In-Town Check-In in Taipei: A Complete Guide from Ximending to Taoyuan Airport

In-town check-in in Taipei is one of the city’s best-kept travel secrets. Located at Taipei Main Station (B1 level, Station A1), this service lets you drop your luggage and get your boarding pass before heading to Taoyuan Airport — meaning you can explore the city hands-free. This guide shows you exactly how to do it, starting from Ximending, in 8 simple steps.

For the most up-to-date service hours and requirements, visit the official Taoyuan Airport MRT In-Town Check-In page or check with your airline directly.

Phase One

Getting to Taipei Main Station

From Ximending to the In-Town Check-In area — a short, simple journey underground.

Step One

Getting There

Departure · Ximending

Make your way to Ximen MRT Station

From anywhere in the Ximending shopping district, walk to Ximen Station (西門站) — the large red-and-blue MRT entrance on Zhonghua Road. Any exit works; Exit 6 is closest to the main pedestrian zone. Bring your luggage and have your EasyCard ready.

🚇 Zhonghua Road entrance
Blue Line & Green Line
Open 06:00 – midnight daily

📸 Photo Label · Step 01Ximending → Taipei Main

Step 1 of 8 · Getting There

Head to Ximen MRT Station

Blue & Green Lines · Zhonghua Road · Exit 6 for pedestrian zone

Taipei In-Town Check-In Guide

Step Two

Getting There

MRT · Blue Line (Bannan Line 板南線)

Board the Blue Line Eastbound — one stop

Tap your EasyCard at the gate or buy a token (NT$20). Head to the Blue Line (Bannan Line) platform and board a train heading Eastbound toward Nangang Exhibition Center (南港展覽館方向). Taipei Main is the very next stop — just 2 minutes away. Stow your luggage near the doors. (See the Taipei Metro official site for route maps.)

🔵 Blue Line Eastbound
1 stop · ~2 minutes
NT$20 / EasyCard
⚠ Avoid rush hour with large bags

📸 Photo Label · Step 02Blue Line · 1 Stop

Step 2 of 8 · MRT

Blue Line Eastbound — One Stop to Taipei Main

Direction: Nangang Exhibition Center · NT$20 · ~2 minutes

Ximen → Taipei Main Station

Step Three

Getting There

Navigation · Taipei Main Station B1

Follow the underground signs to the Airport MRT

Alight at Taipei Main Station. Stay underground — do not exit to street level. Follow signs for “Taoyuan Airport MRT” (桃園機場捷運) or “In-Town Check-In” (市區預辦登機). It’s a straight, well-lit passage of about 5–8 minutes. You’ll pass a convenience store and luggage lockers along the way.

📍 Stay underground on B1
Follow Airport MRT / 桃園機場捷運 signs
~5–8 min walk

📸 Photo Label · Step 03Underground · B1

Step 3 of 8 · Navigation

Follow Signs — Airport MRT & In-Town Check-In

Stay underground B1 · 桃園機場捷運 · ~5–8 min walk

Taipei Main Station · B1 Level

Phase Two

The In-Town Check-In Process

Check your bags and get your boarding pass — all before you leave the city.

Step Four

Check-In

Location · Airport MRT A1 Station

Find the In-Town Check-In Area (B1)

The In-Town Check-In (ITCI) area is on B1 of Taipei Main Station’s Airport MRT section. You’ll see a compact hall with self-service kiosks and baggage drop machines lined up in a row. Service runs daily 06:00–21:30 (check the official schedule for updates). You must drop your bags at least 3 hours before departure.

B1 · Taipei Main Station A1
06:00 – 21:30 daily
⏱ Must be here 3 hrs before flight

📸 Photo Label · Step 04Check-In Area Found

Step 4 of 8 · Location

In-Town Check-In Area — B1, Station A1

Open 06:00–21:30 daily · Must be here 3 hrs before departure

市區預辦登機 · In-Town Check-In

Step Five

Check-In

Self-Service · Kiosk or App

Check In At The Self-Service Kiosk

Locate your airline’s self-service kiosk. If you’ve pre-checked-in via your airline’s app, you can go straight to bag drop. At the kiosk: enter your booking reference or scan your passport, choose your seat, and print your boarding pass. Not sure? Just ask — staff are right there.

