Taiwan has one of the most convenient and advanced transportation systems in the world. From light rail, mass rapid transit, busses, high speed rail, highways, freeways, bike sharing systems, and more, Taiwan is a great place to travel.
Foreword: Please note that this is not a comprehensive list of questions. This is meant to only give a basic overview of Taiwan's transportation to those who have never been there. Basic Taiwan Travel Tips:
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Buying a scooter as a foreigner in Taiwan can be a confusing and stressful experience. If you do not live near the MRT in Taipei, chances are that you have thought about at least buying a scooter. Taiwan is a place that should be explored not just with public transportation, but by scooter. If you only take public transportation everywhere you go, you are missing out on a huge part of Taiwan. To make you buying experience smoother, we have created this guide to let you know what to expect and answer any questions.
Here is an easy checklist for buying a car or scooter in Taiwan: Before buying the scooter:
Taiwan is a place that should be explored not just with public transportation (as convenient as it is). If you only take public transportation everywhere you go, you are missing out on a huge part of Taiwan. You could take taxis everywhere to see these sights, like a rich Chinese person, or you can take the cheaper option and rent a vehicle. Many of the scenic and rural sights of Taiwan can’t be experienced except by hiring your own vehicle.
Renting cars or scooters in Taiwan: Taiwan is the scooter capital of the world. Driving a scooter is dangerous, but scooters are fun. You can stop pretty much anywhere on the side of the road easily and take photos and enjoy the scenery. They are also pretty easy to learn how to operate; if you can already drive a car and/or ride a bike, picking up riding a moped shouldn’t be that hard. There’s not a much better way to experience Taiwan than cruising down the streets like everyone else with the wind blowing in your face. However, if you are afraid that scooters are dangerous, I would suggest renting a car. 
Taiwan is a place that should be explored not just with public transportation (as convenient as it is). If you only take public transportation everywhere you go, you are missing out on a huge part of Taiwan. You could take taxis everywhere to see these sights, like a rich Chinese person, or you can take the cheaper option and rent a vehicle. Many of the scenic and rural sights of Taiwan can’t be experienced except by hiring your own vehicle.
Renting a Vehicle in Taiwan: Taiwan is the scooter capital of the world, so driving a car can be dangerous here because you need to be more aware of your surroundings. However, if you are looking to get around the island faster, are travelling with multiple people, have lots of luggage, or you are afraid that scooters are dangerous, I would suggest renting a car. Do you have any recommendations? We recommend using Qeeq here, Klook here or KKday here to rent or charter cars in Taiwan. Car Rental Fast Facts: Where? Car rental places can be found next to most airports and in all major cities. But don’t expect them right next to every small train station. Pricing? Cheap would be 1000-1500 NTD a day (30-45 USD), average would be $2000+ a day (60 USD), and expensive would be $3,000+ a day (100+ USD). Discounts are often given for multiple day rentals and for weekdays. Do I need a local license? No. However, you should get an international driver’s permit. If you don’t have an international driver’s permit there is no guarantee that you can rent a car. Check with the rental agency beforehand and make necessary preparations. How do I get a local Taiwanese license? Check out our guide on getting a driver's license in Taiwan here. You can also check out our guide to getting an International Driver's Permit here. Does Taiwan have Uber? Yes but its just as expensive as a Taxi. Uber was banned and fined multiple times because their business model was deemed illegal. Uber drivers were required to have a professional driver’s license. Now they work with local rental car companies to keep the app going in Taiwan. What side of the road does Taiwan drive on? The Right side. How much is the price of gas? As of July, 2023 it is around 30 NT (1 USD) per liter for 95 octane gas. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here. Anything else I should be aware of when driving in Taiwan? Yes!
Where can I rent cars in Taiwan? We recommend using Qeeq here, Klook here or Kayak here to rent or charter cars in Taiwan. Summation of Rental Car Companies in Taiwan: (please note this is not a complete list. Other discounts and offers can be found on each company's website) Qeeq website: https://www.qeeq.com/
KKday website: https://www.kkday.com/
Klook website: https://www.klook.com/
Kayak website: https://kayak.com/
Expedia website: https://expedia.com/
Trip.com website: https://trip.com/
Just to let you know, if you book using the links above, we get some commission at no cost to you, and you can help support our blog. Good Cars website: https://www.goodcars.com.tw/
Avis Taiwan 安維斯租車 website: https://www.avis-taiwan.com/us/
HLC 和運租車 website: https://www.easyrent.com.tw/
Jinfeng Car Rental 進豐租車 website: http://www.1car-rent.com.tw/service.php
Budget website: https://www.budget.com/en/locations/tb
CarPlus 格上租車 website: https://www.car-plus.com.tw/EN/ugC_AboutUs.asp
Renting a Scooter? Check out our blog about scooter rental in Taiwan here, or our scooter buying guide here. Or you can check out Klook here or Kday here to search for options. Want to buy a car instead? Please see our car buying guide here. Looking for a hotel? Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotels through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan. Check out our blog index for ideas of where to visit in Taiwan. You can also find more tours of Taipei on Klook here or KKday here. Feel free to contact us with any specific questions about car or scooter rental in Taiwan, and please like, comment, and share! -FiTW 
Most scooter or car rental shops in Taiwan require foreigners to show their International Driving Permit (IDP) before they can rent. However, sometimes they want to see that you have a Taiwan driver's license. Either way, getting an international driver's permit (IDP) is the best choice if you plan to drive in Taiwan as a foreign tourist.
