Yilan is about an hour’s drive from Taipei, yet its local culture and scenery are quite different. While Taipei represents the peak of urban prosperity, Yilan nearby is a true representation of rustic charm and natural landscapes. This article will explore which attractions you can visit on a one-day private car tour in Yilan, how the price for a private car tour from Taipei to Yilan is calculated, and recommend family-friendly attractions in Yilan!
1. Long-Distance Bus to Yilan
- Kamalan Bus Taipei Station – Yilan Station (Full Ticket NT$140)
- Capital Star Taipei Station – Yilan Station (Full Ticket NT$131)
- Kuo-Kuang Bus Yuanshan Transfer Station – Wushi Harbor Transfer Station (Full Ticket NT$106)
Taipei to Yilan Travel - Advantages of Long-Distance Buses
Long-distance buses are a shared public transportation system. The advantages include frequent departures, with a bus every half hour or so, and low ticket prices. Most full tickets are priced around a little over NT$100.
**Taipei to Yilan Travel - Disadvantages of Long-Distance Buses**
Typically, long-distance buses only provide point-to-point travel, which is more suitable for commuters or business travelers.
For tourists planning a one-day trip to Yilan, after arriving at the Yilan bus station, they can only walk to nearby attractions or need to change to another mode of transportation. For family trips with children or elderly members, constantly changing transportation modes or walking can be quite inconvenient.
2. Taiwan Railway (TRA) to Yilan
Taipei to Yilan Travel - Advantages of Taking the Train
The train service from Taipei to Yilan operates almost all day, with a high frequency. Compared to other transportation options, aside from the issue of delays, trains do not face traffic congestion.
Taipei to Yilan Travel - Disadvantages of Taking the Train
Similar to buses, after arriving in Yilan by train, you still need to switch to other transportation. This can be inconvenient for family or parent-child trips. Additionally, during busy holiday periods, there may be issues with tickets being sold out or not having available seats, which can be uncomfortable for both children and adults.
3. Private Car or Self-Drive to Yilan
Traveling from Taipei to Yilan by car, there are two options: National Highway No. 5 (Snow Mountain Tunnel) and the North-Yi Highway. While the North-Yi Highway (about 80 minutes) takes slightly longer than the Snow Mountain Tunnel (about 60 minutes), it offers several scenic spots along the way, such as Xindian, Shiding, Toucheng, and Pinglin.
Taipei to Yilan Travel - National Highway
The route is shorter with gentler curves, and the driving speed on the expressway is faster than on the North-Yi Highway. The driving difficulty is lower, but during busy holiday periods, traffic jams are common in the Snow Mountain Tunnel.
Taipei to Yilan Travel - North-Yi Highway
The route is longer, and the North-Yi Highway was previously famous for its many twists and turns. Although the road has been widened in recent years, it is still less friendly for beginner drivers and those prone to motion sickness.
Advantages of Choosing a Private Car Tour from Taipei to Yilan
1. Simple Transportation, No Need to Change Vehicles
Compared to buses and trains, private car tours offer a simpler experience without the need to change vehicles. When booking a private car, you can directly coordinate pick-up and drop-off points, saving a lot of time walking and transferring, which can be used for sightseeing instead.
Especially in Taipei, where there is heavy pedestrian and traffic flow, changing transportation modes or transferring can be time-consuming. Taking a private car directly to various attractions in Yilan is the most efficient option.
2. High-Quality Attractions and Itinerary Planning
Yilan has many attractions, and it’s impossible to visit them all in just one day. Therefore, proper itinerary planning is crucial. It’s important to carefully allocate time between traveling in the car and exploring the attractions, which requires detailed planning!
James’ private car service has years of experience in providing tours to Yilan, and they are very familiar with local festivals and attractions. Whether you have “no time to plan your itinerary,” want to visit “specific attractions,” or are interested in “exclusive spots with fewer tourists,” the private car service can create customized itineraries and work with travelers to design a tailor-made tour of Yilan.
For example, James offers a customized one-day itinerary for those wanting to visit Yilan’s Taipingshan, including stops at: Taipingshan bumper cars, the Giant Tree Trail, Yunhai Coffee, Jianqing Huigu Trail, and Jiu Zhi Ze Hot Springs (with options for a hot spring bath and boiling eggs).
3. Avoid Driving Risks and Enjoy Comfortable Vehicles
While self-driving is convenient, it comes with challenges such as “vehicle condition,” “poor road conditions on the day,” and “difficulty finding parking at popular attractions.” If the driver is unfamiliar with the route, it’s recommended to take the Snow Mountain Tunnel (National Highway 5) rather than the winding North-Yi Highway.
Choosing a private car tour in Yilan eliminates these issues. The driver handles the vehicle condition, road conditions, and parking, so travelers can focus on enjoying the trip. For family and parent-child tours, busy parents can relax and enjoy the outing without having to drive, making the experience more enjoyable for the whole family.
How much does a one-day private car tour in Yilan cost?
What travelers usually care most about when booking a private car tour is the price, but more important than the price is the quality of service. The ability to provide quality vehicles, skilled drivers, and well-planned itineraries should be the main considerations.
