Tamsui District of New Taipei is famous for its delicious food and historical atmosphere. It is one of the most popular and well known areas in all of Taiwan. Some local delicacies here include A-gei, iron eggs, fried squid, and other seafood. Historical places near here include Fort San Domingo, Hobe Fort, Tamsui Old Street, Bali Old Street, and the Shihsanhang archaeological site. There is plenty here to see and do for almost every kind of traveler.
Historical Background of Tamsui: Tamsui Harbor was opened in 1860 during the Qing Dynasty as part of the Treaty of Tientsin which ended the Second Opium War. It was one of only eight ports in the entire Qing empire that was open to trade with the West. As a result, it became a focal point for trade in Taiwan. It was also the western terminus of the Danlan Old Trail, which was a network of roads and trails that sent tea and other goods from Yilan to Tamsui. It remained an important port until it started to silt in during the 1900s, and after the construction of Keelung Harbor. There are also a number of important historical buildings in Tamsui such as Fort San Domingo, Hobe Fort, and others. Recently there have been projects from the local government to improve tourism, such as widening roads and making a riverside walkway. With the completion of the Red Line MRT with its terminus in 1997 right at the edge of Tamsui Old Street, Tamsui became an extremely popular destination for residents in greater Taipei and remains to be so today. When should you visit Tamsui? In my opinion, the best weather in Tamsui is from March-May, and October - November, when the temperatures stay around 26 degrees Celsius and there is not as much rain. Summers are also nice, with the most sunny weather, but also hot and rainy. Winters can be cold (but not below freezing) and usually wet. Overall, there is no wrong answer as to what time of year you should visit Tamsui. You will have a great time here at any time of year. Hotels in Tamsui: We have stayed at and recommend Fullon Hotel which has locations in Tamsui and Fulong near the beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, Klook here, Trip.com, Kayak here, or Hotels.com here). We have also stayed at and recommend the Yuanshan Grand Hotel, once the tallest building in Taiwan and still the most grand (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, Trip.com here, or Kayak here). Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Booking.com here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan. Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. Tours: You can book a tour of Tamsui on TripAdvisor here, KKday here, or Klook here. You can book a tour of Taiwan's North Coast on TripAdvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here. Activities: There are many activities available around Tamsui such as SUPing, Sand Bar Digging, Horse Riding, Lover's Tower, Sailing, Yachting, Happy Island Parent Child Gymnasium, Chi Po Lin Museum and more on TripAdvisor here, KKday here, or Klook here. How to get around in Tamsui: Taipei's transportation system is convenient and safe. There are many options you can consider to get around in Taipei below: By MRT/Danhai Light Rail: (Mass Rapid Transit, Metro train, subway) – Easily gets you around Taimsui. New stations will be added to the Danhai Rail line soon. You can purchase a discount easy card to use on the MRT from Klook here or KKday here. You can also book an MRT travel pass on Klook here. By Bus: Buses can be tricky. Long-range buses such as Ubus and King Bus are easier to understand and cheaper than the local train. They can take you to the city center of every city throughout Taiwan and to remote tourist destinations. A long-range bus from Taipei to Kaohsiung is about 500 NT. You can also book tickets to travel to Shifen via inter-city bus on Klook here. You can also book a Taipei Sightseeing: Hop On, Hop Off Open Top Bus on TripAdvisor here. By Taxi: You can take short rides for about 150 NT, or hire a Taxi for a day for around 150 USD. You can also get a private charted car on Klook here. By Car: If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. By Scooter: Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan's many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. You can also book a Sunset Riverside Bike Ride and Historical Tour, 4 Hour Cycling in Taipei, Ultimate 8-Hour Cycling City Tour, or Taipei City Bike Tour with Night Market Experience on TripAdvisor here. For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. Below we have created a list of what we think are the best places to see near Tamsui. Map: Please see a map below of the places we will visit in this blog: Places we will cover in this blog:
Let's begin the guide! First stop... Tamsui Old Street 淡水老街 
Tamsui Old Street (aka Danshui Old Street or Tamshui Old Street) is a street in Tamsui District of New Taipei famous for its delicious food and historical atmosphere. It is one of the most popular and well-known old streets in all of Taiwan. Some local delicacies here include A-gei, iron eggs, fried squid, and other seafood...(read more)
You can also book a sailing experience on the Tamsui River on KKday here. Check out our full guide to Tamsui Old Street here. Bali Old Street 八里老街 
Bali Old Street (aka Bali Ferry Dock Old Street 八里渡輪頭老街) is a shopping area near Bali Wharf, connecting with Tamui Old Street via ferry and bicycle route. It is one of the oldest ports in Taiwan, with a long history of businesses and great seafood nearby...(read more)
You can also book a SUP / sand bar digging experience near Bali Old Street on KKday here. You can also book a sailing experience on the Tamsui River on KKday here. Check out our full guide to Bali Old Street here. Shihsanhang Museum of Archaeology 十三行博物館 
Shihsanhang Museum of Archaeology (aka the 13th Site Museum of Archaeology) is a museum in Bali District of New Taipei featuring archaeological exhibits on Taiwan's history and prehistory, as well as international archaeological exhibitions. Here is one of the best places in Taiwan to see clearly what Taiwan was like in prehistoric times...(read more)
You can book tickets for a discount on KKday here. Check out our full guide to the museum here. Fisherman's Wharf 淡水漁人碼頭 
Fisherman's Wharf is a popular leisure fishing port in Tamsui. The area features a large grassy park, a pedestrian bridge with great views, and a long pier with tons of food options, especially seafood. Popular activities here include watching the sunset, enjoying the scenery, and enjoying local snacks...(read more).
