The short answer
Use the direct airport bus when the timing works; switch to MRT plus TRA when it does not.
The advantage of 1661/1661A is a single ride with luggage. The drawback is a four-departure schedule at the time of checking. Compare it with your realistic immigration time; if you miss it, take the Airport MRT to A1 Taipei Main Station and transfer to an east-coast TRA train.
First, check which ‘Taoyuan’ you mean. TRA Taoyuan Station, Taoyuan HSR Station and the international airport are in different parts of the city. From the airport, 1661 saves a luggage transfer but runs very infrequently; from downtown Taoyuan, TRA Taoyuan Station is usually the clearest starting point.
Use Luodong as your hub for Luodong Night Market, Dongshan River Water Park, the National Center for Traditional Arts and accommodation around the river. For Jiaoxi hot springs, get off in Jiaoxi. For Yilan city and Jimmy Park, get off in Yilan instead of continuing south to Luodong.
- Direct from TPE
- 1661 / 1661A
- Checked Terminal 1 departures: 09:20, 11:20, 13:55 and 17:20. Allow roughly 2.5–3 hours, depending on traffic.
- Airport fallback
- A12/A13 → A1 → TRA
- The express MRT reaches A1 in about 35–40 minutes and costs NT$160, followed by a walk to the TRA platforms.
- From the city
- TRA Taoyuan → Yilan/Luodong
- Look for a through train first; otherwise change at Banqiao or Taipei. Budget about 2–3 hours in total.
From Taoyuan · separate plans for the airport and city
The direct bus is easiest with bags; rail offers more departures; a car works best for groups and multiple stops.
Times and fares below were checked on 24 July 2026. Bus 1661 changes occasionally and Freeway 5 can be severely congested, so reopen the official pages on the day of travel rather than relying on an old itinerary.
Direct bus｜1661/1661A from Taoyuan Airport
Ubus serves both terminals, then Jiaoxi, Yilan and Luodong. The 1661A skips some Taoyuan stops and has a shorter scheduled journey; both routes remain vulnerable to Freeway 5 and tunnel traffic.
- Scheduled journey
- About 2.5–3 hours
- Adult one way
- About NT$260–340 to Jiaoxi, Yilan or Luodong
- Best for
- A matching departure, large bags and a one-seat ride
Rail｜Airport MRT plus TRA, or TRA from Taoyuan city
From the airport, take A12 or A13 to A1 Taipei Main Station, then walk to TRA Taipei Main and board an east-coast train. From central Taoyuan, search TRA Taoyuan–Yilan/Luodong first and change at Banqiao or Taipei only when necessary.
- Typical journey
- Airport: 2.5–3.5 hours; city: 2–3 hours
- Adult one way
- Varies by TRA train; add NT$160 from the airport
- Best for
- A missed 1661, weekend traffic and predictable arrival times
Drive or private transfer｜Freeways 2/3 to Freeway 5
From the airport or Taoyuan city, follow navigation to Freeway 3 and then Freeway 5 through the Hsuehshan Tunnel. It is fastest when traffic moves, but weekend and holiday queues can add hours.
- In clear traffic
- Roughly 1 hr 40 min–2 hr 30 min in flowing traffic
- Cost
- Fuel, tolls, parking or transfer fee
- Best for
- Families, late arrivals, Meihua Lake and multi-stop days
Direct bus｜1661/1661A from Taoyuan Airport
- 1Match the timetable to your terminal and a realistic immigration time. Checked departures from Terminal 1 were 09:20, 11:20, 13:55 (1661A) and 17:20; Terminal 2 is normally served a few minutes later.
- 2Ubus currently suspends convenience-store and online presales towards Luodong because immigration times are unpredictable. Buy at the Terminal 1 or 2 counter during opening hours.
- 3Get off at Jiaoxi for the hot-spring district, Yilan for the city and Jimmy Park, or Luodong for the night market, Dongshan River and Wujie sights.
Rail｜Airport MRT plus TRA, or TRA from Taoyuan city
- 1Airport: the official A12–A1 express time is 35 minutes and the fare is NT$160; A13 takes a few minutes more. Allow another 15–20 minutes to walk between A1 and the TRA platforms with luggage.
- 2City: search ‘Taoyuan → Luodong’ or ‘Taoyuan → Yilan’ on the TRA site. Some trains run through; if the connection is poor, transfer at Banqiao or Taipei rather than detouring to Taoyuan HSR Station.
- 3Reserved east-coast trains sell out on Friday evenings, weekends and holidays. If your plans centre on the night market, water park or arts centre, book through to Luodong.
Drive or private transfer｜Freeways 2/3 to Freeway 5
- 1Set the first attraction or your full accommodation address as the destination, not simply ‘Yilan’. The best interchange differs for Jiaoxi, Yilan city, Wujie, Luodong and Dongshan.
- 2Check the Freeway 1968 service for live Freeway 5 travel times, cameras and restrictions. TRA is usually more predictable during severe congestion.
- 3For a late flight, three or four passengers, or several large bags, compare licensed private transfers and state child-seat needs, luggage count and the exact Wujie/Dongshan address when booking.
