taiwan
Why night markets work for families
Taipei's night markets are not quiet, orderly affairs. They're loud, crowded, fragrant and utterly chaotic—and children often love them. The carnival games, the sizzling food stalls, the sheer sensory overload can be thrilling for school-age kids, though it may overwhelm very young toddlers or babies sensitive to noise.
The good news is that Taiwan is exceptionally family-friendly. You'll see local families with prams, toddlers in carriers and primary-school children weaving through the lanes. Most major markets have proper toilet facilities, and stall owners are generally patient with children. The challenge is managing the crowd, keeping track of little ones and pacing your visit so no one melts down before you've had your scallion pancake.
Plan to arrive between 5pm and 6pm if possible. The markets open from around 4pm to 6pm depending on location, and arriving early means thinner crowds, easier navigation and a better chance of grabbing a stool at a stall with seating. You can be in and out by 7pm or 8pm, which suits most children's bedtimes and avoids the weekend peak-hour crush.
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Which Taipei night markets suit families best
There are dozens of night markets across Taipei, but four stand out for families travelling with younger children.
Shilin Night Market is the largest and most famous. It has a dedicated basement food court with proper seating and air conditioning, plus an enormous arcade and carnival-game section that keeps children entertained for ages. The downside is the sheer size and weekend crowds. It's near Jiantan MRT station on the red line.
Raohe Street Night Market is more compact and linear, which makes it easier to keep track of wandering children. It has a beautiful traditional gate at the entrance and sits next to Songshan Ciyou Temple, so you can combine your visit with a bit of sightseeing. It's near Songshan MRT station on the green line and opens around 5pm.
Linjiang Night Market (also called Tonghua Night Market) is smaller and feels more manageable with toddlers or preschoolers. It's in the Da'an district, close to Taipei 101, and has a more local, less touristy feel. It opens around 6pm.
Ningxia Night Market is centrally located near Taipei Main Station and relatively compact. It's well organised despite the crowds and has a good range of food stalls. It's a solid choice if you're staying in the city centre and want something accessible without a long MRT journey.
If you only have one evening, Shilin or Raohe are your best bets for the full night-market experience with children.
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Navigating the crowds with young children
Baby carriers work better than prams in the thick of the crowd, especially during peak hours. A soft-structured carrier or hip seat keeps your baby or toddler close and leaves your hands free for food and drinks. That said, plenty of families do bring lightweight strollers, and they're useful for corralling an energetic toddler or carrying bags—just be prepared to nudge your way through narrow gaps and apologise frequently.
For older children, establish a meeting point before you enter the market. Mobile reception is generally good, but it's easy to lose sight of a child in the press of bodies. Some families use Bluetooth trackers on wristbands as an extra precaution.
Bring a small backpack and wear it on your front to deter pickpockets (rare, but not unheard of in crowded tourist areas). Pack baby wipes, hand sanitiser and a pack of tissues—you'll need them after sticky mango shaved ice or a round of fried chicken. Small denominations of Taiwan dollars in cash are essential; most stalls don't accept cards, though some now take LINE Pay.
Weekday evenings are noticeably quieter than weekends. If your schedule allows it, visit on a Tuesday or Wednesday rather than Friday or Saturday night.
What to eat with children at night markets
Taipei night markets offer hundreds of dishes, but not all of them suit cautious eaters or small stomachs. Start with these five crowd-pleasers.
Scallion pancakes are chewy, flaky and savoury, made from wheat dough layered with spring onions. They're mild, filling and easy to share. Most children who like bread or naan will eat these happily.
Popcorn chicken (yan su ji) is bite-sized fried chicken dusted with white pepper, salt and crispy basil. It's salty, crunchy and comes in a paper bag you can carry while you walk. Look for stalls with long queues—they're usually the best.
Taiwanese sausage is a sweet, garlicky pork sausage grilled over charcoal. It's thicker than a hot dog and often served with raw garlic slices (skip those for the kids). Some stalls serve it stuffed inside a sticky rice "bun" for a carb-on-carb treat.
Soup dumplings (xiao long bao) are available at some night markets, though the quality varies. These are small steamed dumplings filled with pork and hot broth. Teach children to nibble a hole first and sip the soup before eating the dumpling, or they'll burn their mouths.
Fresh fruit juice and bubble tea are everywhere. Mango, passion fruit, guava and watermelon juices are safe bets. For bubble tea, ask for half sugar or less (ban tang or shao tang) if you're ordering for children—the default is very sweet.
Avoid anything with visible chilli oil, fermented tofu (chou doufu—you'll smell it) or unfamiliar offal unless your children are adventurous eaters. Most stalls have picture menus or samples on display, so you can point and assess before committing.
Share everything. A single stomach cannot hold all the food you'll want to try, and sharing lets everyone taste more dishes without waste or overspending.
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How a local nanny helps here
A local nanny from The Travel Nanny can hold your toddler's hand through the crowd, carry your baby in a sling while you juggle food, and translate menu items or dietary needs to stall owners. They know which markets are less overwhelming for younger children, which stalls have the shortest queues and where the clean toilets are. If your child needs a break from the noise, your nanny can step aside to a quieter lane while you finish browsing, then rejoin you without the whole family having to leave.
Games and entertainment for children
Most large night markets have carnival-style game stalls where children can try their luck at ring toss, BB gun shooting galleries, fishing games or claw machines. The fishing game is a night-market tradition: children are given a small net (sometimes paper, sometimes plastic) and a bucket, then attempt to scoop goldfish or small shrimp from a tank. Some stalls now use plastic fish in paddling pools, which is less stressful for everyone involved.
These games cost between NT$50 and NT$100 per go and rarely result in a prize worth the money, but children enjoy them and they're a good way to break up an evening of walking and eating. Shilin Night Market has the largest arcade area, with pinball-style machines, basketball hoops and other fairground attractions.
Don't feel obliged to stop at every game stall. Set a budget beforehand—two or three games per child is usually enough—and move on before the novelty wears off.
Practical tips for a smooth visit
Arrive early, ideally between 5pm and 6pm, when the markets are just opening. Not every stall will be set up yet, but you'll avoid the worst of the crowds and the oppressive evening heat in summer.
Most major markets have toilets, though they're not always signposted in English. Ask a stall owner ("Cesuo zai nali?" means "Where is the toilet?") or look for signs with the universal WC symbol. Shilin's basement food court has the cleanest facilities.
If your child is sensitive to noise or crowds, bring noise-cancelling headphones or a favourite fidget toy. Even in the busiest markets, you can usually duck into a side street or quieter alley for a breather.
Taiwan is a very safe country, and night markets are family spaces, but they're also crowded and disorienting. Keep young children within arm's reach, especially near road crossings or when the crowd surges.
Finally, don't try to see everything. Pick one market, spend an hour or two, eat well, play a game or two and leave before anyone gets overtired. You can always come back tomorrow.
Before you go: night market checklist
- Cash in small bills (NT$100, NT$50, coins)
- Baby wipes and hand sanitiser
- Tissues or napkins
- Lightweight carrier or stroller
- Reusable water bottle
- Backpack worn on front
- Meeting point agreed with older children
- Arrive early (5pm to 6pm)
- Weekday preferred over weekend
- One market per evening, not three
