EasyCard guide — how to use Taiwan's transport card
Taoyuan: Taiwan Easycard transportation card tpe airport pickup
Do I need an EasyCard in Taipei?
Yes — it is the most practical way to pay for MRT rides, buses, and convenience store purchases. The card gives a 20% discount on MRT and bus fares vs. single-journey tokens. Buy one at the airport or any MRT station for a NT$100 refundable deposit, then top it up with cash.
| Where to buy | Taoyuan Airport MRT platform, any MRT station, 7-Eleven |
| Cost | NT$100 refundable deposit + top-up (min NT$100) |
| Discount | 20% off MRT and city bus fares |
| Doesn’t cover | Airport MRT discount, HSR, YouBike registration needed |
| Load for a week | NT$800–1,200 for typical MRT + bus use |
What the EasyCard is
The EasyCard (悠遊卡, Yōuyóu Kǎ) is Taiwan’s dominant contactless payment card for transport and small purchases. It works on:
- Taipei MRT (all lines)
- Taipei and New Taipei City buses
- Taoyuan Metro (separate from Taipei MRT)
- The Mao Kong Gondola
- Tamsui River Ferry
- YouBike (public bicycle sharing, requires app registration with card)
- 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Hi-Life, and OK convenience stores
- Some restaurants, parking lots, and museum ticketing
The card uses the same RFID technology as London’s Oyster or Hong Kong’s Octopus card. You tap in at the start of a journey and tap out at the end. Insufficient balance blocks the exit gate; top up at any MRT station machine.
Where to buy an EasyCard
Taoyuan Airport (recommended): Available from EasyCard vending machines at the Airport MRT station platforms (T1 and T2 arrivals). Buy here before you even start your journey into the city.
Any Taipei MRT station: Customer service windows and the blue vending machines sell EasyCards. English-language machine interfaces are available.
7-Eleven, FamilyMart: Convenience stores sell blank EasyCards at the counter, usually with a NT$100–200 initial load.
GYG pre-order (airport pickup): If you want the card ready at the airport with a pre-loaded balance, you can arrange pickup at the airport information desk.
Taiwan EasyCard with airport pickup — collect on arrival, skip the machine queueCheck availabilityCost structure
Deposit: NT$100 (refundable when you return the card at any MRT service center, minus a NT$20 handling fee if you have ridden for fewer than 3 months).
Loading: Minimum top-up NT$100. Machines accept NT$100, NT$500, and NT$1,000 notes. No card payments at top-up machines (some 7-Eleven counters accept cards for EasyCard top-up).
How much to load: For a 5-day visit with active MRT use:
- MRT: approximately NT$50–80/day × 5 days = NT$250–400
- Buses: approximately NT$30–50/day
- Convenience store purchases (drinks, snacks): variable
- Total: Load NT$500–800 for starters; top up as needed
The 20% MRT discount — how it works
When you pay by EasyCard on the Taipei MRT, you automatically receive a 20% discount off the base fare. This is not a loyalty program — it applies to every ride from the first trip.
Example: A journey priced at NT$50 by single-journey token costs NT$40 by EasyCard. On a typical sightseeing day with 6 MRT trips, this saves NT$30–40.
Important: The 20% discount does NOT apply to:
- The Taoyuan Airport MRT (separate operator) — EasyCard accepted but at full fare
- The Maokong Gondola (separate ticketing, though EasyCard can be used for the gondola fare without token queuing)
- YouBike cycle rental (separate pricing structure)
Buses with EasyCard
City buses in Taipei and New Taipei City accept EasyCard at the same discount as MRT. Tap on entry. On many routes, boarding is free within a transfer window if you have tapped on MRT within 1 hour (the discount system for transfers is applied automatically).
Bus routes are complex for newcomers — Google Maps and Moovit handle route planning well in English. EasyCard eliminates the need to carry exact change.
EasyCard at convenience stores
The most practical secondary use. Every 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Hi-Life, and OK Mart in Taiwan accepts EasyCard payment. These stores are open 24/7 everywhere in Taiwan and sell water, sandwiches, hot drinks, instant meals, and hundreds of small convenience items. Paying by EasyCard is faster than counting coins.
No discount applies on retail purchases — you are just using stored value to pay.
