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Taipei is a busy city centre and a capital city at that, with that comes risk and if you’re not careful, it’s easy to get ripped off. So here it is: a packed 5-day family itinerary that keeps you busy, keeps the kids happy, and keeps the costs low. We managed five full days for under $4000 TWD (£100 GBP / $135 USD – average) a day for a family of four.
Day 1: Taipei Children’s Amusement Park & Shilin Night Market
Agenda:
- Breakfast – Taiwanese sandwiches near Shilin
- Morning – Taipei Children’s Amusement Park
- Lunch – Inside the park or nearby stalls
- Afternoon – Snoopy Playroom or arcade add-ons
- Dinner – Shilin Night Market
- Evening – Explore stalls, rides and games at Shilin
Breakfast Sandwiches & Fun Fair Rides
You can’t move for sandwich shops around the Shilin area. We ate at Fong Sheng Hao, about a 15-minute walk from the amusement park. If you’re spending more than NT$1,000 / £25 / US$34 for a family of four, you’re probably overspending. That budget easily covers club sandwiches or a tea and toast setup to get your day started right.
We booked through Klook, which gave us a discounted entry price for unlimited ride wristbands and I’d definitely recommend going that route. The park feels more like a giant funfair than a full-on theme park. There’s a little train that loops the site, but honestly, it’s not worth the extra fee. We did it and its laughable, slower than walking pace, its actually embarrassing. Even the kids were laughing at how poor it was.
So without the train, a family of four can get unlimited access for the day for NT$900 / £22.00 / US$28.00. Click here to check latest prices and availability.
Lunch Bites And Arcades
There are several food outlets inside the amusement park, including a Burger King, but we went for the reliable 7-Eleven on the second floor. Cheap, easy, and a family of four (with ice creams) can comfortably eat for under NT$1,000 / £25 / $32.
There’s also a soft play area called Snoopy’s Adventure indoors playground its great spots to sit down and eat your snacks.
Note:
Snoopy’s playground is not included in your ticket price. We didn’t bother with it but it looks like its aimed at younger kids.
Parent Tip:
Let the kids loose with a £5 / NT$200 / US$6.40 note each in the air-conditioned arcade upstairs. It’s the perfect mid-day break when the outdoor rides get too hot to handle. Even though a lot of the rides are shaded, Taipei heat hits hard at 35°C, so this cool escape is a lifesaver.
Crispy Chicken And Night Market Wanders
Once you’ve wrapped up your day at the park, head to Shilin Night Market, it’s just a short walk away.
To break up the stroll, stop at the Meilun Park Playground. It’s a well-equipped space with a climbing gym and basketball hoops, a great way to break up the walk to the market.
At the market, don’t skip Hot-Star Large Fried Chicken, one of Taiwan’s most famous street food chains. You’ll spot the queue before you even see the sign. For just NT$100 / £2.45 / $3.20, you get a massive crispy fillet that’s bigger than your face genuinely unbeatable value. Pair that with a round of bubble teas next door for NT$60 / £1.47 / $1.92 each, and you’ve just fed a family of four for NT$640 / £15.60 / $20.50.
Next up: Plinko arcades. These aren’t your average claw machines. It’s like Japanese pachinko colourful, noisy, and addictive. It’s not about the prizes (expect a 10p lollipop), it’s about the fun. For NT$600 / £14.60 / $19.20 you’ll get 2,000 balls, which kept us all entertained for at least 45 minutes. We were all arguing over who nicked whose bearings proper family bonding.
Even if you’ve no clue how it works, don’t be put off. You’ll get the hang of it fast, and it’s one of the best bangs-for-your-buck activities in Taipei.
Day 1 Total: NT$4,140 / £101 / $132.50
Day 2: Ximen Cinema District, Street Food and Theme Dining
- Breakfast – AKA Waffles & Coffee
- Morning – Cinema District
- Lunch – Ichiban
- Afternoon – Shopping In Ximen
- Dinner – Modern Toilet Restaurant
- Evening – Ximen Night Market
Waffles, Coffee And Cinema Streets
There’s a great little coffee and waffle place called AKA Waffles and Coffee, and we couldn’t recommend it more. It’s on Neijiang Street, Wanhua District, just a short walk from the cinema district. Try the drip salt coffee paired with a cinnamon waffle. It’s an unbelievable way to start the day. The woman working there was especially friendly. When she overheard us chatting with the kids about why they should try the cinnamon waffle instead of the original, she brought over a free sample to help convince them.
