Our 20 Favorite Things to Do in Taiwan with Our Kids

June 17, 2024

Collage of great places to visit in Taiwan with kids

Disclaimer: There are affiliate links in here! If you click on these and book something, I would make a small commission at no cost to you.

My two kids were born in Taiwan – their mommy is Taiwanese and I’m a Canadian who lived there for over a decade.

Some of my kids’ earliest memories from their toddlerhood include famous Taiwanese attractions like riding the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway and looking down at the city from Taipei 101 Observatory. But they also loved off-the-beaten-track activities like staying on a tea farm in Shizhuo and snorkeling with giant sea turtles on Xiaoliuqiu.

Now we live in Canada, where my kids are still studying Mandarin, and make trips back to Taiwan every year. My kids are almost tweens, so nowadays they’re more interested in ke ai (kawaii) culture and Taiwanese food than anything else.

In this article, I’ll introduce my children’s favorite things to do in Taiwan, from those early days till now. At the end, I’ll also give some lists of the best kid-friendly hot springs, hikes, themed cafes, amusement parks, playgrounds, playcenters, museums, zoos, aquariums, and hotels across the country.

For the logistics of your trip, see my guide to planning your trip around Taiwan with kids.

My Kids’ Top Experiences in Taiwan

Two kids standing in front of a wall that says "Taiwan the Land of the Lucky". The boy is holding a pink stuffie while the girl is holding an EasyCard that she just won in the draw. — We started our most recent trip by winning TWD 5000 on arrival in the Lucky Draw. Thanks, Taiwan!

The following are my kids’ favorite experiences in Taiwan, according to them.

Meeting Felines at Houtong Cat Village

Two kids looking through the window of a shop with many cat-themed products on display and a real live cat sleeping in the display — Visiting Houtong when they were toddlers

My kids are huge cat lovers, so they insisted that I put Houtong Cat Village in the #1 spot of this article.

Houtong is a former coal mining town turned cat-themed village. Locals residents have taken in hundreds of strays, which can be seen lazing about in the tiny village and cat-shaped tunnel connecting it to the train station.

A young girl sitting in a chair petting a cat that's lying on a counter in front of her, with a boy using a phone to take a picture of her — Our most recent visit – now they help me take the pictures

A young girl petting an orange and white cat that's lying on a wooden counter with an umbrella over them — My kids have a special bond with cats

The village also has cat souvenir shops, snack shops with cat-shaped cookies, and cat latte art.

Houtong is on the Pingxi train line, so it is easily combined with popular destinations like Jiufen Old Street, Shifen Old Street, and Shifen Waterfall. By adding Houtong, you can make this classic day trip from Taipei more fun for your kids.

My kids have been to Houtong several times and would happily go back again any day.

Finding Ke Ai Things

Two kids standing in front of a cute fake bus stop holding Bugcat Capoo stuffies, with cartoons of the same cat on the wall behind them — Bugcat Capoo House in Taichung

As my kids get older, they are becoming less interested in “baby places” like playgrounds and playcenters, and more interested in finding ke ai things. 可愛, like Japanese kawaii, means “cute”.

Here are some of our favorite ke ai places in Taiwan:

Two kids inside a large hairy catbus at a pretend bus stop — Catbus at Donguri Republic

Hello Kitty spots at Taoyuan Airport (Hello Kitty check-in at T2 Departures Hall behind counters 16-17, Hello Kitty departure gate C2) and Sanrio Store (also at C2). Although my kids no longer think Hello Kitty is cool…

Pokémon Center Taipei (寶可夢中心 here) at 3F of Shinkong Mitsukoshi A11 near Taipei 101

The giant 3D Cat in Shilin Night Market

Two kids facing a bright yellow Pokemon dragon at the entrance to the Pokemon Center in Taipei — Pokemon Center Taipei

Donguri Republic (Totoro store) inside a large toy store at 4F of Shinkong Mitsukoshi A8 near Taipei 101, also has slime making station (see DIY activities section below)

Themed 7-Elevens in Taipei like Hello Kitty 7-Eleven here and here, Snoopy 7-Eleven here, BugCat Capoo 7-Eleven here, Fumeancats 7-Eleven here

Two kids standing in front of a 7-11 that's all yellow and decorated with cute Fumeancats — Fumeancats themed 7-Eleven

Bugcat Capoo House (咖波屋), nearby Foam Cat Café, and Painted Animation Lane (動漫彩繪巷) in Taichung

Totoro Bus Stops: The famous one in Taichung is gone, but there are new ones here in Taoyuan, here in Tainan, and a very hidden one here in Keelung.

A totoro statue in front of a shop with Japanese name — Donguri Republic, the “Totoro Store”

Eating Taiwanese Food

Two kids looking very closely at a bowl of Taiwanese shaved ice with black and white pears on it on a cute little wooden tray on a table — They couldn’t wait to eat this pearl milk tea snowflake ice

Now that my kids are getting a little older and we live in Canada, the one thing they talk about most before our Taiwan trips is the food.

Taiwanese food is generally very kid-friendly, as in it’s not usually spicy or too oily and is easy to chew.

If your kids are used to hot dogs and chicken fingers, then sure you can find those in Taiwan – even many breakfast shops have them. But here are some of the local foods my kids love the most:

Nick Kembel's son, age 8, sitting at a table in a Taiwanese breakfast shop by the street, with parked scooters behind, and he's lifting a piece of egg crepe with chopsticks — My son enjoying Taiwanese breakfast near our home in New Taipei City

Breakfast shops – especially green onion crepes (danbing), steamed buns (mantou), and steamed buns filled with pork or other ingredients (baozi). Here’s how to order at breakfast shops and the best breakfast shops in Taipei.

Xiaolongbao – My kids can never get enough of soup dumplings. Din Tai Fung is the most famous chain and is kid-friendly, but any of the other shops will do.

Noodles and ramen – the thing they talk about the most

A young girl sitting beside a sushi conveyor belt waiting in anticipation for the coming sushi — Waiting for her favorite sushi to come by

Sushi – the other thing they talk about most. We especially recommend the conveyor belt places where kids can help themselves. Sushi Express is everywhere, but Hama Sushi and Sushiro have better quality sushi and iPads to order, while Kura Sushi has prizes and ice cream.

Bubble Tea – Taiwan did invent it, after all.

Night Markets – We recommend Shilin Night Market in Taipei for the best children’s games area. Any night market will do, but we always recommend going early (5 to 7 PM) before it gets too crowded.

A young girl posing with a black soft serve ice cream cone — Charcoal vanilla and oolong tea soft serve from FamilyMart

Braised Pork Rice – My son’s single favorite food in Taiwan is this simple side dish consisting of stewed pork gravy on a bowl of rice.

