Tamsui Day Trip 2026: Taipei MRT Route & Itinerary

Tamsui Day Trip Guide

How to Get There, Best Itinerary, Local Food, Sunset Spots & Tips

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Exploring Tamsui (Danshui) was hands-down the highlight of my recent Taiwan trip.

It offers a completely different vibe from the bustling streets of Ximending, Yongkang Street, or the Zhongshan cafe district.

If you want to soak up 1000% authentic Taiwanese coastal charm, this is the place to be.

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The golden hour here is pure magic ♡

If you're a fan of breathtaking sunsets and sparkling waters, you absolutely cannot miss this!!

It's the perfect escape to recharge and find some inspiration away from the daily grind.

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I initially hesitated, worrying it might be complicated to get there,

but taking the MRT from Ximending was incredibly easy!

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From step-by-step transit directions from Taipei to my personal 1-day Tamsui itinerary,

hidden gem cafes, and local teppanyaki spots—I've got you covered.

If you're planning your Taipei itinerary for 2026, make sure to bookmark this guide.

Taiwan After Work

Words & Photos by Gyoni_Pic

1. Tamsui: The Basics

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Located just north of Taipei, Tamsui is a historic port city

beloved for its romantic coastline and spectacular sunset views.

It's also famous among movie buffs as the primary filming location for Jay Chou's hit film, Secret.

Watching that movie made me dream of visiting, and it absolutely lived up to the hype! :)

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Since it's highly accessible from downtown Taipei,

it makes for an effortless and rewarding day trip!

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2. How to Get to Tamsui from Ximending (MRT)

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✅ Route 1: Transfer at Taipei Main Station

1. Ximen Station: Take the Blue Line (Bannan Line) for 1 stop.

2. Taipei Main Station: Transfer to the Red Line (Tamsui-Xinyi Line).

3. Get off at Tamsui Station: Takes about 40–50 minutes.

→ This is the most standard route. It only requires one transfer and is very straightforward.

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✅ Route 2: Transfer at Zhongshan Station

1. Ximen Station: Take the Green Line (Songshan-Xindian Line) for 2 stops.

2. Zhongshan Station: Transfer to the Red Line.

3. Get off at Tamsui Station: (Takes about 1 hour).

→ A great alternative if you want to avoid the massive crowds at Taipei Main Station.

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✅ Route 3: Walk to NTU Hospital Station

1. Walk about 15 minutes (approx. 0.7 miles) from Ximen Station.

2. NTU Hospital Station: Board the Red Line directly (Takes about 50 minutes).

→ No transfers needed! Plus, since it's a less crowded station,

you have a much better chance of snagging a seat for the long ride.

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*Crucial Tip:

The Red Line has two different terminal destinations: Beitou and Tamsui.

Make sure you board the train bound for Tamsui!

If you accidentally get on a Beitou train, you'll have to get off and wait for the next one.

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While there are other transit options, I chose Route 3 (walking to NTU Hospital Station).

The weather was around 70°F—perfect for a brisk city walk.

However, if you're visiting during Taiwan's humid summer months, definitely just take the transfer! Haha.

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3. The Ultimate 1-Day Tamsui Itinerary

📍 Tamsui Golden Anchor
Huanhe Rd, Tamsui District, New Taipei City, Taiwan 251

📍 Tamsui Old Street
No. 1, Zhongzheng Rd, Tamsui District, New Taipei City, Taiwan 251

📍 Fort San Domingo (Hongmaocheng)
251 Taiwan New Taipei City, Tamsui District, 中正路28巷1號

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

Tamsui Riverside Park

Just a short stroll from Tamsui MRT Station, you'll find this gorgeous riverside park.

It's the kind of view where you could just sit, zone out, and feel completely at peace.

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I recommend saving this spot for the very end of your day trip.

Watching the sunset over the water here is the absolute perfect way to cap off your itinerary.

There are plenty of photo ops and wide paths for a relaxing walk.

If you have time, renting a bike to cycle along the river is a fantastic idea.

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Tamsui Old Street

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A bustling hub of street food and quirky souvenirs.

Every little alleyway hides something interesting to look at,

and this is exactly where you'll find the famous giant Taiwanese Castella cake.

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After grabbing a slice of Castella cake, we headed toward Fort San Domingo.

It's about a 0.75-mile walk (roughly 17 minutes) from the Old Street,

but be warned—it's mostly uphill, so it's a bit of a workout.

Thankfully, it wasn't a sweltering 90°F day!