For NT$500 / £12.50 / US$16, a family of four can comfortably enjoy a drink and a waffle each.
After breakfast, head to Ximen’s cinema district to catch the latest blockbuster. In the 1930s, under Japanese rule, Ximending became Taipei’s go-to entertainment area. Today, it’s a youth-centred hub packed with energy, home to more than 20 cinemas and thousands of street vendors.
We paid around NT$760 / £19 / US$24.25 for a family of four. that included tickets, two large popcorns, two hot dogs, and two large drinks.
Warning:
Be aware of Taiwan’s strict age policy in cinemas. Some films, even children’s movies, can be classified as ‘protected’. Our five-year-old wasn’t allowed to watch Lilo & Stitch, even with parents present.
Street Art And Browsing For Bargains In Ximen
Ximen is one of those places where you don’t need a plan. We wandered through the backstreets and side alleys, and every corner had something to catch your eye — from niche little shops to full-blown murals down Graffiti Alley. The kids loved spotting the street art, and we dipped in and out of shops as we went.
You’ll find everything from limited-edition trainers and anime figures, and cheap knock-offs, all crammed into the same stretch. It’s busy and a bit chaotic, but that’s part of the charm a great way to spend an afternoon without a fixed schedule.
Toilets, Street Shows And Late Night Snacks
If you’re after a gimmick meal worthy of Instagram, head to Modern Toilet in Ximen. It’s a toilet-themed restaurant where everything is served in mini toilets or urinals instead of bowls and plates. You sit on toilet seats and can order culinary masterpieces like the Constipated Turd Sub Sandwich, Poo Poop Bread, or just straight-up Shit Ice Cream. Gross? Yes. Do the kids love it? Also yes.
It’ll set you back around NT$1,710 / £43 / US$54.25 to feed a family of four.
Pro Tip:
They offer a free dessert if you leave three 5-star Google reviews. Easy win — grab your free pudding.
After dinner, wander through Ximen Night Market. It’s more spacious than Shilin, with fewer food stalls (though still plenty) and more sit-down restaurants and souvenir stands. Street performers show up every evening — from dancers to magicians — and it adds a real buzz to the place.
You can’t skip the crispy milk donuts, either. There’s always a queue, but they’re fresh from the oven and worth the wait. A box of four costs NT$150 / £3.75 / US$4.75.
Total Day Cost: NT$3,120 / £78 / US$99
Day 3: Yehliu, Shifen And Jiufen – The Best Day Trip from Taipei
- Breakfast – Quick bite at Taipei Main Station
- Morning – Yehliu Geopark
- Lunch – Pre-ordered on the coach and eaten after the lantern activity
- Afternoon – Sky Lanterns in Shifen and visit to Shifen Waterfall
- Dinner – Jiufen street snacks or tea and light bites at A-Mei Teahouse
- Evening – Rooftop tea views, then return coach ride to Taipei
Quick Breakfast & Queen’s Head Rocks
There are loads of great food options around Taipei Main Station, but I’ll be honest. We just grabbed a McDonald’s. NT$660 / £16 / US$20.30 for four people and no complaints from the kids. Sometimes that’s all you need.
We don’t usually book day tours, but this one was absolutely worth it. The meeting point is right at Taipei Main Station, and from the second we arrived, the staff were already organising hundreds of people into groups. It was smooth, well-run, and completely stress-free.
The first stop was Yehliu Geopark, known for its rock formations like Queen’s Head and Princess Rock (though I still don’t think they look anything like their names). You get around an hour here, which turned out to be just right given the heat.
If we’d done this on our own, it would’ve been about 90 minutes on public transport plus a fair bit of walking. This way, we just jumped on the air-conditioned coach and were dropped right at the entrance. To book the exact same day trip we did, click here it cost us NT$3,240 / £78 / US$99 total for a family of four. After walking around, we grabbed a shaved ice from a stall across the road perfect in 35°C heat.
Lantern Painting And Waterfall Views
Our guide Kent collected our lantern orders on the coach so everything was waiting for us when we arrived. It’s not included in the tour price. You choose how many and which colours but it made the whole process quick and easy.
