Tainan is easy to reach from anywhere in Taiwan. The high speed rail (HSR) is the fastest option from the north, the regular train (TRA) is cheaper and drops you right in the city center, and intercity buses are the budget pick. The one thing worth knowing before you book: the HSR station sits outside the city in Gueiren District, so factor in a short transfer, while the regular train station is right in the heart of town. Here's every route.
At a glance
| Mode | Best for | Lands you |
|---|---|---|
| High speed rail (HSR) | Speed from the north | Gueiren, outside the city (short transfer in) |
| Regular train (TRA) | Value, arriving downtown | Central Tainan Station, in the city |
| Intercity bus | Lowest budget | Bus stops near the center |
| Air | Almost never worth it within Taiwan | See below |
By high speed rail (HSR)
The fast, comfortable spine of the west coast. The HSR runs frequently from Taipei in the north, down through Taichung to Tainan, and on to its southern terminus at Zuoying near Kaohsiung.
- From Taipei: about 1h25m to 1h45m, NT$1,350 reserved. → Full Taipei to Tainan guide
- From Taichung: about 50 minutes.
- From Kaohsiung (Zuoying): about 11 to 13 minutes, a single short hop, with trains running roughly every 15 to 30 minutes.
- The catch: Tainan's HSR station is in Gueiren, around 17 km from the center. Get into town via the connected Shalun-line local train (about 22 minutes, NT$25, the local favorite), the free same-day shuttle bus, or a taxi (about 30 to 35 minutes). Full breakdown on the Taipei page; it's the same transfer whatever city you came from.
By regular train (TRA)
The regular train is slower but cheaper, and its big advantage is that it stops at central Tainan Station, right in the old city, no transfer needed.
- From Taipei: about 3h10m on the fastest Puyuma Express, 3.5 to 4 hours on a standard Tze-Chiang, around NT$738.
- From Kaohsiung: roughly 30 to 40 minutes on an express, a cheap and easy hop.
- From Taichung: around 2 to 2.5 hours.
- Best for: budget travelers, anyone wanting to skip the HSR transfer, and short hops from nearby cities like Kaohsiung.
By intercity bus
Coaches are the cheapest way to Tainan and run frequently from major cities, especially overnight.
- From Taipei: about 4 to 4.5 hours, roughly NT$450 to 500. Ubus and Kuo-Kuang (King Bus) both run the route from Taipei Bus Station, beside Taipei Main Station.
- Best for: the lowest budget and overnight departures. Some operators run premium coaches with private or massage seats.
By air
There's rarely a reason to fly to Tainan from within Taiwan, but for completeness:
- Tainan Airport (TNN) exists but has limited, mostly domestic and regional routes, so it rarely beats the train once you count airport time.
- Most international visitors fly into Kaohsiung (KHH) or Taoyuan (TPE) and continue by HSR or train.
- From Kaohsiung Airport: take the MRT Red Line (the airport is station R4) to Zuoying for the HSR one stop to Tainan, or to Kaohsiung Main Station for a TRA train north to downtown Tainan.
- From Taoyuan Airport: the Airport MRT to Taoyuan HSR Station, then the HSR south.
How I do it: I always come in on the HSR and take the free shuttle bus into town. It's easy. The only time I skip it is late at night, when the shuttle thins out or stops running, and then I just grab an Uber.