Metered taxis run 24/7 from Taipei Songshan arrivals
If you land late at TSA Terminal 1 or 2, the metered taxi rank right outside arrivals is the easiest way into Taipei. Cars line up in the ground transportation area, and you just join the queue; staff usually direct you to the next cab. Metered taxis here are standard yellow city cabs, not a premium service, but they beat juggling luggage on the MRT at 23:30.
Fares run on the official meter, starting from the city base fare set by Taipei authorities, then ticking up by distance and time. You pay in New Taiwan dollars; most drivers take cash, and only some accept cards, so pull cash from an ATM in the arrivals hall before heading out. There is no airport surcharge listed for Songshan, but expect late-night or bad-traffic runs to cost more simply because the meter runs longer.
From TSA to central Taipei spots like Zhongshan or Xinyi, rides often land in the 10–25 minute range depending on traffic along Dunhua North Road or Civic Boulevard. That short hop is the main reason regulars pick taxis over the MRT for this airport. You load bags directly into the trunk, ride straight to a hotel door on, say, Nanjing East Road, and skip any transfers.
The taxi stand sits just outside the arrivals exit in the ground transport zone, clearly signed with “Taxi” in English and Chinese. You do not need to pre-book or use an app to get a metered cab here; taxis are described as “readily available” in airport guidance, even in later hours. Regulars simply walk out, follow the taxi signs, and use the official queue rather than arranging a pickup on the street.
There are no consistent complaints about the Songshan taxi rank, but traffic on city routes like Minquan East Road can slow everything at rush hour. If you care about exact cost, ask the driver for a rough NT$ estimate before you pull away from the curb, then keep an eye on the meter as you pass toll-free city roads.
Tip: Screenshot your hotel address in Chinese before landing; show it to the driver at the TSA taxi rank so you avoid any language hiccups once the meter starts.