EasyCard vs. iPass vs. Fun Pass — what is the difference?
EasyCard (悠遊卡): Dominant in northern Taiwan (Taipei, Taoyuan, Keelung, New Taipei). Works across transport and retail as described above.
iPass (一卡通): Dominant in southern Taiwan (Kaohsiung, Tainan, Taichung). If you are extending your trip south, the iPass covers the Kaohsiung MRT and Taichung transport, whereas EasyCard coverage is more limited in those cities.
Fun Pass (台北一日券 / 探索票): A separate tourism combo product sold by Taipei City — combines transport with free or discounted entry to multiple attractions (Maokong Gondola, zoo, Taipei 101, etc.) in a 24-hour or 48-hour bundle. Worth comparing against individual ticket costs before buying. Available at Taipei MRT stations and some hotels.
For most tourists covering Taipei and day trips to the north coast, EasyCard is the right choice. If you plan to extend to Taichung or Kaohsiung, consider whether to buy an iPass there or whether EasyCard works adequately (it does on HSR and the TRA regional trains — you can pay by EasyCard though no discount applies on TRA).
Taipei Fun Pass bundle — EasyCard plus entry to 23 attractionsReturning the EasyCard
When you leave Taiwan, return the EasyCard at any MRT Customer Service Center (not at machines) to receive:
- NT$80 (NT$100 deposit minus NT$20 handling fee if fewer than 3 months of use; the handling fee is waived after 3 months)
- The remaining balance on the card
Alternatively: keep the card for a return visit. It does not expire as long as there is a balance.
What to check if EasyCard is not working
Insufficient balance: Add balance at any MRT machine immediately. A NT$0 balance blocks exit. Minimum NT$100 top-up.
Card not recognized: Tap slowly and flat against the reader. The reader sensitivity varies — some stations’ readers require a deliberate hold rather than a quick tap. If consistently unresponsive, take the card to the service window.
Gate blocked despite sufficient balance: Ask at the service window — occasionally occurs if a previous tap-in was not matched by a tap-out (rare, but the system notices). Staff resolve this in 2 minutes.
Practical checklist
- Buy EasyCard at airport on arrival (Airport MRT machine, T1 or T2)
- Load NT$500 minimum to start
- Tap in and out on every MRT journey
- Top up at any MRT machine before balance drops below NT$100
- Use at 7-Eleven and FamilyMart for quick purchases throughout the trip
- Return card at service window on departure day if desired
YouBike — cycling with your EasyCard
YouBike is Taipei’s public bicycle sharing system. Docking stations are throughout the city, and your EasyCard links to the rental system.
How it works:
- Download the YouBike 2.0 app (available in English)
- Register your EasyCard number in the app
- At any station, scan the bike’s QR code with the app, or enter the bike number
- The bike unlocks; NT$10 is deducted from your EasyCard for the first 30 minutes, then NT$10 per additional 30 minutes
Where it is useful: The riverside cycling paths (Danshui River bikeway system) are well-maintained and popular. Cycling along the river to Tamsui or Bali gives a very different perspective from the MRT. YouBike stations exist along the entire route.
In-city cycling in Taipei proper is manageable on quieter streets but urban traffic is dense. The riverside paths are the recommended context for tourist cycling; city streets require attention.
Note: YouBike is a Taipei City scheme. Coverage is excellent in central Taipei; availability drops in New Taipei City outer suburbs.
EasyCard on the Maokong Gondola
The Maokong Gondola (貓空纜車) connects Taipei Zoo Station (Brown Line MRT terminus) to the Maokong mountain area above Neihu. You can pay by EasyCard at the gondola ticket gate — no separate ticket purchase required.
Fares:
- Standard cabin (8-person, closed): NT$120 single / NT$240 return
- Crystal cabin (glass floor): NT$150 single / NT$300 return
EasyCard deducts the correct amount at the gate. On weekends and public holidays, queue times can extend 30–60 minutes. Weekday mornings are dramatically shorter.
EasyCard on the Tamsui Ferry
A short ferry runs across the Danshui River between Tamsui and Bali (八里). The EasyCard pays the ferry fare (approximately NT$25 each way) at the gate beside the departure pier. Combined with an MRT ride to Tamsui (Red Line terminus), this allows a pleasant loop: MRT to Tamsui → explore old street → ferry to Bali → Bali Left Bank Park → ferry back → MRT home.
