Yilan is the easiest big day out from Taipei, and the one mistake people make is trying to see all of it. Getting there is the easy part: the fast trains reach Yilan Station in about 70 minutes, and the buses through the Hsuehshan Tunnel run from early morning to after midnight. The county is a long, flat plain, with the sights spread from Toucheng in the north to Su'ao in the south. Two areas in a day works. Three means you spend most of the day on buses.
- Train TRA Taipei Main Station to Toucheng, Jiaoxi, Yilan or Luodong, about 60 to 80 minutes on the fastest trains, NT$262 to NT$332 one way
- Bus 1915 Kamalan from Taipei Bus Station, or Capital from Taipei City Hall, NT$103 to NT$150, about an hour to Jiaoxi with no traffic
- Last train back The last fast train, a Puyuma, leaves Luodong at 22:52 and Yilan at 23:00, reaching Taipei at 00:15 (Saturday timetable, November 14, 2026)
- Avoid Wednesdays for plan A (the Lanyang Museum closes), and the last afternoon of a long weekend by road
Plan A: Toucheng and Jiaoxi
The Pacific side: a museum by the harbor, then a hot spring soak before the trip home. It works in any weather, so it's the one we'd pick if the forecast looks doubtful.
Morning. Take the train to Toucheng Station (頭城車站). On the Saturday timetable we checked, the 09:11 EMU3000 from Taipei Main Station reaches Toucheng at 10:20, and the 08:33 local express (no booking, tap your EasyCard) at 10:00. Walk about 20 minutes to the Lanyang Museum (蘭陽博物館), the great tilted stone building by the old Wushi Harbor (烏石港). Give it two hours. It's open 09:00 to 17:00 and closed on Wednesdays. → Lanyang Museum
Lunch. Eat around the harbor, or in Toucheng old town on your way back to the station.
Afternoon. Head south by local train to Jiaoxi Station (礁溪車站), about 8 minutes and NT$22. Jiaoxi's hot spring is right in the middle of town. For a proper soak without booking a hotel, Tangwei Furo (湯圍風呂), the public bath at Tangweigou Hot Spring Park (湯圍溝溫泉公園), is the easy answer: NT$80, with an afternoon session from 13:00 to 21:30. Men and women bathe apart. We can't tell you for sure whether it's nude or swimsuits, so pack a swimsuit and ask at the counter. If you only want to warm your feet, the foot baths around town are free. → Hot springs
Evening. Have dinner in Jiaoxi, then take the bus from Jiaoxi Transfer Station (礁溪轉運站) or the train home. On that Saturday, the 21:54 EMU3000 from Jiaoxi reached Taipei at 23:07, and the 22:46 local express got in at 00:08.
Good to know: Guishan Island boats also leave from Wushi Harbor, but landing needs a permit, the island is closed to sightseeing visitors on Wednesdays, and it closes to landings for the winter after November 30. 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. → Guishan Island
Plan B: Luodong and the Dongshan River
The south of the plain: a recreated old street of crafts and shows, then Yilan's biggest night market. Pick this one if the night market is the point of your trip.
Morning. Train to Luodong Station (羅東車站). On the Saturday timetable we checked, the 07:55 EMU3000 reaches Luodong at 09:19 and the 09:25 at 10:48. If you'd rather take the bus, Kamalan's 1917 runs direct from Taipei Bus Station. From Luodong Transfer Station, beside the train station, the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Dongshan River Line (Green 21) G21 runs roughly hourly to the National Center for Traditional Arts (宜蘭傳藝園區). It takes about 25 minutes and costs NT$22 by EasyCard. The park is open 09:00 to 18:00, and entry is NT$150. → Traditional Arts Center
Midday. Have lunch on the park's old street and catch a show. In November 2026 there's a glove-puppet show every day at 13:00, plus 15:30 Friday to Sunday. → What's on
Afternoon. Ride the G21 back toward Luodong. If the weather is good, hop off at the Dongshan River Water Park (冬山河親水公園). Or take a short taxi ride from the station to the old timber yard at the free Luodong Forestry Culture Park (羅東林業文化園區). → The Forestry Culture Park
Evening. Finish at Luodong Night Market (羅東夜市), around Zhongshan Park in the town center. It's open every day from 15:00 to midnight, and the famous stalls are worth getting to early. NightMarket.tw keeps a page on Luodong Night Market with its opening days and the walk from the station. → Night markets
Home. Book the return when you book the morning train. On that Saturday the last fast trains from Luodong to Taipei left at 21:38 and 22:52 (both reserved seats), and a 22:30 local express got in at 00:08.
Train or bus?
Bus on a weekday, train at the weekend. On a weekday the bus is as quick as most trains, cheaper, and you can just turn up. On weekends and holidays the train is the safer bet, because the freeway through the tunnel backs up. It's worst on the last afternoon of a long weekend, heading back to Taipei. Fast trains go on sale 28 days ahead and fill up on Friday evenings and holiday mornings. Local trains need no booking. → Trains from Taipei · Buses from Taipei
Typhoons: trains on the Yilan line and buses through the tunnel can be cancelled in a typhoon. From July to November, check the forecast and Taiwan Railway's notices the day before.
→ Every way to get to Yilan · How many days you need · Two days in Yilan
Sources: Taiwan Railway timetable and fare search (Taipei to Toucheng and Luodong, and back from Jiaoxi and Luodong, Saturday November 14, 2026); Lanyang Museum; National Center for Traditional Arts, Yilan park; Taiwan Tourist Shuttle; Kamalan Bus; Jiaoxi and Luodong township tourism sites, via our linked pages. Checked November 2026.