Northern Taiwan (Taipei, New Taipei City, Yilan County) 3-Day Tour

Taipei opens the door to northern Taiwan. This private three-day trip gives you a broad look at the region, from palace treasures and city landmarks to strange coastal rocks, old mountain streets, hot springs, and Yilan’s quieter corners. I especially like the mix of major sights and smaller stops, and I like that the tour is private for your group of up to four.

The main drawback is the price: $765 per group before meals, accommodation, and attraction tickets. That can be fair for four people, but less attractive for one or two. The schedule is also full, so you will spend plenty of time moving between stops rather than settling into one place.

Key points to know before booking

• Four major northern Taiwan areas in three days: Taipei, New Taipei City, Keelung, and Yilan County all appear in the route.
• A private format for up to four people: You avoid joining a large bus group and can enjoy a more personal pace within the planned schedule.
• Big-name Taipei sights on day one: The National Palace Museum, Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, Shilin Residence Park, and Taipei 101 cover art, politics, gardens, and city views.
• A strong northeast coast day: Yehliu Geopark, Yin Yang Sea, Golden Waterfall, Shifen, and Jiufen bring together coast, mountains, food, shopping, and old streets.
• Yilan adds hot springs and mountain views: Mr. Brown Coffee, Lanyang Museum, Qingshui Geothermal Park, Jimi Square, and Jiaoxi make the final day different from the first two.
• Budget for extras: Meals, accommodation, and most entrance tickets are not included, and pickup outside the Taipei area costs extra.

What the $765 private price really buys you

The tour costs $765 per group of up to four, not per person. At the maximum group size, that works out to about $191 per person before food and admission fees. For two people, the per-person cost is much higher, so group size matters a great deal.

The value comes from having a private activity rather than joining strangers. You can spend three days with your own party, which may suit families, couples traveling with friends, or anyone who wants less waiting around for a large group. Pickup is offered, though you should confirm the exact pickup point and any transport details before paying.

The price does not cover meals or accommodation. It also excludes tickets to several sights, including the National Palace Museum, Shilin Residence Park, Taipei 101, Yehliu Geopark, and possibly other paid attractions. All fees and taxes are included in the tour price, but that does not mean every admission ticket is covered.

I would treat the cost as a convenience fee for a private regional trip, not as an all-inclusive package. It can make sense if you want one booking to connect places that are spread across Taipei, New Taipei City, Keelung, and Yilan. It is less compelling if you are happy using public transport and arranging each sight yourself.

Day one: Taipei’s art, gardens, memorials, and skyline

The first day begins at the National Palace Museum, with about three hours set aside. This is the longest stop of the day, and rightly so. The museum is the place to focus on if you want to see major Chinese art and objects connected with the long movement of collections across East Asia.

Three hours gives you time to see the main displays without treating the museum like a quick photo stop. Since admission is not included, add the ticket cost to your budget. If you are not especially interested in museums, this may feel like a long opening visit, but it gives the day cultural weight before the outdoor sights begin.

Next comes C.K.S. Shilin Residence Park for about one hour. The park offers a change of pace after the museum. You move from indoor displays to gardens and open space connected with one of Taipei’s best-known former residences.

The park admission is not included. One hour is enough for a look around, but not for a slow, detailed exploration of every corner. The supplied information also refers to the Lin A Tai Historical House in the positive feedback about the first day, while the scheduled stop is listed as C.K.S. Shilin Residence Park. Because of that difference, confirm the exact first-day stops with the operator before departure.

Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall receives two hours, with park admission listed as free. This is one of Taipei’s most recognizable public spaces, and the broad grounds make it easy to understand why it is such a common first-time stop.

You will have time to walk through the grounds and take in the large memorial buildings. The site is more than a quick picture opportunity, but two hours should still leave enough time to keep the day moving. Expect a formal public setting rather than a quiet garden.

The final stop is Taipei 101, with two hours to go up to the top floor and look across the city. The observation experience is not included in the tour price, so check the current ticket cost before you go. Taipei 101 works well at the end of the day because it gives you a visual sense of how large and dense Taipei is after you have spent the day moving through different districts.

The first day is packed, but it has a clear theme: understand Taipei through its objects, public spaces, residences, and skyline. I like that progression. The tradeoff is that you may want more time at both the museum and Taipei 101 than the schedule allows.

Day two: Yehliu’s rocks and the northeast coast

Day two shifts into New Taipei City and the coastal area near Keelung. Yehliu Geopark gets about one and a half hours. This is one of the strongest nature stops in the three-day route, with unusual rock formations shaped by wind, water, and time.

The park admission is not included, and you should expect an outdoor visit. Wear comfortable shoes and bring protection from sun or rain. The tour description calls attention to strange rocks and coastal scenery, and Yehliu is where that promise is most directly delivered.

Shifen Old Street follows, with one hour set aside for releasing a sky lantern. Park admission is free, though the lantern itself may be an additional purchase. This stop offers a different kind of experience from Yehliu: less about geology and more about a traditional railway-town setting, food stalls, and a simple hands-on ritual.

One hour goes quickly. If you want to write a message on a lantern, take pictures, and browse the old street, you will need to keep an eye on the clock. The stop is best approached as a focused visit rather than a long meal break.

The route then turns to Yin Yang Sea for about 20 minutes. This is a short coastal viewpoint, useful for seeing the changing tones in the water and the rugged shore. Do not expect a full walk or a long visit. It is a scenic pause between larger stops.

Golden Waterfall is even shorter, at around 10 minutes. That is enough to stop, look, and take pictures, but not enough for a leisurely outing. Short stops like this are useful when you want to cover a broad region, though they can feel hurried if you prefer to linger.