7-Eleven and FamilyMart – our kids could eat at Taiwan’s convenience stores every day and never get tired of it. From egg sandwiches, instant noodles and onigiri (rice balls) to soft serve ice cream and fresh fruits, there are tons of kid-friendly foods and these convenience stores are everywhere.

A young boy reaching a spoon towards and heaping bowl of mango shaved ice on a table — Mango shaved ice – best thing ever.

Wheel cakes (車輪餅) – Taiwan’s version of Japanese Imagawayaki, these wheel-shaped cakes are stuffed with custard or red bean and my kids always love them. Sold from street vendors.

Shaved Ice – Especially in summer, nothing beats a huge mango shaved ice – one is big enough for the whole family.

Two kids with one large and one small metal bowl of beef noodles on the table — The kids love beef noodles (see the best beef noodle restaurants in Taipei here)

A Taiwanese mother and daughter seated at a table with two round baskets of soup dumplings in front of them — Xiaolongbao are always a hit, too

An elderly Taiwanese man preparing traditional gong fu style tea with a young girl sitting at the table across from him and drinking a cup of it — Teaching the kids about Taiwanese teas

Snorkeling with Sea Turtles

Two young kids snorkeling with a giant sea turtle and one kid is pointing at it — My kids with giant sea turtle

One of my children’s most memorable experiences in Taiwan was snorkeling with giant sea turtles on Xiaoliuqiu Island in Pingtung.

My kids were only 6 and 8 at the time (the minimum age is 3 but must be comfortable in the water). They were a little nervous at first but soon became comfortable with it.

Two kids sitting on a bench wearing wet suits for snorkeling, facing the camera, surrounded by racks of snorkeling gear — Preparing for snorkeling on Xiaoliuqiu

We saw several giant sea turtles up close (it’s pretty much guaranteed). They were super buzzed and wouldn’t stop talking about the experience for months after.

We loved staying at this Ocean Dream (see on Booking / Agoda) on Xiaoliuqiu, which is walking distance from the ferry and arranged our snorkeling trip. We even saw turtles swimming in the harbor from our hotel room balcony!

Interacting with Animals at Leisure Farms

A young girl holding a long piece of grass up for a sika deer, which is lifting its head up to get it — Feeding a sika deer

Leisure farms (休閒農場) are a huge industry in Taiwan. These are tourist oriented farms where city folk can meet farm animals or get a taste of country life.

There are dozens such farms across Taiwan and they are usually lots of fun for kids. Some are real working farms, while others are essentially small petting zoos. Besides meeting and feeding animals, some also offer fruit/vegetable picking and various DIY activities.

Here are some of our favorites and the most popular ones:

A young boy kneeling down on the left facing the camera and a capybara on the right with an orange balanced on its head — Sage with a capybara at Zhang Mei Ama’s Farm

Zhang Mei Ama’s Farm in Yilan: Small but extremely popular leisure farm with exotic animals like Valais blacknose, capybaras, alpacas, grass mud horses, and lowland pacas. DIY cooking and vegetable harvesting activities also available (Klook / KKday).

Dancewoods, Bambi Land, Sinbow, Toucheng Leisure Farm, and Shangri La Leisure Farm: other similar ones in Yilan. The last two have overnight stays.

Greenworld Ecological Farm in Hsinchu: Alpacas, toucans, flamingos, butterflies and more more animals in a spacious natural setting – this is one of the better animal viewing options in Taiwan.

A young girl feeding some goats through a wooden fence on a farm — My daughter feeding animals at Flying Cow Ranch

Flying Cow Ranch in Miaoli: The closest to a real North American-style farm in Taiwan, also with overnight stays.

Cingjing Farm in Nantou: Very popular but aging high-elevation farm with mountain views and sheep shearing/horsemanship shows. Day trip or overnight trip from Taichung.

Bunun Leisure Farm (Klook / KKday) in Taitung: Aboriginal leisure farm with dance performances, archery, and aboriginal food – no animals, and more of a cultural experience. Here are some other similar places to experience Taiwan’s indigenous culture.

A young girl holding a stick with a large parrot on ot — Lavender loved holding the parrots

Fruit and Vegetable Picking

A young girl reaching out and grabbing a strawberry in a strawberry — Strawberry picking in Dahu

U-pick farms are also very popular in Taiwan, and the best season for this is going to be autumn and winter.

The best experience we’ve had is picking strawberries, which can be done in Miaoli, Taichung, or Taipei. But you can also pick apples, oranges, and other fruits in Taiwan.

Here are some of the best fruit picking places in Taiwan:

A boy kneeling down and harvesting a strawberry by cutting the stem with scissors — Strawberry picking at Dahu

Strawberry picking in Dahu, Miaoli: Dahu is the strawberry capital of Taiwan. The strawberries there are huge and there are dozens of U-pick farms, best visited from December to April. There’s also Dahu Wineland Resort, which has all kinds of strawberry flavored foods and drinks.

Strawberry picking in Taichung and Taipei: There are also strawberry farms in Taichung (try here or at Zhongshe Flower Market) and in Neihu district of Taipei city (try here or here). Besides fruit picking, some also offer DIY jam making sessions.

Orange picking here in Hsinchu: Orange picking from November to February.

A young boy wearing rubber boots, farmer's hat, and gloves, standing on a farm, holding up a pepper than he just picked with scissors in the other hand — Picking peppers at Zhang Mei Ama’s Farm in Yilan

Persimmon Picking in Hsinchu: Try here or here from September to December. You can also see thousands of persimmon drying in the sun at this farm from October to January.

Fushoushan Farm in Taichung: This high mountain farm is a fruit picking hot spot in winter, but it requires a long drive from either Taichung city, Yilan, or Hualien to get there. You can pick apples, pears, and persimmons there in autumn.

Cacao Farms in Pingtung: We stayed at Fuwan Chocolate Farm 福灣莊園 (see on Booking / Agoda), a hotel on a cacao farm in Donggang with small chocolate shop & museum and picked cacao at Choose Chius (see below pic), a half-hour taxi ride away. Read more about our experience on the chocolate farm here.

A elderly Taiwanese farmer showing a cracked open cacao pod to two kids — Cacao farmer showing them a pod that they just picked and opened

A young girl touching and looking at three large, green cacao pods hanging from a tree — Lavender with cacao pods

Getting Hands-On with DIY Activities

A young boy wearing apron seated at a table making pineapple cakes, with one of them pressed in his hand which he's holding up to show the camera — Our experience making pineapple cakes

If you enjoy hands-on activities with your kids, you will spoiled for opportunities in Taiwan. Taiwan is a family-oriented society, and there are hundreds of businesses and centers across the country focused on DIY activities with kids.

Below are some of our most recommended ones, (and you can find even more in my guide to the best DIY activities in Taipei!)

