Episode #8: Visiting Taiwan with Kids: Night Markets, Temples & Hidden Gems for Families
Amazing shot taken by our Flytographer photographer- Steven.
Taiwan Family Trip – 5 Nights with Kids
We visited Taiwan in September and decided to take just our two oldest (12 &10) while the younger 3 stayed home with their awesome Nana & Papa. My husband had lived in Taiwan for 2 years on a service mission with our church over 20 years ago, learned mandarin chinese and has been wanting to go back for a while now. We knew this was the perfect opportunity for him to go back and for us to see where he lived and experience Taiwan.
We knew it would be hot and humid in September and boy, was it!
Tips for Taiwan in September
Expect hot, humid weather – pack light, breathable clothes + rain gear.
Ghost Month adds unique cultural traditions at temples.
High-speed rail is the best way to get between cities.
Night markets are a must—go hungry and let kids choose their own snacks.
Convenience stores (7-Eleven/FamilyMart) are lifesavers for quick meals.
Many hotels have strict occupancy rules—use points/miles to book multiple rooms affordably.
Getting To Taiwan
We got an awesome deal from Thrifty Traveler (I subscribe and get daily emails of incredible deals) from Las Vegas to Taiwan for 25k Delta Sky Miles ROUNDTRIP and I knew we had to jump on it. I used Delta points I had from a credit card sign up bonus, plus transferred some from my American Express membership rewards and booked 4 round trip flights to Taiwan for 100k points. Incredible deal! (Click here to learn more about how I use Points and miles to save thousand).
We got to enjoy lounge access with our 2 oldest kids in Las Vegas (Capital One) + Seattle before long-haul flight thanks to holding the Capital One Venture X card.
Direct flight from Seattle → Taipei. Traveling as a family of 4 felt refreshingly simple! The flight wasn’t full so I ended up changing our seats to two rows of window/ aisle so we had the middle seats open. The extra room in economy was so nice.
Day 1 – Taipei Arrival
We landed around 7:30pm Taiwan time and our plan was to go explore, stay awake and go to sleep normal time so we could wake up the next day on Taiwan time. Our plan worked out great.
Stayed at Sheraton Grand Taipei Hotel (Marriott points).
Dinner at Ningxia Night Market – favorites: grilled chicken skewers, tanghulu candied fruit, bubble drinks.
Day 2 – Taipei Highlights & Train to Kaohsiung
Central Art Park – bike rentals + playground fun.
Flytographer photo shoot at Bopiliao Historical Block & Lungshan Temple (during Ghost Month). Click HERE to save $25 on your next photoshoot with Flytographer. We had a great photoshoot and the photos are already framed in my home. So special to capture this trip with our 2 oldest.
Taipei Taiwan Temple (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) + Taipei 101 (pre-booked tickets).
High-speed train to Kaohsiung. Stayed at Kaohsiung Marriott Hotel.
Costco visit + E Sky Mall (Pop Mart treasures- Labubu).
Day 3 – Kaohsiung Fun
Donggang Beach by Dapeng Bay Bridge – paddle boarding with locals.
Chaozhou Fishing Pond – kids caught fish.
7-Eleven snacks obsession (bread was a favorite).
Evening at Ruifeng Night Market – fried chicken, steak noodles, games.
Day 4 – Chaozhou Area & Church
Visited Chaozhou LDS Church. Reunited with mission friends and families.
Lunch at Qingguo Qingcheng Bistro.
More shopping & collectibles at E Sky Mall.
Day 5 – Taichung & Gaomei Wetlands
Train to Taichung. Explored Shalu District.
Lunch at King of Hot Pot.
Shopping at MITSUI OUTLET PARK to find more Labubus
Gaomei Wetlands – crabs, tidal flats, sunset views.
Dinner at Adu Royal Thai Cuisine.
Overnight at Hyatt Regency Taoyuan Airport Hotel.
Day 6 – Departure
Lounge access before 9:30 a.m. flight.
The flight was not full at all so we each got our own row and I was able to lay down and sleep pretty well which was amazing!
Final Thoughts
We had a fast, whirlwind trip to Taiwan but it was amazing! Being able to see where my husband lived for 2 years, over 20 years ago and share this cool adventure with our two oldest was truly special. Taiwan is a great place for kids, everyone is super friendly and kind and I can’t wait to go back one day with all 5 of my kids!
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