The day ends at Jiufen Old Street for two hours. This is likely to be one of the most memorable stops for people who enjoy food, narrow lanes, old shopfronts, and mountain views toward the coast. Jiufen has a strong nostalgic feel, but it is also a busy shopping area, so you should expect crowds and plenty of stairs or uneven walking surfaces.

Two hours gives you room to browse and eat a snack, but it may not be enough for a slow exploration of every lane. Since meals are not included, Jiufen is a natural place to buy food, but your eating time comes out of the scheduled visit.

I like the shape of day two. Yehliu provides nature, Shifen adds a personal activity, the coast supplies quick photo stops, and Jiufen closes with atmosphere and food. The limitation is the number of stops. If you want long walks or unhurried meals, this day will feel brisk.

Day three: Yilan coffee, science, hot springs, and public art

The final day crosses into Yilan County. The first stop, Mr. Brown Coffee, allows two hours for coffee and views of the mountains and sea. This is a slower opening than the first two days, and that helps balance the busy schedule.

The stop is listed as free, though food and drinks may still be your responsibility. It is a good place to sit down and enjoy the setting instead of rushing from one attraction to another. The description promises views, but it does not specify a particular drink, meal, or café service, so keep your expectations focused on the break and scenery.

Lanyang Museum follows for one hour, with admission included. The museum is designed around Yilan’s natural setting and local culture, making it a useful bridge between the outdoor views and the region’s story. One hour is enough for a purposeful visit, but you will need to move steadily.

I like having this museum on the final day because it gives context to Yilan rather than treating the county as a string of photo stops. It also provides an indoor option if the weather turns wet.

Qingshui Geothermal Park receives one and a half hours. The visit includes admission and focuses on hot spring cooked food. This is one of the more distinctive stops on the route, since it connects geothermal activity with something you can see and taste.

The information does not specify which foods are available or whether any food purchase is included, so budget separately for anything you want to try. Think of this as a regional experience rather than a full spa session.

Jimi Square at Yilan Station comes next, with one hour in the park. The stop is free and adds a lighter, playful note to the day. It is a public art and photo stop, not a major museum or long walking tour, so one hour should be plenty for most people.

The final stop is Tangweigou Jiaosi Hot Spring Park, where you can visit the park and soak your feet for free. Two hours gives this stop more breathing room than the short coastal viewpoints on day two. It is a pleasant way to finish, especially if your feet are tired from Jiufen’s slopes and Taipei’s large public sites.

This is not presented as a full-body hot spring resort visit. The included experience is free foot soaking in the park, so pack or wear something suitable for that activity. The final day is gentler and more local in feel, with coffee, a museum, geothermal food, public art, and hot springs.

How the schedule feels in real use

The tour covers a lot of ground. Day one stays within Taipei, day two links several New Taipei City and coast stops, and day three moves through Yilan County. The private format should make the route easier to manage than a large coach trip, but it cannot remove the distance between places.

The schedule gives the longest periods to the National Palace Museum, Taipei 101, Jiufen, Mr. Brown Coffee, and Jiaoxi. Several other stops are brief. Yin Yang Sea gets 20 minutes, while Golden Waterfall gets only 10, so you should see those as scenic pauses rather than full activities.

This structure suits you if your goal is to sample northern Taiwan in a short visit. It is not ideal if you want to spend half a day in one neighborhood, shop slowly, or stop for long meals. The word customised is important here, but you should ask what changes are possible. The tour is private, yet the listed schedule remains fairly specific.

The tour requires good weather. If poor weather forces cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. That matters because Yehliu, the coast, and the outdoor hot spring parks are central to the experience.

Who should book this Taiwan tour?

I would consider this trip if you have only three days and want a broad introduction to northern Taiwan without arranging several separate day trips. It is particularly suitable for a private group of three or four, since the group price becomes more reasonable.

Families may appreciate the mix of museums, parks, views, food, and easy activities. A group with different interests can split the appeal across the itinerary: one person gets art, another gets coast and rocks, another gets coffee and hot springs.

You should think twice if you dislike paid add-ons. Several important sights require separate admission, and meals are not part of the package. You should also ask about pickup if you are staying outside Taipei, since an extra charge applies to departures outside the Taipei area.

Service animals are allowed, the tour is near public transportation, and most people can participate. Still, the amount of walking, the outdoor stops, and the slopes and steps around Jiufen are worth considering for anyone with mobility limits.

Final verdict: a useful private overview with a busy rhythm

I like this tour because it shows several sides of northern Taiwan in one trip. Taipei’s major sights, Yehliu’s unusual coast, Shifen’s lantern tradition, Jiufen’s old streets, and Yilan’s hot springs give you a varied first look rather than three similar days.

The value depends on your group size. At $765 for four people, the private format is easier to justify. At $765 for one or two, the extra admission costs make the package harder to call a bargain.

Book it if you want a private, structured introduction and accept a full schedule. Skip it if you prefer independent travel, long meals, or extended time at fewer sights. Before confirming, ask about the precise pickup arrangement, the first-day residence stop, the ticket costs, and which parts of the schedule can be adjusted.

FAQ

How long is the Northern Taiwan tour?

The tour lasts approximately three days.

How many people can join the private tour?

The price covers one private group of up to four people.

Is pickup available?

Yes, pickup is offered. A pickup fee applies for departures outside the Taipei area.

Are meals and accommodation included?

No. Meals and accommodation are not included in the tour price.

Are attraction tickets included?

Some admissions are included or free, but several scenic attraction tickets are not included. The National Palace Museum, C.K.S. Shilin Residence Park, Taipei 101, and Yehliu Geopark are listed with admission not included. Lanyang Museum admission is included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded, and late changes are not accepted.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

The tour requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.