Roberta Aguirre
Taipei Taoyuan Airport, the larger of Taipei's two airports, offers free half-day tours for transit and transfer passengers with long layovers. The tours last around four hours and depart twice daily, with morning, afternoon, and occasional evening options. The morning tour includes Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, Longshan Temple, and Yong Kang Street. The afternoon tour goes to Daxi Old Street and other off-the-beaten-path attractions in Taoyuan City. The evening tour visits an observation deck, a temple, and the Zhongli Tourist Night Market in the Banqiao district of New Taipei City. Taipei has a reliable public transportation system, and the airport offers various amenities, including lounges, dining options, and shops, making it easy to explore the city during a layover.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Tour duration | 4 to 4.5 hours |
| Tour timings | Morning (8:00 to 12:30), Afternoon (1:30 to 5:30), Evening (6:00 to 10:30 PM) |
| Tour frequency | Twice daily |
| Tour cost | Free |
| Tour registration | 5 to 45 days in advance |
| Tour registration mode | Online or at the Tourist Service Center in the Arrivals area of Terminals 1 and 2 |
| Tour operator | Viator, Get Your Guide |
| Tour booking website | www.taiwanobsessed.com, www.taiwanderers.com, www.sleepinginairports.net |
| Minimum layover time required | 7 hours |
| Luggage policy | Not allowed on the tour bus; must be stored at the airport baggage kiosk for a small fee |
| Passport validity required | At least 6 months |
| Visa requirement | Valid visa or visa-free entry status |
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What You'll Learn
- Taipei Airport offers free half-day tours to passengers with long layovers
- The morning tour includes Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, Longshan Temple, and Yong Kang Street
- The afternoon tour visits Daxi Old Street and other off-the-beaten-track attractions in Taoyuan
- The evening tour includes a temple, an observation deck, and a night market in Banqiao
- There are plenty of ways to pass time inside Taipei Airport, including unique lounges and dining options
Taipei Airport offers free half-day tours to passengers with long layovers
Taipei Airport, or Taoyuan International Airport, offers free half-day tours to passengers with long layovers. The tours are a great opportunity for travellers to explore Taipei and experience Taiwanese culture, food, and history.
The airport offers two free tours daily, each lasting around four hours. There is a morning tour and an afternoon tour, with different itineraries designed to showcase the best of Taipei. The morning tour, titled 'Discover Taipei's 100 Years of Glory', includes visits to Lungshan Temple, the National Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, and Yongkang Street. The afternoon tour, 'Beauty of Taiwanese Arts & Nature', takes passengers to Yingge Pottery Street, the New Taipei City Art Museum or Spot Gallery, and the Sanying Spatial Art District.
In addition to these tours, there is also an occasional evening tour, which accepts only group reservations. The evening tour, 'Gourmet Guided Tour with Night Markets', includes stops at Li Jing Ding, Ren Hai Temple, and the Zhongli Tourist Night Market. This tour offers a glimpse into Taipei's vibrant food scene and night markets, which are a must-experience part of Taiwanese culture.
To join these tours, passengers must register in advance, and there are specific requirements to be eligible. A valid visa or visa-free entry status and a passport valid for at least six months are necessary. Additionally, passengers are advised to store their luggage at the airport baggage kiosk for a small fee, as no luggage is allowed on the tour bus.
The Taipei Airport free half-day tours provide a unique opportunity for passengers with long layovers to explore the city and gain a deeper understanding of Taiwanese culture and history. With easy access to the city centre and a reliable public transportation system, travellers can make the most of their time in Taipei and create memorable experiences beyond the airport walls.
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The morning tour includes Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, Longshan Temple, and Yong Kang Street
Taipei Taoyuan Airport offers free 4-hour tours for transit passengers with 7-24 hour layovers. The morning tour, 'Discover Taipei's 100 Years of Glory', includes visits to Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, Lungshan Temple, and Yongkang Street.
Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall
The Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall is one of Taipei's most prominent landmarks and popular attractions, receiving thousands of visitors daily. The impressive building is set within a 62-acre memorial park with gardens, pools, and walkways. Inside, you can learn about the life of Chiang Kai-Shek and the history of Taiwan. The memorial hall is located near Yong Kang Street, about a 15 to 20-minute walk away.
Longshan Temple
Longshan Temple is the most famous temple in Taipei, considered by locals to be the city's most important temple. It is an active place of worship, always bustling with energy and devotion. Three daily chanting ceremonies take place on the temple grounds, with local worshippers, mostly women, chanting in front of the Main Hall. The temple is open daily from 6 am to 9:45 pm, and you can join a free guided tour. The surrounding streets feature fortune tellers, vendors selling herbs and medicines, and night markets.
Yong Kang Street
Yong Kang Street is known for its bubble tea shops, cafes, and traditional tea houses, many of which are located in beautifully preserved Japanese-era buildings. It is a great place to experience an authentic Taiwanese tea ceremony. The street also offers a variety of dining options, including traditional breakfast spots and modern cafes. Yong Kang Park, located between Yong Kang Street and Dongmen Station, provides a tranquil escape from the bustling streets.
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The afternoon tour visits Daxi Old Street and other off-the-beaten-track attractions in Taoyuan
Taipei Taoyuan Airport offers free half-day tours for transit passengers with a 7-24 hour layover. The airport is the larger of Taipei's two airports and is a great place to spend a long layover, with plenty of ways to pass the time in a modern, comfortable setting.
