International Relations Office
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Taiwan
| Leisure |
| Getting Around |
By air: TPE airport is for international flights only, so passengers flying into Taipei and transferring elsewhere within Taiwan will have to travel to Songshan Airport (TSA; www.tsa.gov.tw). By rail: The Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) operates trains on two main lines. Major stops on the Western Line include Pingdong, Kaohsiung, Taichung, Taipei and Keelung, while the Eastern Line runs from Shulin via Taipei and Hualien to Taitung. The Southern Link connects Kaohsiung and Taitung. There are also several small branch lines maintained for tourist purposes, including Pingxi, Alishan, Jiji and Neiwan (closed at the time of writing for the next several years). For detailed timetable and fare information, you can pick up the Taiwan Railway Passenger Train Timetable at train station info centres, kiosks or 7-Eleven stores, or visit new.twtraffic.com.tw/TWRail_en/index.aspx. Express trains are reasonably comfortable and they all offer reserved seating and carts coming through the aisles offering boxed meals (such as they are). Snacks are available on platforms at many stations, and there are always shops and convenience stores nearby. By road: Driving a car is not terribly difficult outside of the cities, especially on weekdays. Scooters are cheap to rent (average NT400 per day, but some as low as NT200), but not every place will let you rent one without a local licence. At the time of writing, you could rent scooters with just an International Driver’s Licence in Hualien, Kenting, Chiayi, Tainan, Sun Moon Lake and Jiaoshi. Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org) has an excellent overview of Taiwan’s road and highway system, which includes explanations of the numbering system. Go to the website and type ‘highway system in Taiwan’. Buses: Between major cities you’ll never have to wait more than an hour for a bus, but congestion is a problem on the highways, and that five-hour trip to Kaohsiung could easily become seven hours, or even 10. On the positive side, buses are smoke-free and quite comfortable. The more pricey intercity buses have airplane-like seats and show movies. Buses along rural routes are more basic. The main transit points are Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung. For intercity travel we recommend Aloha, UBus and Kuo Kuang Hao. Reservations are advisable for weekend travel and especially during holidays. Note that some buses run 24 hours a day and fares can drop considerably from midnight to 6am. Car-hire: Car rental fees typically run between NT800 and NT1500 for a half day, or NT1500 and NT2800 for a full day, depending on the type of vehicle and rental company. Typical long-term discounts are 10% for three to seven days, 20% for eight to 20 days and 30% for longer. Ask if there is a limit to the number of kilometres you can drive. All airports have car rental agencies (or else they do free delivery), as do most of the High-Speed Rail stations. You can also check with local tourist information offices for rental agencies in your area. The following are two possibilities: Central Auto (02-2828 0033; www.rentalcar.com.tw) Long-running foreign-managed rental company with Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung branches. Good reputation. Hertz (02-2731 0377; www.hertz.com) Many branches islandwide Public Transport: Taipei’s MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) has made a huge difference to the city’s environment, traffic, cleanliness and general culture. Kaohsiung’s system should be ready by the end of 2008. |
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Some recommended dishes:
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| Others eg. Travel Guide |
