Taiwan With Kids: Zoo, Rail and Lanterns

A country built for short attention spans

Taiwan is easy with children. Distances are short, public transport is clean, food comes quickly and many of the best attractions are cheap or free. The activities below are grouped by region so you can pick a base and plan around it.

Taipei: animals and a cable car

Taipei Zoo charges NT$100 for adults and NT$50 for students, and children under 12 enter free. The giant panda pavilion is the star. From beside the zoo, the Maokong Gondola rises over forested hills to a cluster of tea houses, and the glass-bottomed Crystal Cabin is the one children ask to ride. Check the operator for current fares before you queue.

For something free, the open-air foot baths at Fuxing Park in Beitou let everybody dangle tired feet in warm mineral water. At Taipei 101, children under 6 or under 115 cm enter free, though the standard NT$600 adult ticket is tiered and upgrades cost more. Details are on the Taipei 101 site .

Wulai: a toy-like train

A 45-minute trip south of Taipei, Wulai has a narrow-gauge log cart that rolls 1.5 km through forest to an 80 m waterfall. It runs daily from 08:00 to 17:00, with maintenance on the first Tuesday of the month. Shallow river edges and village snack stalls fill the rest of the day.

Pingxi: write a wish

At Shifen you can paint a wish on a paper lantern and release it beside the railway track. A single-colour lantern costs about NT$200 and a multicolour one NT$250 to NT$350. Children enjoy choosing the colours, and you can find Pingxi lantern day tours on GetYourGuide if you prefer a guide to handle transport.

South: the aquarium and a giant Buddha

In Kenting, the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium opens 09:00 to 18:00, with last entry at 17:00. An 81 m glass tunnel takes you beneath rays and reef sharks. Opening details are on the aquarium site . Up in Kaohsiung, the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum is free, with a 108 m bronze Buddha, open 09:00 to 18:00 on weekdays and until 19:00 at weekends and closed Tuesdays.

Practical tips with children

  • Taipei’s MRT fines eating and drinking, water included, at NT$1,500 to NT$7,500, so finish snacks and bottles before the fare gates.
  • An EasyCard covers the MRT, buses and YouBike hire, and saves queueing at ticket machines.
  • Typhoon season runs July to October. Check the Central Weather Administration before outdoor days.
  • Night markets are lively and fine for families in the early evening. Lu rou fan (braised pork rice) at NT$35 to NT$60 suits small appetites.
  • Taiwan High Speed Rail runs only down the west coast, from Nangang to Zuoying.

Water and wheels

Tamsui’s river ferry from Old Street to Fisherman’s Wharf costs NT$34 to NT$40 one way and gives children a short, scenic crossing. Rented YouBikes (NT$5 to NT$10 per 30 minutes with an EasyCard) suit older children on the riverside paths, and Sun Moon Lake’s paved 30 km bikeway offers a longer family ride, with boat hops of about NT$100 when legs tire.

Verdict: the zoo plus gondola combination is the best single family day in the country. For a longer plan, the 3-day itinerary leaves room for it. Tip: take a spare change of clothes to Wulai, where children will end up at the water’s edge.