major hotel areas, about 50-70 min, fares vary by route, check official; some late-night services); for Songshan, check official
- Taxi: Taoyuan has an official taxi rank, about 40-60 min, metered so check official; for Songshan, check official
- Late arrival: at Taoyuan, late-night airport buses and taxis are convenient
- Between the two airports: check official information
Your first day: a few essentials
An EasyCard is handy to pick up at the airport. You can also buy one at convenience stores or MRT stations, and it works on the MRT, buses, YouBike and in shops.
Night markets and small eateries are often cash only, so carry Taiwan dollars. Convenience store ATMs accept foreign cards. Ride-hailing apps also operate here, and entering your destination in the app avoids language issues.
- No eating or drinking, even water, in MRT stations and on trains; fines apply
- Taipei Metro asks riders to hold the handrail and stand on both sides of escalators
- Check Taiwan's entry requirements and the online Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC) with the National Immigration Agency (official site twac.immigration.gov.tw; it is free, so avoid lookalike sites that charge fees)
Plan your Taipei trip
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FAQ
Which is easier, Taoyuan (TPE) or Songshan (TSA)?
It depends on your flight and where you are staying. Songshan is in the city and the MRT Wenhu Line gets you into town in about 10-20 minutes; from Taoyuan the Airport MRT Express reaches Taipei Main Station in about 35-40 minutes.
Which Airport MRT train should I take from Taoyuan?
Take the purple Express train, not the commuter. It reaches Taipei Main Station in about 35-40 minutes for about NT$150-160.
How do I get into the city if I land at Taoyuan late at night?
Some airport bus services run late at night (about 50-70 minutes; fares vary by route, check official). With lots of luggage or at late hours, a taxi from the official rank is also convenient (about 40-60 minutes, metered).
How do I get between Taoyuan and Songshan?
Our guide does not cover transfers between the two airports. Check each airport's official information and allow plenty of time for the connection.
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