Taipei Bus

Hop on and hold on tight

Word to the wise: Check the bus routes carefully as some buses don’t follow the same route coming and going.
While taking the bus may seem intimidating, it is a cheap and convenient option. Air-conditioned buses operated by the government and private companies arrive regularly (interval times are posted on bus stop signs), and increasingly stops have electronic signs that update the waiting time in real time. Expect to be waiting longer at lunch hour, weekends and on holidays.

Bus fares are by section (one or two), which affects when passengers pay. If the electronic sign above the drive says 上, then pay with exact change as you get on. If the sign says 下, pay when you get off. If you paid when getting on and the sign changes to 下 during the journey, pay again when getting off because you have traveled through two zones.
Many buses stop at subway stations. The colour – blue, red, yellow, or brown – indicates which subway line.