If you already have a Taiwanese license, you can also apply for an IDP in Taiwan so that you can drive in other foreign countries. Overall, the process is simple, fast, easy, and cost efficient. 
The Matsu Archipelago is a group of small islands off the coast of China that belong to Taiwan. Acting for a long time as military outposts for Taiwan, the islands have recently opened to tourists. Here you can find traditional stone house villages, magical "blue tear" bioluminescent phenomena, wild sika deer, military museums, a Mazu memorial park including the largest Mazu statue in the world, a variety of local food, and much more to explore.
Background: Thousands of years ago, stone aged peoples once inhabited the Matsu Islands. These stone aged people later disappeared. The Matsu islands were inhabited again around the Song Dynasty (990 - 1200 AD) by Chinese fisherman, the descendants of whom still inhabit the islands today. Because the Goddess Mazu's corpse washed ashore on this island, Nangan is also known as Matsu Island. During the Chinese Civil War, Matsu was used as a military outpost for the retreating ROC. During the years that followed, it withheld shelling and threats of invasion from China, helping to keep Taiwan free of communist control. In 1992 after cross-strait relations had warmed up, martial law was lifted on the islands and tourists were allowed to visit. In the year 2000, a ferry link with Fuzhou started to provide constant China Mainland visitors to the island, as part of the three links with China. In 1994 Beigan Airport was opened and was the only airport in Matsu for 9 years. In 2003, the Nangan Airport was opened, which significantly lowered the number of travelers to Beigan. However fast and convenient boat travel has made it so that most tourists travel to both islands. Matsu (or officially Lienchiang County of Fujian Province 連江縣) consists of 36 islands or islets, with 5 major islands: Nangan, Beigan, Xiju, Dongju, and Dongyin, and minor islands including Daqiu, Xiaoqiu, Gaodeng, and Liangdao. Nangan has a population of 4,000 people and is the largest island in Matsu in terms of population and geographical size. Beigan Island is the second largest island in Matsu (behind Nangan), and has a population of about 2,500. Xiju and Dongju Islands sit next to each other and have a combined population of 1,500 people. Dongyin is the third largest island in terms of size and population, with about 1,300 people. Daqiu is a small island near Beigan with a population of 1 human and about 300 wild sika deer. Xiaoqiu is another small uninhabited rocky islet next to Daqiu. Gaodeng Island and Liangdao Islands are also sizable islands in the chain but are military islands that are currently closed off to tourists. How to get there: The easiest way to get around the islands is to take a plane from Songshan Airport or by boat from Taipei or Keelung Nangan and then go island hopping from there. Nangan is the main transportation hub for all the islands. You can book flights to Matsu on Trip.com or CheapO Air. You can also search for cheap flights in Taiwan on Kiwi here. You can book ferry tickets to Matsu on KKday here. Dongyin Island: By Boat: There are daily ferries from Keelung Harbor that usually take an overnight trip to Nangan, passing through Dongyin Island. The price for a one-way ride is 400-2000 NT depending on the type of accommodation you want on the boat. Boats from Nangan leave twice a day and take 2 hours. The price for a one-way ride is 350 NT. Beigan Island: By Boat: There are boats from Nangan Fu'Ao Harbor (南竿福奧港) to Beigan Baisha Harbor (北竿白沙港) every hour from 7 AM to 5 PM. There are no daily routes to Beigan from other islands (except Daqiu). You can book tickets between Nangan and Beigan Islands on KKday here. By Plane: There are flights to and from Taipei Songshan Airport three times a day via Uni Air. You can book flights on KKday here, Trip.com here, CheapO Air here, or Kiwi here. Daiqu Island: Public Ferry from Nangan Fu'Ao Harbor (福澳港) (April to October): 350 NT round trip per person （Stops at Baisha Harbor in Nangan) Nangan departure times: 9:50 AM, 1:30 PM, Daqiu departure times: 12:10 Noon, 3:40 PM Trip takes about 20 minutes. You can book a ferry to Daqiu Island on KKday here. Public Ferry from Beigan Qiaozi Harbor (橋仔港) (May to October): 300 NT round trip per person Beigan departure times: 8:30 AM, 2:30 PM, Daqiu departure times: 10:30 AM, 4:30 PM https://hotels.matsu.idv.tw/ferry.php Trip takes about 10 minutes. Chartered ferries: Around 300 NT per round trip. You can book tickets between Nangan and Beigan Islands on KKday here. Nangan Island: By Boat: There are daily ferries