OMG you guys. Just got back from our Taiwan family adventure guide trip last month and I’m STILL buzzing with excitement!?? We did this 6-day whirlwind tour with our two little tornadoes (ages 5 and 8) and honestly? Best. Decision. Ever. Before we went, I had this image of Taiwan being all crowded cities and night markets – boy was I wrong! Our Taiwan family adventure guide turned out to be this perfect mix of culture, nature, and OMG-the-food. Total cost for fam of four? Around $1,200 USD including flights from Tokyo. Not bad, right? Pro tip: get the EasyCard for transit ASAP – lifesaver!
Day 1: Taipei Blastoff – Hello Kitty and Night Market Madness
Landed at Taoyuan around 3PM and wowza the humidity hit us like a wall??. Grabbed our WeChat Pay set up cause cashless is KING here. First stop? That legendary Hello Kitty 7-Eleven in Ximending. The kids went NUTS – pink everything, Kitty-shaped steamed buns, even the slurpee machine had bow decorations!?? Confession: I bought way too much kitty merch. Whoops?
Night market time! Went to Huaxi Snake Alley (sounds sketchy but totally family-friendly now). Must-eats:??
- Stinky tofu – smells like gym socks but tastes like heaven? Kids refused to try it lol
- Bubble tea – obviously. Duh.
- Grilled squid – bigger than my face no joke
Jetlag hit hard by 8PM – total zombie family walking back to hotel??. But hey, that’s day one of our Taiwan family adventure guide DONE!
Day 2: Crayons, Deer & Lakes – Yilan Countryside Charm
Hired a driver through Meituan (super easy app!) for our Yilan day trip. First stop: Crayon Factory!?? Thought it’d be lame but NOPE – kids made custom crayons shaped like dinosaurs and painted with melted wax. Messy? Oh yeah. Worth it? 100%. Across the street? THE BEST roast chicken I’ve ever had at Tuyao Chicken. Crispy skin… juicy meat… *drools remembering*
Afternoon at Formosan Sambar Deer Park had me shook – deer just roaming FREE nibbling from your hands?? Kids were equal parts thrilled and terrified. Pro tip: buy extra carrots! Then biked around Plum Lake feeding monstrously huge fish that looked like they’d eat small children??. Perfect chill end to day two of our Taiwan family adventure guide.
Day 3: Jiufen/Shifen Magic – The Taiwan Family Adventure Guide Highlight!
OKAY this was the crown jewel of our Taiwan family adventure guide. Started at Yin Yang Sea – trippy AF with yellow and blue waters side-by-side??. Then Golden Waterfall looking like liquid gold flowing down. But the REAL star? Jiufen Old Street!
Navigating those steep stairs with strollers? HA! Worst idea ever??. But the tea houses overlooking the ocean? The taro balls? The handmade puppets? MAGIC. Found this incredible Hidden Gems of Guangxi blog that totally matched our vibe. .
Houtong Cat Village was UNREAL – cats everywhere! Sleeping on roofs, demanding pets, posing for pics??. Kids were in heaven. Finished at Shifen where we wrote wishes on lanterns and watched them float into twilight??. Most emotional moment of our Taiwan family adventure guide hands down.
Day 4: Zoos, Gondolas & Dinosaur Bones!
Maokong Gondola day! Opted for crystal floor cabins – terrifying but epic views??. Taipei Zoo was HUGE but brilliantly designed with downslope paths (bless you, designer person!). Saw pandas being lazy lumps – relatable.??
Afternoon at National Taiwan Museum’s dinosaur exhibit had my son vibrating with excitement??. Full-scale T-Rex skeleton? Check. Interactive fossil digs? Check. Then demolished shaved ice at Yongkang Street – matcha, red bean, mochi… food coma achieved. Another Family Adventure in the Desert post gave us ideas for next trip!
Day 5: Science, Space & Night Market Round 2
Taiwan Science Education Center was mind-blowing??. Hands-on tornado simulator? Check. Space capsule replica? Check. Kids went nuts in the children’s play area with giant bubbles and optical illusions. Pro tip: Go on weekday – zero crowds!
Children’s Amusement Park was… interesting??. Quirky vintage rides mixed with modern attractions. Highlight? The “haunted” ghost train that was about as scary as a goldfish??. Night market finale at Raohe Street – pepper buns worth the 30-min queue! Found inspiration from this Macau Kids Itinerary for future trips.
Day 6: Tearful Goodbyes & Bubble Tea Withdrawal
Last morning = souvenir scramble??. Grabbed pineapple cakes, tea, and cat-themed everything from Houtong. Kids cried at airport – not cuz they were sad to leave, but because “we can’t get bubble tea everyday now!”?? Valid point tbh.
Final thoughts? This Taiwan family adventure guide trip smashed all expectations. The mix of urban energy and mountain serenity was perfect. Taiwanese people? Angels who tolerated our messy kids??. Already planning our next trip back – maybe hit those high-speed trains to explore south Taiwan!
Essential Taiwan Family Adventure Guide Tips
| Must-Pack | Portable fans, rain ponchos, hand sanitizer, ALL the snacks |
| Transport | EasyCard > taxis, MRT super clean/efficient |
| Food Faves | Beef noodle soup, gua bao, oyster omelets, mango shaved ice |
| Unexpected Cost | Entrance fees add up! Budget extra $100 for attractions |
| Biggest Surprise | How CLEAN everything was – even night markets! |
Taiwan with kids isn’t just a trip – it’s a masterclass in joyful chaos where ancient teahouses coexist with Hello Kitty 7-Elevens. Pure magic.
So yeah… that’s our Taiwan family adventure guide! Got questions? Hit me up below! And if you’re planning your own Taiwan family adventure guide, JUST DO IT. You won’t regret it.??
OMG, this Taiwan family adventure guide is everything! We’re planning a trip with our 6-year-old next summer. How much did the flights from Tokyo cost? And any tips for avoiding jetlag with kids? So excited!
Hi TravelMomma23! Thanks for your comment! Flights from Tokyo were around $300 USD per person when we booked early. For jetlag, we landed in the afternoon and hit the night markets right away—kept the kids moving! Also, portable fans were lifesavers in the humidity. Hope this helps!
Just got back from Taiwan with my teens, and your guide was spot on! But OMG, the stairs in Jiufen were brutal—we ditched our stroller too. Any advice for families with toddlers? Also, was the cat village as magical as it sounds? We missed it and I’m gutted!
AdventureSeeker88, totally agree on Jiufen stairs—carry toddlers in a backpack carrier! Houtong Cat Village was unreal; cats everywhere and super friendly. Kids loved it. If you go back, try feeding them—just buy extra carrots! It’s a must-see for animal lovers.
Your food pics made me drool! We’re heading to Taiwan next month. Any night market must-tries besides stinky tofu? My kids are picky eaters. Also, how kid-friendly is the Maokong Gondola? Terrified of heights here!
BubbleTeaLover, for picky eaters, try gua bao (pork buns) or mango shaved ice—huge hits! Maokong Gondola has regular cabins if crystal floors scare you; views are worth it though. Taipei Zoo right after is perfect for tiring kids out. Enjoy your trip!
This guide saved our Taiwan trip! But we got caught in rain at Shifen—total mess. How did you handle weather surprises? Also, is the Crayon Factory worth it for older kids (ages 10+)? Debating if it’s too kiddie. Thanks for the inspo!