✓ Pre-check-in on your airline app first
Scan passport or booking reference
Boarding pass printed here

📸 Photo Label · Step 05Kiosk Check-In

Step 5 of 8 · Check-In Kiosk

Check In & Print Your Boarding Pass

Scan passport or booking ref · Select seat · Print boarding pass

Tip: Pre-check-in on your airline app first

Step Six

Check-In

Baggage · Self-Drop Machine

Drop your luggage at the self-baggage machine

Proceed to the Self-Baggage Drop machine and scan your boarding pass. Attach the printed bag tag to your suitcase and place it on the conveyor belt. After placing your bag on the conveyor, you’ll be given a claim tag. Make sure that your baggage has successfully passed through the X-ray inspection before leaving the check-in area. Once you see your bag appear on the screen, scan your claim tag — then you’re free to go. Your bags travel ahead of you on the Airport Express Train directly to Taoyuan Airport Terminal 2.

⚠ Wait for X-ray clearance before leaving
Bags transported via Express Train
✕ Suitcases only — no soft bags or boxes

📸 Photo Label · Step 06Baggage Drop

Step 6 of 8 · Bag Drop

Drop Your Bags — They Fly Ahead on the Express Train

Wait for X-ray clearance · Then scan your claim tag when bag appears on screen

Suitcases only · No backpacks or cartons

Step Seven

Free Time

Optional · Explore the City

You’re luggage-free — enjoy Taipei

Bags checked. Boarding pass in hand. Roam Taipei without your luggage until it’s time for the airport. Head back to Ximending for a last meal, explore a night market, or relax at a café. Luggage lockers near the check-in area can hold any carry-on items you want to store.

🎉 Checked in — explore freely
Luggage lockers available nearby
Return for Airport MRT with time to spare

📸 Photo Label · Step 07Luggage-Free in Taipei

Step 7 of 8 · Free Time

Bags Checked — Explore Taipei Hands-Free!

Return to Taipei Main for the Airport Express with time to spare

Travel light to the airport ✈

III

Phase Three

Board the Express to the Airport

35 minutes, door to terminal. The easiest airport transfer in Taiwan.

Final Step

To Airport

Airport MRT · Purple Express Train

Board the Purple Express to Taoyuan Airport

Return to Taipei Main Station A1 and board the Purple Express Train (紫色列車). It departs every 15 minutes and reaches Terminal 1 in 35 minutes or Terminal 2 in 38 minutes. Fare is NT$150. All Express Trains stop at both terminals — check your boarding pass for the correct one. (Visit Taoyuan Airport’s official site for terminal information.)

🟣 Purple Express Train
Every 15 min · NT$150
T1: 35 min · T2: 38 min
⚠ Check your terminal on your boarding pass

📸 Photo Label · Step 08Final Step · Airport Express

Step 8 of 8 · To the Airport

Purple Express to Taoyuan Airport — Bon Voyage!

NT$150 · Every 15 min · T1: 35 min · T2: 38 min from here

Safe travels ✈ 一路平安

Participating Airlines

CI / AE

China Airlines · Mandarin Airlines (info)

Terminal 1 · +886-3-3988888

BR / B7

EVA Air · Uni Air (info)

Terminal 2 · +886-3-3516805

Cathay Pacific Airways

+886-3-3982954

STARLUX Airlines

+886-3-2601899

Not Accepted at Self-Drop

✕Cartons / boxes

✕Umbrellas

✕Backpacks (soft bags)

✕Baby carriages

✕Longest side over 70cm

✕Total dims over 158cm

✕Unaccompanied minors

✕Special assistance needed

Pre-Departure Checklist

Arrive 3+ hours before flight — bag drop closes 3 hrs before departure

Your airline is listed — CI, AE, BR, B7, CX, JX only

Passport ready — needed at the kiosk

Flight is from Taoyuan (TPE), not Songshan (TSA)

Luggage is a proper suitcase — no backpacks, cartons, oversize items

EasyCard topped up — NT$20 Blue Line + NT$150 Airport Express

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