Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport

Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (台灣桃園國際機場, formerly Chiang Kai-Shek International Airport 中正國際機場) (TPE  ^IATA) is the primary international airport of Taipei and Taiwan.

Understand

The airport is a hub for various airlines including EVA Air, UNI Air, Tigerair Taiwan and Taiwanese flag carrier China Airlines. The airport received over 44 million passengers in 2017. The airport opened in 1979 as Chiang-Kai Shek International Airport to relieve Songshan Airport, which now serves primarily as a domestic airport with limited international flights to mainland China, Japan and South Korea. It was re-named to its current name in 2006 by the incumbent pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government as part of its de-Sinicization policy.

In the 21st century, the airport is a popular stopover point for passengers travelling between North America and Southeast Asia.

Airport information

• Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport website

Flights

Taoyuan Airport is divided into two terminals. China Airlines operates from both terminals. The terminal for your departure depends on the flight destination.

Terminal 1 China Airlines flights to Hong Kong, South Korea, India, Southeast Asia & Europe AirAsia, AirAsia X, Air Macau, Cathay Pacific, Cebu Pacific, Eastar Jet, Emirates, Garuda Indonesia, JC International Airlines, Jeju Air, Jetstar Asia Airways, Jetstar Japan, Jetstar Pacific Airways, Jin Air, Juneyao Airlines, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Peach Aviation, Philippine Airlines, Philippines AirAsia, Scoot, Sichuan Airlines, Spring Airlines, StarLux, Thai Airways, Tigerair Taiwan, T'way Airlines, VietJet Air, Vietnam Airlines.

Terminal 2 China Airlines flights to North America, Oceania, Japan & mainland China Air Busan, Air Canada, Air China, All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Delta Airlines, EVA Air, Hainan Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Japan Airlines, KLM, Mandarin Airlines, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Uni Air, United Airlines, Xiamen Airlines.

Transfers between terminals can be made on foot airside, or through the Taoyuan International Airport Skytrain both landside and airside.

Ground transportation

By train

The Taoyuan Airport MRT rail is the fastest travel option to/from the airport.

• Between 06:00 and 23:00, two trains run every 15 minutes in each direction, one Express, one Commuter. The journey to Taipei by the Express Train takes roughly 38 minutes and the fare is NT$160 (both train types). The train terminates at Taipei Main Station (on the red and blue MRT lines), and there is also an underground walkway to Beimen MRT Station (on the green MRT line). For passengers heading to Taipei, it is best to wait for the Express Train, as the Commuter Train stops at every station.
• At Taipei Main, China Airlines, EVA Air and their subsidiaries allow you to check-in and check your bags ahead of time, which are also then sent to the airport on the MRT. However, you must do this between 6 hours and 3 hours before your flight departure time. Follow the signs for “In-Town Check-in” on the upper levels of the Taipei Main Airport MRT station.
• The platform at Taipei Main Station is 300 m from Taipei MRT platforms.

It is also easy to get to 1 Taoyuan High Speed Rail station from the airport. You can take the MRT rail line there (previously, you had to take a bus). From there, you can catch one of the HSR trains to Taipei Main Station (where it is easy to take a taxi or MRT to your final destination). The bus is NT$30 and the train is NT$165. The total journey time takes 5–15 minutes waiting time, 18–25 minutes on the bus, and 19 minutes to Taoyuan HSR; roughly 1 hour in all. On the way back, there are check-in counters at the station for China Airlines, EVA Air flights.

By bus

Express airport buses cost between NT$120-150 depending on the bus company, 50–70 minutes depending on traffic and there are stops at both terminals. Most Taipei routes are divided into West and East, with each company operating a service every ten to fifteen minutes on each route. The western line bus terminates at Taipei Main Railway Station and also makes a stop at Yuanshan MRT Station on the Xindian line (The Airbus company buses on the western line meander through local towns before joining the freeway and therefore take much longer than the blue and white Guoguang buses which enter the freeway directly). Buses plying the eastern route terminate at the Taipei Grand Hyatt Hotel and make a stop at Zhongxiao-Fuxing MRT Station on the Nangang and Muzha lines. There is also a bus connecting to the domestic Songshan Airport. Ticket counters display route maps showing all stops. In addition, there are some non-express buses which are slightly cheaper, but pass through towns such as Taoyuan (桃園), Nankan (南崁) or Kueishan (龜山) before arriving in Taipei.