Two kids holding up paper making trays with wet green paper on them — Paper making

Pineapple cake making in Taipei: Kuo Yuan Ye Museum of Cake and Pastry in Shilin district offers two-hour classes making Taiwan’s most famous treat. Maximum one child per adult. The class also includes the chance to dress up in traditional Taiwanese clothing while the cakes are baking. Read about why we loved this class!

To learn more about these treats, read my guide to pineapple cakes in Taiwan.

A young girl wearing a traditional Chinese hanfu — Lavender loved dressing up in traditional clothing

A young boy dressed up in traditional Chinese clothing — Sage was less of a fan of that part but we made him…

Paper making in Taipei or Puli: Suho Paper Memorial Museum in Taipei offers paper making classes in a small paper museum. There are also DIY paper and printing activities at this paper center in Puli as well as this one. You’ll pass Puli on the way to Sun Moon Lake or Cingjing Farm.

Slime Making in Taipei: There’s a slime making station in the giant toy store toy store at 5F of Shinkong Mitsukoshi A8 near Taipei 101, one floor above Donguri Republic (the Totoro store).

A young girl wearing scientist clothing holding up a jar of slime with cute kids slime making decorations behind her — Lavender’s DIY slime

Wooderful Life: A wood themed shop with wooden souvenirs, indoor playing areas, and DIY craft making. There are locations in Taipei (Xindian location is by far the best), Taichung, and Kaohsiung. Check the reviews first – only some have DIY activities and playcenter. The one in Xindian is fantastic. Go on a weekday without a reservation. On weekends you should book, but the site is in Mandarin only.

Cooking classes in Taipei or Hualien: Here are a variety of cooking classes in both cities. Filter for “family friendly” to find the ones that allow kids.

Kili Bay Pearl Milk Tea Cultural Center in Yilan: Learn how to make bubble tea at this center in Yilan.

Lucky Art Crayon Factory in Yilan: Making crayons and other DIY activities in this crayon-focused playcenter.

ENFUN in Kaohsiung: DIY craft-making like blankets, teddy bear statues, painted balloons, and more. Contact here.

Two kids rolling balls of dough and placing them on red trays on the table in front of them — Making sweet potato balls at Zhang Mei Ama’s Farm in Yilan

Riding Rail Bikes and Cycling

A boy riding a bicycle rail bike, shot from behind by the person sitting in the cart beside him, whose knee you can see, and the ocean is to their left — Riding the Shenao Rail Bike with my son

Cycling is hugely popular in Taiwan. Besides traditional cycling, you can also find family electric bikes and two “rail bikes” – little cars that you can cycle along decommissioned railway tracks.

Learn more about the best places to cycle with kids in my Taiwan cycling guide.

Best Places to Cycle with Kids

Nick's wife Emily on a bike with a baby girl in child seat on the back and rice paddy behind them — My wife Emily and Lavender cycling in Yilan

Taipei’s riverside parks: rent children’s bikes or adult bikes with toddler seats here, here, or here.

Dongshan Mr. Brown Avenue in Yilan: Rent adult or child bikes here then cycle past the rice paddies.

Houfeng Bikeway in Taichung: regular bikes, electric bikes, and family bikes available here and several other shops around it. It’s an easy ride along an old train line, with a couple tunnels and bridges. From Taichung, take a train to Fengyuan then taxi or bus from there.

Sun Moon Lake: rent children’s bikes or adult bikes with toddler seats in Shuishe (the main village on Sun Moon Lake, there are at least a dozen shops), then cycle on this path west of Shuishe village, which is the safest/flattest cycling path beside the lake. See my Sun Moon Lake guide.

Two kids on a family electric bicycle in Chishang — Family electric bicycle in Chishang

Brown Boulevard in Chishang: The most beautiful rice paddy cycling destination in Taiwan, with options for regular bikes or electric family bikes.

Cijin Island in Kaohsiung: Rent individual or electric family bikes for cycling to the beach or art installations along the coast on this long and skinny island in Kaohsiung Habor.

Dapeng Bay in Pingtung: Rent a bike here to cycle along a pretty Dapeng Bay in Donggang (the town where you catch a ferry to Xiaoliuqiu) – perfect if you’re staying at Fuwan Chocolate Farm. There are some cool artworks along the coast. Learn more in my Donggang guide.

Rail Bikes

A boy sitting in a blue chair in a rail bike car with a row of other similar cars parked behind his — Shenao Rail Bike

Shen’ao Rail Bike in New Taipei City: Ride from seaside Badouzi to Shen’ao station. Minimum age 3 and must be above 90 centimeters, two people per car, each rider must cycle, must be booked in advance on official site or here on KKday. Get to Badouzi by bus from Keelung or by train from Ruifang. See my Shen’ao Rail Bike guide for more details.

Old Mountain Line Rail Bike in Miaoli: Rail bike experience at historic Shenxing Station on another old railway line with bridge crossings, 4 riders per car, minimum age 3 and must be above 95 centimeters. Book tickets here. No public transportation so you need to drive here.

Two kids sitting on cure train cars on train tracks pretending to drive it — Shengxing Old Mountain Line

Going to the Beach & Swimming

A young girl in bathing suit with arm floaties and inner tube on the beach, with a wave crashing beside her — Qianshuiwan, one of the closest beaches to Taipei

From around June to September, Taiwan is so hot that your kids are going to want to be in water. And in the tropical south of Taiwan, it’s beach weather all year round.

Here are some of our family’s favorite beaches and swimming spots in Taiwan.

Looking down on a shallow public water pool with trees and buildings around it but no people — The Spring in Tainan city

Taipei Water Park: Taipei’s only outdoor children’s waterpark, best for toddlers or young kids, only open in July and August.

Best spray parks: Try here in Taipei, here in Sanchong or here in Nangang district of New Taipei City, and Dongshan River Water Park in Yilan (the best one). All are summer only. Kids can also play in the water in The Spring in Tainan city.

Best Beaches in the north: From Taipei city, the best beaches for kids are Qianshuiwan and Baishawan (bus or taxi ride from Hongshulin or Tamsui MRT), or Fulong and Wai’ao (both train rides from Taipei). Read more about each of these beaches.

A young boy sitting on a rock beside a cold spring with clear water and pebbles at the bottom, wearing blue swimming shorts and top — Dongyue Cold Spring in Yilan

Cold Springs in Yilan: If driving from Taipei or Yilan to Hualien in summer, stop to swim in the famous cold springs of Suao (here, here, or here) or at the more off-the-beaten-track Dongyue Cold Spring.

Heping Island Seawater Wading Pool in Keelung: Swimming pools made from natural seawater on Heping Island just off the coast of Keelung city. Take the tourist shuttle from Keelung city center.

A young girl from behind, wearing a hat, overlooking a natural swimming pool at Heping Island Park — Heping Island natural swimming pool

River swimming spots in Hualien: After touring Taroko Gorge (where swimming is not allowed), we took our kids swimming in the river here near Taroko Gorge and here near Hualien City (driving required for both).

