After landing at Taoyuan International Airport, allow roughly 45–75 minutes for immigration, bags, and reaching your hotel in Taoyuan city. A pre-booked taxi is easiest for five people with luggage; otherwise, take the Airport MRT to A18 Airport Terminal 2 or A12 Airport Terminal 1, then connect onward by taxi. After checking in, head to Daxi Old Street—about 30–45 minutes by taxi depending on traffic. Arrive in the late afternoon, when the arcaded historic street is cooler and lively but less crowded than midday. Walk slowly along Heping Road and sample local peanut candy, dried tofu, and traditional pastries; most small shops close around 6–7pm, so keep the tasting stroll to about 1½ hours.
Continue on foot or by a short taxi ride to the Daxi Wood Art Ecomuseum, a collection of restored historic buildings and small exhibition spaces spread through the old town. Allow about an hour, and check the day’s opening hours before setting out—many exhibition buildings generally close around 5pm and may have different weekly closure days. The displays are approachable for children, with hands-on woodcraft themes and plenty of old-town architecture to look at between galleries. Then take a taxi to Daxi Tea Factory, a restored industrial site where you can settle in for Taiwanese tea and light refreshments. It is a good early-evening pause rather than a full meal; reserve ahead if your group wants a sit-down tea experience, and expect approximately NT$150–300 per person depending on drinks and snacks.
Return toward the city for an easy evening at Zhongzheng Park, where children can use the playground while adults enjoy a relaxed walk and views over the surrounding riverside landscape. From there, take a taxi or local bus toward the area around Taoyuan Station for a Taoyuan night-market dinner. Give yourselves 1½ hours to browse grilled meats, noodle dishes, scallion pancakes, and shaved ice or fruit desserts; budget about NT$250–500 per person. Night-market stalls are usually cash-only, and the best approach with children is to buy several small portions to share rather than commit to one long sit-down meal.
After arriving in Keelung, begin at Keelung Maritime Plaza, where the harbor opens up in front of you and the children can stretch their legs after the drive. Allow about 45 minutes for waterfront photos and a relaxed look at the ships; mornings are usually cooler and less crowded. From here, continue by taxi—roughly 15–20 minutes, depending on traffic—to National Museum of Marine Science and Technology in Badouzi. Plan 2½ hours for the hands-on galleries and aquarium-style displays, which are especially good for children. The museum is generally open Tuesday–Sunday, approximately 9:00am–5:00pm; check the official schedule before visiting, and budget around NT$200–300 per adult, with children’s admission varying by exhibit.
Have lunch at the museum café or nearby Badouzi before taking a taxi for about 10–15 minutes to Heping Island Park. Give yourselves around 1½ hours to follow the coastal paths, admire the weathered rock formations, and look into the tidal pools. Wear shoes with a secure grip and bring sun protection—the exposed shoreline can feel bright even on an overcast day. The park usually operates from morning until early evening, with admission commonly around NT$120 for adults and reduced rates for children. Later, a short taxi ride brings you to Zhengbin Fishing Harbor, where the colorful waterfront buildings, fishing boats, and seafood stalls make an easy 45-minute photo stop; late afternoon gives the harbor a warmer light and is more comfortable than midday.
Finish downtown at Keelung Miaokou Night Market, best reached by taxi from Zhengbin Fishing Harbor in about 10–15 minutes. Wander slowly rather than choosing the first stall: try seafood vermicelli, tempura, grilled squid, and shaved ice, sharing several portions so the children can sample without committing to one dish. Most stalls begin operating from late afternoon and remain lively until around 10:00pm or later; allow roughly NT$250–500 per person, depending on seafood choices. Keep small bills and tissues handy, and expect limited seating—many families eat standing at the stall or take food to a nearby table.
From Keelung, take the 965 toward Jinguashi and ask the driver to confirm the stop for Golden Waterfall; with traffic, allow roughly 45–60 minutes. Arrive around 9:00am for a quick 30-minute photo stop. The waterfall is viewed from the roadside rather than explored by a long trail, and the rocks can be slippery after rain, so keep children close and avoid climbing. Continue a few minutes by bus or taxi to the Gold Museum, which generally opens at 9:30am and is closed on the first Monday of each month; allow about two hours for the mining exhibits, old tunnels, and Japanese-era buildings. Admission is usually around NT$80, with some outdoor areas free, and the grounds are spread across a hillside, so comfortable shoes help.
