Wulai travel guide — What to do in Wulai with a day trip from Taipei?

August 15, 2021

What is Wulai, where is it? I’ve never heard of it before although I’ve been to Taiwan several times, so I didn’t know where it is. Flipping the map, oh, it is simply a village in New Taipei City (to the south of Taipei), nothing more and nothing less. But… It seems that what is less expected gives us more experience beyond our expectations. Wulai is such a place. So, how to get to Wulai from Taipei and what to do in Wulai (Wulai New Taipei city)? Let’s check out our Wulai travel guide with my field trip on how to spend a day in Wulai (Wulai day trip), best places to visit and top things to do in Wulai to figure out the answer!

07 Wulai (烏來) - The Old Street and the Hot Spring @ New Taipei [Taiwan] (Large) — Poetic of Wulai Old Town | what to do in wulai

From Taipei to Wulai takes almost 1 hour combined between MRT and transit bus, the travel time makes me somewhat tired and not too excited. But when I arrrived, the sun was rising and the mineral stream flowing through Wulai has a beautiful emerald water color, leaning against the mountains and woods behind, creating an overwhelmingly beautiful scene.

Wulai was damaged by a big storm in 2015, so this area still has many constructions in the process of rebuilding, generally when I visited many places have been rebuilt and operating normally. The stream was also beautiful and clean not like the pictures seen a few years ago, so you can rest assured.

wulai old street taiwan (2) — Wulai old street

Wulai Atayal Aboriginal Village and Hot Springs — Atayal Aboriginal Village & Hot Springs

Wulai travel guide: What to do in Wulai and things to do in Wulai

When coming here, there are 2 must-do things: Wandering, sightseeing around and hot spring bath experience.

Wandering and sightseeing around

In Wulai, there is the famous red-painted Wulai Suspension Bridge 烏來吊橋 like the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco (of course, smaller). But thanks to its color againts the green background color of the trees and the emerald green of the water below that creates a picturesque beauty.

On one side of the bridge, there is also the Wulai Fude Temple 烏來福德宮 which also adds an ancient look to the space here.

Wulai hot spring — Wulai Fude Temple at dusk

Sightseeing in Wulai you just need to strolling along the main river, crossing the bridges or get into the village center to enjoy the view. Wulai village with its back lying on mountains and facing the water which is very good in Feng shui, creating extremely charming beauty, enough for us to fall in love. But it is best to come in the dry season, because during the rainy season, the spring water will not turn turquoise because it is mixed with the mud.

Wulai-Suspension-Bridge — Wulai Suspension Bridge

The streets bearing the bold of the Atayal style | wulai day trip

wulai old street taiwan (1) — Wulai local store

Fried chicken, one of the dishes should try in Wulai | wulai travel guide

wulai cable car — Wulai seen from above.

Cute Wulai Log Cart — Wulai Log Cart | what to do in wulai

Hot spring bath experience

There are two type of hot spring baths, one is the public bath in hot spring public areas, and the other is the private bath in the resorts. Because there is no need to stay at the resort overnight, I booked a voucher at Volando Urai Spring Spa & Resort on Klook which is a simple package for you to take a hot spring bath for 1.5 hours with a private room and window overlooking the stream, which is extremely relaxing with jade-colored water right below the resort and the tree-filled mountain next to it creates a perfect space and atmosphere for relaxation. You will then be led upstairs to enjoy a set lunch of five different dishes presented like fine dining.

wulai old street and hot springs — Wulai Public Hot Spring

This package is only about $50 which I find quite cheap for 2 people. But it’s not include the transfer fee to the resort. If you want to try it, you can refer and book here.

Note: The price of this package will increase to $85 in the summer.

volando urai hot spring resort and spa.1 — Volando Urai Public Hot Spring Spa | what to do in wulai

A poetic experience at Volando Urai Spring

volando urai hot spring review, volando urai spring spa & resort blog, volando urai spring spa & resort review 5533 — Overlooking Nanshi River

volando hot springs resort private bath1 — | what to do in wulai

Volando Urai Public Hot Spring Spa — Volando Hotspring

Volando Urai Spring in Wulai | wulai day trip

A dinner set at Volando Urai Spring (menu may change according to the season) — A set meal at Volando Urai Spring (menu may change according to the season)

Delicious meal with Xiaolongbao dumplings cake | what to do in wulai

Wulai day trip: How to get to Wulai from Taipei?

MRT & Bus

Take the subway to Xindian Station (Xindian Line) is the last stop of the Green Line. Then, take bus 849 at the bus stop in front of the station, right behind the information counter, next to the taxi stand. The bus takes about 40 minutes (longer on weekends) to Wulai, every 15 minutes with a trip and costs NT$15. Wulai is the last stop, so you can enjoy the journey without worrying about getting off.

MRT & Shuttle Bus

Another way is to call directly to Volando Urai Spring Spa & Resort, they have daily direct transfers to the resort, which only takes about 20 minutes. The fee is NT$50/round trip. Phone number: +886-2-2661-6555/+886 2 2577 1589.

volando private transfer — Volando private transfer service

Taxi

Definitely, the easiest and fastest way to get to Wulai is simply to take a taxi from Taipei. It’s only 30 minutes from Xindian MRT station, but not cheap. At Xindian taxi stand, they have a taxi fare sign with a pre-determined fare (depending on the destination). Getting to Wulai from Xindian station will cost you NT$600/one-way. Returning from Wulai by taxi can be negotiated and should be cheaper than NT$600, but also not cheaper than take a bus. Sometimes during very busy times, with crowded tourists waiting for the bus, taxi drivers may show up offering to take four people to Wulai for NT$100 each. This is a good bargain if you want to get to Wulai quickly and comfortably.

Wulai travel guide: When should you go to Wulai?

You can visit Wulai all year round to soak in healthy mineral water. However, you should come on weekdays to avoid the overcrowded number of visitors from Taipei to Wulai on weekends. What I like most about Wulai is the lightness, tranquil, peace and absence of foreign tourists, you just need to avoid come on weekends to avoid a large number of local visitors.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, to and from Taipei you can refer to

Are you finding more top things to do in Taipei: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Read more: Taipei travel blog — The fullest Taipei city guide for a wonderful trip to Taipei for the first-timers.