Taipei to Longdong in 2026: Buses, Meeting Points and the Return Trip

Choose your Longdong meeting point before choosing the connection

A car-free trip from Taipei to Longdong is practical, but start with the exact entrance or meeting point rather than the next available bus. Longdong Bay Ocean Park, Longdong Fishing Harbor, the neighborhood beside Hemei Elementary School, and Longdong South Ocean Park, also known as Longdong Four Seasons Bay, are separate destinations. A map pin labeled simply “Longdong” may be nowhere near your check-in desk. Use the address and arrival instructions supplied by your activity operator as the starting point.

Most travelers can take a Taiwan Railway train to Ruifang and compare buses 886 and 856 from there. Bus 791 is worth considering if you are staying in Keelung or approaching along that coast. A reserved transfer becomes more valuable with bulky equipment, limited walking ability or an early fixed check-in. Flexible sightseeing can follow the bus timetable; a booked activity needs the transport plan worked backward from check-in, with time between the bus stop and the actual meeting point.

Four arrival areas with similar names but different access

For Longdong Bay Ocean Park, look for the stop named 龍洞灣海洋公園, not Longdong South. If your destination is the fishing harbor, village or a shop near Hemei Elementary School, ask whether you should get off on the main road and walk into the village or take 886 to 龍洞漁港 or 和美國小. The 龍洞港 stop on 856 and the harbor or village stops served by 886 should not be treated as interchangeable meeting points. Save the precise stop pin or a stop photograph before leaving.

Plan for the Longdong South Ocean Park area when visiting Four Seasons Bay or the southern end of the cape trail. The northern trail access is near Hemei Elementary School. That distinction affects your bus stop, walking direction and return stop. Walking the cape trail between the two is a hike, with steps, slopes and weather exposure, rather than a shortcut with a suitcase. Follow public access signs, respect the school grounds and never climb around a closure.

For snorkeling, diving or climbing, check-in may be at a shop, parking area or a specified junction rather than at the water entry or climbing area. Ask for the meeting address, nearest bus stop, any stop pickup and the final drop-off location. Changing clothes and cleaning equipment may come after the activity itself. Establish the whole arrival and departure process before deciding whether a bus-based day works.

Option 1: Train to Ruifang, then bus 886 toward Hemei Elementary School

If you are based near Taipei Main Station, Songshan or Nangang, start by checking trains to Ruifang. Confirm the particular train stops there and that you have the correct ticket for that service; a train heading toward Yilan or Hualien is not automatically suitable. As a planning allowance, leave at least 20 minutes between train arrival and bus departure, and more if you need time for exits, crossings and finding the stop. Check the railway for date-specific duration and fares rather than relying on an old fare chart.

Bus 886 toward Hemei Elementary School follows the coastal corridor and is particularly useful for the Longdong village or school area. In Ruifang, use the designated outbound stop, such as 區民廣場 (District Square), shown in the current route information. Do not assume both directions use the station’s front entrance. Standard journeys and services via the Shuinandong Visitor Center differ. Show the driver your exact destination rather than asking only whether the bus goes to Longdong.

The return is the main trap. The official 886 information lists the last holiday departure from Hemei Elementary School at 12:20, compared with 16:30 on weekdays. These are terminal departures, not arrival times at other stops. An easy morning ride on 886 does not mean it will be available when an afternoon activity finishes. It is perfectly reasonable to use 886 outbound and check 856, 791 or a reserved transfer for the return.

Option 2: Bus 856 from Ruifang for a flexible coastal day

Bus 856, the Golden Fulong route, connects Ruifang, Jiufen, Jinguashi and the northeast coast. It serves Longdong Bay Ocean Park, Longdong Harbor and Longdong South Ocean Park. Ruifang to Longdong crosses the Shuinandong fare boundary and costs NT$30 at the full two-stage bus fare, with train and activity costs separate. Accepted stored-value cards include EasyCard, iPASS and icash; follow the onboard tapping instructions. If you already have a transport pass, check the eligibility of that specific pass.