Take the local bus or a short taxi ride from Jinguashi to Jiufen Old Street, arriving around lunchtime. Spend two unhurried hours wandering Jishan Street and the adjoining stair lanes, sampling taro balls, peanut ice-cream rolls, fish-ball soup, and small savory pastries rather than committing to one large meal. The lanes become crowded after noon, so let the children choose snacks as you go and keep valuables secure on the narrow stairways. For a calmer break, settle at A-Mei Tea House for about an hour; tea service is typically around NT$400–800 per person, and the sea-facing windows are especially rewarding when the mist lifts. Expect stairs and limited stroller access.
If the weather is clear, walk or take a short taxi ride toward the trail access for the Keelung Mountain lookout. Allow about 45 minutes for the lower viewpoint walk rather than attempting the full summit with young children; the exposed path can be windy, and fog can erase the view quickly. Return to Jiufen Old Street before dusk and have dinner at your guesthouse or a nearby home-style Taiwanese restaurant, budgeting roughly NT$300–600 per person. Reserve or ask your host early, since many small kitchens stop taking orders around 7:00–8:00pm. After dinner, avoid relying on a late bus: arrange a taxi back to your guesthouse, particularly if you are staying outside the Old Street area.
After arriving in central Taipei from Jiufen, head straight to Taipei 101 Observatory in Xinyi. From Taipei Main Station, take the MRT Red Line to Taipei 101/World Trade Center Station; the ride takes about 15 minutes, followed by a short underground walk. Aim for an opening-time visit, around 9:00–9:30am, before tour groups and weekend crowds build. Allow about 1½ hours, including the high-speed elevator, indoor viewing floors, and the outdoor deck if weather permits. Tickets are typically around NT$600 per adult, with children’s pricing varying by age; buy online or at the observatory. For breakfast afterward, Simple Kaffa Sola nearby is convenient, though a quick snack from the mall may be easier with children.
From Taipei 101, take the MRT to Taipei Zoo Station—roughly 35–45 minutes with a transfer—and spend late morning through early afternoon at Taipei Zoo. The zoo is large, so do not try to cover every trail: prioritize the Panda House, Koala House, and the children’s-friendly indoor exhibits, using the shuttle train if the kids tire. It is generally open 9:00am–5:00pm and closed on Mondays; admission is inexpensive, usually about NT$60 per adult and NT$30 for children. Bring water, sunscreen, and small snacks, as the grounds are hilly and exposed. After the zoo, walk directly to the adjacent Maokong Gondola station for a scenic ride above the tea-growing hills. Allow about 1½ hours for the round trip and a short wander at Maokong Station; cabins cost roughly NT$120–240 for a standard round trip depending on the fare arrangement, and operations can pause in strong wind or rain.
Return by gondola and MRT toward Songshan, then finish at Raohe Street Night Market, entering near Songshan Ciyou Temple—use the market entrance as a landmark, but you can skip the temple itself. This is an easy, lively family stop from about 5:30pm onward: share the famous pepper buns at Fuzhou Pepper Bun, then browse for grilled seafood, scallion pancakes, fried chicken, fruit drinks, and shaved ice. Budget around NT$250–500 per person, depending on how much you sample. The market usually runs roughly 5:00pm–11:00pm; arrive before 7:00pm for slightly more manageable crowds, keep children close in the narrow central lane, and carry cash and tissues.
For your flight from Taoyuan International Airport, leave your Taipei hotel about three hours before departure. From Taipei Main Station, follow the signs for the Airport MRT and take the purple Express train to A12 Airport Terminal 1 or A13 Airport Terminal 2; the ride takes around 35–40 minutes and costs approximately NT$150. Allow extra time to get from your hotel to the station, especially with luggage and two children. An EasyCard works for the MRT, while Airport MRT ticket machines also accept cash and cards.
If your flight is early, check the first Express-train departure the evening before—service may not begin early enough for a morning international departure. For five travelers with suitcases, a pre-booked taxi or private transfer is often more comfortable, costing roughly NT$1,000–1,500 and taking 45–75 minutes depending on traffic. At the airport, confirm the terminal before entering; the two terminals are connected by the Skytrain, but changing terminals takes additional time.