How To Navigate Taipei Main Station With Confidence (台北車站)
Taipei Main Station is the biggest transportation hub in Taipei, connecting the MRT, the Airport MRT, the HSR, and the TRA all under one roof. If you’re using public transportation anywhere in Taiwan, chances are you’ll pass through here at some point.
The station spreads across multiple underground levels, and it connects several different systems. It’s easy to take a wrong turn and end up somewhere completely different from where you expected.
Even locals get confused here. We jokingly call it the “biggest maze in Taiwan,” and honestly, that’s not much of an exaggeration.
I’m Grace. I grew up in Taipei and now live in the United States, but I go back every summer to see family. When I am in Taipei, this station becomes a regular stop for me.
I catch trains here to visit family and friends elsewhere in Taiwan, most often heading to Hualien. I also meet friends for meals on the 2nd floor, and since I’m riding the MRT constantly while I’m in town, I end up transferring lines here often too.
Over the years I’ve picked up a few tips that make the station much less overwhelming, and I’m sharing them below.
Navigating Taipei Main Station With Confidence
Available Forms Of Transportation
Here are the transportation options available at Taipei Main Station:
- MRT (Metro / 捷運) – Taipei’s subway system. There are currently 6 major lines, and 2 of them, the Blue Line and the 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 vary in speed, comfort, and price. TRA serves both short and long distances, including popular spots in the east like Yilan and Hualien.
Map Of 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.
Tips And Tricks About Transferring
Every time I’m back in Taiwan, I take the train to Hualien to visit family, usually two or three trips within a single month, riding either the Tze-Chiang 3000 or the Puyuma Express. Between those trips and constantly riding the MRT to meet friends around the city, I’ve picked up a few tips that make transferring much more efficient:
- 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, compared to walking to the Blue/Red Lines at Taipei Main Station. So transferring to the Green Line at Beimen Station can be a good option, depending on where you’re heading.
- Between the Airport MRT and TRA/HSR – straightforward, just follow the signs. About a 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’ll 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’ll be right at the MRT entrance.
What To Expect When You’re In Taipei Main Station
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 help, but there are a lot of them, and they sometimes point in several directions at once.
The main reason is that Taipei Main Station wasn’t 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 era, and the layers were added one on top of another.
My advice is to glance at the station map beforehand so you have a general idea of where each type of transportation is located. Once you’re in the station, pay attention to the signs as you walk.
And if you ever feel lost, just ask.
Station staff are helpful, and the locals are friendly. Most of the time, someone will be happy to point you in the right direction.
Getting HSR And TRA Tickets
For traveling out of Taipei to other parts of Taiwan, you’ll need to buy tickets for the HSR and/or TRA. You can purchase them in advance on the official websites (HSR‘s and TRA‘s), 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 LINE Pay. - Sales windows
If you prefer talking to staff, need help, or want to change a ticket, the service counters are a good option. They’re located in the first-floor lobby (the easiest to find), as well as on B1 and B3.
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, 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 aren’t 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.
There’s no official Uber pickup 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’ll avoid 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, since you’ll have plenty of food and shopping options nearby. But it may not be as convenient for transportation as you’d expect.
The area is huge, and the different transportation systems are spread out. Taxis can’t pick up passengers on the streets surrounding Taipei Main Station, so you might end up dragging your luggage and walking a long way to reach your hotel.
My personal advice is to choose a hotel that’s close to an MRT station. It saves 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 eat before or after your trip. The whole floor is filled with restaurants, cafés, and casual dining spots.
Dim Dim Sum (點點心), pictured above, is one of my favorites. But every time I’m back, I try a different place, since there’s no shortage of options.
If you can’t decide on a sit-down restaurant, there’s also a food court area on this floor that works like a mini Taiwanese food festival. Every stall serves Taiwanese dishes such as beef noodle soup, braised pork rice, and rice noodle soup. It’s fast and affordable, and the variety means everyone in your group can order something different. Whenever I can’t decide where to eat, I end up walking over there without even thinking about it.
I love meeting friends here too. 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 usually pick a restaurant on the 2nd floor, take our time over a meal, and catch up before heading off again.
If you’re carrying suitcases, store them in a locker first. There’s only one escalator up to the restaurant floor, and most other access points are stairs. Carrying heavy luggage up and down those stairs during busy hours isn’t fun.
Luggage Storage At Taipei Main Station
If you’re carrying suitcases and need a place to store them, Taipei Main Station has several luggage locker locations. They’re easy to find once you know where to look, and they 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 to $40 TWD per 3 hours, and large lockers range from $60 to $110 TWD per 3 hours. Some lockers also accept electronic payment, which is convenient if you’re not carrying coins.
Keep in mind that some lockers have operating hours. The TRA-operated lockers usually run from 7:00 a.m. to midnight. If you plan to store your luggage, 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’re especially useful on rainy days if your destination happens to be 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, Zone Y is my favorite, and the one kids and teens would enjoy the most. Between exits Y10 and Y20, there are gachapon machines (扭蛋機), toy stores, and small shops all along the way.
My 11-year-old son insists on coming here every time we’re back in Taipei. If you’re traveling with children or young teens, this area is 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’s 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 good 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 that 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 gets much easier to navigate.
I’ve spent years moving through this station, catching trains to Hualien, meeting friends on the 2nd floor, and figuring out which underground exit actually gets me where I’m going. These tips come from doing it wrong more than a few times before getting it right.