from Taipei or Keelung that usually take an overnight trip to Nangan, passing through Dongyin Island. There are boats from Beigan Baisha Harbor (北竿白沙港) to Nangan Fu'Ao Harbor (南竿福奧港) every hour from 7 AM to 5 PM. You can book tickets between Nangan and Beigan Islands on KKday here. By Plane: There are flights to and from Taipei Songshan Airport three times a day via Uni Air. You can book flights on KKday here, Trip.com here, CheapO Air here, or Kiwi here. Dongju and Xiju Islands: By Boat: Ferries from Nangan leave every 3 hours, with three trips per day. The trip takes about an hour. Price is 200 NT one way. Price (to Nangan): By Boat: 500-2000 NT per person (one way from Taipei or Keelung) 160 NT per person (one way from Beigan) By Plane: About 2000 NT (one way from Taipei). There are flights to and from Taipei Songshan Airport three times a day via Uni Air. You can book flights on KKday here, Trip.com here, CheapO Air here, or Kiwi here. How to get around the islands: Matsu has large, hilly islands and it would be very hard to get around on foot or bicycle. We recommend one of the following. By Ferries: The only way to get to smaller islands without airports is by ferry. You can check KKday here for ferry tickets or buy them at the harbor. By Scooter: We recommend riding a scooter as your #1 choice. It's fast, convenient, and there isn't much traffic on the island. A scooter will cost about 500 NT per day to rent. You can rent a scooter on Klook here or KKday here. When braking on hills, use both brakes, otherwise, you could lose traction on one tire and skid. Don't stop or park on a slope. Also, some hills that are too steep are closed off for scooters. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. By Car/Taxi: You can rent a car or hire a taxi for 200O NT per day. If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. By Bus: There are buses that go around the islands, but wait times can be 30 minutes or more. By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can search on KKday here and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. Hotels: We have stayed at and recommend Fu Hwa Homestay on Nangan (you can book on Agoda here, Booking,com here, or Trip.com here), and B&B of Blueshine on Beigan (you can book on Agoda here, Booking,com here, or Trip.com here). Both places were excellent, and provided us a car ride to and from the airport for free. You can also check out our Taiwan hotels guide here. Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the island. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here. Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. When to go: We recommend going between April and June when the "blue tear" phosphorescent microbes in the water will be the most visible at night. Also, winters can be cold and windy, and summers very hot, and there could also be typhoons in the summer and fall. Tours and Activities: Beihai Tunnel Rocking Boat: about 150 NT Blue Tears Museum: about 300 NT SUP/Paddle experience: about 2300 NT You can search for other tours and activities on KKday here or Klook here. Just to let you know, if you book using the links above, we get some commission at no cost to you, and you can help support our blog. You can click here to receive $5 USD on your first Klook purchase. Map: Please see below: 
Buying a car as a foreigner in Taiwan can be a confusing and stressful experience. If you do not live near a train station, chances are that you have thought about at least buying a car for long trips. Taiwan is a place that should be explored not just with public transportation, but by car or scooter. If you only take public transportation everywhere you go, you are missing out on a huge part of Taiwan. To make you buying experience smoother, we have created this guide to let you know what to expect and answer any questions.
Obtaining a driver's license in Taiwan can be the key to freedom, and let you see more of Taiwan faster than ever. Some countries have international agreements to recognize driver's licenses from other countries, but if your license has expired or if your country has no agreement with Taiwan, it probably means you need to take the driver's license test.
In this blog, I will show you how it is possible to pass the test for both cars and scooters without expensive and ineffective driver's education courses. 
The scooter lane coming off the Taipei Bridge from Sanchong into Taipei onto Minquan West Road is one of the most impressive traffic sights in Taiwan, and has become an iconic photo destination. Rows of 10-20 scooters across and 20-40 scooters deep. So there can be about 200-800 Scooters on this bridge ramp at a time.
