Taipei Taoyuan (TPE) — The Complete 2026 Airport Guide
Taoyuan is Taiwan’s main international gateway, and it is 40 km west of Taipei — not the little Songshan airport in the middle of the city that your map app may point you at. It has two terminals, a long-delayed third one rising between them, and as of 1 July 2026 the landside train that used to shuttle you between T1 and T2 is switched off for the construction. Get the terminal, the airport train, and the Taoyuan Metro right and TPE is one of Asia’s easiest hubs. Get them wrong and you will be dragging a suitcase onto a shuttle bus you didn’t budget for.
Last verified: July 2026. Fares, terminal assignments and Taiwan’s entry rules change often — confirm the specifics on your ticket and at official signage before you travel.
Quick reference
| Detail | What you need to know |
|---|---|
| Airport | Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, IATA TPE / ICAO RCTP — Taiwan’s main long-haul gateway, roughly 47.8 million passengers in 2025 |
| Location | ~40 km west of central Taipei, in Dayuan, Taoyuan. Not Taipei Songshan (TSA), the small domestic airport inside the city |
| Terminals | T1 and T2, side by side. EVA Air is in T2; China Airlines uses both. A partly-open Terminal 3 is under construction, full opening now targeted at ~2027 |
| Into Taipei | Taoyuan Metro (purple line) to Taipei Main Station NT$160 (~€4.60/$5), 35–39 min Express · Kuo-Kuang 1819 bus ~NT$140, 24h · taxi ~NT$1,100–1,500 |
| Entry | Visa-free 90 days for most Western nationalities (US, UK, Canada, Australia, NZ, most EU). File the free online Taiwan Arrival Card before you fly if you’re clearing immigration |
| Watch out for | The landside inter-terminal Skytrain is closed since 1 July 2026 · confusing TPE with Songshan · the last Metro before midnight · booking transit for the free half-day city tour |
The 2026 change: the landside Skytrain between terminals is switched off
If you have connected at Taoyuan before, unlearn one habit. For 23 years an automated Skytrain people-mover carried passengers and staff between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 on the landside (before security). On 1 July 2026 that landside Skytrain was suspended so the tracks and structure could be reworked for the giant Terminal 3 project rising between the two buildings. It is not a brief outage — plan for it to be gone for the duration of the construction.
What replaces it is straightforward, and free. To move between T1 and T2 landside, take the free 24-hour inter-terminal shuttle bus, or ride one stop on the Taoyuan Metro (T1 is station A12, T2 is A13 — one stop apart). Both are signposted from arrivals. The change mainly affects people who land at one terminal and need to get to the other before checking in again; if you’re just arriving and heading to the city, it doesn’t touch you.
Two terminals now, three soon — and it’s slipped
Taoyuan runs on two terminals today. Terminal 1 is the older, smaller building; Terminal 2 is larger and home to EVA Air (Concourse C) and the long-haul half of China Airlines (Concourse D). They sit next to each other, linked landside by the free shuttle and the Metro and airside by a people-mover for connecting passengers. There are no clean alliance lines here — China Airlines is the only carrier operating from both terminals, so even its own passengers can’t assume which one they need.
The much-delayed Terminal 3 — a vast Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners design built to handle around 45 million passengers a year — has a history of slipping. It was once meant to open in 2020, then 2026. Its North Boarding Hall opened in a phased way on 25 December 2025, adding aircraft gates to ease peak-hour pressure, but as of mid-2026 the main terminal was still being fitted out with completion officially targeted at 2027. Treat any “T3 is open” claim with suspicion and go by the terminal on your boarding pass.
