What to do at Taoyuan International Airport During a Layover
Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) is the main airport and gateway to Taiwan, plus it is one of the best airports for travelers coming to Asia. Taoyuan International Airport is known for its efficiency, amenities, atmosphere, and excellent connectivity.
I’ve visited Taiwan seven times now and have traveled through Taoyuan International Airport at least a dozen times now and it remains my favorite airport in terms of spending layovers, things to do, and overall flight connections.
Whether you have a short to long layover at Taoyuan International Airport or are beginning your Taiwan adventure, this post is all about Taoyuan International Airport and how to traverse through the airport or spend your time wisely during your layover.
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Taoyuan International Airport sometimes abbreviated to TPE is the main hub and largest airport in Taiwan. It is located in the city of Taoyuan about 40 kilometers to the west of Taipei City.
The airport opened in 1979 and is the primary airport for international travel to and from Taiwan, it’s also a popular connecting airport to the United States, Australia, and other countries in Asia.
Taoyuan is the hub airport for major airlines like China Airlines, EVA Airlines, Starlux Airlines, and the low cost airline, Tigerair.
Currently, there are two terminals at Taoyuan Internal Airport, Terminal 1 & Terminal 2.
If you are traveling into Taipei from the airport, there is a convenient MRT that goes directly to Taipei Main Station.
What to do at Taoyuan International Airport During a Layover
I’ve traveled to Taiwan seven times now and have either been or connected through Taoyuan International Airport a dozen times. I’ve had short layovers here, long layovers, and have even spent the night at the airport a couple of times.
I’ve spent a lot of time at airports throughout the world and TPE is my favorite airport, I even prefer it over Changi Airport in Singapore.
I find Taoyuan Airport to be very clean to include the bathrooms, there is a variety of great food stalls, the shops are fun to browse, and the themed gates are both fun and informative.
If you have a layover at Taoyuan International Airport, here are my recommended activities to try, foods to eat, and places to rest and relax.
Shopping
I am not much of a shopper but TPE does have some decent shops that even I enjoy. Of course you can find your duty-free stores selling alcohol and international treats. Taiwan’s airport also has local shops selling goods and souvenirs from Taiwan.
Try Beef Noodle Soup
If you can’t leave the airport but want to try an iconic Taiwanese dish, then head to one of the many restaurants or vendors at the airport that make Taiwan Beef Noodle Soup.
Taiwan Beef Noodle Soup is a dish that combines braised beef with wheat noodles and a savory broth.
I recommend trying Lao Dong Beef Noodles at Terminal 2 or Royal Heritage Beef Noodles in Terminal 2.
Bubble Tea
What’s a visit to Taiwan without trying bubble tea. After all, Taiwan is the birthplace of bubble tea and you can find great teas at Taoyuan International Airport.
Speaking of Birthplace of Bubble Tea, Chun Shui Tang has a location at the airport in Terminal 2. The original store is in Taichung but there is a branch at the airport. Make sure to try the signature Pearl Milk Tea.
Mazu Village is probably my favorite Bubble Tea store at Taoyuan Airport. Mazu Village has a variety of tea flavors. They also make wheel cakes with fillings that are absolutely delicious.
Check out the Themed Gates
One of my favorite features at Taoyuan International Airport is the themed boarding gates and lounge areas. Most of the themed gates are located in Terminal 2.
Many of the gates are Taiwanese Culture themed. Each theme represents a specific place in Taiwan like Taroko National Park or a specific activity in Taiwan like the Pingxi Lantern Festival. Some themes are even focused on animals found in Taiwan.
Not only do the gates have artistic traits and images but detailed descriptions about the particular theme.
Exercise
What better way to spend a long layover at an airport then exercise! I mean you spend so much time sitting around whether it be at your gate, on the plane, or just waiting around.
Near Gate D1 in Terminal 2 there is a Gym Area called Sports Park with a few weight and cardio machines.
Relax and Unwind
TPE has so many places scattered throughout the airport to take a rest or even sneak in a well deserved nap.
The Wooderful Land Waiting Room is amongst my favorite places in the airport to relax. This room is tucked away in a forest like atmosphere.
There is the Landscape Lounge with comfortable seats, chair massage areas, and other rest lounge areas, some are in what seems to be hidden spots making it the perfect place to catch up on some sleep after a long travel day.
Read and Learn at the Library
Want to escape people and find somewhere that is peaceful and quiet at the airport? Head over to the Mind Garden Airport Library at Terminal 2.
Here, there are places to sit, desks for laptops, and tons of free books to read in a variety of languages.
The library is open 24/7 and is a great place to escape the crowds. Whether you want to browse the net, read a book, or just want to charge your phone in peace, the Mind Garden Library is the perfect place.
Get a Taiwanese Massage at the Massage Center
One of my most recommended things to do in Taipei is to get a foot massage. Thankfully, you don’t have to leave the airport to find a decent massage center.
There is actually a massage center near the food court in Terminal 2 on the 4th floor.
Not only does the Massage Center offer foot massages, but you can schedule a full body massage, half body massage, and lower body massage.
For the food massage, you can get a 30 minute, 45 minute, and 60 minute massage.
Catch Some Sleep at a Capsule Hotel
If you have an overnight layover at Taoyuan International Airport, instead of sleeping on the ground or a random chair somewhere why not experience a stay at a capsule hotel and get a comfortable nights rest.
Outside the gate on the 5th floor of TPE there is a capsule hotel called CHO Stay Capsule Hotel.
I’ve stayed at CHO Stay Capsule Hotel a few times now and it’s a treat! The experience is unique, the hotel is clean, beds are comfortable, privacy is great, and the bathrooms have showers.
You can book a night at the CHO Stay Capsule Hotel through Agoda.
Take the Metro to Taipei City
If you have a long layover at Taoyuan Airport, I’d say at least 6 hours or more, I recommend taking the Taoyuan Airport MRT to Taipei Main Station and bum around Taipei for a little bit.
The trip from Terminal 2 to Taipei Main Station is between 35 – 45 minutes. Keep that in mind when returning.
If you need help planning your itinerary for Taipei or looking for specific sites during your layover, I have a post on Things to do in Taipei.
Additional Information Regarding Taoyuan Airport
If you are planning your layover at Taoyuan International Airport or have questions about anything, feel free to reach out in my contact form or drop a comment in this post.
Here are some additional tips and information that I came up with that will help you have a smoother layover or transit through Taoyuan International Airport.
✅ TPE has amazing water fill stations scattered throughout the airport. They can fill your water bottle up with either cold or hot water. The water at the airport is completely safe to drink.
✅ The bathrooms are clean and in Terminal 2 near the boarding gates, they are even themed, each one being unique.
✅ Tired of carrying change or don’t want to hang on to that international currency that will do you no good unless you plan on visiting Taiwan again? There are donation boxes around the airport, you can drop your spare change in.
Conclusion
With its blend of efficiency, atmosphere, and cultural charm, Taoyuan International Airport has earned its place as my favorite airport in the world.
From the beautifully themed lounges at the gates to the comfortable CHO Stay Capsule Hotel it’s no question why I love Taiwan’s main airport. I hope this post sums up the perfect way to spend a layover at Taoyuan International Airport.
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