Small-Group: Beitou and Yangmingshan Day Tour from Taipei
Description
Take a break from your busy schedule and the hustle and bustle of the city, go on a tour to Yangmingshan National Park and Beitou District, and embrace the beauty of nature. Yangmingshan National Park is located in the north of Taipei City, spanning Beitou District and 6 other districts in Taipei Metro Area. As the world’s first Urban Quiet Park certified by Quiet Park International, the park is known for the gorgeous flora and abundant geological features, including the fumaroles, lava terrains, craters, hot springs, etc, offering close-up views of the rocks and landforms. In addition to the park, the Geothermal Valley and Beitou Hot Spring Museum offer you insights into the history of development of hot springs in Taipei, from the source of heat to the historic relics. Hot spring bath is another unmissable experience in Beitou. Before the end of the tour, you will enjoy a hot spring foot bath to unwind your mind and body.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Meet your tour guide at MRT Zhongxiao Xinsheng Station, then head off to Yangmingshan National Park. Yangmingshan National Park is located in the north of Taipei City, spanning Beitou District and 6 other districts in Taipei Metro Area. As the world’s first Urban Quiet Park certified by Quiet Park International, the park is known for the gorgeous flora and abundant geological features, including the fumaroles, lava terrains, craters, hot springs, etc, offering close-up views of the rocks and landforms.
The first stop is Qingtiangang, a vast lava terrace formed when the lava flowed north after the eruption. The terrace was once a ranch for water buffaloes grazing during Japanese colonization; even today you can still see the naturally bred water buffaloes there.
The second stop is Lengshuikeng (literally “cold water pit”), a barrier lake formed by the volcanic lava flowing down from the mountain. The hot spring water is colder than the other areas (around 40 degrees Celsius), hence the name. You will enjoy a rejuvenating hot spring foot bath to relieve the tension and stiffness in your legs.
After that, you will visit the most popular attraction in Yangmingshan National Park —Xiaoyoukeng (literally “little oil pit”), a post-volcanic geological landscape area. The scenic trail around Xiaoyoukeng offers close-up views of the pit from different angles, where you can see and smell the steam coming out of the cracks, and the sulfur crystals around the fumaroles, as if you can feel the breath of a dormant volcano.
Home to Yangmingshan’s calla lily and hydrangea, Zhuzihu is a farming area hidden away in the mountains. It was originally a lava-dammed lake created by volcanic eruptions; the geological factors and fertile soil making Zhuzihu a suitable place for farming. Besides the seasonal flowers, Zhuzihu is also well-known for the mountain vegetable cuisine. Since you are here in Zhuzihu, don’t miss the chance to try the local specialties.
Geothermal Valley, the next stop on your Yangmingshan day trip, is not far away from Beitou Hot Spring Museum. This place is also called “Hell Valley” or “Ghost Lake”, because of the sulfuric steam fog that it emits caused by the high temperature. It is also one of the heat sources of sulfur spring that supply the hot springs located in its vicinity.
The next stop on your Yangmingshan tour package is Beitou Hot Spring Museum, which was built during the Japanese colonization. The two-storey Tudor-style building of the museum has a brick and wood façade, and black tile roof. The first level has a small bath and a large bath, where you can see the baths up close as you walk along the arcade. Additionally, the display of “sento” simulates the facilities of a traditional public bath, where you can have an understanding of how the communal bathhouse worked in the past. The second level consists of a huge Tatami lobby and a balcony with a special exhibition area where the early Taiwanese film documents are displayed. This is a good place to learn about Beitou’s rich hot spring culture and history.
Your last stop is Taipei Public Library Beitou Branch, also known as Beitou Library. Located in Beitou Park and near Beitou Hot Spring Museum, because of its sustainable design, this beautiful library was selected by the famous travel website “When on Earth” as one of the 10 Coolest Examples of green buildings. The New York City–based online culture magazine “Flavorwire” also recognized it as one of The 25 Most Beautiful Public Libraries in the World. The unique appearance of Beitou Library also makes it a popular attraction for photography. So pull your phone or camera out of your bag, capture the view and make your travel memory tangible.
After your Beitou District and Yangmingshan National Park tour, you may choose to disembark at Shilin Night Market, considered Taiwan’s most famous night market. There, you can eat tasty street foods to your heart’s content. Or, you may choose to disembark at MRT Zhongxiao Xinsheng Station after the tour.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Ensure you carry enough cash with you to cover your expenses for meals, beverages, souvenirs, tips, etc. Convenience stores and most of the eateries in Taiwan don't accept credit cards as a form of payment.
- This tour takes place in Yangmingshan National Park most of the time, which involves lots of walking and stairs; comfortable shoes and casual wear are recommended. As the temperature can drop dramatically in the mountain area, it's recommended to bring an extra coat.
Reviews(146)
Professional and knowledgeable. Able to brief us on the history and stuffs. Both James and Vincent are very accommodating.
