Taipei: Unlimited FunPass – Transports & Attractions Pass

Taipei’s FunPass is less a guided tour than a ready-made sightseeing toolkit. You can ride the MRT, city buses, selected shuttles, and a Pingxi-Shen’ao railway route while entering up to 34 attractions, including Taipei 101 Observatory, Yehliu Geopark, and the National Palace Museum.

I like the freedom to build your own day, and I like the unusual extras: Jiufen taro balls, a sky-lantern activity in Pingxi, and gift sets from four Taipei commercial areas. The main catch is simple: one day is too short if you also want Jiufen or Yehliu, since these places take time to reach.

The pass carries a 4.5 out of 5 rating from 14 ratings. One important warning comes from the practical side of using it: collection counters can close during disruptions, as happened during a typhoon, so check the current pickup details before you travel.

Key points to know before buying

• Up to 34 one-time attractions: Use the pass at Taipei 101 Observatory, National Palace Museum, Taipei Zoo, Maokong Gondola, Yehliu Geopark, and selected museums and parks.
• Five Tourist Shuttle routes included: Reach places such as Yangmingshan, Pingxi, Jiufen, and Jinguashi without paying each time.
• Calendar-day validity: A one-day pass is valid for that day only. A two-day pass covers the day you first use it and the next calendar day.
• Special local treats: Depending on the attraction arrangement, you can enjoy Jiufen taro balls, a Pingxi sky lantern, a red-lantern blessing, pineapple cake, or taro pastry.
• Airport Express excluded: The Taoyuan Airport MRT and airport services are not included, so plan your first airport transfer separately.
• Pickup matters: You must exchange your redemption code for a physical pass, and some collection points have limited hours or may close during unusual events.

What the Taipei FunPass actually gives you

The pass combines three useful things: admission, transport, and discounts. It is not a guided excursion, and nobody leads you from one sight to the next. You decide the order, pace, and mix of museums, viewpoints, parks, and food stops.

The admission side covers up to 34 participating attractions, with one entry per attraction. Taipei 101 Observatory is the headline stop for many people. You can look across the city from one of Taipei’s best-known landmarks, then use the same pass for very different places such as the National Palace Museum, Taipei Zoo, or the Maokong Gondola.

The transport side is where the pass can earn its keep. You receive unlimited Taipei MRT rides, local bus rides in Taipei, New Taipei, and Keelung, five Taiwan Tourist Shuttle routes, and a Taiwan Railways Pingxi-Shen’ao One-Day Pass. That gives you far more range than a pass limited to central Taipei.

You also receive a travel guidebook, an exclusive cup gift, gift sets from four popular commercial areas, and discounts at selected restaurants, shops, and clubs. These extras may not determine your purchase, but they can add value if you already plan to visit the listed businesses.

Taipei 101, museums, and Maokong in one city day

The easiest way to use the pass is to focus your first day on central Taipei. Taipei 101 Observatory gives you a major city view, while the National Palace Museum offers a very different experience, with its famous collection of Chinese art and objects.

Do not assume you can dash through every major attraction in a few hours. Taipei 101 and the National Palace Museum are not next door to each other, and the city’s transport network still requires time for walking, transfers, and waiting. Pick two or three main stops, rather than treating the pass like a race card.

The pass also includes the National Taiwan Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei, and Taipei Fine Art Museum. These make good choices when you want a quieter indoor stop, especially if rain or heat changes your plans.

Maokong Gondola and Taipei Zoo offer another natural pairing. You can visit the zoo and ride the gondola toward the tea-growing hills above the city. The two attractions appeal to different kinds of visitors, so families may spend more time at the zoo while adults may prefer the gondola and mountain views.

The strength here is choice. You can spend the day on famous sights, museums, animals, or hills without buying separate tickets for every stop. The weakness is that the one-time entry rule rewards planning. If you enter a place briefly, you have used that benefit, so check opening details and travel time before setting off.

Yehliu Geopark and the northern coast

Yehliu Geopark is one of the pass’s most distinctive inclusions. Its sea-shaped rock formations make it feel unlike the museums and high-rise viewpoints in Taipei. This is a good example of why the transport benefits matter, since a northern-coast outing is more complicated than simply taking the MRT across town.

Yehliu fits best into a day planned around the north coast. You should not expect to combine it casually with several central Taipei attractions, especially on a one-day pass. The journey takes time, and you will want room to walk through the park rather than hurry from the entrance to the exit.

Heping Island Park in Keelung adds another coastal option. The combination of Yehliu and Heping Island gives the pass a broader reach than a standard Taipei sightseeing card. It also means you should watch the weather forecast, since both stops are more rewarding when you can spend time outdoors.

