Taoyuan is a large, bustling city in northern Taiwan, known for having Taiwan’s largest airport. But Taoyuan also has hidden treasures such as one of the best historical old streets in Taiwan, interesting cultural sites, amazing seafood markets, and mountain areas to explore.
🏯 Planning your trip to Taoyuan? ✈️
Here are some top travel tips for you:
- Best time to visit: Summer when it is warm and less windy
- How to get there: Taiwan Railway and Inter-City Bus
- Best places to stay: Novotel Taipei Taoyuan International Airport or Fullon Hotel Taoyuan
- Book tours and activities in Taoyuan on Klook
- Stay connected with a local SIM
- Rent a car to explore distant sights
Brief Historical Background of Taoyuan:
The name Taoyuan literally means “peach garden” in Chinese because the area used to have many peach orchards.
Since prehistoric times, Taoyuan was home to indigenous Taiwanese plains aborigines, who had a large settlement in modern-day Nankan. There was no large-scale Dutch or Chinese settlement in the area during the Dutch rule of Taiwan.
During the Qing Dynasty, Chinese settlers began to settle the area and start farming, and many of them planted peach trees, which is how Taoyuan got its name.
During the Japanese Era, Taoyuan City was planned and developed.
Under the ROC, Taoyuan County was established in 1950, and later Taoyuan City was made the county seat. In 2014, Taoyuan City and Taoyuan County were combined into the special municipality of Taoyuan City.
Taoyuan International Airport was completed in 1979 and is Taiwan’s largest airport.
Toayuan has a population of over 2.2 million and is one of the fastest-growing populations in Taiwan due to the low cost of living and proximity to Taipei.
Basic Taoyuan Travel Tips:
- There is no need to tip in Taiwan. It is not part of the culture here.
- Taiwan uses the New Taiwan Dollar, and many transactions such as for street food still require cash. For more information, check out our guide to the New Taiwan Dollar here.
- Get yourself a SIM card or portable WiFi such as from Klook here or KKday hereso you can stay connected and don’t get lost in the city.
- Get travel insurance in case of unforeseen events. You can compare prices on Insubuy here.
- The electrical voltage is 110V.
- Get yourself an Easy Card, so you can travel easily on the MRT, Train, HSR, Youbike, and even shop at convenience stores. You can also book a Taiwan travel pass on Klook here.
- For more travel tips, check out our foreigner survival guide here.
When should you go to Taoyuan?
In my opinion, the best weather in Taoyuan is from March-May, and October – November, when the temperatures stay around 26 degrees Celsius and there is not as much rain.
Summers are also nice, with the most sunny weather, but also hot and rainy.
Winters can be cold (but not below freezing) and usually wet.
Overall, there is no wrong answer as to what time of year you should visit Taoyuan. You will have a great time here at any time of year.
Where to stay:
Looking for a hotel in Taoyuan? We recommend the Novotel Taipei Taoyuan International Airport which has great service and is conveniently located right next to Taoyuan Airport, the MRT, and HSR station (you can book on Agoda here or Booking.com here).
We also recommend the Fullon Hotel Taoyuan which also has great service and is located in downtown Taoyuan City (you can book on Agoda here or Booking.com here).
Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Booking.com here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan.
Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here.
Tours near Taoyuan:
There are many tour itineraries that you can enjoy in Taoyuan that will take you to multiple destinations and arrange transportation. For more information, you can check out Tripadvisor here, KKday here or Klook here, which are both great tour websites that can connect you with the right tour and tour guide for you.
Here are some of the most popular tours of Taipei on Tripadvisor:
- Taiwan Local Tofu DIY Experience in Daxi
- Private Custom Taipei Airport Layover Tour
- 6-Hour Layover Ultimate Taipei City Private Tour
- The 10 Tastings of Taipei With Locals: Private Street Food Tour
- Half-Day Muslim Friendly Tour in Taipei City
Attractions in Taoyuan:
There are many attractions that you can enjoy in Taoyuan such as Daxi Old Street, Hakka Tea Culture Center, Lala Mountain, Treemore Garden, MV Resort, Shimen Reservior, Dongyanshan, Tomita Garden Farm, Simbalion Art Studio, Taoyuan Jurassic Museum, Saw Seen Edo Style Theme Park, Yangmei Eco Farm, Jinge Tourist Factory, Mountain Foot Deer Farm, Yukids Island, Youth Experience Park, Xpark Aquarium, Window on World Theme Park, Capybara Ranch, Chiao Hu Wonderland, Blu Night Aquarium Hotel, Xinwu Green Tunnel, Xinxikou Suspension Bridge, Xiaowulai, Jiaobanshan, Sanmin Bat Cave, Caota Sand Dunes, Taiwu New Village and more on on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here.
