I tend to be rather apprehensive about taking the KTM trains in Kuala Lumpur simply because the system is so bad. However, when I was in Taiwan and took their Taipei MRT, I was very pleasantly surprised at how fast, efficient and clean their trains were.

The Taipei MRT covers most of the Taipei metropolitan area which makes it a great mode of transportation for tourists. All their stations are easily accessible from most of the popular attractions and it is easy to move around, even if you do not speak or read Mandarin as every station and direction is clearly marked in both Mandarin and English. Most hotels in Taipei are usually located near the MRT stations so it makes traveling very easy.

Their trains run very frequently with up to 8 minutes intervals between trains during non-peak times and as a tourist, it was great to know that popular tourist spots which are quite far from the city such as the XinBeitou Hot Springs or Danshui are very easily accessible through the Metro. Due to the high volume of passengers, the trains tend to be rather crowded during peak hours so do be prepared to stand.

Tickets are not overly expensive and tend to range between NTD20 to NTD30 (RM2 to RM3) per stop and are easily purchased in the form of a blue chip from the ticket vending machines. However, for tourists who are intending to use the metro often during the day, I would recommend buying the one day Metro pass available at NTD200 which includes a refundable deposit of NTD50 which makes it effectively NTD150 (approximately RM15). It is valid for a full day of travel and does not have any block out times for peak or non-peak travel periods. This pass has to be purchased directly from the staff instead of the vending machine and has to be returned to the staff again to get your deposit. I personally found it very useful as it allowed me to explore most of Taipei without worrying about how much each stop will cost.

It is very easy to pick up good and detailed train maps around Taipei and often, the map comes with additional information on Taipei tourist attractions around each station which makes it a really tourist-friendly map and a great way to explore Taipei on your own. So, if you’re planning a trip to Taipei, find out more about the Taipei Metro here or check out the rail map below to choose the best hotel areas.