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. 

Background:
Tamsui Old Street developed alongside the Tamsui Harbor, which 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 near Tamsui Old Street such as Fort San Domingo, Hobe Fort, and others. 
Tamsui Old Street has always existed next to the old harbor, and 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 the old street, Tamsui became an extremely popular destination for residents in greater Taipei and remains to be so today. 

Hours:
Every day 11 AM - 8 PM.

Price:
Free

Tours:
You can book a tour of Tamsui on KKday here or Klook here.
You can book a tour to Taiwan's North Coast on  KKday here or Klook here.

Activities:
There are many activities available around Tamsui such as, SUPing, Sand Bar Digging, Lover's Tower, Sailing, Yachting, and more on KKday here or Klook here.

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.

How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: Take provincial highway 2 north from Taipei until you reach Tamsui. The old street is near the Tamsui MRT station. Parking can be hard to find, but there should be plentiful parking at Tamsui Elementary School and other places further away. Looking for scooter rental in Tamsui? You can search on KKday here or Klook here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. ​
If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search KKday here or Klook here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
By MRT: Take the red line MRT north to Tamsui station and you have arrived. You can purchase a discount easy card to use on the MRT from KKday here or Klook here. ​You can also book an MRT travel pass on KKday here or Klook 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 KKday here or Klook here.. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. ​

Map:
Please see below:

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 KKday here, or Klook here.
You can book a tour of Taiwan's North Coast on KKday here or Klook here.

Activities:
There are many activities available around Tamsui such as SUPing, Sand Bar Digging, Lover's Tower, Sailing, Yachting, Horseback Riding, Happy Island Parent Child Gymnasium, and more on 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 KKday here or Klook here. ​You can also book an MRT travel pass on KKday here or 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 Kkday 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 KKday here or Klook here. 
By Car: If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search KKday here or Klook here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.  
By Scooter: Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? You can search on KKday here or Klook 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 KKday here or Klook 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:

Wulai Waterfall is the highest waterfall in northern Taiwan. Here you can find a street with snacks and restaurants, and a gondola that leads to a second tier of the waterfall and an amusement park. In addition there are hikes, wildlife, and endless mountain scenery to explore.
 
Background:
Wulai was originally an Atayal aborigine village, its name meaning hot and poisonous. There has always been natural hot springs in Wulai, but much of that water has been channeled into hotels and public bathhouses. The free hot springs stood at the bottom of the hill next to the river, and was a collection of used hot spring water from the hotels and paid hot springs above. In its prime, it boasted the largest free outdoor hot springs in Taiwan. Recently the District of Wulai in New Taipei has become a major tourist attraction, partly because of its close proximity to Taipei. It has museums, waterfalls, a gondola, a train, an old street night market, and most of all hot springs. The main delicacies on the old street are Taiwan ingenuous foods such as wild boar meat and rice steamed in bamboo. 

Wulai waterfall is 80 meters high, making it the highest waterfall in northern Taiwan. It's highest point sits at 230 meters above sea level, and drops to 150 meters above sea level. The waterfall is also about 10 meters wide.  
Yunceng Amusement Park began construction in 1960 and was completed in 1970. It includes a gondola, hotel, swimming pool, canoe pond, and other activities. Originally it had a roller coaster, pirate ship, and other rides, but these have all been taken down. 
 
Hours:
Waterfall: 24/7
Cable Car and Yun Hsien Amusement Park Entrance: 9 AM to 4:30 PM
You can book tickets to the gondola and to Yun Hsien theme park on Klook here or KKday here. 
Neidong Waterfall: 8 AM to 5 PM.
You can book tickets to Neidong Forest Recreation Area on KKday here or Klook here. 

Price:
Wulai Waterfall: Free
Cable Car and Yun Hsien Amusement Park Entrance: 220 NT per person
You can book tickets to the gondola and to Yun Hsien theme park on Klook here or KKday here. 
Neidong Waterfall: 65 NT per person. You can book tickets on KKday here or Klook here. 
Hot Spring Bath: 300-500 NT. You can look for hot spring bath experiences on Klook here or KKday here. 

Tours and Activities:
You can book a Taiwan Wulai Aboriginal Tribe afternoon Tour on TripAdvisor here. 
​You can also book a tour of Wulai on KKday here.  
You can also book a ticket on the Wulai Train on Klook here, or a river tracing experience in Wulai on Klook here, or SUP paddleboarding experience in Wulai on KKday here, hot spring baths on Klook here or KKday here, on or tickets to the gondola and to Yun Hsien theme park on Klook here or KKday here.  

