Two days is the sweet spot for Yilan, and this is the plan we'd give a friend. The sights sit along one railway line down the plain, so you simply work from one end to the other. Start in the north at Toucheng and Jiaoxi, sleep in Jiaoxi, and finish in the south at Luodong, which has the most fast trains back to Taipei. → Where to stay
Day 1: Toucheng and Jiaoxi
Morning. Train from Taipei to Toucheng Station (頭城車站), about 70 minutes on a fast train (or drop your bag at your Jiaoxi hotel first, two stops on). Walk to the Lanyang Museum (蘭陽博物館), the whole county in one tilted stone building. It's open 09:00 to 17:00 and closed on Wednesdays. → Lanyang Museum
Midday. Next door at Wushi Harbor (烏石港), boats leave for Guishan Island. Landing needs a permit and is possible only from March 1 to November 30, and never on a Wednesday for sightseeing visitors. Residents of Taiwan book online 11 to 20 days ahead; overseas tourists can apply on the day at Wushi Harbor with a passport, but arrange a boat with a licensed operator first. No permit? A whale-watching boat that circles the island doesn't need one, and the season is best from April to September. Out of season, ride up the coast to the surf beach at Wai'ao (外澳沙灘) instead. → Wai'ao and surfing
Afternoon. Take the local train to Jiaoxi (礁溪車站), about 8 minutes. On a dry afternoon with time to spare, the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Jiaoxi Line A (Green 11A) G11A goes to Wufengqi Waterfall (五峰旗瀑布). On weekdays it runs only a few times a day, so check the bus back first. Tired, or the morning ran long? Skip the waterfall and go straight to the bath. → Waterfalls and hikes
Evening. Soak in your hotel's bath, or at Tangwei Furo (湯圍風呂), the public bath (men and women apart) at Tangweigou Hot Spring Park (湯圍溝溫泉公園), which costs NT$80 and stays open until 21:30. Ask at the counter whether swimsuits are allowed, and pack one just in case. Then dinner in town. → Hot springs · Jiaoxi
Day 2: Yilan City and Luodong
Morning. Take the local train to Yilan Station (宜蘭車站), NT$22 from Jiaoxi, and look round Jimmy Park (幾米廣場), the picture-book square right outside. It's a quick stop (→ Jimmy Park). Then carry on to Luodong, about 10 minutes down the line. → Yilan City
Late morning to mid-afternoon. From Luodong Transfer Station, beside Luodong Station (羅東車站), take the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Dongshan River Line (Green 21) G21 to the National Center for Traditional Arts (宜蘭傳藝園區): old-style streets, crafts, snacks and a daily show. It's open 09:00 to 18:00, and entry is NT$150. → Traditional Arts Center
Late afternoon. Ride the G21 back toward town, past the Dongshan River Water Park (冬山河親水公園), and walk the old timber yard at the Luodong Forestry Culture Park (羅東林業文化園區). It's free, and the grounds are open until 17:00, so don't leave the Arts Center too late. → Luodong Forestry Culture Park
Evening. Have dinner at Luodong Night Market (羅東夜市), open every day from 15:00. Then take the train or the Kamalan 1917 bus back to Taipei. → Night markets · What to eat
With a car
A car doesn't help much in the towns, where parking is the problem, but it opens up the coast. On day 1, drive Highway 2 along the shore and stop at the boardwalk of Zhuangwei Sand Dune Park (壯圍沙丘生態園區), between Yilan City and Toucheng. It's free and open 09:00 to 17:00 (→ Zhuangwei Sand Dunes). On day 2, end the day in Su'ao for the fizzy cold spring, then drive back up Freeway 5. Visitors need an International Driving Permit. → Driving in Yilan
Good to know: the Lanyang Museum closes on Wednesdays. If day 1 falls on a Wednesday, swap the days round, or see the rainy-day plan for other indoor stops.
→ Three days in Yilan · Where to stay in Jiaoxi
Sources: Taiwan Railway timetable and fare search (November 2026); Lanyang Museum; Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area (Guishan Island, Zhuangwei); National Center for Traditional Arts, Yilan park; Taiwan Tourist Shuttle; the other facts are on the linked pages. Checked November 2026.