You can also book tickets to Lover's Tower, which has great 360 degree views of Fisherman's Wharf on KKday here. We have stayed at and recommend Fullon Hotel which has locations in Tamsui and Fulong near the beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, Klook here, Trip.com, Kayak here, or Hotels.com here). Check out our full guide to Fisherman's Wharf here. Shalun Beach 沙崙海水浴場 
Shalun Beach is a long sandy beach with shallow water in Tamsui, New Taipei. It is a popular beach for locals, and now has convenient access to public transportation via the LRT, making it the closest and fastest beach to reach from Taipei. However, swimming here is forbidden and there are no showers. It is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area...(read more)
You can also book a horse riding experience on Klook here. Check out our full blog on Shalun Beach here. Haiweizi Beach 海尾仔 
Haiweizi is a small beach along the coast in Tamsui. Once there was a bike path here, but it was damaged by wave action, so no one is allowed on the south side of the beach. It is usually devoid of people and is a nice place for a stroll...(read more)
Check out our full guide to Haiweizi Beach here. Fort San Domingo 紅毛城 
Fort San Domingo (aka 紅毛城 Hongmaocheng, “City of Red Hair") is one of the oldest buildings in Taiwan, with a nearly 400 year history. Originally built by the Spanish, it was handed over to nine different nations including the Dutch, Qing, Japan, British, Australia, USA, and the ROC. Now it is a popular tourist destination in Tamsui...(read more)
You can book tickets to this fort and nearby historic sites on Klook here or KKday here. Check out our full blog on Fort San Domingo here. Former British Consulate Residence in Tamsui 淡水原英國領事館邸 
The former British Consulate in Tamsui is over 100 years old, spanning a long and complex history in Taiwan. Originally built by the British, it was handed over to Australia, the USA, and then the ROC. Now it is a popular tourist destination in Tamsui...(read more)
You can book tickets to this building and nearby historic sites on Klook here or KKday here. Check out our full blog on the former British Consulate here. Hobe Fort 滬尾砲台 
Hobe Fort (Aka Huwei Fort) is a Qing Dynasty era fortress in Tamsui, New Taipei that once had massive guns that protected the waterways nearby. The fort is included in a historical monument ticket that allows you to see other historical buildings in the area. It is also one of the best preserved historical fortresses in Taiwan...(read more)
You can book tickets to this fort and nearby historic sites on Klook here or KKday here. Check out our full guide to Hobe Fort here. Tamsui Customs Officers' Residence (Little White House) 淡水小白宮 
Tamsui's Little White House (officially the Tamsui Customs Officer's Residence) is an important historical building in Tamsui near Fort San Domingo. The ticket to Fort San Domingo and Hobe Fort also allows entrance to this building, so you should definitely check it out if you visit the area...(read more)
You can book tickets to this fort and nearby historic sites on Klook here or KKday here. Check out our full guide to the Little White House here. Other Historical Places to Visit: Because there are so many historical buildings in this area, I am just going to put them all in one blog. The rest of the blog is an introduction to the historical buildings around Aletheia University (真理大學). Tamsui Presbyterian Church Grand Chapel 大禮拜堂 
Within walking distance of Fort San Domingo is the Grand Presbyterian Chapel which was completed in 1997. It is inside the campus of Aletheia University (真理大學) and features a 32 foot high pipe organ. The building is a landmark for the university. It stands near the Oxford University erected by Rev. Mackay, an influential missionary in his time.
Hours: Inside: by appointment only. Outside: all day. Price: Free How to get there: By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 2 north from Taipei until you reach Tamsui. San Domingo Fort is past the old street on highway 2, and Aletheia University and the chapel are right behind it. Parking can be hard to find, but there should be plentiful parking at Tamsui Elementary School and other places further away. By MRT: Take the red line MRT north to Tamsui station and walk 1 KM north or take a bus to the Chapel. See the map above for reference. Oxford College 牛津學堂 
Oxford College was completed in 1882 by Presbyterian Reverend George Mackay (the most influential Christian missionary and westerner in Taiwan of his time). After going back to Canada to ask for donations in 1880, he was able to obtain $6,215 Canadian dollars to build the University. There he taught philosophy, medicine, and theology. History, Chinese, geology, biology, and mineralogy were also taught. It was also the first private museum in Taiwan.
Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday 10AM-12AM, 1-4PM Closed Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Friday. Price: Free How to get there: By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 2 north from Taipei until you reach Tamsui. San Domingo Fort is past the old street on highway 2, and Aletheia University and the Oxford College are right behind it. Parking can be hard to find, but there should be plentiful parking at Tamsui Elementary School and other places further away. By MRT: Take the red line MRT north to Tamsui station and walk 1 KM north or take a bus to the Chapel. See the map above for reference. A look inside: 
You can walk inside for free when it is open.
Inside the college building now is a memorial hall for Reverend Mackay. There are many historical photos here.
Also there are books and souvenirs on display.
A view of the college from the outside.
A closer look at the old cement and brick work, which appears to be a combination of Hokkien and Western architecture.
Bok Su Lao (Reverend Building) 牧師樓 
The Reverend Building (aka Bok Su Lao) was built in 1909 as a dormitory for Rev. William Gauld and other foreign Presbyterian missionaries. Later it became the residence of other reverends, and became known as simply the "House of Reverends" or "Pastor House." In 2014, it was converted into its current form as a Coffee Shop.
Hours: 10 AM to 7 PM Closed Mondays. Price: 150 NT per person (at least). This means you must pay at least 150 NT for some coffee/snacks to see inside. How to get there: By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 2 north from Taipei until you reach Tamsui. San Domingo Fort is past the old street on highway 2, and Aletheia University and the Oxford College are right behind it. Parking can be hard to find, but there should be plentiful parking at Tamsui Elementary School and other places further away. By MRT: Take the red line MRT north to Tamsui station and walk 1 KM north or take a bus to the Chapel. See the map above for reference. The House of Maidens 姑娘樓 
The House of Maidens sits right next to the Reverend Building and looks nearly identical. It was built in 1906 for the female Principle of Aletheia University, and also as a dormitory for female students. In 1965 the building became the university president's office, as well as university archives.
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM Price: Free How to get there: By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 2 north from Taipei until you reach Tamsui. San Domingo Fort is past the old street on highway 2, and Aletheia University and the Oxford College are right behind it. Parking can be hard to find, but there should be plentiful parking at Tamsui Elementary School and other places further away. By MRT: Take the red line MRT north to Tamsui station and walk 1 KM north or take a bus to the Chapel. See the map above for reference. Reverend Mackay's Residence 馬傑故居 
Reverend Mackay, the first Presbyterian Missionary to Taiwan and one of the best known westerners ever in Taiwan, built his house a few steps away from where the Reverend Building now stands, in 1885. He died here in 1901, and the building was later used as the residence for other Presbyterian reverends. During WWII, his son took care of the home and made it a place of refuge for the homeless and needy. The house has been used by the Mackay Family and partially by Aletheia University ever since.
For a full biography on Reverend Mackay's life, check outthis article. Hours: Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, 10 AM to 4PM. Price: Free How to get there: By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 2 north from Taipei until you reach Tamsui. San Domingo Fort is past the old street on highway 2, and Aletheia University and the Oxford College are right behind it. Parking can be hard to find, but there should be plentiful parking at Tamsui Elementary School and other places further away. By MRT: Take the red line MRT north to Tamsui station and walk 1 KM north or take a bus to the Chapel. See the map above for reference. 
View of the front of the house.
Long version of the history I just wrote above.
Inside is the Mackay Memorial Museum. I was not lucky enough to come at a time when it was open.
View of the front porch.
Missionary House 教士會館 
The missionary house was one of two dormitories that Reverend Mackay built in 1875 for foreign missionaries. It was built after Spanish style architecture to make it cooler during the summer.
Hours: Tuesday, to Sunday, 11 AM to 5PM. Free guided tours are available in the morning if booked in advance. Price: Free How to get there: By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 2 north from Taipei until you reach Tamsui. San Domingo Fort is past the old street on highway 2, and Aletheia University and the Oxford College are right behind it. Parking can be hard to find, but there should be plentiful parking at Tamsui Elementary School and other places further away. By MRT: Take the red line MRT north to Tamsui station and walk 1 KM north or take a bus to the Chapel. See the map above for reference. 
The day I went is was also closed.
Things we missed:
There are many other historical buildings to see around Tamsui. I recommend that you go there, walk around, and discover the history there for yourself! Check out our guide to the Northern Coast here. Check out our Taipei beach guide here. Check out our Taipei museum guide here. Check out our guide to Taipei’s Old Streets here. You can check out our full travel guide to Taipei here. You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here.
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Author 作家We are US Expats that have extensive experience living, working, and travelling in Taiwan. In our day, we had to learn many things about Taiwan the hard way. But we have come to learn that Taiwan is one of the best places in the world for Foreigners to live. Our blog does not represent the opinions of every foreigner in Taiwan. We are just trying to help others learn more about this beautiful country. Archives 檔案
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