How To Navigate Taipei Main Station With Confidence (台北車站)
If you’re visiting Taipei and planning to use public transportation to get around, you’re most likely to pass through Taipei Main Station at some point.
You may be arriving or leaving through the Airport MRT, transferring between the MRT Blue and Red Lines, or taking a TRA or HSR train to places like Hualien or Alishan.
Taipei Main Station is the city’s main transportation hub. It connects every major form of transportation, along with underground walkways and malls. With so much happening in one place, knowing a few tips can make your trip much smoother.
Hi, I’m Grace. I was born and raised in Taiwan and now live in the United States. I return to Taipei every year to visit family, and Taipei Main Station is one of the places I pass through the most.
In this post, I’ll share some practical ways to navigate the station and make your trip more enjoyable.
Navigating the Taipei Main Station
Know the forms of transportation available
Here is a list of options available for Taipei Main Station:
- MRT (Metro / 捷運) – Taipei’s subway system. There are currently 6 major lines, with 2 of them (the Blue Line and Red Line) stop at Taipei Main Station.
- Airport MRT (Taoyuan Airport Line / 機場捷運) – The train that connects Taipei to Taoyuan International Airport (TPE).
- HSR (High Speed Rail / 高鐵) – Taiwan’s “bullet” train. It connects Taipei with major cities in the west and south (but not east), including Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung.
- TRA (Taiwan Railways / 台鐵) – Train types and prices vary in speed and comfort. TRA serves both short and long distances, including popular spots such as Ruifang, Pingxi, Yilan, and Hualien.
Transferring At Taipei Main Station
The map above is a simple, two-dimensional view of Taipei Main Station. There are multiple layers underground, but this map gives you a basic idea of where each system is located.
As you can see, aside from the TRA and HSR platforms being right next to each other, the Airport MRT and the regular MRT (Blue and Red Lines) are actually quite far apart. So if you’re transferring between these systems, be prepared for a longer walk.
The Biggest Maze In Taiwan
If you feel overwhelmed the first time you walk through Taipei Main Station, you’re not alone.
Even locals sometimes get lost here. In fact, Taiwanese people jokingly call it “the biggest maze in Taiwan,” and honestly, it’s not an exaggeration.
The main reason is that Taipei Main Station was not built all at once.
It started with the TRA, then the MRT was added, followed by the High Speed Rail, the Airport MRT, and finally all the underground malls and walkways. Each system was built during a different time period, and the structures were added layer by layer.
Because of this, the walking paths are not always straightforward.
You might go up a set of stairs, down another hallway, take an escalator, turn a corner, and still feel like you’re not quite where you expected to be. The signs can be helpful, but there are a lot of them, and they sometimes point in many directions at once.
Getting HSR and TRA Tickets
For travelling out of Taipei to other parts of Taiwan, you will need to buy tickets for the HSR and/or TRA. You can purchase them in advance on official websites (these are HSR‘s and TRA‘s official sites), at any convenience store, or directly at Taipei Main Station.
- Self-service kiosks
There are kiosks near the HSR and TRA entrances, as well as around the main areas of the station. These machines are available in multiple languages and accept cash or cards. They also accept Taiwanese mobile payments such as LinePay. - Sales windows
If you prefer talking to staff, need help, or want to change a ticket, the service counters are a good option. They are located on the first-floor lobby (the easiest to find), as well as on B1 and B3.
Tips And Tricks About Transferring
Every time I’m back in Taipei, I make several trips to Hualien to visit family, and I’m constantly riding the MRT to meet friends and explore the city. After doing this for years, I’ve learned a few tips and tricks that make transferring much easier. Here they are:
- Between MRT’s Red and Blue lines – it is fairly straightforward. Just follow the signs, take the escalators up and then down. It normally takes about 3 minutes.
- Between the Airport MRT and MRT Blue/Red Lines – the walk is at least 15 minutes.
- The MRT Beimen Station (Green Line, 北門站) – it is actually a shorter walk (5 minutes) from the Airport MRT (vs. walking to the Blue/Red Lines at MRT Taipei Main Station). So transferring to the Green Line at Beimen Station can be a good option, depending on where you are heading.
- Between the Airport MRT and TRA/HSR – follow the signs, straightforward. About 10 minute walk.
- From TRA to MRT Red/Blue Lines – After getting off the TRA, walk along the platform to the escalator near “Car 10” and go down to the B3 concourse. After exiting the gates, you will be right at the MRT entrance.
- From HSR to MRT Red/Blue Lines – After getting off the HSR, walk along the platform to the escalator near “Car 9” and go down to the B3 concourse. After exiting the gates, you will be right at the MRT entrance.