This is also your lunch stop. While we were decorating and releasing the lanterns, Kent picked up our food and it was ready when we finished. The peanut roll ice cream dessert went down really well.
The lantern release is done with the help of staff who grab your phone and act like pros; slow motion, posing instructions, the lot. The photos and video were social-media ready within minutes.
From there we headed to Shifen Waterfall. It’s wide, powerful, and a proper scenic payoff. You don’t need trunks it’s all about the views from the platform. The coach drops you near the viewing spot so you avoid the 20-minute uphill walk. Kent was walking around taking photos for everyone again, no awkward shuffling or waiting.
Lantern and lunch for us all on the trip cost an additional NT$800 / £19.30 GBP / US$25.00
Teahouse Views And Coach Ride Home
Jiufen was once a gold-mining town during Japanese rule, but today it’s a lantern-lit maze of market streets, food stalls, and teahouses clinging to the mountain edge. There are two ways in; a steep staircase or a more gradual road and our guide gave the option to pre-book a taxi for anyone who needed it.
At the top, you’ll find shaded tea shops and stalls handing out freebies from peanut brittle to squid on a stick. We wandered back down through the market until we came across a tunnel walkway that led straight to A-Mei Teahouse, probably the most famous spot in Jiufen. We sat with a pot of Taiwanese tea and light snacks for NT$1000 / £24.10 / US$31.30 (for all four of us) and looked out over the rooftops and the ocean.
It was a peaceful end to a day that felt like a proper travel highlight.
Want a full breakdown of this day trip with tips, timings, and costings? Read our full Yehliu, Shifen & Jiufen Day Trip guide here.
Day 3 Total: NT$5,700 / £138 / US$180
Day 4: National Taiwan Museums, Splash Park And Burgers
- Breakfast – JSP Breakfast
- Morning – National Taiwan Museum And Land Bank Dinosaur Museum
- Lunch – Wei Long BBQ on Huaining Street
- Afternoon – Taipei Water Park
- Dinner – Chillen Burger
- Evening – Gongguan Night Market
Museum Browsing And Dino Bones
Breakfast at JSP is a solid choice. It’s one of Taiwan’s best chain breakfast restaurants and it’s popular for a reason. Cheap, reliable, and tasty. You can feed a family of four comfortably for around NT$500 / £13 / US$16.
It’s two for the price of one with the museums. Entry to the National Taiwan Museum also includes access to the Paleontology Museum (the dinosaur one) across the road. It’s genuinely great value for money.
For our family of four (kids aged 5 and 7), we paid a grand total of NT$75 / £1.95 / US$2.40. That’s the kind of number you don’t forget.
The main museum has digital art screens where kids can create their own designs and see them displayed on the wall. There are dress-up areas with traditional costumes, and on the top floor you’ll find interactive exhibits that make this more than just a history stop.
BBQ Plates And Splash Park Cool Down
You can stroll across the road, less than five minutes, to a fantastic Taiwanese BBQ spot that seems to draw almost only locals. That tells you everything. It’s worth it. Staff spoke limited English, but with Google Translate and a friendly attitude, we were seated in no time. Our meal for four came to around TWD 500 / GBP £12.50 / USD 16. Some of the best BBQ I’ve had, and at a great price.
Despite being warned it was rainy season, every day has been scorching heat. The weather app says 34°C but it feels more like 38. Add two kids under 8 to that mix and walking around starts to feel impossible.
That’s where the Taipei Water Park, a splash park oasis in Gongguan, saved us. Located a short walk from MRT Gongguan Station, it has shaded fountains, shallow pools, slides, and a giant splash bucket. It was exactly what the kids needed.
Tickets cost TWD 80 / GBP £2.00 / USD $2.60 per adult, and children under 12 are half price. Kids under 6 go free. For our family of four, entry came to about TWD 240 / GBP £6 / USD $8. Even with snacks added, it still cost less than a takeaway pizza back home.
There’s also a historic water museum and educational water exhibits inside. The park does get busy in the heat, even on school days, with lots of visiting school groups. But that buzz only added to the experience. The water is shallow, lifeguards are on duty, and our kids made instant friends without needing a word of Chinese.