The relevant Tourist Shuttle routes are part of the practical appeal. They are intended for sightseeing areas such as Yangmingshan, Yehliu, and Jiufen, but the pass does not mean every bus in Taiwan is free. Highway buses with four-digit numbers are excluded, so check the route before boarding.

Jiufen, Jinguashi, and a slower old-town day

Jiufen is one of the places that can make the FunPass worthwhile, but it is also the place most likely to expose poor planning. The Jiufen Jinguashi Tourist Shuttle route is included, and the pass can cover a local treat such as Jiufen A-Po’s taro balls.

You should allow plenty of time for the ride and for walking around Jiufen. The narrow lanes, tea houses, snack stalls, and hillside viewpoints are best enjoyed without watching the clock every few minutes. A one-day pass is not recommended if Jiufen is a priority and you also want several Taipei attractions.

The Jiufen Red Lantern Blessing adds a cultural activity to the visit. It is a small but memorable change from standard sightseeing, and it helps the pass feel less like a collection of admission tickets. Master A-Tsung pineapple cake or taro pastry is another possible included treat or benefit, depending on the specific attraction arrangement.

Jinguashi gives you another nearby stop to consider. I would pair Jiufen and Jinguashi on the same day rather than trying to return to central Taipei between them. The pass gives you the transport freedom to make that plan, but it does not remove the hills, traffic, or travel time.

The practical rule is this: choose Jiufen for a full or nearly full day. If you have only one day in Taipei and want Taipei 101, a museum, and Jiufen, you may see all three, but you will spend much of the day moving.

Pingxi and the sky-lantern experience

Pingxi is one of the FunPass’s most unusual additions. The pass includes the Pingxi-Shen’ao One-Day railway pass and the Muzha-Pingxi Tourist Shuttle route. That combination gives you a useful way to reach the Pingxi area and explore beyond the city center.

The sky-lantern activity is the signature experience here. Releasing a lantern is a very different memory from riding an observation deck or walking through a museum. It connects the pass to a local custom rather than simply offering another ticketed attraction.

You should still check the exact redemption process before you go. Different attractions use different entry methods, and the details appear in your booking information and the Taipei FunPass app. Bring your passport, since it is listed as required for collection or use.

Pingxi works best when you give it its own day or combine it with only nearby stops. The railway and shuttle coverage are valuable, but the route is not a shortcut to every other part of Taipei. If you try to add Taipei 101, the National Palace Museum, and Jiufen on the same calendar day, the schedule will become unpleasant.

Yangmingshan and Beitou access

The Beitou-Zhuzihu Tourist Shuttle route supports trips toward Yangmingshan. This gives you a chance to leave the urban center for mountain scenery, parks, and the Zhuzihu area.

The pass is useful here because local sightseeing routes can otherwise involve several separate fares. You can use the transport coverage to make a flexible day of it, then return to Taipei without worrying about each individual ride.

Yangmingshan is another reason to choose a two-day or three-day pass. It is not a sensible add-on when you are already trying to squeeze in Jiufen, Pingxi, and Taipei 101. Give outdoor areas enough time, and keep an indoor museum or city attraction as a backup if weather turns poor.

How to judge the $34 price

At $34 per person, the pass can offer strong value, but only if you use both the attractions and the transport. The advertised saving is up to 72 percent, though your actual result depends on which places you choose and how much you ride.

A good-value day might include one major paid attraction, a museum or gondola, several MRT or bus rides, and one included special activity. Add an outlying destination such as Yehliu, Jiufen, or Pingxi, and the transport benefit becomes more meaningful.

The pass is less attractive if you plan to walk around central Taipei, visit only free sights, or enter just one attraction. It is also less useful if you already have separate transport arrangements and do not expect to leave the city center.

I would compare your planned admission fees and transport costs before buying. Write down the exact attractions you want, then check which are included and how long it takes to reach them. The pass rewards a full sightseeing schedule, not a slow weekend built around cafés and neighborhood wandering.

The one to three-day choice matters. A one-day pass suits a tightly planned Taipei day. Two days give you room for central Taipei plus one outlying area. Three days make the most sense if you want a city day, a north-coast or Jiufen day, and a Pingxi or Yangmingshan day.

Pickup points and the physical pass

You do not simply show the digital voucher at every attraction. You exchange the redemption code for a physical pass at a designated counter, and you should carry your passport.

Possible pickup locations include Taoyuan International Airport Terminal 2, Songshan Airport, Taipei Main Station, MRT A1 Taipei Main Station, Taoyuan HSR Station, and Unite Traveler counters at Taoyuan Airport Terminals 1 and 2.

