Apple Maps Transit Directions Now Available in Taiwan - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Maps Transit Directions Now Available in Taiwan

by

Apple recently updated its Maps app to add transit directions and data for Taiwan, one of the locations where hints of transit support surfaced months ago.

Maps users in Taiwan can now select public transportation routes when navigating across the country, with transit options available in Taipei, Kaohsiung, and other cities.

taiwantransitdirections
Support is available for the Taiwan Railway and Taiwan High Speed Rail, as well as for city-specific transit options like the Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit and Taipei Metro.

Transit directions were first added to Apple Maps in 2015 as part of iOS 9. At launch, transit information was only available in a handful of cities, but Apple has been working hard to expand the feature to additional locations. Transit information is now live in dozens of cities and countries around the world, with a full list available on Apple's iOS 11 Feature Availability website.

(Thanks, Benjamén!)

Top Rated Comments

goshya Avatar
112 months ago
Any chance of using Apple maps offline?

Downloading a map before going to another country?

No?

—> Back to Google maps
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NewPilgrim Avatar
112 months ago
That's great! I've been waiting for it. Now I no longer have to open the Google Maps App...
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
112 months ago
That's great! I've been waiting for it. Now I no longer have to open the Google Maps App...
You might still want to use Google Maps once in a while. Apple Maps transit directions sometimes kinda dumb.

For example, when I ask for transit directions to the nearest metro station from my home, Apple Maps suggests I walk all the way (1.5km). Although there is a bus stop, which is 10 meters past the entrance to the metro station. Google Maps correctly suggests to take a bus and walk back 10 meters.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
112 months ago
Not only that, people complain about Apple maps each and every time on here.
Just lately I was on holiday in Germany/Austria/Liechtenstein and Google maps was wrong several times while Apple showed the right way.
The sad part is that they are missing out based on some Internet fake news. Regardless of whether it is a default app, no one is going to keep using an mapping app that frequently gets them to the wrong place or by wrong method since there are multiple free and good alternatives that take less than 60 seconds to download, e.g., Google Maps. That's why the best proof of AM's excellence is that it has steadily grown from zero users to now being used over a third of TRILLION times a year!

Apple Maps was an admitted disaster when first launched, but they have steadily improved it, to the point where the interface, IMO, is now better than GM, and it is as accurate or better than GM. I say this as someone who travels a lot, and has monitored and used both side by side for comparison purposes. For example, I was just in Boston and NH and while traveling out of Boston had both on. GM gave wrong turns at one point while AM steered me correctly. With iOS 11's "lane assist' and speed limit displays, GM's only remaining advantages are slightly better search and street view., which was great when it first came out but is now a very clunky feature. Apple has a better overall interface and protects privacy, while Google is tracking everywhere you go and linking it to your "universal identifier," so it is an easy choice for me. When Apple finishes its all new base map in 2018 and introduces the new "sky to ground" smooth interface, it will be no choice.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
justperry Avatar
112 months ago
Actually, Apple Maps transit directions are considered far superior to the ones on GM. The reason is that Google chose to simply import all the data at once for every location from third party suppliers. Google has received a lot of criticism for the accuracy of the data, etc. Apple could have done the same thing and simply "turned on" every location at once. Instead, Apple is spending a great deal more time and money to customize each location. Here is a great article that explains why Apple chose to do it different and why folks are much happier with Apple's approach.

http://appleinsider.com/articles/16/07/07/why-apples-transit-maps-are-rolling-out-so-slowly
Not only that, people complain about Apple maps each and every time on here.
Just lately I was on holiday in Germany/Austria/Liechtenstein and Google maps was wrong several times while Apple showed the right way.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
112 months ago
You might still want to use Google Maps once in a while. Apple Maps transit directions sometimes kinda dumb.

For example, when I ask for transit directions to the nearest metro station from my home, Apple Maps suggests I walk all the way (1.5km). Although there is a bus stop, which is 10 meters past the entrance to the metro station. Google Maps correctly suggests to take a bus and walk back 10 meters.
Actually, Apple Maps transit directions are considered far superior to the ones on GM. The reason is that Google chose to simply import all the data at once for every location from third party suppliers. Google has received a lot of criticism for the accuracy of the data, etc. Apple could have done the same thing and simply "turned on" every location at once. Instead, Apple is spending a great deal more time and money to customize each location. Here is a great article that explains why Apple chose to do it different and why folks are much happier with Apple's approach.

http://appleinsider.com/articles/16/07/07/why-apples-transit-maps-are-rolling-out-so-slowly
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Ads Are Coming to Apple Maps Feature

Ads Are Coming to Apple Maps This Summer: Here's What to Expect

Friday April 24, 2026 1:58 pm PDT by
Apple is planning to start showing ads in the Apple Maps app this summer, and signs of ads have already shown up in the iOS 26.5 beta as Apple prepares to roll them out. Where Ads Show Up Ads will be displayed in the Apple Maps search interface. Depending on the search, relevant ads will be shown first in search results. Apple is also implementing a new Suggested Places feature in Maps ...
Ads Are Coming to Apple Maps Feature

Ads Aren't in the Apple Maps App Yet, But They're Coming Soon

Wednesday May 13, 2026 4:15 pm PDT by
Apple released iOS 26.5 yesterday with a new Suggested Places feature in the Apple Maps app, which is a precursor to the ads that Apple plans to start showing later this year. There was some confusion over whether ads are live, but as of now, the Apple Maps app still doesn't have ads. Apple did start laying the groundwork for ads in iOS 26.5 and tested a splash screen, but no ads appeared...
Aston Martin CarPlay Ultra Screen

Apple Says CarPlay Ultra is Coming to These Vehicle Brands

Thursday May 21, 2026 11:53 am PDT by
Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly a year later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon. In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. CarPlay Ultra...