Getting into Taipei
The airport is 40 km out, so this leg matters. The good news: the Taoyuan Metro is fast, cheap and drops you at Taipei Main Station, the city’s central rail and subway interchange. Here’s the honest comparison:
| Option | Price to Taipei Main Station | Time | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taoyuan Metro — Express (直達車) | NT$160 (~€4.60 / $5) | ~35–39 min | Fastest to the city centre; forward-facing seats, luggage racks — the default |
| Taoyuan Metro — Commuter (普通車) | NT$160 (same fare) | ~50 min | Same price, stops at every station; only take it if an Express isn’t due |
| Kuo-Kuang 1819 bus (國光客運) | ~NT$140 (~€4 / $4.50) | ~55–60 min | Cheapest, runs 24 hours — the pick when the Metro has stopped |
| Taxi | ~NT$1,100–1,500 (~€35–48) | ~30–50 min | Only for late arrivals, heavy bags, or a group splitting the fare |
The Taoyuan Metro (purple line) — take the Express
The Taoyuan Airport MRT (機場捷運, the purple line) links both terminals — stations A12 for T1 and A13 for T2 — to Taipei Main Station (A1). Two services share the track at the same NT$160 fare: the Express (直達車) runs limited-stop in about 35–39 minutes, and the Commuter (普通車, 普通) stops everywhere and takes roughly 50 minutes. Trains come about every 15 minutes. Since they cost the same, board whichever Express is next; only fall back to the Commuter if you’d otherwise wait. You can pay with an EasyCard or iPASS stored-value card, or buy a single-journey token.
Two things to know. Service runs from around 06:00 until roughly 23:00–23:30 — miss the last train and it’s the 24-hour bus or a taxi. And Taipei Main Station (A1) offers in-town check-in and bag drop: China Airlines, EVA Air, Starlux, Cathay Pacific, Mandarin and Uni Air passengers can drop their hold luggage and get boarding passes at the B1 check-in area, typically 06:00–21:30 and up to about three hours before departure, then travel to the airport hands-free. Confirm your specific flight is eligible with the airline first.
Buses and taxis
The workhorse coach is the Kuo-Kuang 1819 (國光客運) to Taipei Main Station, about NT$140, roughly 55–60 minutes depending on traffic, and — crucially — it runs 24 hours, which makes it the sensible choice for a red-eye arrival after the Metro has stopped. Other operators (e.g. to Taipei City Hall or Songshan) leave from the same bus decks. A taxi to central Taipei runs roughly NT$1,100–1,500 including highway tolls, about 30–50 minutes off-peak; there is a late-night surcharge after roughly 23:00, so confirm before you set off. Taxis are metered and reliable — just join the official rank rather than accepting a tout.
Entry: visa-free 90 days and the Taiwan Arrival Card
Taiwan is one of the most painless entries in the region for Western travellers — the paperwork is minimal, but there is one online form you shouldn’t skip.
- Visa-free for 90 days. Citizens of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and most EU countries may enter Taiwan visa-free for stays of up to 90 days for tourism or business — passport only, no visa to apply for. You need a passport valid for your stay and typically an onward or return ticket. Visa-free stays generally can’t be extended, so plan your exit. Nationality rules vary, so check the official Bureau of Consular Affairs list for your passport.
- File the Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC) online before you fly. Taiwan uses an online arrival card in place of the old paper landing form — complete it free on the National Immigration Agency site (twac.immigration.gov.tw) in the days before you travel. It takes a couple of minutes. This applies to everyone clearing immigration, including a single overnight near the airport.
- Pure airside transit needs no card. If you connect through Taoyuan on one booking with bags checked through and you stay airside, you don’t clear immigration and don’t need the arrival card or a visa (transit without visa). If your tickets are separate — common on low-cost carriers — you may have to clear immigration to collect and re-check bags, which puts you under the normal visa-free / arrival-card rules.
Layover strategy: the free city tour and where to rest
A long Taoyuan layover is not dead time — Taiwan actively wants you to leave the airport and see a bit of it.
