How to get from Taipei to Jiufen — train, bus, tour, taxi
Taipei: Yehliu Jiufen Shifen guided tour
Duration: 9 hours
How do you get from Taipei to Jiufen?
Take the TRA regional train from Taipei Main Station to Ruifang (50 minutes, NT$49), then bus 788 or 825 to Jiufen Old Street (15–20 minutes, NT$23). Total journey around 70 minutes each way. An organized day tour is easier but costs NT$600–1,200 per person and locks your timing.
| Option | Cost (one-way) | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train + bus | NT$72–100 | 60–75 min | Cheapest, most flexible |
| Direct bus | NT$97 | 70–90 min | Near Taipei Bus Station |
| Organized tour | NT$600–1,400 | Varies, fixed schedule | No planning, multi-site days |
| Taxi | NT$1,200–1,600 | 45–60 min | Groups of 3–4, door-to-door |
The route to Jiufen
Jiufen Old Street sits in the hills above Ruifang, a small railway town on the northeast coast of New Taipei City. The journey from central Taipei involves a change from urban to regional rail — a detail that catches a surprising number of first-time visitors off-guard.
The MRT cannot take you to Jiufen. You need to reach Taipei Main Station, board a TRA (Taiwan Railways Administration) regional train on the separate ground-level platform, travel to Ruifang, and then transfer to a local bus or taxi for the final climb to the old street.
Total one-way journey: approximately 60–75 minutes. Budget NT$72–100 each way by public transport.
Option 1: Train to Ruifang, then bus (recommended)
Step 1 — Taipei Main Station to Ruifang:
Board a TRA regional train from the main railway hall at Taipei Main Station. This is NOT the MRT — it is the separate ground-level train station. Enter from the main street-level entrance on Zhongxiao West Road, not from the MRT underground.
Buy a ticket at the automatic machines (English interface available) or at the manned windows. Ask for Ruifang (瑞芳). The relevant train types:
- Ziqiang (自強號) Express: Fastest, NT$102, approximately 30–35 minutes
- Juguang (莒光號) Semi-express: NT$86, approximately 40 minutes
- Local (區間車): Cheapest, NT$49, approximately 50–55 minutes (stops at every station)
The local train leaves most frequently and is perfectly comfortable. If you are not in a hurry, buy the NT$49 ticket and enjoy the coastal section of the route, which has views of the sea and fishing villages.
Step 2 — Ruifang to Jiufen:
From Ruifang Station, turn right out the exit and walk 2 minutes to the bus stop. Bus 788 (向金瓜石/九份方向) runs to Jiufen Old Street. Bus 825 also serves the route. Both cost NT$23 and take 15–20 minutes. Services run frequently during daylight hours (every 15–30 minutes). At peak times (weekends 11:00–17:00), the bus can be very crowded — standing room only.
Alternatively, share a taxi from Ruifang Station. Taxis queue outside and charge NT$200–250 for the uphill trip to Jiufen. At NT$50–80 per person in a group of 3–4, this competes well with the bus.
Option 2: Direct bus from Taipei (Taipei Bus Station)
Kuo-Kuang Bus (國光客運) operates Route 1062 directly from Taipei Bus Station (next to Taipei Main Station, on Civic Boulevard/Zhongxiao Road) to Jiufen without changing at Ruifang.
- Fare: NT$97 (approximately)
- Journey time: 70–90 minutes depending on traffic (the road section is subject to congestion, especially on weekends)
- Frequency: Multiple departures daily; check the Kuo-Kuang website for current schedules
Honest assessment: The direct bus is convenient if you are near Taipei Bus Station and the schedule works. It is slower than the train on congested days and the fixed route means it drops you on the main road below Jiufen’s pedestrian zone (short walk uphill). On weekends, traffic delays can push the journey to 90+ minutes.
Option 3: Organized day tour (Jiufen + Shifen + Yehliu combo)
The most popular organized option combines Jiufen, Shifen, and Yehliu Geopark in a single guided day tour. These tours depart from central Taipei, handle all transport, and typically include:
- Morning departure 08:00–09:00 from a central meeting point
- Shifen (sky lantern release, Shifen Waterfall)
- Jiufen Old Street (2–3 hours including lunch)
- Yehliu Geopark (Queen’s Head rock, coastal walk)
- Return to Taipei by 18:00–20:00
Cost: NT$600–1,400 per person depending on group size, transport quality, and what is included. A lunch stop and entrance fees are sometimes included; sometimes they are additional costs — check the listing.
