Layover in Taipei – the ultimate guide 2024

Taipei Taoyuan International Airport is the airport that serves the city of Taipei and where you'll have a layover if you're catching a connecting flight to somewhere in northern Taiwan. This airport is located about fifty kilometers from Taipei and that fact, along with severe traffic congestion on the roads, makes getting into the city by road on a short stopover difficult even if you attempt to do it by cab.

There are public transport services in place but both the bus and train take about an hour, so will eat into any layover time you have. The fastest way to get into Taipei is on the Taoyuan Airport MRT which is a rapid transit metro connection running to the city's main station from Terminals 1 and 2. It may be rapid but it still takes around forty minutes to get from A to B so is only really useful if you're on a long layover.

6 hour layover in Taipei

The best thing to do if you know you're going to have a six-hour layover in Taipei is pack a good book, as there's not a great deal to do at Taoyuan Airport. Spend an hour checking out the impressive artwork in the waiting rooms, each one is different, find the one which feels the most restful to you, make yourself comfortable and settle down to read.

• When your book doesn't turn out to be as interesting as you thought, drop your bags in a luggage locker, and head up to the airport's observation deck to watch the planes taking off and landing. Viewing time is limited to thirty minutes per person so won't occupy a great deal of your layover.
• Fill the time and your stomach on your Taipei layover by taking a tour of the airport's ramen noodle bars. Try a bowl in a few different ones, there's a surplus in all three terminals and when you're bored with those try some dim sum or wontons instead.

8 hour layover in Taipei

You'll still struggle to have enough time to get into Taipei itself when you're on an eight-hour layover. You will have time to take a brief soiree into Taoyuan City though, which is a lot closer. The most time-efficient way of getting into Taoyuan City is by taxi. You can pick up an official taxi, which are controlled by the Aviation Police, from outside arrivals in Terminals 1 and 2

• Get the taxi driver to leave you at Daxi Old Street so you can explore the eclectic stores and see the elaborate Furen Temple.
• Depending on the route your driver takes you may be required to pay for the highway tolls as these are not included in the standard metered fares.
• Alternatively, if you don't want to go too far, catch the Taoyuan Bus from outside Terminal 2 to the Guandi Temple. It leaves every half hour and is a forty-minute ride each way. Do the round trip and you'll see some of Taiwan even if you don't have time to get off.

8 hour layover in Taipei

You'll still struggle to have enough time to get into Taipei itself when you're on an eight-hour layover. You will have time to take a brief soiree into Taoyuan City though, which is a lot closer. The most time-efficient way of getting into Taoyuan City is by taxi. You can pick up an official taxi, which are controlled by the Aviation Police, from outside arrivals in Terminals 1 and 2

• Get the taxi driver to leave you at Daxi Old Street so you can explore the eclectic stores and see the elaborate Furen Temple.
• Depending on the route your driver takes you may be required to pay for the highway tolls as these are not included in the standard metered fares.
• Alternatively, if you don't want to go too far, catch the Taoyuan Bus from outside Terminal 2 to the Guandi Temple. It leaves every half hour and is a forty-minute ride each way. Do the round trip and you'll see some of Taiwan even if you don't have time to get off.

12 hour layover in Taipei

A twelve-hour layover in Taipei may seem like a long time but it isn't. The best way to maximize the time you have is by taking a private tour of the city where the driver-guide collects you from and drops you back at the airport. You'll see more with a guide than you could ever hope to see on your own and even if you have a six-hour tour, you'll still have time to freshen up in one of the airport lounges and enjoy a relaxed meal before heading for the check-in again. Make things easier on yourself by dropping off your unneeded bags at a Taipei luggage storage.

• If you're determined to go into Taipei off your own bat on your layover then plan where you want to go before leaving the airport. Restrict your sightseeing to two or three main places and it'll be a lot less stressful.
• You can get a good overview of the city by riding the elevator up to the indoor observation deck on the 89th floor of the Taipei 101 tower. The deck is open until 10 pm so you can see Taipei at night from there too or enjoy the panoramic views from the sky-high restaurant while eating dinner.

24 hour layover in Taipei

If you're fortunate to have a twenty-four-hour layover in Taipei it'll be the ideal opportunity to jump aboard the hop-on hop-off bus and see the city under your own steam. If you're not a city person then set off by hire car or on an organized excursion to see some of the incredible Taiwanese countryside. The Yangmingshan National Park, which is a few miles north of Taipei, is where the country's largest volcano is and there are some amazing hiking trails there where you can stretch your legs.

• You can also join a tour to the Taroko National Park where the spectacular Taroko Gorge and the awe-inspiring Cihmu Bridge are. It's a train ride away so you get to see quite a good portion of the eastern region of the country before arriving at the park.
• Get a dose of Taiwanese culture on your layover by attending a show at the National Arts Performance Center. The center is home to several venues where there are performances of traditional music and dance as well as classical events.