Take the bus on a weekday and the train on a long weekend, and you'll rarely go wrong. Most visitors come to Yilan without a car, and that's fine. There's no metro and no high speed rail here, but two good options link Taipei to the three main towns, Jiaoxi (礁溪), Yilan City and Luodong (羅東). Here's the short version:
- BUS Take the bus for the price and the frequency. Kamalan and Capital buses run through the Hsuehshan Tunnel every 10 to 25 minutes for most of the day, from about NT$103. Outside holidays, just turn up. → Buses from Taipei
- TRA Take the train when traffic is bad or you want a fixed time. The fastest trains reach Yilan Station in about 70 minutes and never sit in tunnel traffic, but they cost about twice the bus. → The train to Yilan
- BUS Get around on local trains and the tourist shuttles. Local trains link Toucheng, Jiaoxi, Yilan, Luodong and Su'ao for NT$22 to NT$37 a hop, and five Taiwan Tourist Shuttle routes reach the sights in between. → Local buses and shuttles
- TAXI Use taxis for the gaps, and a charter for the mountains. → Taxis and day charters
- CAR Rent a car or scooter for the coast and the mountains, if your licence allows. → Scooters, bikes and cars
- Getting hereBuses from TaipeiKamalan and Capital routes, where to board, fares and holiday traffic.
- Getting hereThe trainWhich train, journey times, fares and booking.
- Getting hereEvery way inFrom Taoyuan Airport, from Hualien and from the south.
- Getting aroundLocal buses and shuttlesThe five tourist shuttle routes, fares and timetables.
- Getting aroundTaxis and chartersMeter fares, apps and hiring a driver for the day.
- Getting aroundScooters, bikes and carsThe licence you need, the tunnel rules and the Suhua Highway.
Taipei to Yilan: bus or train?
One-way adult fares and typical journey times from central Taipei, checked November 2026. The bus times are the operators' own estimates with no traffic. On weekends and holidays, the tunnel can add a lot more.
| To | Bus (time, fare) | Fastest train (time, fare) | Local train (time, fare) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jiaoxi | About 55 to 65 min; NT$115 (Kamalan), NT$103 (Capital) | About 66 to 80 min; NT$281 | About 1.5 to 2.5 hours; NT$181 |
| Yilan City | About 85 to 95 min; NT$145 (Kamalan), NT$136 (Capital) | About 70 to 90 min; NT$306 | About 1.5 to 3 hours; NT$197 |
| Luodong | About 75 to 85 min; NT$150 (Kamalan), NT$136 (Capital) | About 76 to 95 min; NT$332 | About 1.75 to 3 hours; NT$214 |
Kamalan times are from Taipei Bus Station, next to Taipei Main Station. Capital buses leave from Taipei City Hall Bus Station. Train fares are from Taipei Main Station. The fast trains are Tze-Chiang class (Puyuma, Taroko and the new EMU3000), and the local column includes the faster "local express" (區間快) trains.
Good to know: on long weekends, take the train. The buses share the freeway with everyone driving home to Taipei, and Sunday afternoons back through the tunnel are slow. Trains don't care about traffic.
Once you're here
| Your plan | Best way around |
|---|---|
| Jiaoxi hot springs, Yilan City, Luodong night market | Walk from the station; local trains between towns |
| Wufengqi Falls, Tangweigou, Linmei trail | Tourist shuttle Green 11 from Jiaoxi Station |
| Traditional Arts Center, Dongshan River | Tourist shuttle Green 21 from Luodong |
| Lanyang Museum, Wai'ao, the northeast coast | Train to Toucheng or Wai'ao, or shuttle Green 19 from Jiaoxi |
| Taipingshan and the mountains | Car or charter; see Taipingshan |
Sources: see each linked page. Fares from Kamalan Bus, Capital Bus and Taiwan Railway's timetable search; bus times from Kamalan's FAQ. Checked November 2026.