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General
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Printable Guide
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City Guide > East Asia > Taiwan > Taipei | |
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Getting Around Public Transport There are two main public transport routes around the city: metro or bus. The MRT Mass Rapid Transit System (tel: (02) 218 12345; website: www.urbanrail.net) has signs in English and is an efficient way to get around the city; it is also cheap and uncrowded. Its six lines cover major areas and trains run every 4 to 7 minutes between 0600 and 2400. Taipei has an astounding number of buses on the streets. City bus services are frequent, reliable and comfortable. Public buses are run by the Taiwan Bus Company (tel: (02) 3765 1284 or 0800 088 626; website: www.airbus.com.tw), the largest private bus company is Tonglien Bus Company (tel: 0800 241 560; website: www.ubus.com.tw). Bus services operate on a code numbering system. Avoid travelling by bus during rush hours: 0730-0930 and 1700-1900. Taxis Taxis are cheap and plentiful; they are also the most convenient way to get around. They operate on a meter and can be hailed on the street, picked up outside hotels, or a dispatch taxi may be called via an English-speaking radio calling system from almost any destination. A tip isn’t required, but writing destination addresses in Chinese is essential. To order a taxi, call the toll free taxi hotline (tel: 0800 055850, press 2 for English) or Dial a Taxi Taipei (tel: (02) 301 4567 or 746 9988) or Taiwan Taxi (tel: (02) 2192 6688; website: www.taiwantaxi.com.tw). Car Hire Hiring a car and driver is preferable to driving yourself. Taipei’s street numbering system is very confusing and traffic is congested. It’s only worth hiring a car to drive out of Taipei, although traffic congestion means that it takes a long time to get out, which is why most people prefer to fly. Internal flights are cheap and convenient and the domestic terminal is situated at Sungshan, in the heart of the city. An International Driving Licence is required to hire a car, which needs to be taken, along with passport and a passport-sized photograph, to the nearest Vehicle Registration Department to apply for a ‘Driver’s Licence Visa’. All vehicles need Compulsory Automobile Liability Insurance. Drink driving attracts heavy penalties. Driving is on the left, and speed limits range from 50kph (31mph) to 80-110kph (50-68mph) on freeways. Major providers at the airport and in the city include Asia Rent-A-Car Service (tel: (02) 2500 6633; website: www.asiarent.com.tw), Central Auto Service (tel: (02) 2828 0033; website: www.rentalcar.com.tw), Easy Rent (tel: (03) 3983636; website: www.easyrent.com.tw), and VIP Car Rental Co (tel: (02) 2713 1111; website: www.vipcar.com.tw). |