Transportation Guide

Taiwan’s compact size belies its transportation complexity. This island nation of 36,000 square kilometres offers everything from bullet trains to bicycle-sharing schemes, and understanding how to navigate this system will transform your experience from frustrating to liberating. The key isn’t memorising specific routes, but learning to read the transport landscape like a local.

Taiwan’s transportation network reflects its geography: a mountainous spine dividing east from west, with most development concentrated along the western coastal plain. This creates distinct transport patterns you’ll need to understand.

The western corridor (from Taipei south through Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung) enjoys frequent, fast connections via high-speed rail and motorways. The eastern coast, by contrast, relies on trains and buses winding through dramatic mountain and coastal scenery. Travelling east to west often requires going north or south first, rather than cutting straight across the mountains.

The system is remarkably safe and reliable by global standards. Trains run on time, buses follow published schedules (major routes, at least), and even remote areas maintain regular service. However, English signage varies dramatically. It is excellent in Taipei, sparse in rural areas. This guide will teach you how to navigate regardless of language barriers.