Korean Job Discussion Forums

moosehead · Joined: 05 May 2007

I have a 4-5 hour stopover in Taipei next week - never been before - any suggestions? is the airport close to anything?

do I need to take a train/bus to get anywhere?

how about restaurants, markets nearby?

thanks!

demaratus · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 12:33 pm Post subject:

Unfortunately, CKS airport is in Taoyuan which is outside of Taipei, there is little of interest there. If you had say 8 hours or more I would say go to the national palace museum, which houses one of the best collections of Chinese historical artifacts, treasures and interesting exhibits in the world.

ajgeddes · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan

Yep, with 4-5 hours, you can't do anything aside from take the bus into the city buy a coke and then come straight back. The airport is boring too. It's too bad because Taipei is a great place.

mistermasan · Joined: 20 Sep 2007 Location: 10+ yrs on Dave's ESL cafe

they used to put us in a holding area and take our passports away. if this imprisonment has ended you are still far away from taipei city. the buses are slow, no train service and taxi's have jacked up rates for the airport. there is an aviation museum on the airport grounds. worth a look/see if business hours permit. overall, a 1970's airport w/o even craptastic shopping.

there are two terminals. know which one is yours. one looks new, the other old.

yes, it is in taoyuan county. the nearest town is nankan. nankan is pretty much every korean village of 40,000 people with different writing.

DCJames · Joined: 27 Jul 2006

4-5 hours is not enough time to visit any place.

chris_J2 · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Location: From Brisbane, Au.

I agree with the above posts. You could always take bets with fellow transit passengers, which tile will fall of the wall / ceiling next. The airport was built in 1979, & is really showing it's age, too, imho.

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

Shop, the duty-free is pretty good there.

demaratus · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 7:23 pm Post subject:

mistermasan · Joined: 20 Sep 2007 Location: 10+ yrs on Dave's ESL cafe

they finished the train to the airport already? that was slated to be finished in 2012!

yes, the train service is great in taiwan. but as of two years ago the train did not run to the airport.

articulate_ink · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:02 pm Post subject:

Terminal 1 is a dump. Terminal 2 is newer and has more to do. It's got nothing on Singapore, Hong Kong, and Incheon, but you won't be cutting your wrists in misery the way you would if you had to spend that long in transit in Shanghai, for example. You can walk from one terminal to the other without much difficulty. I'd suggest walking around a bit. Park yourself at Starbucks and have a coffee. There are a few small Internet rooms with both PCs (some of which even work) and wifi access.

The high-speed train has a station near the airport, and I think some people use it to travel between there and central Taipei. It requires a shuttle bus ride from the airport, though. There's not enough time to get into the city and back. The metro line to the airport's still not finished. That's a different system completely.

moosehead · Joined: 05 May 2007

ajgeddes · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Yongsan

TECO · Joined: 20 Jan 2003

1 hour each way. So, 2 hours to get to Taipei and back. Taipei is nowhere near the airport unfortunately and not accessible by train.

Yes, the airport is the most boring airport I've ever visited in my travels.

Taiwan is a dud. Accept it and like the poster mentioned above, park yourself in Starbucks (if you're lucky enough to be in Terminal 2) and then chill.

Have you heard the expression, "You can judge a country by their airports" or "You can judge a people by they way their traffic flows" ?

Taiwan Taoyuan Airport is a perfect reflection of the Taiwnese.

ultra · Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 4:14 am Post subject:

articulate_ink · Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 4:43 am Post subject: