Yilan, Taiwan: travel guide
Fertile plain between mountains and sea with farms and hot springs
Sheltered by the Central Mountain Range on the west and facing the Pacific on the east, Yilan County is Taiwan's most fertile county — rice, duck, and the famous Yilan scallion pancake are locally iconic.
About Yilan
Yilan is a county on Taiwan's north-east coast rather than a single city, set on the Lanyang Plain between mountains and the Pacific. It is greener and more agricultural than the nearby capital and has a distinct local food culture.
The plain is known for rice, duck and scallion pancakes, and visitors can add museums, riverside parks, hot springs and wineries to the list. The Lanyang Museum and the Luodong cultural venues provide indoor options, while the mountains and beaches are close.
Yilan suits a weekend or a two-day trip from Taipei for families and food lovers. It is rainy at times, so spring and autumn are the better seasons for walking.
- Country
- Taiwan
- Currency
- TWD
- Time zone
- Asia/Taipei
- Nearest airport
- TSA
Last updated
Top places to visit in Yilan
Lanyang Museum
Museum · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · entry $100 (≈ ₹300)
Award-winning inverted-pyramid building half-submerged in Wushi Harbour. Exhibits on Yilan geography, Kavalan indigenous culture, and fishing traditions.
Things to do
- Dongshan River Cycling & Jiaoxi Hot Spring Soak Outdoor · 6 h · from TWD 360 per person
Where to stay in Yilan
Hotels
- Ithen Hotel Yilan 4-star · TWD 3,500 to TWD 8,000 per night
Where to eat
- Luodong Night Market taiwanese · about TWD 270 per person
Getting to Yilan
Airport: Yilan (via Taipei Songshan) (TSA)
Getting around
- Bus
- Scooter Rental
- Walking