When a tour makes sense: If you are not comfortable navigating train and bus connections in limited English, if you want to visit all three sites in one day without logistical stress, or if you are traveling with people who find independent transport daunting.
When it does not: If you want to spend 3–4 hours at Jiufen rather than the typical 2 hours a tour allocates, or if you want to stay for sunset (tours often leave by 16:00 to return before traffic). For Jiufen at dusk — the best time — you need your own transport or an overnight stay nearby.
Guided day tour: Jiufen, Shifen lanterns, and Yehliu Geopark from TaipeiCheck availabilityOption 4: Night tour (Jiufen at dusk)
Jiufen’s iconic red lantern look — what most photographs capture — only exists at dusk and after dark. Day visitors see an entirely different (and more crowded, harsher-lit) version of the old street. The night view from the A-Mei Tea House terrace, with the bay and the harbor lights below and the lanterns above, is the experience that makes Jiufen’s reputation.
Organized night tours from Taipei specifically focus on the evening hours, departing Taipei in the afternoon and returning after 21:00.
Jiufen Old Street guided night tour — red lanterns, teahouse views, evening atmosphereCheck availabilityOption 5: Taxi from Taipei
A metered taxi directly from Taipei to Jiufen costs approximately NT$1,200–1,600 depending on the exact departure point and traffic. Taxis use meters; the freeway toll (Expressway 5 east-bound) is added and is a legitimate charge.
For a solo traveler, this is expensive. For a group of 3–4 splitting the cost (NT$300–500 each), it becomes competitive with train-plus-bus and buys significant comfort — door-to-door, no luggage hassle, driver who can wait.
Ask the driver to wait if you want a return taxi — Jiufen taxis can be scarce at peak times and you may queue for 20–30 minutes at the taxi stand near the old street entrance.
What to do when you arrive
Jiufen’s main pedestrian street (基山街, Jishan Street) is reached by stairs from the bus drop-off on Jiufen Old Street (the road). Follow the crowds uphill — it is unmistakable. The stone stairway leading to A-Mei Teahouse is further up the slope; follow the signs for 阿妹茶樓 or just follow the people with cameras pointed upward.
Wear comfortable shoes — the paths are uneven stone and steep in places. Take care in wet weather.
Getting back to Taipei
Bus from Jiufen to Ruifang: Take bus 788 or 825 from the main bus stop (same location as arrival). Last buses are typically around 22:00–22:30 (check the schedule posted at the stop). On weekdays, the last bus is earlier.
Taxi to Ruifang: NT$200–250, available at the taxi stand near the Jiufen Old Street entrance. Quicker than the bus and eliminates the queuing problem at peak return times (17:00–19:00 on weekends is chaotic at the bus stop).
Train back from Ruifang: Last trains to Taipei typically run until 23:00+. Check the TRA schedule before you leave Taipei to know your latest viable return.
Practical timing and seasonal notes
Best departure time: 08:00–09:00 from Taipei. This gets you to Jiufen by 09:30–10:30 before the largest tour bus groups arrive at 11:00. The midday (11:00–15:00) window is the most crowded; the old street becomes genuinely difficult to move through on weekends.
Jiufen at dusk: The red lanterns of the old street are lit from around 17:00. The combination of late afternoon light, lanterns warming up, and the bay below catching the sunset is what gives Jiufen its photographed character. If you can only be in one place at one time, be at A-Mei Tea House terrace between 17:30 and 18:30.
Avoid: Weekends in July–August are the worst combination — peak typhoon season heat + peak tourist season. If this is your only option, go very early (09:00) or wait for evening (17:00+).
Weather: Jiufen is in a coastal mountain zone that catches more mist and rain than Taipei. The atmospheric fog that makes it look mysterious in photos is genuine — but it also means wearing layers and bringing a rain jacket even when Taipei is clear.
