Taiwan is one of the most kid-friendly holiday destinations and here’s why

Taiwan is one of Singapore residents' favourite travel destination, famous for its sights, friendly and warm hospitality by its people and yummy street food.

Being just five hours away (we all know the woes of flying with young children), Taiwan is up there on our list of family vacation destinations. An ideal choice, if you’re looking for where to go for a short trip within the region. We uncover what Taiwan offers, from the easy connection to Taipei – its capital – to the day trips you can take to marvel at the picturesque landscapes and breath-taking views island-wide. Find out how you can traverse the cities of Taiwan and where to bring your little ones for a fun family time with memories to last a lifetime!

Click to find out how you can explore the world from A to Z and win return air tickets from now till 31 March 2024.

Start in Taipei, the well-connected Capital of Taiwan

Recommended for: Children above 3-years-old

With direct flights available from Changi Airport, Taipei is affordable, accessible and has many shopping malls with children-dedicated departments and indoor playgrounds. The city’s well-developed public transportation system makes accessing other beautiful cities as easy as 1, 2, 3!

Purchase an EasyCard from the metro station or convenience stores like Family Mart and top it up whenever it runs out of value.

Getting around Taipei:

The Taipei MRT is the largest metro subway system in Taiwan, serving about 2 million riders daily. It is easy to navigate – with information provided in Chinese and English, well-maintained and efficient . Transfers between lines are close to each other and the stations serve most areas inTaipei. The network is also well integrated with the High Speed Rail (高鐵), standard train services, express trains to the airport, local city buses and tour buses.

With stations often located very close to the main attraction sites and trains offering reserved seats for parents with young children. Uber is an alternative transport option for ease of travel in Taipei too (it’s nice and affordable!)

Attractions to visit in Taipei: Taipei Zoo

Home to one of the largest zoos in Asia and the birthplace of Yuan Zai (the first giant panda cub born in Taiwan), the Taipei Zoo has 165 hectares of land — that’s six times the size of the Singapore zoo! You can easily spend an entire day here spotting animals from all over the world (Asia, Australia, even Africa!) and of course, Taiwan’s native pandas.

Explore the Taipei Zoo’s indoor and outdoor enclosures.

Make sure to visit the Panda House, home to Taiwan’s native fluff-balls.

Address: No. 30, Section 2, Xinguang Road, Wenshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 11656

Nearest MRT Station: Taipei Zoo, Wenhu Line (Brown Line)

Operating Hours: Mon – Sun: 9:00am – 5:00pm (last entry at 4:00pm)

Admission Fee: NT$60 for adults, free for pre-school children

Attractions to visit in Taipei: Kuo Yuan Ye Museum of Cake and Pastry

For a less conventional place to visit, check out the Kuo Yuan Ye Museum of Cake and Pastry. A museum devoted to the local pastry culture where you can learn how to bake traditional Taiwanese pineapple tarts from scratch, there’s also story-telling sessions or local tours you can join here.

Learn about Taiwan and its pastry culture at Kuo Yuan Ye Museum of Cake and Pastry. Photo credit: @kuoyuanye on Instagram.

Address: 4F, No.546, Wenlin Rd., Shilin, Taipei, Taiwan

Nearest MRT Station:Shilin Station exit 1, Tamsui-Xinyi Line (Brown Line)

Operating Hours: 9:00am – 5:00pm

Admission Fee:NT$50/entry each for adult/child. NT$300/person for the Pineapple Shortcake DIY Experience. Advance reservations are recommended via the website 

Next stop: Yilan a fantastical folklore-filled city

Recommended for: all ages. Children 5, 15 or 50 years-old!

An hour from Taipei on the Tze-Chiang Limited Express train, a day trip to Yilan is worthwhile to experience this whimsical city filled with life-sized characters. Inspired by Taiwanese acclaimed illustrator, Jimmy Liao, this is a haven for everyone young at heart whether you are five, fifteen or 50! From the station, you can take a walk following Jimmy’s 3D models, including the popular Suspended Train at Jimmy’s Square.