Activities in Taoyuan:
Ice Skating, Rock Climbing, Mountain Climbing, Cycling, High Ropes, Ziplining, Archery, Vietnamese BBQ, Batting Cages, Glamping, Van Camping, Photo Shoot, Turkish Mosaic DIY, Thai Massage, Painting, Baking, Go Karting, Imax Theater, Japanese Style Buffet, Tourist Factory Experience, peach and fruit picking, Ring-making DIY, handmade popsicle DIY, and more on on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here.
How to get there:
The only way to get to Taiwan is via airplane. Planes leave daily from Taoyuan Airport.
Taoyuan Airport: Taoyuan is Taiwan’s largest airport and typically has cheaper flights and more flight times to choose from. It’s about an hour’s journey from Taoyuan Airport to the center of Taipei. You can travel via MRT, HSR, bus, or taxi to get to Taipei.
You can get 30% off the Taoyuan Airport VIP lounge on KKday here.
How to get around in Taoyuan:
Taoyuan’s transportation system is convenient and safe. There are many options you can consider to get around in Taipei below:
By Train: Gets you to the city center of all major cities in Taiwan. It is about 800NT to get from Taipei to Kaohsiung. Roughly half the price of the HSR. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here.
By HSR: (High-Speed Rail) – Gets you quickly from north to south. Besides Taipei and Kaohsiung, most of the stations are far from city centers. It costs about 1500NT to get from Taipei to Kaohsiung. You can book tickets to the high-speed rail (HSR) on Klook here or KKDay here.
By MRT: (Mass Rapid Transit, Metro train, subway) – Easily gets you around Taipei and Kaohsiung. You can also book an MRT travel pass on Klook here.
By Bus: Long-range buses such as Ubus and King Bus are easier to understand and cheaper than the local train. They can take you to the city center of every city throughout Taiwan and to remote tourist destinations such as sun moon lake. You can book an inter-city bus on Klook here.
By Taxi: You can take short rides for about 150 NT, or hire a Taxi for a day for around 150 USD. You can charter a car on Klook here or KKday here.
By Car: If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.
By Scooter: Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? Check out KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here.
By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan’s landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan’s many Youbike bike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here.
For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here.
Tourist Site Map:
Check out our map below of tourist sites in Taiwan, which is constantly updated:
Drone Video:
Let’s get this list started!
Daxi Old Street 大溪老街
Shimen Dam 石門水庫
Cihu 慈湖
Chiang Ching-kuo Memorial Building 蔣經國紀念館
Nearby one can also see the memorial for Chiang Kai-shek’s son Chiang Jing-kuo, who was also president of the ROC. You can read more about this place here.
Jiaobanshan 角板山
You can book a tour to Jiaobanshan here, or to Lala Mountain on Klook here or KKday here.
You can book a ticket to Lala Mountain Forest Recreation Area on Klook here or KKday here.
Peaches 水蜜桃 (Shuǐmì táo)
How do you eat peaches?
First, wash the outside off with tap water to get rid of any pesticides.
You can then eat them whole or cut them into slices.
When is peach season in Taiwan?
June to September.
What are normal peach prices?
Usually 50-100 NT per catty.
Super cheap ones are less than 50 NT per catty.
Where are peaches grown?
Mostly in high mountain areas, such as Lalashan or Wuling Farm.
Zhuwei Fishing Harbor 竹圍漁港
Squid and Rice Noodle Soup 魚羹麵線
Guanyin Caota Sand Dunes 觀音草漯沙丘
You can book a tour of the Caota Sand Dunes on KKday here.
This blog is a work in progress. For further blogs, please check out our category tab for Taoyuan here.
