What It Is

Tamsui sits at the mouth of the Tamsui River, where it has been a port under Spanish, Dutch, Qing, and Japanese administration in turn — more layered colonial history in one small town than anywhere else in the Taipei area. It is also the literal end of the MRT Red Line, which makes it the easiest of these ten trips to reach: no bus transfer, no train timetable to check.

Getting There

MRT Tamsui-Xinyi Line direct to Tamsui Station — the terminus. ~40 minutes from central Taipei, zero transfers.

Fort San Domingo (紅毛城)

Built originally by the Spanish in 1628, rebuilt by the Dutch, later the British consular residence — the red brick walls and Victorian former consulate now form a joint museum site.

Admission: NT$80, covers Fort San Domingo, Hobe Fort, and the Tamsui Customs Officer's Residence.
Hours: Mon–Fri 09:30–17:00 (last entry 16:30); Sat–Sun 09:30–18:00 (last entry 17:30).
Closed: first Monday of every month, the day after national holidays, Lunar New Year's Eve and Day.

Old Street and Sunset

The riverside promenade running from the MRT station past the Old Street is lined with food stalls — iron eggs (鐵蛋), 阿給 (a-gei, a Tamsui-specific fried tofu pouch dish), and fish ball soup are the local specialities. Fort San Domingo sits on a small hill above the river and is one of the better vantage points for the sunset over Guanyin Mountain on the opposite bank; the promenade itself works just as well and stays open later.

Sources: Fort San Domingo admission/hours per Tamsui Historical Museum official site; MRT route per Taipei Metro. Checked 21 Aug 2026.