The current official schedule lists departures from Ruifang District Square at 09:00, 12:00 and 15:10 on weekdays, with additional 10:00 and 13:00 departures on holidays. This is not a frequent city service: missing a bus can change a half-day plan substantially. Published running times are planning references, since Jiufen traffic, coastal roads and boarding can cause delays. For a fixed appointment, choose an earlier service rather than filling every minute of the timetable.

For the return, look for the Ruifang or District Square direction. A departure time from Magang is not the time the bus reaches Longdong. The current last 856 leaves Magang at 16:25 and serves the Longdong stops en route, so check live arrivals on the day. Photograph the return stop when you arrive, identify a safe route to the opposite direction and save the official 856 timetable and fares. Change your plan while alternatives remain if an activity runs late.

Option 3: Connect in Keelung for 791, or reserve a transfer

Bus 791 links the Keelung and Fulong areas via the Longdong coast. It suits travelers based in Keelung, already sightseeing there, or returning through Keelung before taking a train. Select the full route serving Longdong and the correct direction; variants may follow different diversions. If starting in Taipei, compare the whole journey to Keelung plus the bus wait and coastal ride, rather than deciding from the fare of the final leg alone.

For a reserved vehicle, provide the Taipei pickup address, precise Longdong destination, party size, luggage, any wet equipment and the return pickup time. Establish whether the booking is one-way, round-trip or an hourly charter, and whether waiting, parking, remote-area service or overtime costs extra. Self-drivers should navigate to a proper parking area or the operator’s designated location, not use fishing operations, the school entrance or a narrow village road for long-term parking.

A customizable Taipei charter is a useful starting point for comparing prices, but ask the supplier to confirm the exact Longdong stop, total hours and any supplement before paying. A standard Jiufen or Yehliu tour does not automatically include a Longdong transfer. This matters particularly for fixed-time outdoor activities. If you only need the Ruifang–Longdong leg, ask your booked operator whether it offers a paid pickup and keep the arrangement in writing.

Build the day around a usable return connection

For scenery, a walk and lunch, keep the structure simple: Taipei to Ruifang in the morning, time at Longdong, then return via Ruifang in the afternoon. As a personal planning allowance, budget roughly two to three hours door to door each way, including train travel, bus waiting, the connection and the final walk. This is not a fixed journey time and poor connections can take longer. Pick one main arrival area and add a nearby walk only if the timetable allows, rather than trying to visit every entrance.

If you have a half-day activity, make Longdong the main destination. Allow for changing, collecting stored items and walking to the stop before the intended bus, and retain a usable fallback departure where possible. If the final service is your only way out, arrange a transfer or reduce your sightseeing. Jiufen is more realistic after an early finish at Longdong, with its own onward connection checked in the Taipei–Jiufen transport guide; avoid squeezing two full half-day itineraries into one.

Rain or northeast monsoon conditions can affect coastal activities even when public transport operates. Check the operator’s meeting point and cancellation policy the previous evening, then check live buses and official road notices on the day. An exposed coastal stop can be uncomfortable in strong wind, so carry a rain layer, water and offline contact details. If you miss a bus, wait in a safe, lit public place while contacting your operator or a transport provider; do not chase a connection along fast roads without suitable pedestrian space.

Luggage, families and accessibility: check the final leg too

The most easily overlooked part is the path after the bus, not the train. A stroller, wheelchair or large equipment case may meet curbs, slopes, gravel or steps. A low-floor bus alone does not make the complete journey accessible. Give the provider your equipment dimensions and mobility requirements and have it confirm the route from drop-off to reception; reserve a suitable vehicle if needed. With children, reduce transfers and exposed waiting, and plan around the slowest member of the group.

Leave large luggage at your accommodation or an arranged storage location and carry only the essentials in a small weather-resistant bag. Do not assume every coastal stop has lockers, toilets or readily available taxis, and keep wet or sandy items off public-transport seats. An overnight stay in Ruifang or near the activity can help with an early start, but confirm the morning transfer alongside the room. Staying on the coast does not automatically solve a missing early bus connection.