Swimming spots in Taitung: In Taitung city, you can swim in Living Water Lake (活水湖) here in Taitung Forest Park.

A young girl walking on a white sand beach with a yellow boat tied to the shore and some makeshift beach tents in the background — My daughter on the beach in Pengu

Best Beaches in the south: Kenting National Park on the southern tip of Taiwan has the best beaches on the main island of Taiwan. Here are my most recommended beach resorts in Kenting.

Offshore islands: There are also excellent beaches on the offshore islands, especially Penghu and Xiaoliuqiu.

A boy and girl eating pizza on the beach with one taiwan beer can on the pizza boy — Pizza on the beach at Xiaoliuqiu

Spotting Crabs at Gaomei Wetland

A young boy wearing shorts, t-shirt, and hat, bent over looking down at a marsh from a wooden dock, with cloudy sky above and lighthouse in background — Spotting crabs at Gaomei Wetland

My kids had a blast walking on the long boardwalk out onto the sea at Gaomei Wetland in Taichung. On the sides, they spotted all kinds of migratory birds, crabs, mudskippers, and other invertebrates.

At the end of the dock, we walked out onto the sand, where our kids played in the shallow water. Read my guide to Gaomei Wetland for planning your visit.

Looking down at a red crab and a mudskipper beside each other in gray mud — Crab and mudskipper at Gaomei Wetland

Gaomei is famous for its sunsets overlooking rows of wind turbines on the coast, so it’s best to come here in the late afternoon and stay for sunset.

Buses to Gaomei are slow, so consider to hire a driver and make a day trip including a few of the following:

Carton King Creative Park, cycling at Houfeng Bikeway, going on rides at Lihpao Discovery Land, see flowers at Zhongshe Flower Market, Gaomei Wetland, and finish at Feng Chia Night Market.

Two kids standing in shallow water, shot from behind, with wind turbines in the distance — Playing in the water at the end of the dock

Fireflies and the Bamboo Forest at Fenqihu

A dark image of the forest floor with some fireflies flying around — Fireflies at Fenqihu

Taiwan is one of the best places in the world to see fireflies, with 65 different species of them. The best season to see them is in spring and summer.

My kids and I have seen fireflies a couple times in Taiwan. The first time was at a remote campground in Hsinchu – not the easiest for travelers to replicate.

So the experience I recommend most to travelers is staying at Fenqihu in Alishan region, perhaps for one night on your way to Alishan.

If you stay at Fenqihu Hotel (see on Booking / Agoda) like we did, the hotel offers a free nightly firefly watching walk just after sunset (not available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays).

Nick Kembel with his wife and two kids standing on a trail in a bamboo forest — Hiking in the bamboo forest around Fenqihu

Fenqihu is also worth visiting for its incredible bamboo forests. Our family had a blast walking the small trails around the village. It was hard enough to challenge the kids but not so hard that they couldn’t make it.

More than anything they just loved being out in nature, with almost no one else around, and being able to be noisy – the calming effect of the bamboo forest didn’t seem to work on them…

See my guide to Fenqihu Old Street for all the info you need to plan your visit.

Two kids making silly faces on a trail in a bamboo forest — Goofballs in the bamboo forest

Leofoo Village

Two cars driving down big water slides and making a big splash, with a dinosaur on the side — Water ride at Leofoo

Leofoo Village is Taiwan’s oldest and most famous theme park. It’s an easy day trip from Taipei, but it’s a full day. See my Leofoo Theme Park guide for more info than I’ll provide here!

Leofoo Village features four large themed areas of rides and attractions, suitable for all ages. There’s also a large animal area, including the chance to see rare white tigers, my kids’ favorite part. In summer, there’s a large waterpark on site as well.

A white tiger walking between bushes and facing the camera. — White tiger at Leofoo Resort

Two kids wearing big cute fluffy white tiger paws — White tiger paws at Leofoo Village

You can even spend the night at Leofoo at Safari Hotel (see on Booking / Agoda), where rooms overlook animals.

Buy a day pass with return transportation from Taipei here – it’s much cheaper than buying at the door. I’ll introduce other theme parks in Taiwan further below.

Riding the High Speed Rail

Two kids popping their heads up above Taiwan HSR seats and looking backwards at the camera, with the whole train car otherwise empty — My kids on the HSR after swimming with sea turtles on Xiaoliuqiu (note the turtle stuffy they got)

What kid won’t be excited about riding a real bullet train? Taiwan’s High Speed Rail system technology is indeed based on Japan’s Shinkansens (bullet trains). Taiwan’s version, the HSR, travels at speeds of up to 300 km/hr (190 mph) down the west coast of Taiwan.

My kids always love riding the HSR. Watching the country zip by, enjoying 7-Eleven snacks in the spacious seats, and noting the crazy high speeds indicated on the digital display at the front of each train car are all part of the fun.

Two kids standing on a train platform, posing with arms in the air, with the front of an orange and white Taiwan high speed rail (HSR) car parked beside them — Bullet train excitement

Like most transportation in Taiwan, kids under 6 ride free but don’t get a seat. Age 6-12 get half priced seats (or you can buy this kind if you want a seat for your 0 to 5 year old). You can book seats here on Klook for a 20% discount.

Read my guide to buying HSR tickets in Taiwan to figure out whether you want to book your seats in advance or just show up and wing it.

If your kids are serious HSR fans, then also check out the Taiwan High Speed Rail Museum near Taoyuan HSR station (we’ll get to more museums below). It’s free to visit but you must book a spot in advance.

A young girl standing beside the orange and white front car of a high speed rail inside a museum — HSR Museum in Taoyuan

A young girl sitting in the driver's seat of a high speed rail and playing with the buttons — Driving an HSR

Visiting Taiwan’s Famous Attractions

Nick kembel and his son posing for a selfie wearing matching Rainbow Village caps with the colorful painted walls of Rainbow Village behind them — My son and I at Rainbow Village in Taichung

We have traveled around the country and visited all the famous tourist places with our kids multiple times.

To be honest, I’m a sucker for even the most touristy attractions in Taiwan, with only a few exceptions. Our kids have thoroughly enjoyed all the below places.

So when you visit Taiwan, even if you stick to the typical tourist itinerary and don’t necessarily seek out kid-focused attractions, your kids will probably still have a great time, too. Here are my recommendations in clockwise order around Taiwan.

Two young kids lying on the floor and looking out the tall windows at Taipei city far below — My kids at Taipei 101 Observatory

In Taipei, our kids loved riding Maokong Gondola and going up to Taipei 101 Observatory. Kids age 12+ can try the Skyline 460 Experience.