The price of a one-day private car tour in Yilan typically varies depending on the vehicle type and the duration of the trip. Below, I will explain using James’ private car service’s transparent and publicly available pricing as an example:
Toyota Wish or Equivalent SUV
Suitable for 1-4 people on a Taipei to Yilan private car tour, the price for 10 hours is NT$5,000 (with an additional NT$400 per hour for overtime). This is perfect for small family trips!
Benz Vito 9-Passenger Premium Van
Suitable for 5-8 people in family or parent-child groups! The price for a 10-hour trip from Taipei to Yilan is NT$6,500 (with an additional NT$500 per hour for overtime). The more people, the more cost-effective!
5 Recommended Family-Friendly Attractions in Yilan for Private Car Tours
Children visiting Yilan enjoy experiencing DIY activities that they can’t do in Taipei, such as pulling scallions, washing scallions, making scallion pancakes, or fishing for shrimp!
Yilan Parent-Child Tour: Fishing for Shrimp and Attractions
- Lai Lai Shrimp Fishing
- Pacific Shrimp Fishing
- Jiaoxi 6 Shrimp Fishing
- Shrimp Paradise Family Leisure Fishing
Yilan Parent-Child Tour: Pulling Scallions, Washing Scallions, and Making Scallion Pancakes
Did you know that being a farmer and experiencing DIY scallion harvesting is one of the most popular activities for kids in Yilan? Here are two recommended spots where children can become little farmers, experience pulling scallions, washing scallions, making scallion pancakes, and even see animals:
Grandma Zhang’s Farm
Grandma Zhang’s Farm is located in Sanxing Township, Yilan. It features a spacious 400-ping Japanese-style garden with adorable animals like cute deer and capybaras that kids love.
The farm offers various DIY craft experiences. Kids can personally harvest vegetables from the self-grown farm and participate in a special Yilan scallion pancake-making activity. This unique hands-on experience will surely leave a lasting impression on the kids!
Star Food Industrial Tourism Factory (Scallion Baby Experience Farm)
Children can wear cute straw hats and comfortable rain boots, stepping into the fields to feel the soft soil and enjoy the fun of harvesting scallions!
The staff will teach the children how to pull scallions and share ecological stories from the farm. They will also have the opportunity to turn the harvested scallions into colorful macaroon-style scallion pancakes, giving kids a full rural life experience!
宜蘭親子遊：其他適合小朋友的景點
宜蘭包車一日遊常見問題
Yilan Parent-Child Tour: Other Kid-Friendly Attractions
Private car services in Yilan are particularly familiar with various attractions, including exclusive and popular spots. Travelers can simply mention the places they’d like to visit, and the service will help plan the itinerary, aiming to minimize travel time and maximize sightseeing time!
If there are no specific destinations in mind, the private car service will also offer the most commonly traveled, high-quality routes for customers to choose from.
Q2. How is the price calculated?
The price is typically based on the vehicle type and the duration of the trip. As mentioned earlier, the price for a one-day private car tour in Yilan, for around 10 hours, is approximately NT$5,000 to NT$6,000.
Q3. Can I specify the arrival time?
Private car services are very confident in managing travel time. Even during busy holiday periods with potential traffic jams, it’s not an issue. Just communicate clearly with the driver about your desired arrival time, and they can calculate the recommended departure time in advance!
Q4. How many people can book a private car?
Small cars can accommodate 1-4 people, while larger cars can accommodate 5-8 people. The more people, the more cost-effective the tour!
Q5. Are there safety seats available?
Yilan Private Car Parent-Child Tour Recommendations – James!
James, a well-known private car service in Taipei, now offers fixed Taipei – Yilan parent-child tour itineraries:
- Waiao Beach – Brown Castle Café – Qing Shui Geothermal Egg Boiling – Kavalan Whiskey Distillery Tour – Luodong Night Market
- Yilan Coastal Park (Octagonal Observation Tower) – Brown Castle Café – Yilan Traditional Art Center – Sanxing Scallion Pancake DIY (Experience Pulling Scallions and Making Pancakes) – Grandma Zhang’s Farm – Nanfangao Fishing Port for Seafood – Nanfangao Beach
- Yilan Parent-Child Tour: Yilan Coastal Park (Octagonal Observation Tower) – Horseback Riding Experience – Jiaoxi Hot Springs Fish Spa – Grandma Zhang’s Farm – Crayon Factory – Nanfangao Seafood – Fan Guo Tian Weng Zi Chicken
- For Outdoor Nature Lovers: Taipingshan Bumper Cars – Forest Railway Trail – Yunhai Coffee – Giant Tree Trail – Jianqing Huigu Trail – Jiu Zhi Ze Hot Springs (Taiwan’s Most Famous Hot Springs)
Of course, these are just fixed itineraries. If you wish to change or add different parent-child attractions, the Yilan attractions can be customized and matched freely. Based on the travel time and route, we will provide the best suggestions, allowing dads to relax (rest for the day, no need to drive!) and kids to enjoy a fun Taipei – Yilan one-day tour!
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