When returning to the airport, express buses can be caught at various stops throughout the city. One major one leaves every 15–20 minutes from 2 Taipei West Bus Station adjacent to Taipei Main Railway Station (near MRT exit M5 and underground mall exits K12 and Z3). Another is at the terminal at the Songshan Domestic Airport (松山機場). Other stops are outside major hotels and also in front of Minsheng MRT Station. For people taking early morning flights, the earliest available buses to the airport leave at around 04:00 from the Far Eastern Plaza Hotel (台北遠東國際大飯店) (201 Dunhua South Rd Section 2).

Direct bus connections between the airport and other cities in Taiwan are also available. U-bus also runs shuttle buses every 15 min from both terminals to THSR Taoyuan station (15 min away), from where you can continue your journey by high-speed train.

There is night service, although it's really hard to find information about it. Best source is the airport website. As of February 2012 there is overnight bus service to Taipei Railway station at the following times 01:30, 03:00 for Terminal 1 (exit B5), add 10 min for Terminal 2 (bus station, 1819 stand). Ticket can be purchased from the driver - NT$165. Another bus at 04:00, Wednesday & Saturday at Terminal 2, is unconfirmed. From the Taipei Railway you can take overnight train to connect to other cities or bus from the adherent bus station. It takes about 55 min from the airport to the city (at night).

By taxi

A one-way taxi fare between the airport and Taipei will cost at the minimum NT$900 (generally NT$1,000-1,200 from the airport). In Taipei, don't make the mistake of asking a taxi driver to take you to the Taipei airport (Songshan) if you actually mean Taiwan Taoyuan Airport. The international airport is actually about an hour's drive from Taipei, while Songshan is in downtown Taipei.

A one-way pre-arranged car fare between the airport and Taipei will cost at the minimum NT$1,300-1,500. Generally these sedans are pre-arranged through your hotel and the car company or driver will meet you as soon as you exit baggage claim. Since the price is not much more than taking a taxi, it is usually recommended that you ask your hotel if they offer this service. This is a more comfortable half-hour ride to the hotel.

Luggage transportation

Many services in Taiwan offer luggage transportation, including E-Pelican. They are very cheap, and consider them if you have a lot of heavy luggage to transport.

Get around

The Taoyuan International Airport Skytrain can take people on both groundside and airside (using separate trains) between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.

Wait

The gate areas of Terminal 2 have various themes to keep you occupied while you wait for your boarding call.

There is a public waiting lounge in Terminal 1, between the Plaza Premium Lounge and the Starlux GALACTIC lounge, where the shower facilities are located. There are no other amenities, but it's a nice place to rest if you don't have any other lounge access.

Half-day Layover Tours Taiwan Tourism Administration offers a free half-day layover tour. They require a valid foreign passport with boarding passes verifying a layover under 24 hours. Reservations are recommended, but in the low-season, it is possible to walk up to the tourist service centre for last-minute availability. Tipping is expected for guided tours. Three guided tours are offered (as of January 2024): Morning (08:30-12:30): Lungshan Temple, National Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall and Yongkang Street in Taipei Afternoon (14:00-18:00): Daxi Old Street, Daxi Bridge, Daxi Puji Temple and the Musical Note Wall of Singer Fong Fei-Fei of Taoyuan Evening (18:00-22:30): Observation Deck of New Taipei City Hall. Jieyun Temple and the Nanya Night Market in New Taipei City (exclusively for advance group reservations of 5+) Self-guided tours are also offered, which offer an itinerary in Yingge, Taipei or Taoyuan, and a free round-trip Taoyuan Airport MRT voucher.