If you’re planning to visit other parts of Asia soon, you might enjoy our essential Japan Travel Tips next
Taiwanese Burgers And Local Wandering
Head to Chillen on 7 Lane 94, Section 3, Xinsheng S Road, Taipei. Hands down the best burger I had during our entire time in Taiwan. You’ll feed a family of four with burgers, fries, and milkshakes for just TWD 560 / GBP £14 / USD $18. Unbeatable value.
Tip
Go for the peanut butter chicken burger. I know, I wasn’t sure either, but it works. There’s something about the Taiwanese love of peanut flavour that just makes sense. You’ll find it in toast, ice cream rolls, and even burgers and somehow, they’ve nailed it.
After dinner, walk over to Gongguan Night Market. It’s just a few minutes away. Compared to places like Shilin or Ximending, it’s smaller and more laid-back. Less crowded, easier to wander, and a perfect low-key way to end the day. A quiet browse, some bonus snacks, and a proper local feel.
Days Total Cost: $1900 TWD / £46 GBP / $59 USD
Day 5: Science, Space And Final Food Finds
- Breakfast – Shēn Yè Wèi Guī
- Morning – Explore National Taiwan Science Education Center
- Lunch – Quick bites or snacks nearby
- Afternoon – National Taiwan Space Exhibition Centre
- Dinner – Final feast at Shilin Night Market
- Evening – Explore the night market, grab souvenirs
Breakfast And Hands-On Science
We headed to a local breakfast spot in Ximen (No. 13, Lane 25, Kangding Rd) that became a regular haunt for us. There’s no English menu, but it’s worth using Google Translate to figure it out. The food is great value and genuinely tasty. I recommend the chicken club sandwich. A full breakfast for four cost us TWD$570 / £14.00 / US$18.00.
Once you’re fuelled up, hop on the MRT at Ximen and head to Shilin. From the station, it’s about a ten-minute walk to the National Taiwan Science Education Center. It’s a proper hands-on museum packed with interactive exhibits for kids of all ages. Easily a couple of hours well spent indoors. We found it had far more interactive features than either the National Museum or the Dinosaur Museum. Entry for a family of four came to TWD $370 / £9.10 / US$11.65.
Food Court Favourites And Planet Gazing
There’s a food court in the basement of the area between both museums, so head here for lunch. Inside, you’ll find about five different eateries. The cheapest and most budget-friendly option is the canteen-style stall in the centre. It serves western-style food like pizza, chicken nuggets and chips. An easy win for the kids. A full meal for a family of four cost us TWD$810 / £20.00 / US$26.00. Some of the other places looked great too but were more expensive.
Next up is the Space Museum (officially called the National Taiwan Space Exhibition Hall). It’s packed with interactive exhibits. You’re welcomed into a digital floor where you can kick planets and rockets up into space while standing underneath a giant replica of the solar system. Yes, adults will enjoy kicking them as much as the kids.
Entry to the space museum cost TWD$400 / £9.90 / US$12.55 for our family of four. Check Klook before you go – they often offer a combo deal that saves you money when booking both museums together.
Fried Chicken, Street Snacks And Taipei 101 Views
We wrapped up our last night in Taipei the same way we started: heading straight to Shilin Night Market. Being honest, we got Hot Star Chicken again. Yes, because it’s that good. I’ve got a picture of it and everything. That said, there are tonnes of other food options if giant fried chicken cutlets aren’t your thing – skewers, dumplings, noodles, fresh fruit juice, you name it.
Afterwards, we took the metro to Taipei 101. Even if you don’t head up to the observation deck, it’s worth seeing in person. Once the tallest building in the world, it’s still Taipei’s most iconic landmark. The tower lights up every evening, and the colour actually changes depending on the day of the week — a subtle detail, but fun if you’re there long enough to spot the pattern.
If you do want to head to the top, it’ll cost around TWD$2,400 / £60 / US$74 for a family of four. The views stretch all across the city, and if you time it right for sunset, it’s a solid way to round off your time in Taipei.
Day Total – TWD$3,270 / £81.75 / US$101
Planning your next stop in Asia? Check out our 3-Day Budget Osaka Family Itinerary for ideas on what to do, eat, and explore with kids in Japan — all without breaking the bank.
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