Airports in major Asian cities have a leg up on American and European counterparts when it comes to making a planned or unplanned layover truly enjoyable. Taoyuan Airport in Taipei, Taiwan, is striving to join an elite club occupied by Singapore Changi Airport and Incheon Airport, serving greater Seoul and South Korea. Since Taoyuan’s makeover began roughly a decade ago (with a third terminal on the way in 2020 or 2021, depending on the source), the international terminal has taken a particularly kid-friendly direction. While free WiFi is available throughout the airport, you may want to look up from the screen and have your kids unplug from games to get some air and a sense of place.
One of the first steps Taoyuan’s management took in elevating the airport experience was evoking the presence of EVA Air mascot and Sanrio character Hello Kitty in 2007. The Japanese-born and internationally embraced cartoon feline has put the youngest travelers at ease for over a decade with a themed playground and a lounge scaled for their comfort. However, with older kids and adults to consider, airport management teamed up with Ever Rich Duty Free and Taiwan National University of Art to transform once bland waiting areas in Terminal 2 into enlightening immersions into Taiwanese history, popular culture and geography.
Taoyuan Airport Nature Gate. Photo: Elyse Glickman
The Taiwan Local Cuisine Lounge adjoins a food court that evokes the color and aromas of Taipei night markets, world famous through countless film features on travel-themed television shows, travel blogs and YouTube. The food court, naturally, sells Taiwanese meals and snacks, while the Taiwan Fruit Lounge delves into the local products and raw materials found in the various dishes. Finished products like chips and cookies can be sampled in the shopping areas, while tasting stations in both shops and lounges dispense fresh brewed teas. While there are several Ever Rich Taiwan Famous Products Shops enticing travelers to purchase these bite-sized treats, one cannot deny if a flight is delayed, a bit of high-quality tea can hit the spot.
Taoyuan Aviation Gate. Photo: Elyse Glickman
Other gate lounges, such as Glamorous Textile Art and Taiwan Aboriginal Art, have museum-style displays, while Taiwan Faience, Taiwan Alpine, Sea & River Ecology and Taiwan Orchid cover various aspects of the island nation’s flora, fauna and a few natural science phenomena. Arts and culture come to life in the Taiwan Opera, Taiwan Music (with a fun 1980s vibe), Glory of Sports (big baseball emphasis), Glory of High Tech (a treat for the gadget obsessed) and the Taiwan Cinema Lounge (with movie theater-style seating). Several of these also feature their own interactive play areas for tots, and information placards that make what visitors are looking at more engaging.
Taoyuan Ecology Gate. Photo: Elyse Glickman
If you have a layover of seven hours or more, you can look into a free half-day city tour of Taipei covering some of the main highlights by bus. However, as there are only 18 spots available on each tour, booking ahead of time is usually a must. If that’s not possible, you can still “explore” Taiwan with the help of a prepared brochure, Journey Through an Airport, at the airport’s information kiosks. It outlines self-guided tours and tips based on the length of one’s stay at the airport.
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