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Travelling through Taiwan with kids, Yilan ended up being one of our favourite family-friendly stops. Easy day trips that didn’t break the bank, beach nearby. Whats not to love? It doesnt have the hectic busy city vibes that you would find in either Taipei or Tainan. Yilan has a charm of its own and plenty to offer families looking for a mix of nature, hot springs, soft play, and animal encounters. We spent several days exploring the area and found some brilliant spots that kept the kids entertained without exhausting the adults (or the budget). Here’s a round-up of the best family activities we did in Yilan, whether you’re here for a weekend or stopping off as part of a longer Taiwan trip.
1. Jiaoxi Hot Springs (Family-Friendly Soaks and Spa Fun)
Forest Bath
This is an absolute must when visiting Yilan. Jiaoxi Hot Springs Park, features a forest-style onsen, free public foot baths, and hot spring water rich in phenol titanium minerals – famous for their skin-smoothing and healing properties. There is plenty of rabbit sculptures around as well (great for the kids).
The nearest train station to Forest Hot Spring is Jiaoxi Station (礁溪車站).
It’s on the Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) Eastern Line, and from there it’s just a 7-minute walk to reach the hot spring area.
The park is popular with locals, so bring some snacks, a towel, and plenty of water, then kick back and soak your feet alongside friendly residents. It’s an easy, no-cost way to unwind while soaking in the atmosphere, literally. It really is an unbelievable free activity. You can easily kill 2 / 3 hours here by the time you have walked around the park and relaxed in the hot baths. The Forest bath’s were our favourites but you will also find other free hot spring areas throughout all of Jiaoxi such as Tangweigou Park.
Lillia relaxing with some bunny bathers at Forrest Bath Hot Springs, Jiaoxi.
Jiaoxi Township Public Hot Spring Swimming Pool
For something more immersive, there’s a public swimming centre next to the footbath area. Our family of four paid just TWD 300 (£7.25 / $9.50 USD), including the purchase of required swim caps. If you have your own hats, entry is even cheaper. Inside, there are standard swimming lanes plus two large hot spring pools, one set at 36°C and the other at 42°C. It’s the perfect way to experience a local hot spring day trip on a small budget.
Luxury at the Art Spa Hotel
If you’re after a touch of luxury, head to Art Spa Hotel, one of the most family-friendly spa hotels in Yilan. Kids under 120 cm go free, so for our group of two adults and one child it cost TWD 1,100 (£28 / $38 USD). That gave us full access to the hotel’s extensive hot spring spa zone. Complete with a sauna, steam room, five scented hot springs at varying temperatures, a cold plunge pool, and a dedicated kids’ hot spring area with a climbing frame and slide. On top of all that it has an indoor and outdoor spa hot springs swimming pool, with spa massage jets designed for different parts of your body.
There’s also a five-story waterslide that adults can use too. Around the pool are sun loungers and tables, so it’s easy to settle in and spend the entire day relaxing. It was the perfect mix of fun and total relaxation, and one of our top experiences in Yilan.
The iconic five-storey slide at Art Spa Hotel. Yes, adults can ride it too.
2. Surfing or Beach Day at Wai’ao (Yilan’s Black Sand Beach)
Wai’ao Beach is a popular surf spot and one of the best places to try surfing in Yilan. The black sand, a result of nearby volcanic activity, looks striking—but be warned, it holds heat. Keep your flip flops on until you reach the shoreline, especially in the midday sun.
The nearest train station to Wai’ao Beach is Wai’ao Station (外澳車站).
It’s on the Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) Eastern Line, it’s just a 5-minute walk from the beach.
There are a handful of beachside stalls renting out boards. We found that for around $500 TWD (approx. £12 GBP / $15 USD) you can rent a surfboard for the day. Some vendors will try to upsell surf lessons for $2,000 TWD. Personally, we skipped that, there’s usually a short lesson included, and plenty of friendly surfers in the water happy to share tips.
It’s a relaxed, family-friendly beach with a good mix of beginners and seasoned surfers. After a few wipeouts, there’s No. 9 Cafe Wai’ao (九號咖啡外澳館), a beachfront cafe perfect for some well earned food.
Catching my first waves at Wai’ao Beach—Taiwan’s black sand surf paradise.
3. Whale Watching from Wushi Harbor (Guishan Island Dolphin Tour)
We struggled at first to find a dolphin and whale watching tour in Yilan that catered to English speakers. Most of the trips from Wushi Harbor are aimed at local tourists or Mandarin-speaking visitors. But here’s our advice: don’t let the language barrier put you off. We almost skipped it, and honestly, if it weren’t for the kids insisting on seeing a dolphin, we probably would have.
