Major city · Taiwan
Yilan宜蘭
Give Yilan one night as a base for the county's hot springs, coast and night market; two nights if you want Toucheng or Suao without rushing.
Yilan is the county seat and rail hub of the Lanyang plain, about 1 h 30 min from Taipei through the Xueshan Tunnel or by train. The city itself is a half-day of old Japanese-era buildings, museums and one good night market; the draw is the county around it — Jiaoxi hot springs, Toucheng's old street, Wujie and the coast. Most travellers come for a weekend, and rain is the constant.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- TWD
- Best months
- Oct–Apr
- avoid Jul–Sep (typhoons and heavy rain)
- Airports
- TPE · TSA
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 5
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- Taiwan ↗Check visa-exemption length, passport validity and the online arrival card (TWAC) on the official sites before you fly.
- Taiwan ↗An EasyCard (or iPASS) covers MRT, buses, local trains and many convenience-store purchases; buy one at the airport or a station.
- Taiwan ↗When a local government declares a typhoon day, transport and sights can close for the day; follow the official notice, not the forecast alone.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Yilan110 ▾
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
- Tourism helpline (24 h)0800-011-765
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Yilan, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Night markets, breakfast shops and many small restaurants take cash only; carry NT$1,000–2,000 (≈ US$35–70) in small notes.Taiwan-wide
- SIM or eSIMChunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile and FarEasTone sell tourist SIMs and eSIMs at TPE and KHH arrivals…Taiwan-wide
- Tap waterTreated at source, but locals boil or filter it.Taiwan-wide
- TippingRestaurants: No tip; a 10% service charge appears in many sit-down places and hotels.Taiwan-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 110 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Taiwan-wide
- SafetyVery safe for tourists; the real risks are scooter traffic, wet roads and typhoon-season closures.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree, clean toilets in every MRT station, convenience stores and department stores; paper goes in the toilet in most new buildings — follow the sign.Taiwan-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 119 fire and ambulance · 0800-011-765 Tourism helpline (24 h) (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany museums close on Monday (the National Palace Museum opens daily).Taiwan-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportTPE Taiwan Taoyuan International (No direct rail link to Yilan; bus or MRT to Taipei, then train or bus east — about 2.5–3 h door to door).
- Getting aroundThe city centre is walkable; scooters and bicycles are the usual way to reach the county's spread-out sights, with rentals near Yilan station.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee or tea in a caféNT$60–150 (≈ US$2–5)
- Street or quick mealNoodle or rice bowlNT$80–180 (≈ US$3–6)
- Beerconvenience store can / barNT$40–70 (≈ US$2–3)NT$150–250 (≈ US$5–9)
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum entryNT$30–100 (≈ US$1–4)
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personNT$600 (≈ US$20)
- Mid-range bedDouble room, guesthouse or hotel, a night, per roomNT$2,800 (≈ US$95)
- High-end bedDouble room, guesthouse or hotel, a night, per roomNT$5,500 (≈ US$190)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget NT$1,200 (≈ US$40) · Mid NT$2,200 (≈ US$75) · High NT$4,000 (≈ US$140)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- TPE Taiwan Taoyuan International (No direct rail link to Yilan; bus or MRT to Taipei, then train or bus east — about 2.5–3 h door to door) · TSA Taipei Songshan (Closer for a Taipei transfer; trains to Yilan leave from Taipei Main and Songshan-area stations)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Feb
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Mar
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Apr
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
May
not flagged
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Jun
not flagged
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Jul
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Aug
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Sep
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Oct
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Nov
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Dec
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Best: Oct–Apr. Avoid: Jul–Sep. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)), coolest Jan (13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C) low), wettest Jan (17 rain days), driest Jul (12). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Yilan: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
17 rd
Feb
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
16 rd
Mar
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
17 rd
Apr
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
15 rd
May
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
17 rd
Jun
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
15 rd
Jul
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
12 rd
Aug
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
14 rd
Sep
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
16 rd
Oct
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
16 rd
Nov
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
17 rd
Dec
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
16 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The city centre is walkable; scooters and bicycles are the usual way to reach the county's spread-out sights, with rentals near Yilan station. Trains on the Yilan line link Yilan, Luodong, Jiaoxi and Suao cheaply and often. Bus and taxi drivers rarely speak English — have addresses written in Chinese.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Jiaoxi
goDoor to door: About 40 min
Train on the Yilan line from Yilan station, about 20–25 min
Hot-spring hotels and a small old street; easiest half-day from the city.
Door to door: About 45 min
Train north on the Yilan line, about 25–30 min
Old street and the coast; pair with a beach stop on a dry day.
