Tamsui Day Trip Guide: Fort San Domingo

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Taiwan's Red Fortress, "Fort San Domingo"

Filming Location of the Movie 'Secret', "Aletheia University"

Fort San Domingo | Aletheia University

紅毛城 | 真理大學

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Hey there! I'm travel influencer Ciel-!

Today, if you're planning a trip to Taipei, Taiwan,

and have Tamsui on your itinerary,

I'd love to introduce you to "Fort San Domingo & Aletheia University."

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Fort San Domingo | Aletheia University Quick Info

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Opening Hours

Fort San Domingo Mon-Fri 09:30-17:00

Sat-Sun 09:30-18:00

Aletheia University Mon-Fri 08:00-17:00

Sat-Sun Closed

Tel: Fort San Domingo +886 2 2623 1001

Aletheia University +886 2 2621 2121

Other Info

Fort San Domingo: Admission Fee 80 TWD (approx. ~$2)

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📍 Fort San Domingo | Aletheia University, Filming Locations of 'Secret' 📍

📍 Fort San Domingo
No. 1, Lane 28, Zhongzheng Rd, Tamsui District, New Taipei City, Taiwan 251

📍 Aletheia University
No. 32, Zhenli St, Tamsui District, New Taipei City, Taiwan 251

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What is Fort San Domingo?

Famous for its striking red brick buildings,

Fort San Domingo is a must-visit spot on any Tamsui itinerary.

Along with neighboring Aletheia University, it's widely known as a filming location for 'Secret,'

but it also happens to be a historic Western-style fortress

boasting nearly 400 years of rich history.

It was originally built by the Spanish, and later rebuilt by the Dutch

to take on its current form.

The name "Hongmaocheng" literally translates to

"Fort of the Red-Haired," referring to the Dutch who used to manage it.

That's how it earned its name, "Hongmaocheng."

How to Get There

From downtown Taipei,

Take the Red MRT Line (Tamsui-Xinyi Line)

⬇️ (Takes about 50 minutes from Taipei Main Station)

Get off at Tamsui Station

⬇️

Hop on bus R26, 757, 837, 857, or 880

and get off at the Fort San Domingo/Aletheia University stop.

or

Or just open up Google Maps and take a scenic 20-minute walk!

▼The EasyCard: Perfect for transit and convenience store runs in Taiwan!▼

Taiwan EasyCard (Taoyuan / Kaohsiung Airport Pickup)

The admission fee for Fort San Domingo is 80 TWD, which is about ~$2.

The ticket itself features a beautiful print of the fortress,

making it a wonderful little keepsake to take home.

▼Here is a link if you'd like to book your tickets in advance for a small discount▼

[Taipei, Taiwan] Tamsui Fort San Domingo Admission Ticket: MyRealTrip

As I explored after buying my ticket,

I was amazed to see it looked exactly as it did about 8 years ago!

It felt so well-preserved with no major changes.

Even the teddy bear was still doing great ❤️

The charming red bricks of Fort San Domingo

were still perfectly preserved.

Stepping inside,

the gentlemen statues (?) were still there to welcome us.

Exploring the interior, you can see rooms preserved just as they were used back then,

making it an incredibly fascinating space for history lovers.

However, we...

✨ Are you more interested in the ✨photo spots✨?

Fort San Domingo Photo Spots

Right at the entrance, beautiful trees line both sides,

so if you snap a photo standing right in the middle,

it turns out incredibly beautiful!

It's always been famous as an absolute must-visit spot for that legendary "shot of a lifetime,"

so make sure to get your perfect shot! ✨

Next up is the hallway with those gorgeous arched pillars!

This has also been a super popular spot for ages.

While many people love using the arched columns as their backdrop...

I found it a bit tricky because the angle felt a bit too close.

So, I decided to just capture the pillars themselves, and the result was still so satisfying.

Honestly, even without the pillars—just capturing the classic brick railings looks amazing.

Aside from these two main spots, as you wander around,

you'll find quite a few hidden corners where you just know a photo would turn out beautifully.

I highly recommend exploring at your own pace,

finding your own unique photo spots, and snapping away!

Aletheia University

If you've made it all the way to Fort San Domingo,

and especially if you're a fan of the movie Secret (2007),

you absolutely cannot skip Aletheia University right next door!

Looking at this photo, it has a super hip vibe, but...

As you stroll in from the main gate,

you'll see school buildings that are undeniably stunning!

While it's famous as a filming location,

it's actually Taiwan's very first Western-style university, founded in 1882.

It's a campus steeped in history!

To be honest, the campus is quite small,

but it's absolutely gorgeous—perfectly fitting for its silver-screen fame.

I highly recommend pairing it with your visit to Fort San Domingo.

Seriously, isn't it stunning?! 😍

Even if this place hadn't been in a movie,

I think I still would have visited Aletheia University

without hesitation right after Fort San Domingo.

And of course, it's an incredible photo spot,

so I highly recommend getting some gorgeous travel shots here too! 💚

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✔︎ Taiwan Taipei Tamsui Travel

Fort San Domingo & Aletheia University Review

Years ago, I planned my trip to Tamsui because the famous Giant Castella cake was all the rage, and I wanted to visit the locations from one of my favorite movies, Secret.

Even returning now, this spot is just as beautiful as ever.

Plus, the nearby Tamsui Old Street has so many different things to eat now, even if you aren't just looking for castella cake!

If you're traveling to Taipei, I highly recommend carving out a day for Tamsui,

and taking a stroll through Fort San Domingo and Aletheia University!

Taiwan EasyCard (Taoyuan / Kaohsiung Airport Pickup)

[Taipei, Taiwan] Tamsui Fort San Domingo Admission Ticket

Cielso

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