The listed opening hours vary by location. Taipei Main Station counters generally operate during daytime and evening hours, while airport counters may open very early. Hours can change without notice, so check the current pickup page and your voucher before you land.

This is not a minor detail. During a typhoon, two Taipei Main Station collection points were closed, forcing one customer to pay separately for transport and National Palace Museum admission. That is a useful warning: do not plan an expensive attraction for the same moment you expect to collect the pass, and keep your voucher information handy.

The Taipei FunPass app can show entry methods and special discounts. I would download it before arrival, then check each attraction’s current instructions. Some places may require a particular counter, reservation process, or redemption step.

Calendar days, transport limits, and small rules

A one-day pass is valid on the calendar day you use it. It is not a rolling 24-hour ticket. A two-day pass covers the first calendar day and the next day, while a three-day pass follows the same calendar-day logic.

That means activating the pass late in the evening can waste much of its value. If you collect it at night, consider waiting to activate it until the next morning, provided the redemption rules allow that for your booking.

The pass includes Taipei MRT rides, city buses in Taipei, New Taipei, and Keelung, five Tourist Shuttle routes, and the Pingxi-Shen’ao railway pass. It does not cover the Taoyuan Airport MRT or other Taoyuan Airport, Taipei Airport Express, or metro services listed as excluded.

Highway buses with four-digit route numbers are also excluded. Do not assume that every bus heading toward a scenic area is covered. Confirm the route number before boarding, especially when traveling beyond central Taipei.

Different attractions may have different redemption instructions. This is why the app and voucher details matter. The pass gives you broad access, but it does not remove the need to read the small print for each stop.

Who should buy the FunPass?

I would recommend it to you if you enjoy planning your own days and want a mix of major sights, local transport, and unusual cultural activities. It suits first-time visitors who want Taipei 101, a museum, a northern-coast stop, and one of the smaller towns outside Taipei.

Families may find it helpful because Taipei Zoo, Maokong Gondola, museums, parks, and public transport are all available through one product. The value improves when several people use the pass actively, though each person needs their own pass.

It also works for repeat visitors who have already seen the main city sights and want to reach Pingxi, Yangmingshan, Jiufen, Jinguashi, Yehliu, or Keelung.

I would skip it if your trip is mostly about wandering, eating, and visiting free places. I would also skip the one-day version if Jiufen is a must and you want several central Taipei attractions on the same day.

Final verdict: useful freedom, but plan around distance

The Taipei FunPass is a flexible sightseeing pass with real practical value. Its best feature is not one famous attraction. It is the combination of city transport, regional shuttle routes, railway access, museums, viewpoints, parks, and small local experiences.

Buy it for two or three days if you want to connect Taipei with Jiufen, Pingxi, Yehliu, Yangmingshan, or Keelung. Choose one day only for a focused city itinerary, and plan your pickup before you plan your first attraction.

The pass is worth booking when you will use several included admissions and ride the transport network often. It is not a magic shortcut, and it cannot fix a crowded itinerary. Use it as a framework, leave time for the roads and hills, and it can make northern Taiwan easier to explore.

FAQ

How long is the Taipei FunPass valid?

You can choose a pass valid for one, two, or three days. Validity is based on calendar days, not a rolling 24-hour period.

Does the pass include Taipei 101 Observatory?

Yes. The pass includes one admission to Taipei 101 Observatory.

Does the pass include the National Palace Museum?

Yes. The National Palace Museum is one of the included attractions, with single admission.

Can I use the pass on the Taipei MRT?

Yes. The pass includes unlimited Taipei MRT rides during its selected validity period.

Are city buses included?

Yes. Unlimited city bus rides are included in Taipei, New Taipei, and Keelung. Highway buses with four-digit numbers are not included.

Does the pass cover the Taoyuan Airport MRT?

No. Taoyuan Airport and Taipei Airport Express or metro services are excluded.

Can I use the pass for Jiufen?

Yes. The Jiufen Jinguashi Taiwan Tourist Shuttle route is included, and the pass also provides access to selected Jiufen activities and treats. One day is not recommended if you want Jiufen plus several other major stops.

Where can I exchange the voucher for the physical pass?

Exchange is available at listed points including Taoyuan International Airport, Songshan Airport, Taipei Main Station, MRT A1 Taipei Main Station, and Taoyuan HSR Station. Check current opening hours before collection.

What should I bring when collecting the pass?

Bring your passport and the redemption code from your booking. Different attractions may have different redemption instructions, which you can check in the voucher information or Taipei FunPass app.