Getting Around

With Taipei's domestic airport on the north-eastern fringe of the city area getting to town is easy and relatively cheap. Taipei is served by Chiang Kai-Shek International Airport (CKS), in Taoyuan county, about 45 kilometres (28 miles) west of the city. The journey to the city centre by taxi can take between 45 to 60 minutes because of traffic congestion. Most of the larger hotels operate shuttle services (none are complimentary) and there is also a public shuttle that runs to the main railway station. Taxis are availavle at the airport though the drivers rarely speak English - a good idea is to have your destination written in Chinese on cards. Driving in Taipei is hectic at the best of times. Unless you've been there six months it's best to let someone else do the driving. There is also Sungshan Domestic Airport near the city center, with regularly scheduled flights to Kaohsiung, Kinmen, and elsewhere.

Although fraught with problems in the early planning and implementation stages, the Taipei Rapid Transit System (often referred to as the MRT by local expats) has developed into a convenient, dependable and often the fastest form of transportation within Taipei City and even out to outlying Taipei County areas, such as Hsintien (Sindian), Yungho (Yongho) and Panchiao (Banqiao). With bus service being fully integrated with the MRT service, it is now the most popular form of mass transportation in the Greater Taipei area.

Getting around by taxis is always an adventure if you are unable to speak Mandarin or Taiwanese.  Many drivers feel that they should be racing their cars at Daytona and it is recommended that you buckle up and say a prayer when trying to reach your destination.