After reaching Luodong
How to continue to the night market, water park and major sights
The station's front side is best for walking into central Luodong; the rear side connects to the transfer station. Green 21 is the most useful sightseeing spine, but it does not run as frequently as a city bus in Taipei—check the return before getting off.
Luodong Night Market
Walk west along Gongzheng Road toward Zhongshan Park. The market fills the streets around the park and Minsheng Road. On busy evenings, include crowd and walking time in your return plan.
Green 21 also stops at Gongzheng Elementary School (Luodong Night Market). A short taxi is useful with children or in rain.
Luodong Forestry Culture Park
Walk north along Zhongzheng North Road, or take Green 21 from Luodong Transfer Station to the forestry park stop.
It works well as your first stop after arrival and pairs naturally with the night market on the same trip into central Luodong.
Dongshan River Water Park
Take the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Green 21 from Luodong Transfer Station and get off at Dongshan River Water Park. During major events, follow the organizer's temporary shuttle notices.
Green 21 has limited departures. With swim gear, luggage or a larger group, a one-way taxi is often worth it.
National Center for Traditional Arts
Take Green 21 or Kamalan Bus 621 to the National Center for Traditional Arts. Check the correct bay because the two routes have different schedules.
Seasonal boats may connect the NCFTA and water park, but do not rely on the boat as year-round transport.
Dongshan River EcoArk
Take a local train from Luodong to Dongshan Station. The EcoArk entrance is close to the station; not every reserved express stops at Dongshan.
Pair it with Dongshan Old Street or the riverside cycle route, and check the local train back before you start walking.
Meihua Lake
Take route 281 toward Ren Shan Botanical Garden from Luodong Transfer Station and get off at Meihua Lake. Check both outbound and return departures because service is infrequent.
Old guides may still mention Green 25, which stopped running in 2026. Use route 281, another currently announced service, or a taxi.
A workable car-free plan
One day and one night, with taxis only for the awkward final legs
Whichever Taoyuan starting point you use, reach Luodong and leave your bags first. Explore the Dongshan River corridor in daylight and return to the night market in the evening; use a taxi for the final leg when local bus times do not align.
If your flight lands in the afternoon, do not force both the water park and arts centre into the same day. Check in, visit the night market, and save the river corridor for the next morning.
- 09:00
01
Travel from Taoyuan or TPE to Luodong
Choose 1661, Airport MRT plus TRA, or TRA from Taoyuan Station according to your start time, aiming to reach Luodong before noon.
- 10:30
02
Luodong Forestry Culture Park
Walk from the station, spend 1–1.5 hours, then have lunch near the station.
- 13:00
03
Green 21 toward Dongshan River
Choose either the water park or NCFTA for a longer visit; add both only if the timetable works.
- 17:00
04
Check in near Dongshan River
With luggage, take a taxi from the attraction or Luodong Transfer Station and rest first.
- 18:30
05
Dinner at Luodong Night Market
Travel light and take a taxi back, rather than building the evening around the last local bus.
Four things before departure
Treat the timetable as the structure of your day.
Landing time is not bus-boarding time. Immigration and baggage collection vary, and Luodong-bound 1661 tickets are not sold online, so keep the MRT-plus-TRA fallback ready.
Taoyuan HSR, TRA Taoyuan and the airport are three separate places. Unless you are already near the HSR station, there is usually no benefit in detouring to A18 simply to use high-speed rail.
After Luodong, walk to the night market; use Green 21/621 or a taxi for the water park and arts centre; use route 281 or a taxi for Meihua Lake. Local buses are not frequent.
The Children’s Folklore Festival, holidays, heavy rain and typhoons can change traffic, shuttles and opening arrangements. Check outbound and return services together and keep one option that does not depend on the last bus.
Connect the journey to your stay
Do not force one more transfer on the final leg.
Water Edge Garden sits between Dongshan River and open fields. With luggage from Luodong Station, the transfer station or the water park, a short taxi is usually the clearest last leg. Include the fare and wait in your plan, and use the booking contact to confirm arrival arrangements.
Sources and pre-trip checks
Confirm the day's service on official pages.
Schedules and fares are based on Ubus, Highway Bureau iBus, Taoyuan Metro, TRA, Taiwan Tourist Shuttle, Yilan County and the Freeway Bureau. The hero derives from a verified CC0 photograph of Taoyuan Airport Terminal 1 with people removed.
- Check the official 1661 ticket noticeUbus
- 1661 / 1661A timetable and faresHighway Bureau · iBus
- Taoyuan Airport MRT · A12 timetableTaoyuan Metro Corporation
- TRA timetable and faresTaiwan Railway Corporation
- Green 21 Dongshan River RouteTaiwan Tourist Shuttle
- Local transport in YilanYilan County Government
- Check Freeway 1968 trafficFreeway Bureau
- Original hero photograph (Taoyuan Airport Terminal 1, CC0)Wikimedia Commons · Meutnake Ah ManHO · CC0
Last checked: 24 July 2026. The 1661/1661A schedule, stops, fares and counter hours, plus MRT, TRA, local bus and Freeway 5 operations, can change at short notice. Follow the operator’s notice on your travel day.