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Fort San Domingo (Hongmaocheng)

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Hours: 09:30–17:00 / Closed on Mondays

Admission: 80 NTD (~$2.50 USD)

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Originally built by the Spanish and later used as a British consulate, this fort is steeped in colonial history.

The panoramic views of the river and ocean from up here are absolutely stunning, aren't they?

It made the uphill trek completely worth it.

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This place is packed with Instagram-worthy photo spots,

so make sure your camera is ready as you explore the grounds!

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Aletheia University

Aletheia University is literally a 1-minute walk from Fort San Domingo!

...Though it is, yet again, slightly uphill. ^^

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This is a prestigious, functioning university in Taiwan.

The western-style brick buildings and manicured gardens make it a lovely place to wander after visiting the fort.

It's also a highly popular filming location for Taiwanese dramas and movies.

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Hidden Alleys & Tamkang Senior High School

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These are some of the picturesque alleys we stumbled upon while walking up to the fort.

Tamkang Senior High School (the actual school from the movie Secret) is another famous photo spot nearby.

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I saw these while hiking up from the Old Street, but if you take the bus directly to Fort San Domingo,

you can easily check these out while walking back down the hill.

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4. Where to Eat in Tamsui: Castella, Cafes & Teppanyaki

📍 Original Tamsui Castella Cake
No. 135, Zhongzheng Rd, Tamsui District, New Taipei City, Taiwan 251

📍 Café La Vie Révée Des Anges
No. 233之1號, Zhongzheng Rd, Tamsui District, New Taipei City, Taiwan 251

📍 Mingchu Teppanyaki
No. 36, Zhongzheng Rd, Tamsui District, New Taipei City, Taiwan 251

Giant Castella Cake

There's a cluster of 3 or 4 shops selling these massive sponge cakes,

but we joined the line at the most famous-looking one.

The portions are huge so I debated if we should buy one, but hey—when in Tamsui!

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They offer original and cheese flavors. We went with the original.

Can fresh, piping-hot bread ever be bad? Lol.

It was SO incredibly delicious!

However, the wait was about 30 minutes

(they can only bake a limited amount per batch).

Honestly, next time I might just try the shop next door to save time.

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Café La Vie Révée Des Anges

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I originally had another sunset cafe bookmarked, but it was completely full.

We wandered into this spot by chance, and I highly recommend it—the coffee was great, and the view was unreal!

Seriously, the sunset from the patio was insane ㅠㅠ

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This photo is 100% unfiltered, unedited, straight from my camera. Can you believe these colors?

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Mingchu Teppanyaki

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This was easily the best meal of our entire 4-day trip to Taiwan.

I want to tell everyone visiting Tamsui to eat here.

I almost skipped it because teppanyaki isn't exactly a cheap street food,

but the Google reviews convinced me, and I ended up having the best teppanyaki of my life.

It was honestly so much better than the teppanyaki meals I've had back home that cost over ~$77 per person!

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We were the only tourists in the restaurant; everyone else was a local.

I absolutely love finding local spots like this—it feels like a true travel experience.

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One minor hurdle: there's no English menu, so we had to use Google Translate to order.

We also ended up pointing at what other people were eating and ordering that too! Haha.

5. Pro Travel Tips

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Tip 1.

The weather was mild during my visit, so walking everywhere was fine.

However, if you're visiting during the hot summer months, I strongly recommend taking the bus.

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A great route is taking the bus straight to Fort San Domingo,

and then walking downhill to explore Aletheia University, the cafes, and the Old Street.

Walking downhill is infinitely better than trekking uphill in the heat!

(Buses R26, 836, and 857 all run frequently.)

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Tip 2.

Check the sunset time!!!

I cannot stress this enough—this is a 10-star tip.

The fort and university are beautiful, but nothing beats the Tamsui sunset.

It is truly spectacular, so make sure you are by the river when the sun goes down.

I'm still dreaming about that view as I write this ㅠㅠ

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Tip 3.

Bring cash if you want to buy the Castella cake.

While some stores on the Old Street accept cards, many street food stalls do not.

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Tip 4.

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes.

You'll be logging a lot of miles on foot, so dress for comfort.

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Tip 5.

Keep Google Maps handy.

Tamsui is surprisingly spread out, and it's easy to get turned around in the smaller alleys.

Make sure your phone is charged and bring a power bank.

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Tamsui is the perfect, action-packed day trip from Taipei.

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I arrived around 1:00 PM and felt a bit rushed trying to fit everything in.

If you want to enjoy a leisurely dinner and really soak in the views, I recommend starting your day slightly earlier :)

I only wish I had more time to relax and stare at the scenery!

Use this guide to plan your perfect 2026 Tamsui getaway, and have an amazing trip!