Urban City

Family Activities in Taipei

Family Activities in Taipei

Last updated: October 26, 2026. This update qualifies selected Taipei access, transport, and attraction information; the family’s 2019 travel memories remain historical. Date information added October 28, 2026.

Our Taipei family trip, originally published March 24, 2019. An overnight stop on our way to Bali made us want to return, and the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival helped us change our plans. These are the places we enjoyed with our five kids, along with ideas we gathered but did not reach. The family stories and photographs come from that trip; current access and booking notes below help separate those memories from what to check for a new visit.

Have you ever been to Taipei? Have you heard of it? Honestly, I hadn’t really heard of it until we had an overnight layover on our way to Bali. However, we loved our night there so much we actually changed plans to come back to Taipei. The real push over the edge was the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival. When we found out our timeline lined up with this lantern festival, we made the switch to come. We were not disappointed.

Head to New Taipei

We took an Uber, but you can also compare taxi and train options for your route. There is a ton to do in New Taipei! We visited “Ceramics Street” and did a pottery lesson at Shu’s Pottery, watch our YouTube video about it! We also had lunch and looked at all the beautiful pottery.

Hike Elephant Mountain

Elephant Mountain has a stair-stepped trail with city views. The time needed can vary, especially with kids, so allow extra time and check Taipei’s current trail information for access and weather before you go. Our original note recommended sunrise or sunset and described a rigorous 15–20-minute climb with lots of stairs; allow more time for your own family rather than treating that as a promise. Before or after, you could explore a mall, find food at a food court, shop or catch a movie. Check the language of the showing—unless you want to make it a cultural lesson!

Da’an Park

Da’an Park was our “Central Park” comparison for Taipei: huge, easy to reach by train, with lots of space to explore and a fantastic playground. If you plan to spend time outside, bring your own mosquito repellent rather than counting on a dispenser being available.

Beitou Hot Springs

Our train ride to Beitou was about 45 minutes. That sounds like a lot with kids, but ours enjoyed watching out the window and the ride went quickly. Your journey depends on where you start. There are many resorts with hot spring access. We chose not to go to the public pool; instead, we picked a small resort with its own mixed-gender pool that required swimsuits. It had nine small pools for the kids to try, with different temperatures. We received robes, slippers and shower caps. The shower facilities were great afterward, and we ordered lunch right next to the pools. It was a fantastic day. At our resort we needed caps; our original note also suggested bringing or buying one to match a swimsuit. Confirm the specific venue’s current swimwear, cap and child-entry requirements, and walk carefully between pools. That was our family’s experience at that resort; rules vary by venue, so check the current requirements before booking. Taipei’s city information on public hot-spring pools describes a mixed-gender outdoor pool where swimwear is required. The municipal Beitou pool was reported closed for renovation, with renovation work projected to finish on September 26, 2026; a projected construction date does not confirm it has reopened, so check the operator’s latest notice before planning a visit. If you want to see more of this day, click here!

Watch the original 7Wayfinders Beitou hot-spring film

Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival

The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival was the reason we changed our plans to return to Taipei, and we went in mid-February. On our visit, our suggestion was to leave Taipei around 3 pm and combine a train or taxi with a bus; that was our trip-time advice, not a current festival transport plan. Street vendors had amazing food. We bought and decorated lanterns and sent them into the sky with a street vendor, rather than joining a group release. We had a great time. Registration and release arrangements vary by year, so check the official festival information for the year you plan to go.

Taipei Zoo and Cable Car to Maokong

Taipei Zoo and the Maokong Gondola are near each other and can be planned for the same day, but either can also fill a more relaxed outing. Our original idea was to ride up toward Maokong for the views and food. They have separate operating information and tickets. Check the zoo’s hours, last entry and exhibit notices, and the Gondola route and operation bulletins before you go; weather or maintenance can affect service.

Taipei 101

Taipei 101 has indoor and outdoor observatory areas. We went at night and agreed the view would have been better during the day; from the outdoor area, the safety barriers were too high for us to see over. The official observatory ticket page lists separate indoor and outdoor access, and weather or strong winds can affect outdoor access. Check the current conditions before your visit; a less-cloudy day should give you more to see. The mall is in the same building.

Day and Night Markets

The markets around the city are incredible! There are both morning and night markets. We went to the Dongmen morning market. This is where the locals shop each morning for their groceries, and you can get killer deals. There are loads and loads of fresh produce, as well as meats. There are also some clothes and trinkets to buy and prepared food for a snack or meal. We loved taking in the locals and how they were amazed by our blonde hair ? The night markets in Taipei can’t be missed. Try the Shilin night market for a crazy, busy good time. Claw machines, the kind of vending machine where a claw drops down to grab a prize, are HUGE here. You’ll see them everywhere, and they are quite popular with adults. You’ll also find carnival games to play with the kids and, of course, amazing food options.

Watch the original 7Wayfinders Taipei themed-café film

Weekend Markets

Speaking of markets, hit the Jianguo Weekend Flower Market and the Weekend Art Market. These are huge weekend markets with so much to see. It’s like a Home Depot Garden Center, but better.

Jiufen Old Street Day Trip

Jiufen Old Street makes a possible day trip. The usual public-transport route includes a train to Ruifang and a bus connection to Jiufen; check the Northeast Coast visitor information for current route details. Our original suggestion was a weekday and an early start to avoid some crowds, although we had also heard it was wonderful at sunset. Check the return connection if you stay late.

Get out in nature

We had no idea that Taiwan was home to such incredible natural wonders. We changed our plans mid-way through our Taipei stay and spent a couple of nights in Hualien. We took a day trip to Taroko Gorge, which knocked our socks off with its natural beauty. For Hualien, use Taiwan Railway (TRA) information rather than the west-coast high-speed rail: see the East Coast visitor railway guide and Taiwan High Speed Rail routes. Taroko access changes; the park’s Nine Turns Trail page reports the trail closed after earthquake and typhoon damage. Check current park and road notices before traveling, and stay out of closed trails. Buying our rail tickets at Taipei Main Station was straightforward on that trip; use the current timetable and booking system for a new journey. We also mentioned hiring a car or taking a day trip, but neither guarantees access to the gorge. The older list’s generic “Geopark” suggestion did not identify a site, so check the exact destination and its own access information before adding one to your route.

Science Museum

A science museum can be a rainy-day option in Taipei. Check the specific museum’s current exhibits, admission and hours before you go; our older list did not identify a particular museum, so its affordability and quiet-day comments should not be treated as current admission or crowd information.

Changing of the Guards

The Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall grounds are an option for seeing the guard ceremony. We did not make it there on this trip because we changed our plans for Taroko Gorge. Taipei’s visitor information places the display outdoors on Democracy Boulevard, below the main hall’s front steps. It lists hourly displays from 9 am through 5 pm, lasting about 15 minutes, and says they do not take place in rain. Check the current notice before going.

Additional Reading

Traveling Taipei: Tips, Tricks, and Takeaways

5 Romantic Date Nights in Taipei

Bangkok with Kids: Top 13 Things to Do