Taking the subway in Taipei

Residents of Taipei are proud of their subway system, and truly so. The city boasts one of the most extensive and comfortable underground transportation systems in Southeast Asia, known as the MRT. 

Taking the subway might seem a little confusing at first, but it’s really convenient once you get the hang of it. 

Payment

There are two different methods of payment to access the MRT. You can either purchase a one-time token from an automated machine or you can buy a mass transit card called Yo Yo Ka, which you can add credit to. More on that in a minute.

Buying a token

In order to buy a token, first you need to know which station you are traveling to. Subway fees are determined on the distance traveled, and you should have the adequate amount of credits on your token to be able to exit the metro once you arrive at your destination.

All subway stations have the above chart, showing the cost of travel for each and every other station based on your current location. The fees increase as the distance increases. 

Take a look at this chart and figure out how much you will need to pay. Say, your trip costs 25 NT. You need to go to the token dispensing machine and choose the token icon on the touch screen. You can touch the button that reads ‘English’ on the next screen to listen to instructions in English. Deposit the correct amount of coins and the machine will spit out a token. 

Do not try to insert the token at the turnstiles as you are entering the station. Place it on the scanning area and the turnstiles will open. Keep your token with you and deposit it at the turnstiles as you exit at your destination. 

Yo Yo Ka

A more convenient way of payment would be having a Yo Yo Ka. You can purchase a Yo Yo Ka from one of the kiosks at any MRT station and use the automated machines later to add credit to your card.

It is the same machine you would use to purchase a token. Place you Yo Yo Ka on the indicated field and the machine will ask you to deposit either coins or bills. Once you do so, hot the ‘Confirm’ button to finish your transaction. It’s that easy. 

You need to pay a minimum of 100 NT when purchasing the Yo Yo Ka. It is very practical method of payment and can also be used on public buses, Youbike rentals and when boarding the Maokong Gondola. Yo Yo Ka can also be used to make payments at 7-11 convenience stores, just as you would pay with a debit card.