How to Get to Jiufen from Taipei

Getting from Taipei to Jiufen takes about one to one and a half hours, and it is far easier than it looks on a map. Jiufen, a former gold-mining town in Ruifang District, New Taipei City, sits on a mountainside above the northeast coast, roughly 30 kilometres from central Taipei. You have three realistic ways to reach it: a direct bus, a train to Ruifang with a short hop up the hill, or a taxi or guided tour. This guide walks through each one, with current fares in New Taiwan dollars, where exactly to catch each service, and how to get back before the last ride home.

What is the fastest way to get to Jiufen from Taipei?

A taxi or private transfer is fastest at roughly 50 to 60 minutes, but the direct Bus 1062 is the best value at about 75 to 90 minutes for around NT$105. The train to Ruifang plus a connecting bus lands in between and avoids most road traffic.

For most first-time visitors the choice comes down to two options: hop on one bus and stay put, or take a fast train and change once at Ruifang. Both are cheap, both are simple, and the “right” one depends on where you are staying in Taipei and how much weekend traffic is on the coastal road. The table below lays the choices side by side.

Why Jiufen has no train station of its own

Jiufen has no railway station. The nearest stop is Ruifang Station, about 10 to 20 minutes downhill by bus or taxi, and the town itself is reached only by road.

This trips up a lot of people who search for a “Jiufen train” and find nothing direct. Trains on the Yilan line run from Taipei Main Station to Ruifang, the railway gateway to Jiufen, and from there the last climb up the mountain is always by bus, taxi, or car. Keep that picture in mind and the whole journey makes sense: rail gets you to the bottom of the hill, road takes you to the top.

Taking the direct Bus 1062 from Taipei

Bus 1062 runs directly from Taipei to Jiufen and on to Jinguashi, leaving from beside Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT station. The ride is about 75 to 90 minutes and costs roughly NT$105 with an EasyCard.

Catch it on Zhongxiao East Road near Exit 1 or 2 of Zhongxiao Fuxing station, on the brown and blue MRT lines. Tap your EasyCard (悠遊卡) when you board and again when you leave, and ask the driver or a fellow passenger to flag the Jiufen Old Street stop (九份老街) if you are unsure: it is the busiest stop on the route, so you will rarely be the only one getting off. Buses run frequently through the day, roughly every 15 to 20 minutes, with longer gaps early and late.

Expert tip from Nathan Pell, our Northern Taiwan day-trip writer: “On a clear day, sit on the right-hand side of Bus 1062 after Ruifang. The road curls along the ridge and you get the first sea view before you even reach the Old Street. On weekends, get to the Zhongxiao Fuxing stop before 9am: the queue after 10 can cost you a whole bus.”

Nathan Pell

Taking the train to Ruifang, then a bus or taxi

Take a Taiwan Railways train from Taipei Main Station to Ruifang (about 40 to 50 minutes), then a 10 to 20 minute bus or a short taxi up to Jiufen. Total cost is roughly NT$60 to NT$90 by public transport.

This is the route to pick when coastal traffic is heavy, because the train glides past it all. Here is how it works end to end:

1. At Taipei Main Station, take any local or express train heading toward Ruifang on the Yilan line. Local trains stop everywhere and cost the least; faster services cost a little more but save 10 to 15 minutes.
2. Ride to Ruifang Station, about 40 to 50 minutes from Taipei. Your EasyCard works on local trains, so you can simply tap in and out.
3. Leave Ruifang Station by the front exit and turn left along the main road to the bus stops, a two to three minute walk.
4. Board a Jiufen-bound bus (routes such as 788, 827, or the through-running 1062) for the 10 to 20 minute climb, or split a taxi for around NT$200 to NT$250 if you are in a hurry or travelling as a group.

Which is better, the bus or the train?

The direct bus wins on simplicity and the train wins on reliability. If you value one ride and no changes, take Bus 1062. If you are travelling on a busy weekend or want a fixed arrival time, take the train to Ruifang.

Option	Time (one way)	Cost (one way)	Best for
Direct Bus 1062	75 to 90 min	~NT$105	One ride, no changes, easiest overall
Train to Ruifang + local bus	60 to 90 min	~NT$60 to 90	Beating weekend road traffic, fixed times
Bus 965 (from west Taipei)	90 to 110 min	~NT$90	Starting near Ximending or Banqiao
Taxi or private transfer	50 to 60 min	~NT$1,000 to 1,400	Groups, luggage, door-to-door comfort
Guided day tour	Half or full day	Varies	Zero planning, Jiufen bundled with other sights

Can you take Bus 965 or start from Ximending?