When planning a day trip to New Taipei City, Shifen and Jiufen are the most popular but also most touristy places. Teach your kids environmental awareness by NOT doing the lantern release at Shifen or by choosing eco-friendly sky lanterns. Jiufen is full of stairs and not stroller friendly. Consider to add more kid-friendly stops like Houtong Cat Village or Jinguashi Gold Ecological Park.

Yilan county is fully loaded with kid-friendly attractions, including animal farms, kid-friendly hot springs, museums, easy hikes, and more. You can do it as a day trip from Taipei or spend a few nights there on the way to Hualien.

A woman holding a toddler boy, both wearing motorcycle helmets, standing beside a lion statue, with a tunnel through a cliff in a valley behind them — My sister and son in Taroko Gorge

In Hualien, all the main stops and trails in Taroko Gorge are easy enough for kids. I recommend hiring a private driver to go at your own pace (note that Taroko Gorge has been mostly closed since the devastating 2024 earthquake).

Down in Taitung, my kids had a blast riding an electric family bike around. Read about it in my Chishang guide.

When in Kaohsiung, kids will appreciate the outdoor space to explore at Lotus Pond, Fo Guang Shan Monastery, and Pier 2 Art Center. But do them a favor and plan a side trip to Kenting National Park or Xiaoliuqiu island.

Two kids walking to the end of a short dock at the side of a field of salt flats, with cone shaped mounds of salt riding out of the salt water — My kids exploring Tainan’s salt flats

In Tainan, kids can play in water at The Spring, while Anping Treehouse is very cool for kids of any age. More off-the-beaten-track spots include Guanziling Mud Hot Spring, Cigu Salt Mountain, and Jingzijiao Wapan Salt Fields – it’s best to drive to those.

At Sun Moon Lake, my kids enjoyed riding the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway, boats across the lake, and playing on the docks on the shore. See my Sun Moon Lake guide.

A toddler boy and infant girl shot from behind, standing up on the bench of a ropeway car, looking out the glass window down at a scene of a beautiful lake and the ropeway lines descending in front of them — Riding Sun Moon Lake Ropeway

In Chiayi, kids won’t love the winding bus ride up to Alishan, but once there, the main trails in the forest are easy enough for kids. My kids also really enjoyed riding the short Alishan Forest Railway lines in the park.

A young boy and girl with their backs to the camera, facing a red front engine car of a train parking at a platform — The Alishan Forest Railway

In Taichung, 921 Earthquake Museum (in a school that was destroyed by it) is an educational experience, while Rainbow Village and Zhongshe Flower Market are a fun backdrop for family photos.

A mother and two young children posing in front of a wall covered in colorful paintings — My wife and kids at Rainbow Village

Last but not least, Miaoli, Hsinchu, and Taoyuan are off-the-beaten-track for most visitors, but actually have tons of family-friendly places to visit.

Other Kid-Friendly Places in Taiwan

Besides our personal highlights above, there are so many other great things to do with kids in Taiwan. Here are many more ideas, arranged by activity type.

Best Hot Springs for Kids

A children's outdoor hot spring waterpark with lots of kids playing — Warm water children’s pool at Chuan Tang Hot Spring

Taiwan has one of the highest concentrations of thermal hot springs in the world. Hot spring spas come in different varieties, including wild/natural ones, nude Japanese-style bathhouses, private hot spring rooms, and public (mixed sex spas). The latter two are the best choices for families.

Here are some of the best ones we’ve enjoyed with our kids:

A bright pink hot spring tub with sign behind that says "Bubble Gum" and hanging pink decorations above it — Bubble gum hot spring at Chuan Tang

Chuan Tang Spa in Yilan: Some of the best kid-friendly hot springs in Taiwan are in Jiaoxi town in Yilan county.

Chuan Tang Spa is our family’s favorite – they have a warm children’s water play area, foot skin-nibbling fish pond, and over a dozen scented/colored hot spring baths, such as pink bubble gum and purple lavender.

The flagship location (see on Booking / Agoda) is the best one, while the older location (see on Booking / Agoda) is similar but older. Even if you don’t stay there, you can simply pay to enter the hot spring area. Swimming caps are required and sold at the desk, as well as small towels.

A tall, swirling, yellow and blue waterslide into a small pool of water and children's play tower on right — Hot water slide at Art Spa Hotel

Art Spa Hotel in Yilan: Another great hot spring for kids in Jiaoxi is Art Spa Hotel. This one also has a young children’s water play area, and for older kids a 3-storey hot waterslide.

They have colored/scented pools also, but not as many as Chuan Tang. See on Booking / Agoda.

Looking down on some shallow hot spring pools with kids playing in them — Spring City Resort is the only kid-friendly hot spring at Beitou

Spring City Resort in Taipei: This mixed-sex public spa is the best (and only) kid-friendly hot spring in Beitou, Taipei’s hot spring village. It has a shallow toddler pool, cold swimming pool, and variety of hot pools, all outdoors.

Use this deal for a big discount for adults, but kids can get cheaper prices at the door. You can also spend the night – see on Booking / Agoda).

Yangmingshan Tienlai Resort in New Taipei City: A popular hot spring resort on the back (ocean) side of Yangmingshan National Park, with waterslides for kids. See on Booking / Agoda.

A young girl in bathing suit sitting in outdoor hot spring with trees behind — My daughter at Huilai Resort in Hsinchu

Nick Kembel holding his son Sage in chest-deep hot spring pool with stone pylon behind them — With my son

Huilai Hot Spring Resort in Hsinchu: A remote hot spring resort near Neiwan Old Street, with lovely outdoor pools beside a river and a kids water play area (summer only). You’ll need to drive. See on Booking / Agoda.

King’s Resort & Spa (錦水溫泉飯店) in Miaoli: A super friendly/welcoming family-run hotel with lovely hot spring pools in remote Tai’an hot spring village. Stay here after picking strawberries at Dahu. Also need to drive. See on Booking / Agoda.

A young girl sitting on top of a crocodile statue beside a hot spring tub with wooden canopy above and trees off to the side — At King’s Resort Spa in Tai’an

Kid-Friendly Hikes

Taiwan is a paradise for hikers. However, with 2/3^rd of the island consisting of high mountains, a lot of hikes in Taiwan are steep, steep, steep!

Fortunately there are many easy options, too. Here are some easy hikes that we’ve done with our kids.

A father hunched down and holding his son, shot from behind, as they look through a railing at a city view — With my son on Elephant Mountain

Elephant Mountain: Taipei’s most famous hike provides epic views of Taipei 101 and the city, but the whole hike is steep, uphill stairs. I did take my son as a toddler, but carried him much of the way.

Thus, I only recommend this hike for older kids unless you can carry your kid up lots of stairs. An adult can make it up to the main viewpoint in 20 to 30 minutes from Xiangshan MRT – kids will of course take longer. See my Elephant Mountain guide.

