Taiwan: Getting there & around

Taiwan has international airports at Taoyuan (near Taipei), Kaohsiung and Taichung. You can fly to Taiwan from just about anywhere in the world except, ironically enough, mainland China. Ferries run between Okinawa in Japan and Keelung and Kaohsiung in Taiwan.

Flights go between all the major cities and outlying islands, which are also serviced by regular ferries. With buses you can choose between government or private (cheaper and faster but more dangerous). A train line circumnavigates the island and the service is good. There are four classes - the first three are more expensive than buses, the fourth is cheap but slow. A high-speed rail (HSR) system on the west coast, from Taipei to Zuoying in Kaohsiung, opened in 2007. HSR stations are literally in the sticks - connecting shuttle services link to urban centres. Long-distance share taxis are expensive - there are several tourist trains with better facilities and service. Driving a car is not terribly difficult outside of the cities, especially on weekdays.