Edison tours is an excellent tour company. Teresa greeted me at the meet point when she saw me walk up, I did not have to ask her. Teresa is great. Jenny, my tour guide was very knowledgeable. She is from Taipei and knew the history of the places we visited from personal experience. Jenny pointed out sites in the Yangmingshan National Park that I would never have seen on my own, or with any other tour group. I recommend Viator and Edison tours to everyone!
Even though we spent much of the day in cold rain and mountain mist, this turned out to be one of the most atmospheric experiences of our Taiwan trip. Rather than detracting from the tour, the weather transformed Yangmingshan into something ethereal and dream-like. We saw rolling fog through volcanic landscapes, felt soft rain over fields of flowers and marveled at the steam rising mysteriously from thermal vents. Our trip was really enhanced and made memorable by our guide Molly whose energy and positivity never wavered for a second. At one point she said to one of us, “Hear the birds singing? That means the rain is not too bad and will stay manageable.” Her warmth and enthusiasm kept everyone’s spirits high and as a group, we bonded wonderfully during the day. Here are the top 5 things that we loved: 1. Molly’s wonderful guiding and storytelling. Molly was indefatigable and full of pep and humor as she gave thoughtful historical insights throughout the day. She skillfully shared fascinating tidbits about Taiwan’s history, geology, agriculture and culture in a bite-sized and accessible way. 2. The moody, misty beauty of Yangmingshan. The rain and pervasive fog created a magical and cinematic atmosphere across the mountains. Even the thermal vents became immersive. The combination of steam and light rain created fascinating soundscapes that we are still thinking about. 3. The water buffaloes. Seeing the water buffaloes grazing peacefully at Qingtiangang was serene and seemed timeless, especially when combined with the rolling hills enveloped in mist. 4. The delicious farm-fresh lunch and seasonal fields of flowers. Lunch in Zhuzihu was absolutely delicious, especially the chicken soup and incredibly fresh local mountain vegetables. We also loved wandering through the beautiful fields of calla lilies with some early hydrangeas. 5. Relaxing in warmer Beitou after the mountain chill. As we descended into Beitou, the weather gradually warmed. This made the hot spring experience especially rewarding after a cold mountain day. We also loved visiting the eco-friendly and lauded Beitou library. This was as every bit as beautiful as people say. Overall, this tour beautifully combined nature, geology, food, culture and relaxation into a single day. Rain or shine, it was absolutely worth it.
Our tour guide David made sure we have a nice time. We had history and personal stories during the bus ride, visited all the locations, and while we had enough time to explore each site, we were also constantly on the move efficiently to finish the course. Everything went smoothly, hope to meet David again on a different tour.
Guide tour GARY was very kind and caring t all of our needs .the tour shall expand the time at the hot spring foot message . I did not take the tour going to the fern pond. The path was extremely unsafe to walk on due to slippery rocky terrain
Our guide Lumi was so amazing! We received many interesting stories. The driver was also very pleasant and very comfortable on the move. I really enjoyed the full day tour of Yangmingshan with 3 kids! Thank you very much.
ご感想ありがとうございます！Lumiガイドを楽しんでいただけて嬉しいです。運転手も快適に過ごせるよう配慮してくれたので、陽明山ツアーをお子様と一緒に楽しんでいただけたこと、私たちもとても嬉しいです。またぜひご参加ください！
The guide and the driver were super responsible and friendly. If you are first time Taiwan traveler, it is a great way to have a taste of Taiwan. If you are looking for in-depth traveling, this might not be what you are looking for.
Thank you so much for joining our Beitou and Yangmingshan Day Tour from Taipei! We truly appreciate your kind words about our guide and driver—they’ll be delighted to hear your feedback. We’re glad you found the tour to be a great introduction to Taiwan, especially for first-time visitors. At the same time, we truly value your suggestion regarding more in-depth experiences. We are continuously working on enriching our guides’ storytelling skills and expanding our tour content to provide deeper cultural insights for travelers seeking a more immersive experience. Thank you again for your thoughtful feedback and support. We hope to welcome you back on another journey with us soon!
The first half of the tour was great, the mountains, the hot springs etc. Very scenic and lots of time to walk the paths. The second half with the flower clock and hot springs museum dragged. Tour Guide Vicky was very good.
Thank you for joining our Beitou and Yangmingshan Day Tour! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the scenic first half with the mountains, hot springs, and walking paths—it’s one of the highlights of the experience. We appreciate your honest feedback about the second half of the itinerary, and we’ll take this into consideration as we continue refining our tours. We’re also very glad to know that Tour Guide Vicky made your day more enjoyable; she and our team are committed to providing knowledgeable and friendly guidance. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure in Taipei!
Excellent tour guide!! Great tour, the guide spoke fluent English and gave a lot of information. Would highly recommend this tour.
Great tour. I loved Yangmingshan National Park and could have spent a whole day there. One of the most beautiful places in Taiwan.