The afternoon tour, 'Beauty of Taiwanese Arts & Nature', takes passengers on a journey to experience the beauty of Taiwanese traditional arts and nature. On this tour, passengers can visit Yingge Pottery Street, the New Taipei City Art Museum or Spot Gallery, and the Sanying Spatial Art District.
In addition to this tour, there is also a morning tour, 'Discover Taipei's 100 Years of Glory', and an evening tour, 'Gourmet Guided Tour with Night Markets'. For those with long layovers who wish to explore Taipei independently, public transit makes it easy to reach the city centre, although it is recommended to leave the airport only if you have at least 8 hours between flights.
The afternoon tour does not visit Daxi Old Street, but this is a popular destination for travellers in Taiwan, known for its stunning old architecture from the Japanese colonial period (1895-1945). Daxi Old Street is accessible from Taipei Taoyuan Airport, with travellers able to take a bus or shuttle to reach the street. This area is famous for its well-preserved old street houses, wood art industry, and local food.
Daxi Old Street is also known for its connection to Taiwan's former president, Chiang Kai-shek, who had a holiday house overlooking the river. The area has a rich history, having been a territory of native indigenous people before becoming an important trading post for Chinese settlers in the 19th century due to its location on the Dahan River. Today, Daxi is considered one of the most beautiful old towns in Taiwan, celebrated for its spectacular architecture and industry-turn-tourism transformation of wooden art.
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The evening tour includes a temple, an observation deck, and a night market in Banqiao
Taipei Taoyuan Airport offers a free evening tour called the Gourmet Guided Tour with Night Markets. The tour includes visits to Li Jing Ding, Ren Hai Temple, and Zhongli Tourist Night Market. While the Zhongli Tourist Night Market is included in the tour, it is not the same as the Nanya Night Market in Banqiao.
The Nanya Night Market is located in the Banqiao District of New Taipei City. The market is a fusion of shopping, local street food, traditional markets, and night market cultures. It is known for its wide variety of characteristic breakfast restaurants, local meals fusing Taiwanese ingredients with Western cuisine, and street food. The market is within walking distance of the Taipei Metro Fuzhong Station, where the Ben-Yuan Lin's Family Mansion and Garden, a classical Chinese garden, is located.
The Nanya Night Market is also close to the Huangshi Market, which offers a taste of authentic Taiwanese traditional market foods. The Fuzhong Shopping Area, located behind the Banqiao Railway Station, is another popular shopping destination with a variety of foods, shops, malls, fine dining, and night markets.
While the Nanya Night Market in Banqiao is not included in the evening tour of Taipei Taoyuan Airport, it is possible to visit the market on a separate tour or during a layover in Taipei. There are various tours available that showcase the best of Taipei's night markets, allowing visitors to learn about the history of the area and the unique characteristics of each market.
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There are plenty of ways to pass time inside Taipei Airport, including unique lounges and dining options
Taipei Taoyuan Airport, the larger of the two Taipei airports, offers plenty of ways to pass the time during layovers. The airport offers free half-day tours for transit passengers with 7-24 hour layovers. The morning tour, 'Discover Taipei's 100 Years of Glory', visits Lungshan Temple, the National Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, and Yongkang Street. The afternoon tour, 'Beauty of Taiwanese Arts & Nature', includes the Yingge Pottery Street, the New Taipei City Art Museum, and the Sanying Spatial Art District. The evening tour, 'Gourmet Guided Tour with Night Markets', takes tourists to Li Jing Ding, Ren Hai Temple, and the Zhongli Tourist Night Market.
For those who wish to remain in the airport, there are various lounges and dining options. The award-winning Plaza Premium Lounge is open to all travellers and offers unlimited food and drinks, WiFi, news and TV, and shower facilities. Other lounges include the Hello Kitty Wonderland Lounge, with a shop and cafe, and the Smart Green Energy Waiting Room, where you can generate green energy by riding a bike.
Taipei Taoyuan Airport caters to foodies with a variety of dining options. Food courts and eateries serve Taiwanese specialties like dumpling soup, beef noodles, braised pork rice, and chicken soup. There are also Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and Middle Eastern cuisine options. You can find milk tea, bubble tea, and coffee at several kiosks, and some outlets are open 24/7.
The airport also has a range of shops, including pharmacies, travel shops, bookstores, and Duty-Free areas with international brands. Local teas and pineapple cakes are popular souvenirs.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Taipei Taoyuan Airport offers free half-day tours for transit and transfer passengers. The tours depart twice daily and last around four hours.
The morning tour, 'Discover Taipei's 100 Years of Glory', visits Lungshan Temple, the National Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, and Yongkang Street. The afternoon tour, 'The Beauty of Taiwanese Traditional Arts & Nature', includes Yingge Pottery Street, the New Taipei City Art Museum or Spot Gallery, and the Sanying Spatial Art District. The evening tour, 'Gourmet Guided Tour with Night Markets', takes tourists to Li Jing Ding, Ren Hai Temple, and Zhongli Tourist Night Market.
You can sign up for the tour online or check for availability at the Tourist Service Center in the Arrivals area of Terminals 1 and 2. You will need to register for the tour 5 to 45 days in advance.
Yes, Taipei Taoyuan Airport has plenty of facilities to keep you entertained during a layover. The airport has various dining options, serving up Taiwanese specialties as well as Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and Middle Eastern cuisines. There are also several pharmacies, travel shops, bookstores, and Duty-Free areas where you can browse and purchase souvenirs. Additionally, the airport has a gym, as well as lounges that offer unlimited food and drinks, WiFi, news and TV, and shower facilities.