Two kids shot from behind as the lean on each other and look out of a view of a grassy plateau with walking trails and mountains beyond — Qingtiangang, the best hike for kids in Yangmingshan National park

Qingtiangang Grassland: The easiest and best hike for kids in Yangmingshan National Park. It’s mostly flat, about an hour long, and you will see buffalos grazing on the plateau. To make it longer, connect to Juansi Waterfall Trail. See how we did it in my Qingtiangang Grassland guide.

Sandiaolong Waterfall Hike: On the Pingxi Line but much less famous or crowded than Shifen Waterfall, Sandiaoling Waterfall Hike includes 2 easy-to-reach waterfalls. After walking along some train tracks then up a few stairs, it’s mostly flat the rest of the way and never busy.

Two toddlers standing on a platform viewing a waterfall in the distance — At Sandiaoling Waterfall

Shifen Waterfall: The 60 to 90-minute return walk from Shifen Old Street to Shifen Waterfall easy and is doable with kids. It’s one of the most touristy places in Taiwan, though. See my Shifen Waterfall guide.

Silver Stream Cave (Yinhe Cave): More suitable for older kids, a relatively short hike from Maokong Gondola to a small temple and waterfall buried in the jungle, but it does have some stairs and can be easy to get lost.

A man holding a toddler boy with their backs to the camera, and their looking out at a temple built into a cliff in the jungle — With my son at Yinhe Cave & Waterfall

Bitoujiao Trail: A coastal hike with Instagram-worthy set of stairs leading to a cape on the sea. Some stairs, but kids can manage fine.

Wufengqi Waterfall in Yilan: A super easy waterfall hike just outside of Jiaoxi hot spring village (which also has the best kid-friendly hot springs). Take a taxi from town.

An elderly couple, young Taiwanese women, and her child sitting on a bench with a waterfall behind them — My parents, wife, and kid at Wufengqi Waterfall

In Taroko Gorge, all the main stops like Eternal Spring Shrine, Tunnel of Nine Turns, Buluowan Terrace, and Tianxiang Recreation Area have short walks easy enough for kids. If you want to do a longer one with kids, go for Shakadang Trail.

Older kids can handle Baiyang Waterfall Trail and Curtain Cave, where water falls down through the cave onto your head (bring an umbrella!) There are some stairs at all stops and trails, so use a carrier instead of stroller.

Note that Taroko Gorge is currently closed.

A woman shot from behind, wearing a baby carrier with baby on her chest and holding the hand of a toddler boy as the walk past a cliff wall — My wife with our baby daughter and toddler son on Shakadang Trail

Alishan National Forest Recreation Area: The main tourist trails at Alishan, such as Sister Pond Trail and Giant Tree Trail, are perfect for kids. Kids just won’t like the winding bus ride to get there.

Older kids may enjoy the steeper hikes through tea plantations at Shizhuo or Eryanping, or the bamboo forest hike at Fenqihu.

A young girl wearing a yellow rain poncho, standing on a boardwalk trail with a misty forest around her — Hiking in Alishan with my kids

Nick Kembel holding up his daughter in the air, with his son by his side, on a wooden staircase in a bamboo forest — Hiking around Shizhuo

Shoushan Mountain in Kaosiung: See wild macaques on “Monkey Mountain” in Kaohsiung. The trail starts here and includes stairs. It won’t take long before you see them. Kids need to be watched carefully and not carry any snacks or toys. The monkeys are known to grab things.

Themed / Animal Cafés

There are countless themed and especially animal cafés in Taiwan. While you may have ethical concerns about the animal cafés, if you do decide to go, your kids will undoubtedly love visiting them as much as mine do.

Many of these cafés are actually aimed at adults, but the ones I recommend below all allow kids.

Themed Cafés

Two kids in a toilet-themed restaurant, both pointing at a pile of chocolate soft serve ice cream that looks like poo and served in a pink dish that looks like a toilet — Poo-themed restaurant

Modern Toilet (Ximending and Shilin locations in Taipei): Toilet and poo-themed restaurants. See my Modern Toilet guide for more info.

Miyahara Eye Clinic: Famous Taichung ice cream and Taiwanese packaged snacks shop which is said to look like a Harry Potter movie set.

Animal Cafés

Young girl petting a Maine Coon cat on a table, with another one on another table behind her — Genki Maine Coon Cafe

Capybara Knight: Capybara café in Tucheng, New Taipei City (Taipei MRT Blue Line). See my full list of capybara cafes in Taiwan.

Genki Café Maine Coon cat café and Le Mao Chef munchkin cat cafe in Taipei. Read more about the best cat cafes in Taipei here, including which ones allow kids.

Meerkat75 Café: Meerkat café with two branches in Taipei. Read about our visit to one of the meerkat cafes here.

Two kids sitting crosslegged with a blanket on each of their laps and a meerkat sleeping on each one — Meerkat Cafe

A young boy and girl sitting at a wooden table looking at a small red snake that the girl is holding a small red snake — Pythonism reptile cafe

Close up of a hand holding a leopard gecko and the faces of two kids looking closely at it — Leopard gecko at Pythonism cafe

Pythonism (玩蟒人生): Reptile café in Taipei, with dozens of snakes and a few other reptiles that you can hold at your table.

David & Alpaca: Alpaca Café near Yangmingshan National Park in Taipei

Cat’s Day (貓的生活提案): Cat café in Luodong, Yilan county

Mogu Kabi (夏威夷豆塔專賣店): Capybara café in Tainan

Nick Kembel kneeling next to a shallow pond and petting the head of a capybara in it. — Me at Capybara Knight

Theme Parks & Amusement Parks

A dinosaur statue eating a car that says Jurassic park on the side, with kids sitting inside the car — Taipei Children’s Amusement Park

Taiwan has over a dozen theme parks of varying size and quality.

While we aren’t much of an amusement park family, I’ve personally visited most of them (Travel in Taiwan magazine once commissioned to write an article series on Taiwan’s theme parks). I’ve also compiled the best and worst amusement parks in Taiwan here.

Here are the ones we think are best:

Two kids inside a ferris wheel car looking out from it — In a Ferris wheel at Taipei Children’s Amusement Park

Taipei Children’s Amusement Park: The most convenient one, right in Taipei City. It’s probably the cheapest amusement park in Taiwan – simply swipe EasyCard to enter or buy a day pass, but avoid weekends if possible.

Leofoo Village in Hsinchu: Taiwan’s most famous theme park, with 4 themed areas of rides, waterpark (summer only), animal safari, and a safari hotel (see on Booking / Agoda) overlooking animals. Buy a day pass with return transportation from Taipei here – it’s much cheaper than buying at the door.