The free half-day tour for transit passengers
Taiwan runs a genuinely free guided half-day tour for transit passengers, aimed at layovers of roughly 7 to 24 hours. A guide and coach are provided and there’s no charge to join or to leave and re-enter the airport — a morning option takes in old-street and temple areas, an afternoon option does a Taipei city loop (Dadaocheng, Dihua Street, Ximending). You must be eligible to enter Taiwan (visa-free or with a visa). Seats are limited (around 18 per tour), so book online in advance via the official half-day-tour site, or try same-day at the Tourist Service Centre in the arrivals hall of either terminal. Through 31 October 2026 there’s also a promotion handing eligible transit travellers NT$600 in airport spending vouchers — check the current terms on the official page.
Sleep, showers and quiet corners
Taoyuan is a decent place to wait out a long connection. There are rest zones and reclining seats in both terminals, free airport-wide Wi-Fi, and a range of paid nap rooms, shower facilities and airside lounges. For a true overnight, capsule-style airport hotels and nap-room operators come and go and prices shift — confirm what’s open and the rate on arrival rather than trusting an old listing. If you’re transiting airside and not clearing immigration, stick to the airside rest areas and lounges; anything landside is off-limits until you’ve entered Taiwan.
Lounges
If you’re flying EVA Air or China Airlines in a premium cabin (or with enough status), you’ll be directed to the airline’s own flagship lounges in Terminal 2 — EVA’s and China Airlines’ lounges are the marquee spaces here and aren’t open to walk-ins or Priority Pass. For everyone else, the reliable pay-in or Priority Pass option is:
- Plaza Premium Lounge — the main contract-lounge operator at Taoyuan, with locations in both terminals (multiple zones in T1 and T2). Priority Pass is accepted and walk-in access can be bought at the door.
One 2026 caveat: some Plaza Premium zones have been under renovation this year, with at least one lounge kept open per terminal while others are refreshed — and airline lounges shift with the Terminal 3 works. Check the current status and opening hours of the specific lounge before you rely on it, rather than trusting a saved link.
Food, money and Wi-Fi
Food: Taoyuan is a good, cheap place to eat, and you don’t need a lounge to do it well. Both terminals have food courts and Taiwanese restaurants — beef noodle soup, dumplings, bento sets, bubble tea — generally open around 06:00–22:00, mostly after security. For red-eye hours there are 24-hour convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart) with hot food and a 24/7 hot-ramen vending machine (Yo-Kai Express) for when everything else is shut. A proper local meal runs roughly NT$150–300 (~€4–9).
Money & SIM: use bank ATMs over the exchange booths for a better rate, and if an ATM offers to bill you in your home currency, decline and choose New Taiwan dollars. Prepaid SIMs and eSIMs are sold in the arrivals area; an eSIM bought before you land is the least-hassle option. Pick up an EasyCard or iPASS for the Metro, buses and convenience stores.
Practicalities: free unlimited Wi-Fi airport-wide; left-luggage counters, pharmacies and medical rooms in both terminals; and clear English signage throughout.
Connections and minimum times
For a straightforward connection within a single terminal on EVA Air / Uni Air, the published minimum connecting time is 60 minutes. That’s a minimum, and it assumes everything runs to plan and you don’t change terminals. Other carriers set their own figures — check yours.
The 2026 wrinkle is moving between buildings. A connection that crosses between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 now leans on the airside people-mover (if you stay airside) or, landside, the free shuttle bus and Metro — because the old landside inter-terminal Skytrain is out of service. If your itinerary changes terminals, give yourself well more than the 60-minute in-terminal minimum, and treat a self-connection on separate tickets (clearing immigration and re-checking bags) as needing a couple of hours at least.
Frequently asked questions
Is TPE the same as Taipei Songshan airport?+
No. TPE is Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, about 40 km west of Taipei, and it handles nearly all long-haul and international flights. Taipei Songshan (TSA) is a small airport inside the city that mainly runs domestic flights and a handful of short regional shuttles. If you booked a long-haul flight to “Taipei,” you’re almost certainly flying TPE — check the airport code on your ticket.