Yes. Bus 965 runs to Jiufen from the western side of the city, passing through the Banqiao and Ximending areas, so you do not have to cross town to Zhongxiao Fuxing first.

If your hotel is near Ximen MRT or in Banqiao, Bus 965 saves you a transfer, though it takes a little longer and runs less often than the 1062. Check the next departure before you set out, and if the wait is long, the train from the nearest station to Ruifang is usually the faster fallback.

What about a taxi, private transfer, or guided tour?

A metered taxi from central Taipei to Jiufen runs roughly NT$1,000 to NT$1,400 and takes about an hour. A booked private transfer or a guided day tour costs more but removes all the planning.

For two to four people sharing, a taxi or private car can work out close to the bus in cost per head, with the bonus of door-to-door service and space for bags. A guided day tour makes most sense if you want Jiufen combined with nearby sights in one trip: many visitors pair it with the sky lanterns at Shifen and the rock formations at Yehliu, which is far smoother with a driver than by stitching together local buses yourself.

How do you get back from Jiufen to Taipei?

Return the same ways you came: Bus 1062 and Bus 965 run back to Taipei, or take a bus or taxi down to Ruifang and catch a train. Direct buses thin out in the evening, so plan your last ride before you relax into the lantern light.

The catch is timing. The last direct buses to Taipei generally leave Jiufen by around 9 to 10pm, and the queue for them after sunset can be long, because the lantern-lit Old Street is at its most beautiful exactly when everyone wants to head home at once. If you stay late, the safest fallback is a short bus or taxi down to Ruifang, where trains to Taipei Main Station run later into the night. Better still, build your day so you are not rushing: our guide to the best time to visit Jiufen explains how to time the crowds and the light.

Expert tip from Nathan Pell, our Northern Taiwan day-trip writer: “Do not gamble on the last bus. If you want to watch the red lanterns come on around 6pm and still eat dinner, treat Ruifang as your safety net. A NT$200 taxi down the hill plus a late train beats standing in a 40-minute bus queue in the rain, and the rain is never far away up here.”

Nathan Pell

Getting onward to Shifen, Yehliu, or Keelung

Jiufen is the anchor of a wider day-trip cluster. From Ruifang you can branch out to several of the northeast coast’s best-known stops without returning to Taipei.

• Shifen: head back to Ruifang and change to the Pingxi branch line for the sky lanterns and Shifen Waterfall.
• Yehliu: easiest by tour or taxi, as public transport between Jiufen and Yehliu Geopark is slow and involves changes through Keelung.
• Keelung: regular buses link Jiufen and Ruifang with Keelung, handy for the city’s famous night market.

If you want all of these in one go, see our Jiufen, Shifen and Yehliu itinerary for a route that fits them into a single day.

A few things to bring

A little preparation makes the trip smoother, whichever route you choose.

• An EasyCard. It works on the MRT, local trains, and all the buses here, and saves fumbling for change at the door.
• Rain gear. Jiufen sits in a misty coastal range and is famously wet; a packable jacket or small umbrella is rarely wasted.
• A little cash. Some Old Street food stalls and a few taxis still prefer New Taiwan dollars in small notes.

Common questions about getting to Jiufen

How much does it cost to get to Jiufen from Taipei?

By public transport, roughly NT$60 to NT$105 each way, depending on whether you take the train plus a local bus or the direct Bus 1062. A taxi for the whole trip is about NT$1,000 to NT$1,400.

How long does the journey take?

Plan on about one to one and a half hours each way. The train plus bus and the direct bus are similar in practice; a taxi is a little faster outside rush hour.

Can I use my EasyCard the whole way?

Yes. An EasyCard covers the MRT, local Taiwan Railways trains to Ruifang, and the buses to Jiufen, so you can tap in and out the entire trip without buying separate tickets.

Is it worth going all the way for a few hours?

For most visitors, yes. Even a half-day covers the Old Street and a teahouse view. If you are weighing it up, our honest take on whether Jiufen earns the trip can help you decide.

For live train times, check the Taiwan Railways Administration timetable before you travel, and top up or buy an EasyCard at any MRT station or convenience store.