A boy bending down and petting a lemur on a balcony — Tame lemurs at Leofoo Resort Guanshi

Lihpao Discovery Land in Taichung: Taiwan’s newest theme park, tallest Ferris wheel in Taiwan, colorful outlet mall modeled on a seaside Italian village, and hotel (see on Booking / Agoda). Buy tickets here with option to add transportation from Taichung city center.

Carton King Creative Park in Taichung: paper-themed park with small train, climbing structures, restaurant, and paper statues of famous Taiwan landmarks and others from around the world. Buy tickets here. Not the most convenient location so you’ll need to drive or take a taxi. Note there is a smaller branch closer to city center as well as an even smaller branch at Cingjing Farm.

A fake but life-sized car made of cardboard and hanging from a wall above some restaurant tables — Paper-themed Carton King Creative Park

Xitou Monster Village in Nantou: A remote Japanese monster-themed village in the mountains, with monster statues, chocolates, and a monster-themed hotel. Read my Monster Village guide.

Ten Drum Cultural Village in Tainan: drum-themed culture park with elevated walkways, rides, archery, and drum performances. More info and tickets here.

Two kids walking through some red torii gates in the forest — A Japanese monster-themed village

E-Da in Kaohsiung: Southern Taiwan’s largest theme park, with department store and two hotel options (here and here)

SKM Park in Kaohsiung: The city’s newer theme park, with rides, go-cart track, and family-focused mall with kids’ bowling, trampoline park, indoor playcenters, and more.

Best Playgrounds

My kids are on the verge of not caring about playgrounds anymore, but I remember a time when playgrounds and playcenters were a part of our daily life, and I know important this can be for visiting families with kids.

Here are some of the best ones we’ve enjoyed around the country.

A young girl climbing ropes in a playground in Taipei — Expo Hall Playground in Taipei

In Taipei, we love the playground and pond with cool birds and fireflies at Da’an Forest Park. Stay in Dandy Hotel (see on Booking / Agoda), which has awesome views of the park – it’s like Taipei’s version of Central Park in NYC and even offers free stroller rentals.

Expo Hall Playground near Yuanshan MRT is another very good one. Not too far away, this playground in Xinsheng Park has a huge climbing feature. After, visit covered Maji Square nearby for something to eat and children’s cars that can be rented

The best playground we’ve seen in Taiwan is here at New Taipei City Metropolitan Park. It has dozens of tall slides and climbing features.

A playground with hovering wooden play houses and yellow slides — Cool playground in Chiayi Park

In Taichung, Taichung Park has a pond with paddle boats and lots of space to run around. In Chiayi, there’s this cool playground in Chiayi Park. In Tainan try Tainan Park and in Kaohsiung go for this playground at Lotus Lake or this one in Central Park in the city center.

On the east coast, Hualien has this pirate ship themed park on the coast of Hualien city.

A small boat in a playground, with a longer tunnel of connected play features in a playground — Excellent playground on the coast of Hualien city

Indoor Playcenters

Some great indoor playcenters have come and gone over the years since our kids were born. Besides the below list, there are also many small government-run playcenters where parents can bring babies or toddlers to play.

Two kids playing with a ball catapult system that looks like a tree — Wooderful Life’s excellent indoor playcenter

Wooderful Life (Xindian Location), AKA Wooderful Land: In our opinion this is currently the best indoor playcenter in the greater Taipei region. There are tons of hands-on games, toys, rides, and DIY crafts, all wood focused. Book a spot here (you’ll need to use a translator) or just show up and hope for a spot, on a weekday ideally.

Yukids Island Kids Playground in Taipei here: Small but fun indoor playground on the 5^th floor of Shinkong Mitsukoshi A8 Department store near Taipei 101, same floor as a giant toy store and DIY slime making station.

A children's ball pit with palm-tree shaped swings in the middle — Yukids indoor playcenter

Tom’s World: Video game arcade and simple rides with locations across Taiwan.

Taiwan Toy Museum in New Taipei City here: A museum of antique toys that kids can actually play with. They can also rent toys for playing with outside and there’s a large white sand pit. It’s in a small historic complex turned into arts park in Banqiao district.

Two toddlers playing with model toy trains — My kids at Taiwan Toy Museum in New Taipei City

Austin Land in New Taipei City here: Typical indoor playcenter for younger kids, also in Banqiao district.

Gloria Outlets in Taoyuan: There’s a Snoopy Play Center in Gloria Outlets (next to Taoyuan HSR station) and a Chiao-Hu Wonderland (every toddler in Taiwan knows Chiao-Hu) in the same building as Xpark Aquarium next to the outlets.

SKM Outlet in Kaohsiung here: A whole department store focused on children, including Austin Land indoor playcenter, Viveland Virtual Reality Center, Crazy Jump Trampoline Park, and Sports Area with batting cage and children’s bowling. Outside there’s a small theme park and go-kart track.

A young girl who just threw a bowling ball down a kids sized lane and is squatting as she watches it roll towards the pins — Children’s bowling at SKM Park in Kaohsiung

Best Museums for Kids

There are lots of museums in Taiwan, and different ones have appealed to my kids at different ages. Here are some of our personal favorites.

Some kids riding a small indoor train that's about to go through a dark tunnel, and one kid is looking back at camera — Riding a small train at National Taiwan Science Education Center

National Taiwan Science Education Center in Taipei: probably the most hands-on museum in Taipei. The Taipei Astronomical Museum and Taipei Children’s Amusement Park are both nearby.

National Palace Museum in Taipei: The country’s most famous and important museum. A wide range of Chinese artifacts. There’s a newer Southern Branch in Chiayi. Both branches have a Children’s Gallery.

National Taiwan Museum and Land Bank Museum in Taipei: The main museum covers tons of animals and natural history of Taiwan, with a toddler zone at B1. Across the street, the associated Land Bank Museum is all about dinosaurs.

Two kids looking at a stuffed leopard cat in a glass display in a museum — Learning about Taiwanese animals at National Taiwan Museum

A young boy pointing up at a dinosaur skeleton in a museum — Dinosaurs at Land Bank Museum

Taiwan High Speed Rail Museum in Taoyuan: Next to Taoyuan HSR station. Free but needs to be booked in advance here (Mandarin only, use translation app).

National Center for Traditional Arts in Yilan: Sprawling main outdoor complex focusing on traditional Taiwanese culture, art, architecture, with DIY activities. The Moment Hotel is connected and has children’s playrooms.

National Museum of Natural Science in Taichung: Huge museum with moving/growling animatronic dinosaurs, plus other exhibits, gardens, 3D cinema, and more.

A young boy putting his hand in an ankylosaurus statue's mouth — Moving & growling dinosaurs at National Museum of Natural Science

National Museum of Taiwan History in Tainan: Taiwan’s best historical museum, with English signage, play area for kids, and large park outside.

Chimei Museum in Tainan: Large private museum that looks like the White House, with large collections of weapons, musical instruments, and more. Book tickets here.