Suao
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Train south on the Yilan line, about 40–50 min
Harbour and seafood; the rail ride along the coast is the point.
Wujie
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h
Train to Luodong, then bus or taxi
Spread-out sights; only worth it with a scooter or car.
Datong Township
overnightDoor to door: 1.5–2 h
Bus or car up the mountain roads
Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep up there.
Nanao
overnightDoor to door: About 1.5 h
Train south along the coast, about 1 h 20 min
Coast and Indigenous villages; a day return leaves no time.
Yuanshan
goDoor to door: About 30–40 min
Bus or scooter west of the city, about 20 min
Riverside cycling and farms; the flat 12 km (7.5 mi) loop from the city works by bike.Riverside cycling and farms; the flat 7.5 mi (12 km) loop from the city works by bike.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Yilan Station area
Walk to the night market, museums and the old warehousing block; best for one night with bags.
Jiaoxi
Hot-spring hotels 20–25 min south by train; pick this if the springs are the point of the trip.
Luodong
Bigger night market and more beds, 15 min south; use it if you are looping the county by rail.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- NT$1,200–2,000 (≈ US$40–70) excl. bed
- Mid
- NT$2,000–3,500 (≈ US$70–120) excl. bed
- High
- NT$3,500 (≈ US$120)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room, guesthouse or hotel1 × 1 night × NT$2,800 | NT$2,800 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × NT$2,200 | NT$4,400 |
| Train Taipei → Yilan, one way2 × NT$250 | NT$500 |
| Train Yilan → Jiaoxi, one way2 × NT$40 | NT$80 |
| Scooter rental, one day2 × NT$500 | NT$1,000 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × NT$300 | NT$600 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | NT$940 |
| Trip total≈ NT$5,160 per person per day, bed included | NT$10,320≈ US$350 |
2026 estimate in New Taiwan dollars; flights and rail passes excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee or tea in a café | NT$60–150 (≈ US$2–5) |
| Noodle or rice bowl | NT$80–180 (≈ US$3–6) |
| Night-market snack (scallion pancake, chicken cutlet) | NT$30–80 (≈ US$1–3) |
| Beer: convenience store can / bar | NT$40–70 (≈ US$2–3) / NT$150–250 (≈ US$5–9) |
| Train Yilan → Taipei | NT$200–280 (≈ US$7–10) |
| Scooter rental, one day | NT$400–700 (≈ US$14–25) |
| Museum entry | NT$30–100 (≈ US$1–4) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Rain is year-round and heaviest in the monsoon and typhoon season; pack a shell, not an umbrella you trust.
- Scooter rental needs a valid licence and an IDP for many nationalities — check before you count on it.
- Religious parades fill streets on festival weekends; do not cross the procession line and give temple workers room.
- English is limited outside hotels and the visitor centre; translation apps and written Chinese addresses help.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire and ambulance
- 119
- Tourism helpline (24 h)
- 0800-011-765
Pocket card
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Yilan宜蘭
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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—
—
請到這個地址To this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
- Tourism helpline (24 h)0800-011-765
Embassy
No embassies in Yilan; most are in Taipei. The US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand all maintain offices in Taipei — check the address before you need it.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Train Taipei → Yilan: about NT$250 (≈ US$9), 1 h 30 min–2 h
- Train Yilan → Jiaoxi: about NT$40 (≈ US$2), 20–25 min
- Taxi in Yilan city: metered from about NT$100 (≈ US$4)
Say or show
- 不好意思 — Excuse me / Sorry (bu hao yi si)
- 謝謝 — Thank you (xie xie)
- 多少錢? — How much is it? (duo shao qian)
- 可以刷卡嗎? — Can I pay by card? (ke yi shua ka ma)
- 廁所在哪裡? — Where is the toilet? (ce suo zai na li)
- 不要味精 — No MSG, please (bu yao wei jing)
Rain gear and a written Chinese address are the two things that make a Yilan day work.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Yilan. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Oct–Apr · avoid Jul–Sep (typhoons and heavy rain) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 7 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for TPE: last trains and buses toward Yilan field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Yilan station and the old warehouses, the museum and memorial-hall quarter, Dongmen night market.
- Place pages with verified hours (Taiwan Theater Museum, Yilan Museum of Art, Memorial Hall of Founding of Yilan Administration) and eat pages with last orders.
- Typhoon and heavy-rain fixtures so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
- officialYilan City Office
- officialTaiwan Tourism Administration
- officialTaiwan Railways Administration
- secondaryWikivoyage: Yilan, revision 5273167 (CC BY-SA 4.0)