A useful guide to some of the family-friendly attractions to visit with your children in Taipei!
Two days in Taipei may seem like more than enough time to see and do a lot of things. That is until you minus the time taken for travelling from one place to another, no matter whether you’re travelling by public or private transport. Hence, it might be a better option to visit a few select places. This way you will have more time to enjoy each destination.
Here’s a list of all the things you can do in Taipei with your kids in two days to inspire your itinerary!
1. Say Hi to The Giant Pandas at Taipei Zoo
Source: Taiwan News
Location: No. 30號, Section 2, Xinguang Road, Wenshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 11656
Operating hours: Daily/9 am – 5 pm
Admission: From NT$ 30
Housed within both the outdoor and indoor exhibits in the Taipei Zoo are over hundreds of animals. The Taipei Zoo also houses a Dinosaur Museum where you’ll be able to find dinosaur models and taxidermy specimens. Located near the museum is the star attraction of the zoo, the Giant Panda House. Pop in to say hi to Yuan Zai.
At the outdoor exhibit, which is modelled after each animals’ natural habitat, you can meet animals such as the antelopes, cassowaries, kangaroos, bears, birds, and wild cats, in addition to animals native to Taiwan. There is also a Children’s Zoo where you can introduce your little ones to domestic animals like the goats, llamas, ducks and rabbits.
Writer’s Note: The Taipei Zoo sits in a sprawling space, attempting to spot all the animals in just one day with your little humans in tow might end up being an exhausting affair. A more sound option would be to pick only a few enclosures to visit. Be sure to grab a map on your way in at the Visitor Centre.
2. Hike Up Xiangshan (Elephant Mountain)
Source: Heikki Holstila/flickr
Location: Xinyi District
Operating hours: Daily/24 hrs
Admission: Free
Taiwan is home to plenty of mountains and hiking trails, including the famed Taroko Gorge, a trail meant solely for the stout-hearted. And amongst those is the popular Xiangshan, also known as the Elephant Mountain.
Hiking up the Elephant Mountain is a popular to-do activity among both locals and tourists, and it becomes evident why when you reach its peak. There are several rest stops along the way and when you reach your destination, you will be rewarded with a sweeping view of the Taipei City, including the towering Taipei 101.
The trail is great for hiking with slightly older kids. If you have little ones, the Taipei 101 observatory might be a better choice for a view of the city’s skyline. Be sure to pack some bug spray and water for your hiking adventure.
3. Stop by KidsAwesome Children’s Museum of Taipei for Playtime
Source: KidsAwesome Children’s Museum
Location: No. 153號, Section 3, Xinyi Road, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Operating hours: Thu - Tue/10 am – 5 pm
Admission: From NT$ 200
If you’re looking for a rainy day activity or someplace where your little ones can exhaust their energy, KidsAwesome Children’s Museum of Taipei is a great place to check out. The museum, which has 13 themed areas and three major play spaces, is suitable for infants to children up to 9 years old. Young ones can make gigantic bubbles, shop for fresh produce at the Farmers Market, go ziplining, climb to the top of the Taipei 101 replica tower, launch a rocket, go camping, and much more while the younger ones have their own dedicated play area with crawl spaces and baby-friendly toys to explore.
You will need at least two hours for your little ones to experiment at the various display areas and enjoy the experience. If your tummy starts grumbling in the middle of playtime, there is a café on the first floor offering kid-friendly meals. You could also exit the museum, have your lunch elsewhere and return again as your ticket allows multiple entries. However, outside food is not allowed inside the museum.
4. Sweat It Out at The Beitou Thermal Valley
Source: Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Government
Location: 112, Taiwan, Taipei City, Beitou District
Operating hours: Tue – Sun/9 am – 5 pm
Admission: Free
Taipei’s Beitou district is known for its verdant greenery and hot springs. One of the sources for the hot springs in the area is the highly acidic green sulphur hot spring at Beitou Thermal Valley, also known as the Hell Valley.
Don’t think about going for a dip in the waters, after all, it’s known as Hell Valley for a reason. The water’s temperature remains consistently hot, and by hot, I mean boiling hot, ranging from 80 to 100 Degree Celsius. However, the surreal view of mist rising above the lake and blanketing the valley is something you can enjoy.
If you have a bit more time, you can book a stay with your little ones at one of the many hot spring resorts nearby. Or you can add in a visit to the Beitou Park and Beitou Hot Spring Museum to your trip.
Beitou Thermal Valley and the nearby hot spring resorts get really busy during winter, which is an ideal time to visit. If you’re visiting during summer, expect to sweat in the bucket-loads.
5. Explore the Lin An Tai Historical House and Museum
Source: Lars Hikari/flickr
Location: No. 5號, Binjiang Street, Zhongshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 10491
Operating hours: Tue – Sun/9 am – 5 pm
Admission: Free
Switch up your evening stroll in the park with a trip to the Lin An Tai Historical House and Museum. Built two centuries ago, the house is one of the few traditional houses remaining in Taipei though it was originally built in the Da’an District. In the 1970s, the house was due to be demolished. However experts petitioned for the mansion to be preserved and so the house was later carefully dismantled and moved to its new location at Zhongshan District, a process which took decades.
Exploring the historical house with its intricate carvings, gardens with footpaths and trails, a crescent-shaped pond which apparently had multiple purposes such as raising fish and providing defence among other things in those days, not only makes for a fun adventure but also allows you to imagine how life would have been like centuries ago.
6. Stroll Through The Raohe Street Night Market
Source: Vernon Raineil Cenzon/Unsplash
Location: Raohe Street, Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 105
Operating hours: 4 pm – 12 am
Admission: Free
A trip to Taipei’s night markets can turn out to be a fascinating experience, almost like visiting a carnival and there is a host of night markets you can choose to explore. If you wish to take a turn away from the well-known Shilin Night Market, you can check out Raohe Street Night Market, which is quite easy to navigate.
Situated next to the splendorous Ciyou Temple, the market boasts an array of drool-inducing street food and snacks alongside other goods, such as clothes and souvenirs, and mini carnival games.
No matter which night market you decide to venture out to, do take note that most night markets tend to get very crowded in the late evening. If you want to avoid all the hustling, make a trip in the early evening.