Hamasan Museum of Taiwan Railway in Kaohsiung: small train-focused museum, with small train kids can ride outside and an extremely cool model train with various train types (HSR, TRA, MRT) traversing all of Taiwan over different periods of time. Book tickets here.

A model train going past places in Taiwan — Model trains across Taiwan at Hamasan Railway Museum

Zoos and Aquariums

When our kids were babies and toddlers, we went to Taipei Zoo frequently. This is Taiwan’s largest and best zoo, so you can easily spend half a day there.

A Taiwanese mother (wife of Nick Kembel) holding her baby daughter, and toddler son is sitting beside her inside a gondola with glass floor, and view of mountain scenery all around, with Taipei 101 very small at back left — Ride Maokong Gondola before visiting Taipei Zoo

Because it’s spread out and built on a hill, there are two smart ways to tackle it. One is to enter from the main entrance, visit the animal areas on the immediate left and right, then the panda house, then ride the small train up to the top of the zoo and work your way back down.

Another smart approach is to ride Maokong Gondola first, take a walk at the top and enjoy some tea-flavored ice cream, ride back down and get off at Taipei Zoo South Station (the second last stop), which is a small entrance the top of the south. Then you can visit the zoo in a downhill direction to the main entrance at the bottom.

A young boy riding a statue of a panda that's carrying a baby panda in its mouth — Panda House at Taipei Zoo

Don’t miss the Taiwanese animals area in the zoo, Panda House, Butterfly House (with live butterflies flying around), and small indoor dinosaur area. There are free maps at the Info Center.

There’s also a small zoo in Hsinchu which houses mainly rescued animals, as well as medium-sized Shoushan Zoo in Kaohsiung.

Two kids at the bottom right standing in a large water fountain, with statues of huge waters in front of them, with water splashing down from the whales — Playing in the water at Kenting Aquarium

The largest aquarium in Taiwan is the National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium in Kenting National Park. It’s very large but out of the way and takes some time to get to. Besides normal entrance, they offer a sleepover experience. While this aquarium is huge, we find that the facilities are getting a little old.

We actually prefer the smaller but newer Xpark in Taoyuan (see my Xpark guide). This one has much newer and nicer facilities and is much easier to get to. The penguins, jellyfish, and huge glass tank filled with marine creatures are especially impressive. They also have timed animal performance shows in an outdoor theater.

Book tickets here and overnight stays here.

Nick Kembel taking a selfie with his daughter in a red light room with glass towers filled with jellyfish behind them — Lavender and I in the jellyfish room at Xpark

A sea lion splashes a young girl who is holding an umbrella to protect herself from getting wet — Young girl during an animal performance

There’s also a good aquarium on Penghu Islands, marine theme park called Farglory (see here) in Hualien with hotel and sleepover experience), and high diving performances at Yehliu Ocean World.

For a more natural experience, you can go dolphin and whale spotting cruise in Yilan or in Hualien – late spring and summer are best for this, but heads up for families who easily get sea sick.

A mother and son wearing face masks while standing inside an aquarium tunnel with giant rays swimming above their heads — My wife and son at Penghu Aquarium

Best Kid-Friendly Hotels

Every city and county in Taiwan has numerous kid-focused hotels with indoor playrooms, themed rooms, and so on.

A children's carousel with teddy bears and other decorations on it — Carousel at Roaders Plus Hotel in Taipei

In Taipei, Roaders Plus (see on Booking / Agoda) has playrooms, free snacks in the lobby, and impressive city views.

A young girl facing the camera, with a window in front of her, through which we can see Taipei 101 — Taipei 101 from our room at Grand Hyatt

In the luxury category, Regent Taipei (see on Booking / Agoda) and Grand Hyatt (see on Booking / Agoda) are good for kids (read about our experience staying at grand Hyatt Taipei).

At Beitou Hot Spring, Asia Pacific (see on Booking / Agoda) has a VR and games room (best for older kids) and children’s swimming pool. See my Beitou guide for more info.

Two people playing a VR video game with head sets on and screens in front of them — VR games room at Asia Pacific in Beitou

In New Taipei City, we had a great stay at Fullon Hotel (see on Booking / Agoda) on Fulong Beach during the beach’s famous International Sand Sculpture Event. The hotel has a kid-friendly pool with water spray guns.

In Taoyuan, Cozzi Blue (see on Booking / Agoda) is connected to Xpark Aquarium and even offers an aquarium sleepover experience. The hotel has a marine theme and robots that delivery room service.

At Taoyuan Airport, Novotel (see on Booking / Agoda) is the official airport hotel and has children’s pool and playroom. Here’s more info about staying near Taoyuan Airport.

A young boy in bathing suit and swimming shirt beside a pool with large white hotel behind it — My son at Fullon Hotel Fulong

Yilan, which I like to call “Taiwan’s kid-friendly county”, there are tons of local minsus (guesthouses) with kid-friendly facilities. Try The Moment Hotel (see on Booking / Agoda), Check Inn Magi Kids (see on Booking / Agoda), FairyTale Yisu Kids (see on Booking / Agoda).

Silks Place Yilan (see on Booking / Agoda) in Yilan city is the best luxury hotel in Yilan county but also also super kid-friendly, with kids cars, play area, and more.

See my Yilan guide and things to do in Yilan for more info.

A father and son sitting in a round stone pool fitting with colorful plastic floating balls — My son and I at a kid-friendly minsu in Yilan

In Hualien, try Just Sleep (see on Booking / Agoda), Happy Wing (see on Booking / Agoda), Two Home Inn (see on Booking / Agoda), or Farglory Resort (see on Booking / Agoda), which is connected to Farglory Ocean Park.

In Taichung, Red Dot (see on Agoda) has a slide that your kids can ride into to the lobby.

A solver twirling slide into a hotel lobby — Side into the lobby at Red Dot in Taichung

Down in Tainan, Hotel Cozzi (see on Booking / Agoda) is the best choice, with a large playing area and sand pits on the roof. it’s the same chain as Cozzi Blu, which I recommended above in Taoyuan.

In Kaohsiung, Fish Hotel (see on Booking / Agoda) has an aquatic theme and small playroom, while La Hotel-Baseball Theme Hotel (see on Booking / Agoda) is a baseball themed hotel. Explore other options in my guide to where to stay in Kaohsiung.

Looking down on a tall waterslide descending to an outdoor pool with more smaller slides and the coast down further below — Waterslides at Fullon Resort Kenting

Last but not least, Kenting National Park has the best kid-friendly beach resorts in Taiwan. Caesar Park (see on Booking / Agoda) is my top pick but Howard Beach Resort (see on Booking / Agoda) next to it is just as good.

Fullon Resort (see on Booking / Agoda) is a little ways from the main town and night market in Kenting but has the best waterslides. Find more info in my guide to choose the best beach resorts in Kenting.