Taking A Taxi Or Uber From Taipei Main Station
There are a couple of taxi stands located underground at Taipei Main Station, where drivers line up and wait for their turn. If you need a taxi, you can follow the signs to these designated stands, and you’ll easily find the pickup area.
Once you’re above ground, getting a taxi becomes nearly impossible. Taxis are not allowed to pick up passengers directly on the streets surrounding Taipei Main Station, so even if you wave at an empty cab, most drivers won’t stop.
Please note that there is no official Uber pick-up zone at the station.
If you prefer using Uber, the most reliable place to meet your driver is Exit M3 near Cosmos Hotel Taipei (see it on Google Maps). It’s easy for drivers to stop there, and you won’t run into the restrictions around the main station building.
Think Twice Before Booking A Hotel “Nearby”
When you search for a hotel, you might assume that staying near Taipei Main Station is the most convenient choice.
In some ways, it is because you’ll have plenty of food and shopping options nearby. But it may not be as convenient for transportation as you expect.
The area is huge, and the different transportation systems are spread out; and because taxis cannot pick up passengers on the streets surrounding Taipei Main Station, you might end up dragging your luggage and walking for a long time to get to your hotel.
My personal advice is to choose a hotel that is close to an MRT station. It saves you a lot of walking time and makes getting around much easier.
Restaurants On The 2nd Floor
If you’re taking the HSR or TRA, the 2nd floor of Taipei Main Station is a great place to enjoy a meal before or after your trip. This entire floor is filled with restaurants, cafés, and casual dining spots, so you’ll have plenty of choices no matter what you’re craving.
I personally love meeting friends here. Many of them travel in from other parts of Taiwan, and Taipei Main Station makes it easy for everyone to gather in one place. We often choose a restaurant on the 2nd floor, enjoy a long meal, and catch up before heading off again.
Please note that if you are carrying suitcases, it’s best to store them in a locker first. There is only one escalator that goes up to the restaurant floor, and most access points are stairs. You don’t want to carry heavy luggage up and down the staircase, especially during busy hours.
Luggage Storage at Taipei Main Station
If you are carrying suitcases and need a place to store them, Taipei Main Station has several luggage locker locations. They are easy to find once you know where to look, and they can make your time in the station much more comfortable.
You can find lockers in these areas:
- Near the entrances to the HSR and TRA.
- Between the Airport MRT boarding area and the walkway that connects to TRA.
Locker prices depend on size:
Small lockers cost about $30–$40 TWD per 3 hours, and large lockers range from $60–$110 TWD per 3 hours. Some lockers also support electronic payment, which is convenient if you are not carrying coins.
Please note that some lockers have operating hours. For example, the TRA-operated lockers usually run from 7:00 a.m. to midnight. If you plan to store your luggage, it’s a good idea to check the hours so you can pick up your bags on time.
Using a locker is especially helpful if you plan to eat on the 2nd floor or walk through the underground malls. It saves you from carrying heavy luggage up and down the stairs and lets you enjoy your time at the station without any hassle.
Underground Malls Around Taipei Main Station
There are several underground malls connected to and surrounding Taipei Main Station. These walkways stretch far in different directions, and they can be very useful on rainy days, especially if your destination is somewhere along the path.
My parents’ place is along the MRT Red Line, so I often use the Zhongshan Underground Mall to walk between areas without worrying about the weather.
Out of all the underground malls, I feel Zone Y is the best, and one that kids and teens would enjoy the most. Between exits Y10 and Y20, there are many gachapon machines (扭蛋機), toy stores, and fun little shops along the way.
My 11-year-old son insists on coming here every time we are back in Taipei. If you are traveling with children or young teens, this area is definitely worth a stop.
The Main Lobby
The main lobby, also known as the central hall, is one of the most recognizable spaces inside Taipei Main Station.
It is a large, open square with high ceilings and plenty of natural light. If you ever feel unsure about where you are, coming back to this lobby is a great way to reset your sense of direction. From here, it’s easy to spot the entrances to the MRT, TRA, and HSR, as well as the pathways to the underground malls.
The lobby is also a popular meeting spot.
Many people sit on the floor while waiting for friends or resting before catching their train.
I had always wondered what it was like, and on my last trip, I finally tried it. I sat here with my friend Chynna, chatting and people-watching while we waited for our plans to start. It was surprisingly fun!
Final Thoughts
Taipei Main Station may feel overwhelming at first, but once you understand how everything connects, it becomes much easier to navigate.
I’ve spent years moving through this station to visit family, meet friends, and catch trains all over Taiwan, and these tips come from real experience.
I hope they help you feel more confident and ready for your own trip. With a little preparation, you can move around the station smoothly and focus on enjoying your time in Taipei.