Taoyuan Airport 桃園機場
You may have been to the Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan’s largest airport, but do you know about the two plane-spotting balconies in Terminal 2, Lego area, mock old street eating area, or dumpling-shaped benches? In this blog, we will reveal some of the secrets to Taiwan’s Taoyuan Airport…(read more)
Taoyuan Airplane Alley 大園埔心里飛機巷
Taoyuan’s Airport Alley (aka Lane 234, Chunghua Road, Dayuan District, Taoyuan City 桃園市大園區中華路234巷, or Dayuan Puxin Village Airplane Alley 大園埔心里飛機巷)is a small road along the south side of Taoyuan Airport that is a popular place for plane spotters, aviation enthusiasts, and photographers. It is one of the best views of airplanes at Taiwan’s largest and busiest airport…(read more)
Xinmin Old Street 新民老街
Taoyuan Confucius Temple 桃園孔子廟
Taoyuan Shinto Shrine 桃園神社
Taoyuan Shinto Shrine (also known as the Taoyuan Martyrs’ Shrine, or Taoyuan Martyrs’ Shrine and Cultural Park 桃園忠烈暨神社文化園區) is a former Japanese Shinto Shrine that has recently been renovated and refurbished in Taoyuan. It is said to be the best-kept Shinto Shrine outside of Japan. It is like getting a taste of Japan without having to leave the country…(read more)
Bianzhou Park 汴洲公園
Bianzhou Park is a large grassy park in Taoyuan District of Taoyuan City. Here you can enjoy three circular “pump track” bike paths, slides, walking paths, and more. You can also check out the nearby Hexian Temple…(read more)
Taoyuan Night Market 桃園觀光夜市
Lamb Soup 羊肉湯
TaiMall Park 台茂公園
TaiMall Park is a fun playground and park in front of TaiMall in Luzhu District of Taoyuan, built in 2020. Here you can enjoy a large jungle gym area, climbing areas, slides, swings, a skating rink, basketball courts, and more. You can also check out the nearby TaiMall shopping area…(read more)
Baishajia Lighthouse 白沙岬燈塔
Shuizhiqiu Park 水之丘主題公園
Shuizhiqiu Park is a large park in Guanyin District of Taoyuan. Here you can enjoy a large slide tower with three slides, a maze, swings, and more. It is one of the best parks in northern Taiwan…(read more)
Yongan Fishing Harbor 永安漁港
Stir-Fried Oysters 炒牡蠣 (Chǎo Mǔlì)
Xinwu Green Tunnel 新屋綠色隧道
Bogonggang Park 伯公岡公園
Fugang Old Street 富岡老街
Taoyuan Sanlian Pond 桃園三連陂
Yangmei Old Street 楊梅老街
Rugu Mountain 乳姑山
Longtan Lake 龍潭大池
Longtan Lake is a beautiful scenic lake in the middle of Longtan District of Taoyuan. Here you can find majestic scenery, stroll across five bridges around the lake, enjoy local cuisine, and marvel at the Longtan temple which sits on an island in the middle of the lake. It is also the location of boat races during the Dragon Boast Festival. It is a great place to spend an afternoon with the whole family…(read more)
Leo Foo Village 六福村
You can book discounted tickets to Leo Foo Village on KKday here or Klook here.
Window on China 小人國
You can book discounted tickets to Window on China onKlook here.
Costco Gas Station 好事多加油站
Places and activities in Taoyuan that we missed:
- Hakka Tea Culture Center
- Lala Mountain
- Treemore Garden
- MV Resort
- Dongyanshan National Forest Recreation Area 東眼山國家森林遊樂區
- Tomita Garden Farm
- Simbalion Art Studio
- Taoyuan Jurassic Museum
- Saw Seen Edo Style Theme Park
- Yangmei Eco Farm
- Jinge Tourist Factory
- Mountain Foot Deer Farm
- Yukids Island
- Youth Experience Park
- Xpark Aquarium
- Capybara Ranch
- Chiao Hu Wonderland
- Blu Night Aquarium Hotel
- Xinxikou Suspension Bridge
- Xiaowulai
- Sanmin Bat Cave
- Taiwu New Village
Ice Skating - Rock Climbing
- Mountain Climbing
- Cycling
- High Ropes
- Ziplining
- Archery
- Vietnamese BBQ
- Batting Cages
- Glamping
- Van Camping
- Photo Shoot
- Turkish Mosaic DIY
- Thai Massage
- Painting
- Baking
- Go Karting
- Imax Theater
- Japanese Style Buffet
- Tourist Factory Experience
- peach and fruit picking
- Ring-making DIY
- handmade popsicle DIY,
- Sankeng Old Street 三坑老街
- Bald Pine Avenue 落羽松大道
- Longtanlushanlin Park 龍潭綠杉林公園
- Daping Red Bridge 大平紅橋
- Water Running Up 水往上流
- 1895 Yiweibaotai Memorial Park 1895 乙未保台紀念公園
- Zhongli (Xinming) Tourist Night Market 中壢(新明)觀光夜市
- Zhongyuan Creative Park 中原文創園區
- and more on on Klook here, or KKday here.
Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more of our guides to Taiwan to come.
You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here.