What happens if you tap in but forget to tap out
The MRT gates register when you enter. If you exit through an emergency gate or somehow leave without tapping out, the next time you tap in, the system will charge you the maximum single-journey fare for the “missed” journey. This happens rarely and is resolved at the customer service window — tell the staff what happened.
If your balance goes negative (you tap out somewhere and the remaining balance is too low), you will be blocked at the exit gate. An MRT staff member will resolve this by letting you through if your balance is close to zero, or you can add funds at the nearest machine.
EasyCard for long-term visitors or repeat travelers
If you visit Taiwan multiple times per year, the EasyCard makes more sense to keep than to return for the NT$80 refund. The card does not expire as long as it holds a balance (and the balance does not expire). Returning travelers can simply top up the card they have.
Taiwan also has the EasyWallet app (Easy Card Corporation), which allows mobile payment via NFC on compatible Android phones. This requires a Taiwanese mobile number for registration, so it is less accessible to short-stay tourists, but long-term residents find it convenient.
Common EasyCard mistakes to avoid
Forgetting to tap out: The MRT deducts the full journey fare on exit, not on entry. If you tap in and then leave through the wrong exit (e.g., the emergency gate), you get charged on your next tap. Always use the regular gates and tap out before leaving.
Not checking balance before a long journey: If your balance drops below NT$20 between tapping in and tapping out, the gate may not open on exit. Top up at machines before undertaking a long cross-city trip when your balance is low.
Trying to use EasyCard on HSR: The Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) does not accept EasyCard. You need a separate HSR ticket purchased at a machine or online. EasyCard works on TRA regional trains but without any discount.
Not refunding before flying home: If you are done with Taiwan and still have NT$200+ on your card, the customer service window refund takes under 5 minutes. There is no reason to leave significant balance behind.
Airport MRT fare with EasyCard
A note on the airport connection: EasyCard IS accepted on the Airport MRT (Taoyuan International Airport MRT), but the 20% discount does NOT apply. The Airport MRT is operated by a separate company (Taoyuan Aerotropolis MRT) and follows its own fare structure. EasyCard simply deducts the standard fare (NT$160 express, NT$100 commuter) without discount.
This is a common source of confusion: EasyCard works everywhere, but the discount only applies to Taipei City Bus and Taipei MRT, not to the Airport MRT or HSR.
For the full overview of using public transport in Taipei — lines, times, tourist stops — see the Taipei MRT guide. For trip planning that factors in transport costs, see the Taipei travel budget guide.
EasyCard vs the Taipei Fun Pass — which to buy first
Travellers new to Taipei often ask whether to buy the EasyCard or go straight for a Fun Pass bundle. The short answer: buy the EasyCard regardless, since you need it for day-to-day transport and convenience-store purchases no matter what else you add. The Fun Pass is worth layering on top only if you specifically plan to visit several of the bundled attractions (Maokong Gondola, zoo, Taipei 101 observatory) within its 24- or 48-hour validity window — otherwise you’re paying for entries you won’t use.
Run the maths before buying: add up the individual ticket prices for the attractions you actually plan to visit, and compare against the Fun Pass price. If you’re mainly using the card for MRT, buses and day trips rather than a cluster of paid attractions, a plain EasyCard with a healthy top-up is the better value.
Using EasyCard on day trips outside Taipei
EasyCard works beyond the city limits on more services than most visitors realise. It’s accepted on TRA regional (local) trains to destinations like Houtong and Ruifang (gateway to Jiufen and Shifen), though at full fare without the MRT-style discount, and it does not work on express TRA services or the High Speed Rail.
On day trips to Beitou, Tamsui, Yangmingshan and Maokong, EasyCard covers the entire journey — MRT plus connecting bus or gondola — with the standard 20% discount applied to bus and MRT legs. For day trips further out, like Sun Moon Lake or Taroko Gorge, EasyCard has more limited or no coverage on the long-distance buses and trains involved — check the specific operator before assuming it will work.
Frequently asked questions about EasyCard guide — how to use Taiwan's transport card
Can I use a foreign contactless credit card instead of an EasyCard?
Can multiple people share one EasyCard?
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