Lounges

• China Airlines operates 4 lounges in total, two each in Terminals 1 and 2, which are accessible to those flying in business class, as well as those with Elite Plus status on Skyteam airlines and other partner airlines.
• EVA Air operates 4 lounges in Terminal 2. These have varying access rules, but in general are accessible to people flying in first or business class on Star Alliance airlines. Some of the lounges are accessible to those with EVA Air silver status, or those with gold status on other Star Alliance airlines.
• Plaza Premium Lounge operates 2 lounges each in Terminals 1 and 2, which are accessible for a fee, and also to those in the Priority Pass programme.
• Cathay Pacific operates a lounge in Terminal 1, accessible to those flying first or business class along with Oneworld and other partner airlines.
• Singapore Airlines operates a lounge in Terminal 2.
• Thai Airways operates a lounge in Terminal 1
• Japan Airlines operates a lounge in Terminal 2.
• Starlux Airlines operates the GALACTIC lounge in Terminal 1 with a-la carte dining.

Showers

The airport has free showers available to all passengers on the first and second floors of Terminal 1, and on the first and fourth floors of Terminal 2. Plaza Premium Lounge offers shower amenities (e.g., towels) for a nominal fee, and will provide them free for Starlux Airlines passengers via the Starlux Lounge.

Buy

There are places to buy souvenirs landside.

Currency exchange

For arriving passengers, currency exchange is available both before and after immigration. The exchange rate is a bit better after immigration. There are ATMs too.

For departing passengers, try to exchange your leftover Taiwanese dollars before going through security, as it's hard to find currency exchange airside.

Vending machines airside accept EasyCards, so you can use the last 20 or 30 dollars on your card to buy a drink or a snack.

Connect

• The airport has free wifi.
• For international arrivals, there are shops selling Taiwanese SIM cards both before and after immigration. One shop rents wifi hotspots as well, although they're considerably more expensive than SIM cards for the same period of time. As of December 2019, SIM cards with unlimited data but no calls cost NT$199 for three days, NT$220 for five days, NT$280 for six days, NT$350 for eight days, and NT$400 for ten days. WIth unlimited data and some credit for calls: NT$250 for three days, NT$230 for five days, NT$700 for fifteen days, NT$1000 for 30 days. Wifi hotspots are NT$140 per day, and portable translation machines can be rented for NT$180. (There are several SIM card shops in the airport; different shops may have different rates.)

Sleep

In addition to the transit hotel within the airport terminal, there are several hotels near the airport if you desire more comfortable quarters for an extended transit or for some other reason would rather lodge by the airport than in Taipei. The Novotel Taoyuan International Airport, next to the China Airlines headquarters building, is minutes from both terminals by MRT. Also nearby is the CitySuites Gateway Hotel, 10 minutes from the Cing-pu High-speed Rail Station and three minutes away from Taoyuan International Airport.

• CHO Stay Capsule Hotel. Landside in Terminal 2. Sleeping pods with shared toilets and showers.
• Plaza Premium Lounge. Airside in Zone A, International Departures, Terminal 2. Lounge offers "Private Relaxation Suites" with beds and toilet. Showers also available.
• 1 Airport Backpacker Hostel (桃園機場背包客), No. 12, Lane 106, Section 2, Sanmin Road (桃園市大園區三民路二段106巷12號), ☏ +886 978-777-988. Check-in: 16:00, check-out: 11:00. A hostel nearest to the airport for early departures or late arrivals. (updated Nov 2024)
• 2 Novotel (台北諾富特華航桃園機場飯店), No.1-1, Hangzhan S Rd (No. 1, No. 1航站南路大園區桃園市) (MRT A14a), ☏ +886-3-3980888, H6701@accor.com. Notable for having an airport shuttle even when the MRT is closed, but be aware that the shuttles can only ferry about a dozen guests at a time, and flight crews have registration priority, making it difficult to acquire shuttle bookings between 2-6am. There is also a restaurant serving Chinese and Western cuisine, meeting rooms, a fitness center, and a children's area. (updated Jan 2018)
• 3 CitySuites Taoyuan Gateway (桃園航空館), 442 Zhongzheng East Rd, Dayuan (桃園市大園區中正東路442號), ☏ +886 3 385-3017, marketinggateway@citysuites.com.tw. (updated Jan 2018)

Nearby

Routes through Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport

Taipei ← New Taipei ←	N  S	→ Hsinchu County → Hsinchu
END ← Jct ←	N  S	→ Taoyuan → Jct in Yingge
End Jct ← Airport Access Rd ←	N  S	→ Jct → Taoyuan