0) General Advice:
For the most convenient way of public transportation it is a good idea to buy an EasyCard. It is a cashless, prepaid system that you can use to pay your fare on any metro, bus, and local train service. You can also use it to pay at convenience strores. You can top up your EasyCard at convenience stores and any MRT station using cash.
You can chose to not buy an EasyCard but be prepared that when using busses you need to pay the excact fare in cash (usually 15NTD or 30NTD)
Ticket gates of MRT have very recently been upgraded to work with credit cards. But none of us tested it because we all have an EasyCard. Otherwise you can buy tickets at the machines (usually between 20NTD and 65NTD) and 160NTD for Taoyuan MRT (to get to the airport).
1) Getting to Academia Sinica from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE)
The address of Academia Sinica (including the guest house) is:
128, Sec. 2, Academia Road, Nangang, Taipei, Taiwan
There are 3 options mostly categorized by cost and convenience:
Please see this page for more useful information, including Campus Map.
1. Cheapest Way: Airport MRT -> Taipei MRT -> Bus
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Route:
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Take the Taoyuan Metro Airport MRT (Express Train) to Taipei Main Station (台北車站).
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Then transfer to Taipei MRT Bannan Line (Blue Line). The transfer involves a bit of a walk. GoogleMaps suggests around 10-15 minutes. That is a good estimate considering you probably have some luggage. Follow the signs to the Blue Line.
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On the Blue Line go all the way to the final stop Nangang Exhibition Center Station (南港展覽館站). From there take Exit No. 5, go straight to cross the road and take Bus 205, Bus 212, Bus 276, Bus 306, Bus 645, Bus 679, or Bus Beihuan Main Line (620) to Academia Sinica Stop (中央研究院站).
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Approximate Cost:
- Airport MRT: 160 TWD
- MRT (Blue Line): 30 TWD
- Bus: 15 TWD
- Total: 205 TWD
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Travel Time: Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes
2. Cheap Way: Airport MRT -> Taipei MRT -> Taxi
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Route:
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Take the Taoyuan Metro Airport MRT (Express Train) to Taipei Main Station (台北車站).
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Then transfer to Taipei MRT Bannan Line (Blue Line). The transfer involves a bit of a walk. GoogleMaps suggests around 10-15 minutes. That is a good estimate considering you probably have some luggage. Follow the signs to the Blue Line.
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On the Blue Line go all the way to the final stop Nangang Exhibition Center Station (南港展覽館站). Then, take Exit No. 5, turn right and you will find a few the taxis that you can take to Academia Sinica.
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Approximate Cost:
- Airport MRT (Express): 160 TWD
- MRT (Blue Line): 30 TWD
- Taxi: Around 120 TWD
- Total: 310 TWD
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Travel Time: Approximately 1 hour
3. Convenient Way: Taxi
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Route:
Take a taxi directly from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to the Academia Sinica Guest House. -
Approximate Cost:
- Taxi: Around 1,300–1,500 TWD (depending on traffic and time).
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Travel Time: Approximately 50 minutes
2) Getting to Academia Sinica from Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA)
1. Taxi
It costs around TWD 400 to the Guest House of Academia Sinica. Taxi queue is outside the Arrival Halls. In moderate trafic the ride takes about 30 minutes.
2. Taipei MRT -> Bus
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Route:
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Take the Taipei MRT Wenhu Line (Brown Line) to the final stop Nangang Exhibition Center Station (南港展覽館站). From there take Exit No. 5, go straight to cross the road and take Bus 205, Bus 212, Bus 276, Bus 306, Bus 645, Bus 679, or Bus Beihuan Main Line (620) to Academia Sinica Stop (中央研究院站).
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Approximate Cost:
- MRT (Brown Line): 35 TWD
- Bus: 15 TWD
- Total: 50 TWD
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Travel Time: Approximately 45 minutes
