Between the main towns, take the local train (see trains in Yilan). For the sights away from the line, the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle (台灣好行) is what we'd point you to. It's a network of sightseeing bus routes run by local bus companies, and Yilan has five of them. Each starts at a station or bus station, and you pay as you board with coins or an EasyCard.
Good to know: most of these routes run only every hour or two, and some run more often at weekends than on weekdays. Before you get off, note the time of the bus back. The timetables are on taiwantrip.com.tw. Route numbers such as Green 11 and Green 21 are in each route's name there.
Jiaoxi lines, Green 11A and 11B
G11A Jiaoxi Line A runs from Jiaoxi Station through the hot spring town to Fo Guang University, about 30 minutes end to end. It stops at Jiaoxi Hot Spring Park, Tangweigou Park, the turn for Wufengqi Falls (五峰旗風景特定區), the Paoma Historic Trail and the Linmei Shipan Trail.
G11B Jiaoxi Line B covers much of the same ground, from Jiaoxi Station to Tamkang University's Lanyang campus via Tangweigou and the Linmei Shipan Trail, in about 20 minutes. It skips Wufengqi, so for the falls you want Line A.
- Fare NT$20 a ride, any distance; coins, EasyCard, iPASS or mobile payment
- Line A 5 trips a day each way on weekdays (first from Jiaoxi Station 08:50), 14 at weekends (first 07:50); the last bus leaves Jiaoxi around 19:35
- Line B A few trips a day; weekday and weekend timetables differ
- Operator Kamalan Bus, 0800-220-899
Dongshan River line, Green 21
G21 The Dongshan River Line runs from Luodong Sports Park through Luodong, past Luodong Transfer Station (羅東轉運站) beside the train station, to the Dongshan River Water Park (冬山河親水公園), Lize Old Street and the National Center for Traditional Arts. It's the easy way to the Arts Center: about 25 minutes from Luodong Transfer Station, and 50 minutes end to end.
- Fare By distance. Luodong Transfer Station to the Traditional Arts Center: NT$29 cash, NT$22 by EasyCard or iPASS
- Times From Luodong Transfer Station roughly hourly from 09:00, last at 18:00; back from the Arts Center from 09:30 until 18:30
- Operator Capital Bus, 03-955-6585
It's handy inside Luodong too, with stops at the Luodong Forestry Culture Park and the night market (get off at Gongzheng Elementary School).
Zhuangwei Dune line, Green 18
G18 The Zhuangwei Dune Line runs from Yilan Transfer Station (宜蘭轉運站) and Yilan Station out to the coast, along Highway 2 past the Zhuangwei Dune Tourist Service Park, Toucheng Seashore Forest Park and the Dakeng viewing deck, to Wushi Harbor (for the Lanyang Museum) and Toucheng Station. About 90 minutes end to end.
- Fare Two fare sections: NT$20 cash or NT$15 by card for each; NT$60 day pass from the counter at Yilan Transfer Station or Toucheng
- Times 4 trips a day each way, leaving Yilan Transfer Station at 08:30, 10:30, 13:00 and 15:00, and Toucheng Station at the same times
- Operator Kuo-Kuang, 0800-010-138
Northeast coast line, Green 19
G19 The Yilan Northeast Coast Line runs from Jiaoxi Transfer Station (礁溪轉運站) via Toucheng, Wushi Harbor (Lanyang Museum), Wai'ao beach, Beiguan Tidal Park, Daxi fishing harbor and the Dali visitor center to Magang, below Sandiaojiao Lighthouse. About 70 minutes end to end.
- Fare Two fare sections, NT$20 cash or NT$15 by card each; NT$60 day pass from the counter at Toucheng, or Jiaoxi Transfer Station at weekends (12:00 to 20:00)
- Times 5 trips a day each way; first from Jiaoxi Transfer Station at 08:00, last back from Magang at 16:30
- Operator Kuo-Kuang, 0800-010-138
Carrying on up the coast? The New Taipei side has its own tourist shuttle, the 856 Golden Fulong line. See the northeast coast.
Other local buses
- The intercity buses from Taipei also link the Jiaoxi, Yilan and Luodong bus stations to each other, handy if you're at a bus station rather than the train station.
- Yilan City buses: Kamalan runs city bus routes in Yilan City. Timetables are on Kamalan's site.
- Taipingshan has no tourist shuttle. See Taipingshan for how to get up the mountain.
→ All the ways to get around · Taxis for the gaps
Sources: Taiwan Tourist Shuttle route and timetable pages for Jiaoxi Line A, Jiaoxi Line B, the Dongshan River Line, the Zhuangwei Dune Line and the Yilan Northeast Coast Line; Kamalan Bus. Checked November 2026.