Jiufen: what to do when you get there
This guide covers transport; the full experience is in the Jiufen day trip guide. Brief orientation:
Jishan Street (基山街): The main historic pedestrian street. Begins at the bus stop, winds steeply upward. Street-food vendors (taro balls, peanut ice cream rolls, oyster vermicelli), souvenir shops, tea houses.
A-Mei Tea House (阿妹茶樓): The most photographed building in Jiufen — tiered, covered in red lanterns, overlooking the bay. The tea-and-snacks set runs NT$300–450 per person (minimum spend required, refunded against food/drink). No reservations; the terrace fills on weekend evenings. Arrive 30 minutes before your target time.
Tea house culture: Jiufen has numerous traditional teahouses beyond A-Mei. The smaller ones on the covered stairway section (Shuqi Road, 豎崎路) are less photographed and less crowded, with genuine oolong and ginger tea service. The per-person minimums are lower (NT$150–250). See the Jiufen teahouses vs. Maokong guide for comparison.
Jiufen Old Gold Mining Museum (黃金博物館): In nearby Jinguashi (a short taxi or walk from Jiufen), the Gold Mining Museum complex has well-presented exhibits on the gold-rush era, a preserved mine tunnel, and a café in a preserved Japanese-era building. Worth 2 hours if history appeals.
Combining Jiufen with Shifen and Yehliu
The classic north coast day trip combines three destinations:
Route 1 — Jiufen + Shifen (by train):
- Taipei Main → Ruifang (train, 50 min) → Bus to Jiufen (15 min)
- Jiufen 2–3 hours
- Bus or taxi back to Ruifang → local train to Shifen (20 min)
- Shifen 2 hours (lantern release + waterfall)
- Train back to Taipei (45 min)
- Total: approximately 8–9 hours out of Taipei
Route 2 — Add Yehliu: Adding Yehliu Geopark requires separate transport (bus from Jiufen direction toward Keelung, then bus toward Yehliu, or taxi). This is easiest managed on an organized tour — the independent logistics of connecting all three require good timing and risk missing the last bus.
For this three-site combination, a guided day tour handles the routing and removes the logistical stress:
Shifen, Jiufen, and Yehliu Geopark guided day tour from TaipeiAccommodation near Jiufen — staying overnight
Jiufen has guesthouses and B&Bs with bay views. Staying overnight in Jiufen means:
- Experiencing the evening lantern atmosphere without rush-hour bus queues
- A quiet morning on the old street before tour groups arrive (08:00–09:30 is exceptional)
- Lower prices than Taipei equivalents at similar quality levels
Typical B&B cost: NT$1,800–3,500 for a double room with bay-view terrace. The most popular rooms book weeks ahead on weekends.
The nearest convenience store to restock water and snacks is on the main bus road (not on Jishan Street itself).
Getting an EasyCard for transit
If you do not already have a Taiwan EasyCard, you can buy one at Taipei Main Station (MRT machines) before catching your regional train. The EasyCard works on the TRA regional train for this journey (no discount, but accepted as payment). See the EasyCard guide for full details.
For planning a complete day that combines Jiufen with other north-coast destinations, see best day trips from Taipei and the Jiufen day trip guide.
Which option actually suits your trip
Solo travelers or couples comfortable with public transport: train + bus is the clear winner — cheapest, flexible on timing, and genuinely not difficult once you know the route above. The main risk is missing the distinction between the MRT and the TRA platform at Taipei Main Station; give yourself 15 minutes buffer on your first visit.
Families or groups of 3–4: the taxi option becomes cost-competitive once split, and buys door-to-door convenience that matters more with kids or luggage. It also removes the bus-queue risk at peak return times.
Anyone wanting Jiufen, Shifen, and Yehliu in a single day: an organized tour is the practical choice. Independently connecting all three sites is possible but requires tight timing and carries real risk of missing a last connection — see the Jiufen day trip guide for how the sites fit together.
Anyone prioritizing the dusk lantern view over daytime crowds: either a night-focused tour or an overnight stay in Jiufen beats a standard day trip — day-tour buses typically leave before the light and lanterns peak around 17:30–18:30.
Frequently asked questions about How to get from Taipei to Jiufen — train, bus, tour, taxi
Can I use my EasyCard for the train to Jiufen?
Is it better to visit Jiufen on a weekday or weekend?
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