Transportation in Kinmen: Flights, car rentals, Taiwan Tourist Shuttle, chartered car, Island hopping.

For a solo traveller spending four days and three nights, transportation expenses in Kinmen typically will not exceed 7000 NT dollars (excluding special trips). Fuel costs are also minimal. Due to the island's small size, you can also include a trip to Lieyu (also called lesser Kinmen, a rural township in Kinmen County located to the west of Kinmen) A trip to Kinmen is definitely worthwhile! 

The best season to visit Kinmen is spring and fall (most places are suitable for spring and fall) However, due to strong winds in Kinmen, it will be really cold in winter. Summer will be too sunny because the lack of shade and it is not ideal for many places requiring a lot of walking. (but of course, the tunnel shelters are great for escaping the heat)

All in all, it is recommended to visit Kinmen in spring and fall!

Remember to wear a woolen hat when winter approaches, as the sea breeze will make you feel headache if it blows for a long time.

Here is the total cost:

Flights

Kinmen has only one airport. You don’t have to worry about choosing the wrong one. There are flights to Kinmen from airports in the north, central, and southern regions, as well as from Penghu.

Flight duration

• Taipei/ Kaohsiung: about 55 minutes
• Taichung/ Chiayi/ Tainan: about 50 minutes
• Penghu: about 40 minutes

Airfare

Only two airlines flying to Kinmen:

• UNI Air
• Mandarin Airlines

Round-trip prices typically range from 4000 to 5000 NT.

I suggest using comparison services like Skyscanner to purchase flight tickets, as the price difference can vary significantly. 

Tip (for Taiwan resident)

When booking domestic flights with an English name, remember to bring your passport to the airport! (Because there's no English name on the ID card, it can be a bit troublesome for identification. If you're worried about forgetting, at least take a photo of your passport and keep it on your phone!)

Transportation in Kinmen

The airport is located in the center of Kinmen and it’s about a 10-minute drive to downtown Jincheng（金城）.

Car Rental

When you have a lot of luggage, picking up the car directly from the airport is the most convenient option! However, if you arrive at the airport very early or late, remember to check the operating hours of the car rental service.

I highly recommend using the Gogoout service. It allows you to find available rental cars across multiple rental agencies and instantly view the rental car locations on a map. This feature is particularly useful during peak seasons. Besides Kinmen, it’s also very convenient when traveling around Taiwan. 

Now sign up with the link below can get a 100 NT discount. 

Motorbike Rental

There are many narrow alleys in Kinmen and passing through the alleys in Jincheng Town is the most convenient. If it’s not your first time in Kinmen or you have a fondness for exploring alleys, I highly recommend renting a motorbike.

However, you’ll need to consider luggage issues. If you have large luggage or arrive late, you have two options:

1.   Ask the rental shop to deliver your luggage to the hotel, and you can ride the motorbike directly.

2.   Take a taxi from the airport to the hotel, and then go pick up the motorbike the next day.

You can use Gogoout as mentioned above. And here is another option for motorbike renting: Klook 

Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Service

Taiwan Tourist Shuttle has Kinmen Shuttle Bus One Day Pass/Two Day Pass. Prices are 399 NT/699 NT. 

Now there are totally 6 routes (A-F). The official website provides detailed information of each route.

Screenshots on the website may be unclear about the exact locations. Here are some recommended attractions on each route:

• A Route: (Southwest) Shuitou Village, Zhaishan Tunnel, Wentai Pagoda
• B Route: (Northwest) Beishan Western Style House, Guningtou
• C Route: (Northeast) Shamei Street, Mashan Observation Post, Shishan (Mt. Lion) Howitzer Front, Shanhou Folk Culture Village
• D Route: (Southern part of the central area) Chen Jinglan Western-style House
• E Weekend Route: (Northern part of the central area) Wind Lion God theme route
• F Route: (Southwest) urban cultural trip

I would recommend A and C Route. Remember to pay attention to your accommodation location if you’re taking the C route.

Other ways to go around in Kinmen

Kinmen Private Sightseeing Car Charter

Chartered tours or day trips to specific attractions and routes are also an excellent choice. Kinmen is famous for its long history. If you enjoy guided tours and storytelling, this way is highly recommended.

Take a look at Klook charter car service

Island Hopping

Further information are in this article.

In conclude

For a solo traveler spending four days and three nights, transportation expenses in Kinmen typically will not exceed 7000 NT dollars (excluding special trips). Fuel costs are also minimal. Due to the island's small size, you can also include a trip to Lieyu (also called lesser Kinmen, a rural township in Kinmen County located to the west of Kinmen) A trip to Kinmen is definitely worthwhile!

Here is the total cost: