If you’re planning to explore Taiwan using public transportation, I think your top essential is the EasyCard.
The EasyCard, Taiwan’s all-in-one travel card, is as indispensable as London’s Oyster card or Tokyo’s Suica card. With an EasyCard, navigating Taiwan’s public transport becomes a breeze. Without it, you’d have to carry exact change for each bus ride (since buses don’t provide change) and buy individual tickets for every MRT (metro) trip, which can be time-consuming.
Simply preload funds onto your EasyCard to conveniently pay for MRT, bus fares, and even purchases at convenience stores and select restaurants. For quick access, just tap the card at sensors to board and ride. And if you plan to explore on a YouBike (Taiwan’s public bike-sharing system), your EasyCard works there too, making it a must-have for smooth travel around Taiwan.
READ MORE: Ultimate Taiwan Travel Guide: 10 Types of Taiwan Transportation and How to Use Them
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Table of Contents
What is the Taiwan EasyCard?
The Taiwan EasyCard is an all-in-one travel card designed to simplify and enhance your experience in Taiwan, especially for those navigating public transportation and is widely accepted on MRT networks, buses, and even YouBike, Taiwan’s popular bike-sharing system. Beyond transit, it’s also useful for small purchases at convenience stores, supermarkets, and popular attractions, letting you avoid the hassle of handling exact changes or buying individual tickets. Hence, in my perspective, the EasyCard is a must-have for tourists—offering a smooth, cashless way to explore Taiwan with ease and flexibility.
Where Can You Use the EasyCard?
The EasyCard can be used in various places besides public transportation:
Public Transportation
- Taipei City and New Taipei City: Taipei MRT, buses, Maokong Gondola, YouBike
- Taoyuan City: Taoyuan MRT, buses, YouBike
- Hsinchu City and County: Buses, YouBike
- Taichung City: Taichung MRT, buses, YouBike
- Tainan City: Buses, YouBike
- Kaohsiung City: Kaohsiung MRT, Kaohsiung Light Rail Transit (LRT), buses, YouBike
- Miaoli County, Chiayi City and County: Buses, YouBike
- Keelung City, Yilan County, Changhua County, Nantou County, Yunlin County: Buses
Small Payments
- Convenience stores: 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, OK Mart, etc.
- Supermarkets and stores: Watsons, Poya, Cosmed, etc.
- Parking lots: Some parking facilities
- Attraction tickets: Taipei Children’s Amusement Park, National Palace Museum, Taipei Fine Arts Museum, etc.
While the EasyCard is widely accepted, note that some bus routes in southern Taiwan (Kaohsiung, Taitung, Pingtung) and offshore islands (Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu) only support the iPASS card. If you’re traveling to these areas, using an iPASS might be more convenient.
If you’re still concerned, you can check the Official Website for routes and places where the EasyCard can be used to avoid any travel inconveniences.
How to Get an EasyCard & Price Options
Normally, we can purchase them at the transportation service counters in Taoyuan Airport and Songshan Airport upon arrival, allowing immediate use for the Taoyuan Airport MRT to the city. If you happen to lose it, you can easily buy a new one at MRT stations and convenience stores in the city, so there’s no need to worry.
If purchased at these locations, a standard EasyCard costs NTD100 (special edition cards may have different prices, usually for promotional or IP collaboration designs), excluding the stored value.
Of course, travelers who prefer to have everything arranged in advance might want to purchase before departure, allowing them to pick up the card at a designated location upon arrival.
Here are a few methods for advance purchase:
- EasyCard | Discounted bundle with 4G Unlimited Data SIM Card | Pick up at Taoyuan Airport
- Taiwan EasyCard
- Taiwan EasyCard for Transportation | Exclusively for Non-Taiwan Residents (Collect at Taoyuan International Airport)
(The 3 links offer similar packages)
These EasyCard packages can be picked up at Taoyuan Airport and offer options for either an empty card or a pre-loaded card. You can also add on a day-based unlimited data SIM card, meeting all tourist needs in one go. I recommend the package with pre-loaded value and a SIM card bundle, as you’d need to load money onto an empty card anyway.
This package can also be picked up at Taoyuan Airport. It allows you to add an EasyCard when purchasing a day-based unlimited data SIM card. The difference from the previous package is that you can only purchase an empty card, without pre-loaded value, but you have the option to choose a 5G SIM card.
For more information about Taiwan SIM cards, READ MORE: How to Stay Connected To The Internet In Taiwan? A Comprehensive guide for SIM Cards/eSIMs/Wi-Fi
How to Top Up Your EasyCard?
You can easily top up your EasyCard at convenience store counters. Just tell the staff the amount you want to add, follow their instructions to place your EasyCard on the sensor, and wait for them to complete the transaction.
Besides convenience stores, you can also top up your EasyCard at MRT stations. At MRT stations, you can go to the service counter for manual processing (this is also where you’d go to refund your remaining balance if you no longer need the EasyCard at the end of your trip). Alternatively, you can use the self-service kiosks, which offer English language options. There are two types of self-service kiosks: one for ticket purchases only, and another with an EasyCard sensor for topping up. After placing your EasyCard on the sensor, insert the cash you want to add. Some new models also allow you to use a debit/credit card to top up your EasyCard.
***Remember to wait a few seconds and make sure the transaction is complete before removing your card.
Summary
The EasyCard provides great convenience for both long-term residents and short-term visitors in Taiwan, especially when using public transportation. However, please note that the EasyCard cannot be used to purchase tickets for Taiwan Railways (train) and Taiwan High Speed Rail (HSR). Separate tickets need to be bought for these transportation modes.
Hope this guide is helpful for you guys!