Other attractions to visit in Yilan: Lucky Art Crayon Factory

After you’ve taken some snaps, hop onto a short 30 minute train ride from Yilan Main Station to the Lucky Art Crayon Factory, one of the few crayon factories left in Taiwan. Having recently opened its doors to invite children in to doodle, attend crayon-making or costume-playing workshops, this is a factory on a mission to encourage creative expression.

A paradise for children and unusual factory façade Photo credit: @ifeel_lucky on Instagram.

Round off your Taiwan tour with a final stop in Cingjing

Recommended for: Children above 6-years-old

Enjoy a retreat to the scenic Cingjing to immerse your child/children in the beauty of nature at this mountainous district. The most convenient and value-for-money way to get to CingJing would be via the daily shuttle bus from Taichung Main Station. You may book your bus ticket(s) in advance via Changi Recommends.

Alternatively, you may hire a driver as The journey is approximately five hours, so be sure to pack ample snacks, toys and books to keep everyone occupied. Sit back and enjoy a digital detox as you journey through the valleys and countryside.

Pack warmer clothes and enjoy the cool breeze in the mountains of Cingjing.

Getting around Cingjing:

Public transport is scarce here, therefore it is advisable to hire a driver. Hiring cars is very easy in Taiwan, you can ask your hotel to arrange for you.

Attractions in Cingjing: Green Green Grasslands

At the Green Green Grasslands, you can experience free-roaming sheep grazing the grassy hills against the most stunning views — and your young ones can freely approach these friendly fluffy creatures.

Tip: Get a packet food to feed them whilst taking photos!

After all the running around, you can also sit down for an entertaining show, watch sheep shearers from New Zealand skillfully remove the animals’ woolly coats; or catch the horse show further up the mountain, where Mongolian acrobats perform mind-blowing stunts while riding the gorgeous well-kept horses. Again, kids can get up close with these majestic creatures during feeding sessions.

Address: No.170, Renhe Road, Ren’ai Township, Nantou County 546, Taiwan

Operating Hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm

Admission fee: Changi Recommends offer discounted admission tickets to Green Green Grassland. Check ticket prices here. 

Attractions in Cingjing: Lavender Cottage

Ask your driver to take you to the Lavender Cottage, 2 hours from Cingjing Farm by car. Grown from scratch by two farmer-wannabes, Lavender Cottage is their dream-come-true complete with a hillside coffeeshop surrounded by sweet-smelling flora. It’s cosy, beautiful and has a few hidden gems to explore.

Enjoy the relaxing scent of lavender as your little ones get in touch with nature.

You could hop on a whimsical carousel, make your own lavender sachets or learn to make fragrant soap bars at a DIY workshop. After experiencing the beauty of this forestland, kids can write about their favourite experiences and snail-mail it back home from the quaint little post office for free!

The postcards usually take 15 to 30 days to be delivered.

Tip: Lavenders bloom the most brightly from November to April, while you can expect to spot fields of salvia instead from June to August.

Address: No.20, Zhongxing Street, Xinshe District, Taichung City 426, Taiwan

Operating Hours:

Mon – Fri: 10:30am – 6:30pm

Sat: 10:00am – 7:00pm

Sun: 9:30am – 6.30pm

Admission fee: NT$200/person. DIY workshops charged separately

From crayon-making to feeding sheep in an open field, Taiwan promises a fun and enriching family holiday abroad with young children. So, instead of wondering if your little ones will remember their travel experiences in time to come, see it as an opportunity to show them the world beyond home. And with Changi, rest assured you’ll have a great time from the minute you step into the airport all the way till take-off!

Don’t miss your chance to win return air tickets to any of the 26 cities from A to Z

If you’re a travel enthusiast who wants to explore the world from A to Z, Changi Airport Group’s ‘Travel A to Z’ campaign is your chance to win return air tickets!

From 1 to 31 March 2024, simply guess the city featured in a video each week on the ‘Travel A to Z’ page and you will be entered into a Grand Draw to win return air tickets to any of the 26 cities featured. The more correct answers you submit, the greater your chances of winning the Grand Draw!

What are you waiting for? Head over to ‘Travel A to Z’, pack your bags, and get ready to embark on an unforgettable adventure.