Which terminal do I need at Taoyuan?+
EVA Air departs from Terminal 2. China Airlines uses both terminals — broadly Terminal 1 for regional and European routes and Terminal 2 for long-haul to the US, Japan and Oceania — and it’s the only airline operating from both, so its passengers must read the boarding pass. Other carriers are split across T1 and T2, so always go by the terminal printed on your ticket rather than an old habit.
How do I get from Taoyuan to Taipei, and how much?+
The Taoyuan Metro (purple line) is the default: NT$160 (about €4.60/$5) to Taipei Main Station, roughly 35–39 minutes on the Express (直達車) or ~50 minutes on the same-price Commuter (普通車), every 15 minutes, running about 06:00–23:30. The Kuo-Kuang 1819 bus is cheaper (~NT$140) and runs 24 hours, which is the pick after the Metro stops. A taxi is roughly NT$1,100–1,500.
Do I need a visa to visit Taiwan in 2026?+
Most Western travellers don’t. Citizens of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and most EU countries can enter visa-free for up to 90 days with a valid passport. You should, however, file the free Taiwan Arrival Card online at the National Immigration Agency site before you fly if you’ll be clearing immigration. Check the official Bureau of Consular Affairs list for your specific nationality.
What is the Taiwan Arrival Card and who has to file it?+
It’s Taiwan’s online replacement for the paper landing card, filed free on the immigration website (twac.immigration.gov.tw) in the days before you arrive. Anyone clearing immigration should complete it — including a short overnight near the airport. If you’re transiting purely airside on one booking without passing passport control, you don’t need it.
Can I leave the airport during a long layover?+
Yes, if you’re eligible to enter Taiwan (visa-free or with a visa). Taiwan even runs a free guided half-day tour for transit passengers with layovers of roughly 7–24 hours — a guide and coach are provided at no cost, and there’s no charge to leave and re-enter the airport. Seats are limited, so book online in advance or try the Tourist Service Centre on arrival. A NT$600 transit voucher promotion runs through 31 October 2026.
How do I get between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 now the Skytrain is closed?+
The landside inter-terminal Skytrain was suspended on 1 July 2026 for the Terminal 3 construction. To move between the terminals landside, take the free 24-hour shuttle bus or ride one stop on the Taoyuan Metro (T1 is station A12, T2 is A13). Connecting passengers staying airside use the people-mover in the restricted area. Allow extra time if your connection changes terminals.
How long should I leave for a connection at Taoyuan?+
The published minimum for an in-terminal EVA Air / Uni Air connection is 60 minutes; other airlines set their own. If your connection changes terminals, allow well more than that, since you’ll rely on the airside people-mover or the free shuttle now that the landside Skytrain is closed. Self-connecting on separate tickets — clearing immigration and re-checking bags — needs a couple of hours at least.
At a glance
| Codes | TPE / RCTP — Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport |
| Terminals | T1 and T2 (EVA in T2; China Airlines both) · Terminal 3 opening ~2027 · landside inter-terminal Skytrain closed since 1 Jul 2026 |
| Distance to Taipei | ~40 km west (this is not Songshan/TSA in the city) |
| Fastest to city | Taoyuan Metro Express (直達車), NT$160, ~35–39 min to Taipei Main Station |
| Cheapest / late night | Kuo-Kuang 1819 bus, ~NT$140, 24 hours |
| Entry | Visa-free 90 days for most Western nationals · file the Taiwan Arrival Card online before you fly |
| Metro hours | ~06:00–23:30; after that, the 24h bus or a taxi |
| Wi-Fi | Free, unlimited, airport-wide |
Before you fly
- 📊 Check what a good fare to Taipei looks like — our price-check tool shows the typical deal range so you know a bargain when you see one.
- 🧳 Baggage checker — confirm your airline’s carry-on and checked allowance before you pack.
- 🏙️ Taipei city guide — where to stay, eat and what’s actually worth your time in the city.
🏙️ Planning the trip? Read our Taipei city guide — where to stay, what to eat, and how to get around.