While we didn’t understand any of the commentary (the guide talked almost non-stop), the experience itself more than made up for it. We saw both dolphins and whales, and it was an unforgettable moment for all of us. The kids were buzzing for hours afterward.
Click here for availability and prices of the exact trip we booked.
A picture-perfect moment at sea, with Guishan Island behind us and dolphins just minutes away.
The trip starts with a slow cruise around Guishan Island (also known as Turtle Island) before heading further out to sea. Once out there, the boat drifts along while the guides scan the water—and sure enough, within 10–15 minutes, we had dolphins swimming right alongside us. Easily one of the best family-friendly boat trips in Taiwan. It was an unforgettable experience, especially for the kids.
You’ll be out on the water for around four hours in total. There’s no food included, but plenty of restaurants are waiting back at the harbor.
Want to experience another budget-friendly gem? Don’t miss our Taiwan arcade culture guide — quirky, cheap fun the whole family will love.
If you want to make a full day of it, the Lanyang Museum is right across the bay. While we wouldn’t necessarily recommend it as a standalone visit, it’s just a 5-minute walk from the pier and pairs well with the whale watching trip if you’ve got time (or kids with energy to burn).
4. Yilan Fun Parent-Child Center 宜蘭童樂親子館 (Soft play near Yilan Station)
A lot of activities in Yilan can be weather dependent, and if your kids are anything like ours, they’ll need to burn off some serious energy. Less than a 10-minute walk from Yilan Station, you’ll find Jindong Shopping Mall. Head to the second floor and you’ll come across this brilliant soft play area.
It’s got trampolines, ball pits, soft play structures, and arcade machines. Best of all, tokens for the arcade games are included in the entry fee. Most places would use that as an excuse to charge extra.
It costs $350 TWD (£8.50GBP / $11 USD)for two hours or $450 TWD (£11GBP / $14 USD) for an all-day ticket. Whether you’re trying to escape the heat or avoid the rain, it’s a perfect spot to sit back with a coffee or even get a bit of shopping done while the kids wear themselves out.
Yilan Fun Parent-Child Center 宜蘭童樂親子館
5. Yilan Lanyang Animal and Plant Kingdom
If you’ve got little ones who love animals, Lanyang Animal and Plant Kingdom is a great low-key option. It’s really reasonably priced, and tickets booked through Klook are NT$345 per person (£8.35 / $10.65 USD), which includes one animal feeding ticket each. There’s no need to pick a time slot the voucher’s valid for 180 days, so you can just book it and fit it in whenever suits your schedule.
The park has a bit of everything: rabbits, goats, guinea pigs, parrots, turtles, and even a butterfly house. The best part is how accessible the animals are many can be fed directly by visitors, and the feed is included in the price.
It’s part animal enclosure, part quirky garden trail, with wide open paths and random art installations scattered around. It’s small enough not to overwhelm, but still packed with enough charm to keep younger kids happy. I’d say it works best for toddlers and early primary school ages, and you’ll likely spend around two to two and a half hours here.
Click here to purchase tickets.
The park is located about 20 minutes from Yilan City by car or taxi, and it pairs well with other countryside stops nearby if you want to build a full day around it.
Where to Stay in Yilan (Family Budget and Upgrade Options)
Family Budget Option
We stayed at Mucha Boutique Hotel, and honestly, it felt like a bit of a steal. For the price, it punches well above its weight—it had all the feel of a high-end hotel without the premium cost. The rooms were clean, modern, and well-equipped, and the service was spot on throughout our stay.
What really sold it for us was the location. It’s just a short walk from Yilan Train Station, making it incredibly convenient as a base for day trips to Jiaoxi, Luodong, or even out towards the coast. We didn’t need a car for most of our time in Yilan because everything was so accessible from here.
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly place that doesn’t feel like a compromise, this is a brilliant option.
Check availability and prices here
Upgrade Option
If you want luxury without blowing your budget, Art Spa Hotel is a perfect choice. The rooms are large, many with private hot spring baths, and the on-site rooftop spa facilities feel like something out of a five-star resort. It’s centrally located, less than 5 minutes from Jiaoxi Station, which makes it a brilliant base for exploring the town and its famous hot springs. The kids’ floor and rooftop water features gave it a real resort feel, but the price stayed firmly in the affordable bracket. It genuinely felt like a treat.
Check availability and prices here
Art Spa Hotel’s outdoor pools make you feel like you’ve checked into a luxury retreat