When to go: Between 7 AM and 9 AM on a workday. That is when you will see the most scooters. Tours: You can book a Motorcycling tour of Taiwan and more on Klook here. Hotels in Taipei: We have stayed at and recommend the Yuanshan Grand Hotel, once the tallest building in Taiwan and still the most grand (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, or Agoda here). We have stayed at and also recommend Fu Chang Hotel in Ximending, which is within walking distance of Ximending shopping district (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, or Agoda here). Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Booking.com here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan. Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. How to get there: By Scooter: You can drive through the scooter waterfall by going across the Taipei Bridge from Sanchong. Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. By MRT: You can see the scooters coming off the bridge a few blocks west of Daqiaotou Station on the orange MRT line in Taipei. You can purchase a discount easy card to use on the MRT from Klook here or KKday here. You can also book an MRT travel pass on Klook here. By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan's many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. ​You can also book a Sunset Riverside Bike Ride and Historical Tour, 4 Hour Cycling in Taipei, Ultimate 8-Hour Cycling City Tour, or Taipei City Bike Tour with Night Market Experience on TripAdvisor here. For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. Map: Please see below: 
Beigan Island is one of the two largest Islands in Matsu (officially Lienchiang County, Taiwan), and has some of the best preserved traditional stone made fishing villages on the islands. There are also many historical military sites, as the islands were part of the front line during the Chinese Civil War. It is easily accessible via airplane or boat from Taipei.
Background: Thousands of years ago, stone aged peoples once inhabited the Matsu Islands, including Beigan Island itself. These stone aged people later disappeared. The Matsu islands were inhabited again around the Song Dynasty (990 - 1200 AD) by Chinese Fisherman, the descendants of whom still inhabit the islands today. During the Chinese Civil War, Matsu was used as a military outpost for the retreating ROC. During the years that followed, it withheld shelling and threats of invasion from China, helping to keep Taiwan free of communist control. In 1992 after cross straight relations had warmed up, martial law was lifted on the islands and tourists were allowed to visit. In 1994 Beigan Airport was opened, and was the only airport in Matsu for 9 years. In2003, the Nangan Airport was opened, which significantly lowered the number of travelers to Beigan. However fast and convenient boat travel has made it so that most tourists travel to both islands. Beigan Island is the second largest island in Matsu (behind Nangan), and a population of about 2,500. When to go: We recommend going between April and June when the "blue tear" phosphorescent microbes in the water will be the most visible at night. Also, winters can be cold and windy and summers very hot, and there could also be typhoons in the summer and fall. Tours and Activities: Beihai Tunnel Rocking Boat: about 150 NT Blue Tears Museum: about 300 NT SUP/Paddle experience: about 2300 NT You can search for other tours and activities on KKday here or Klook here. Just to let you know, if you book using the links above, we get some commission at no cost to you, and you can help support our blog. You can click here to receive $5 USD on your first Klook purchase. Hotels: We have stayed at and recommend Fu Hwa Homestay on Nangan (you can book on Agoda here, Booking,com here, or Trip.com here), and B&B of Blueshine on Beigan (you can book on Agoda here, Booking,com here, or Trip.com here). Both places were excellent, and provided us a car ride to and from the airport for free. You can also check out our Taiwan hotels guide here. Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Agoda here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation on the island. You can also book Wifi and SIM cards for Taiwan on Gigago here. Need travel insurance? Compare prices on Insubuy here. How to get there: By Boat: There are boats from Nangan Fu'Ao Harbor (南竿福奧港) to Beigan Baisha Harbor (北竿白沙港) every hour from 7 AM to 5 PM. There are no daily routes to Beigan from other islands (except Daqiu). You can book tickets between Nangan and Beigan Islands on KKday here. By Plane: There are flights to and from Taipei Songshan Airport three times a day via Uni Air. You can book flights on KKday here, Trip.com here, CheapO Air here, or Kiwi here. Price: By Boat: 160 NT per person (one way from Nangan), or 500-2000 NT per person (one way from Taipei or Keelung). You can book ferry tickets to Matsu from Taipei or Keelung on KKday here. By Plane: About 2000 NT (one way from Taipei). There are flights to and from Taipei Songshan Airport three times a day via Uni Air. You can book flights on KKday here, Trip.com here, CheapO Air here, or Kiwi here. How to get around on the island: Beigan is a large, hilly island and it would be very hard to get around on foot or bicycle. We recommend one of the following By Ferries: The only way to get to smaller islands without airports is by ferry. You can check KKday here for ferry tickets or buy them at the harbor. By Scooter: We recommend riding a scooter as your #1 choice. It's fast, convenient, and there isn't much traffic on the island. A scooter will cost about 500 NT per day to rent. You can rent a scooter on Klook here or KKday here. When braking on hills, use both brakes, otherwise, you could lose traction on one tire and skid. Don't stop or park on a slope. Also, some hills that are too steep are closed off for scooters. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. By Car/Taxi: You can rent a car or hire a taxi for 200O NT per day. If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. By Bus: There are buses that go around the islands, but wait times can be 30 minutes or more. By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can search on KKday here and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. Map: Please see below: |
Author 作家I am an American expat who has extensive experience living, working, and traveling in Taiwan. In my day, I had to learn many things about Taiwan the hard way. But I have come to learn that Taiwan is one of the best places in the world for Foreigners to live. This blog does not represent the opinions of every foreigner in Taiwan. I am just trying to help others learn more about this beautiful country. Categories
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