Hotels in Wulai:
There are many hot spring hotels in Wulai that have a hot spring tub right in the room.
We have stayed at and recommend Wulai SungLyu Hot Spring Resort, which is a hot spring resort with great views just above Wulai Old Street. You can book on Booking.com here, Agoda here, Hotels.com here, TripAdvisor here, Trip.com here, Klook here, Kayak here, or Expedia 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.
​
How to get there：
By Bus: From central Taipei, take bus 849 to Wulai Waterfall. The trips takes about an hour and a half. You can purchase a discount easy card to use on a bus to Wulai on Klook here or KKday here. ​You can also book a Taipei travel pass on Klook here. 
By Car: From Taipei, take provincial highway 9甲 to Wulai. There is a large paid parking garage in front of the old street. You may also be able to find free parking further up the road closer to the waterfall but car parking is very limited. 
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.  
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 Taxi: You can take short rides for about 150 NT, or hire a Taxi for a day for around 150 USD on Klook 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. 

Map:
Please see below of the places covered in this blog:

​Shenkeng Old Street is one of the largest and busiest old streets in New Taipei, known for its famous tofu delicacies, and old Taiwan feel. Here one can enjoy delicious food, beautiful scenery, and buy nostalgic Taiwan related souvenirs. The Tofu here is truly incredible; Shenkeng is known as the Tofu capital of Taiwan, so you should definitely stop by here on your next trip to Taipei. 

Background:
During the Qing Dynasty, the town of Shenkeng was an important stop along the Danlan Old Trail (淡蘭古道 which means the road between Tamsui and Yilan), which was split into three paths, and Shenkeng was on the Southern Path. The Southern Path winded from Mengjia Old Street to Liuzhangli, then to Shengkeng which was a major business center at the time. From Shenkeng the road then went to Shiding, Pinglin, and then Yilan. The Southern path was the quickest way to Yilan. 
In addition, there was a boat dock in Shenkeng that connected it to Mengjia Old Street in what is now central Taipei, making it an important shipping point for tea grown in the mountains nearby. 
During the Japanese Era in 1915, Shenkeng Old Street was made wider by knocking out the first floors on each side of the street for pedestrian traffic, which can still be seen today as a defining feature of Shenkeng Old Street. 
After World War 2, the train to Yilan replaced the need for a boat dock for shipping in Shenkeng, and the town slowly fell out of importance. 
National Highway 3 and National highway 5 were constructed near Shenkeng in 1993 and2006 respectively, making Shenkeng again an important stop on the way to Yilan. 
In 2008 the New Taipei City government along with local residents created the Shenkeng Historical District  and paved the way for the restoration and tourism on the old street. Since then it has been a major tourist attraction for Taiwanese locals. 

Delicacies:
Local delicacies at Shengkeng Old Street include Stinky Tofu, Fried Tofu, Tofu Hot Pot, Tofu Ice Cream, Read Bean Soup, Zongzi, and various other tofu related products.
Tofu in Chinese cuisine is similar to cheese in the West. It requires fermentation creating various flavors. 
​
Hours:
Every Day from about 10 AM to 10 PM, with more shops opening later in the day.

Price:
Free

When to go:
If you go during weekends or holidays, it can get really crowded but that is also the time when most all of the shops and stalls are open. If you want to avoid the crowds you can try going early in the afternoon when it is not as busy, 

Tours:
You can book Maokong Tea & Shenkeng Stinky Tofu Private Day Tour on TripAdvisor here. 
You can also book a Private Street Food Tour of Taipei on TripAdvisor here, KKday here or Klook here.

Hotels in Taipei:
We have 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, or Agoda here). 
We have stayed at and also recommend Fu Chang Hotel in Ximending, which is within walking distance of Ximending shopping district (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, or Agoda 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.

How to get there:
By Scooter: Take local highway 106 east from Muzha (Wenshen District) or local highway 109 south from Nangang District. The old street is right in the middle of town. You can park for free at the park to the north of the old street.
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 Car: You can take national Highway 5 and get off at the Shiding exit, or take National Highway 3 and get off at the Shenkeng Exit. There is parking near the southern entrance in the form of a mechanical parking garage, and there is also underground parking under the park to the north of the old street. 
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 Bus: There are a number of buses that pass by the old street coming from Wenshan District or Nangang District of Taipei that leave from near the Blue Line Nangang Exhibition Center Station or Brown line MRT Taipei Zoo/Muzha Station. 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 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. 
​
Map:
​Please see below:

Dihua Street is Taipei City's biggest and oldest Old Street. Here you can find a large area with historical buildings and unique old-style shops. Also, there are many art spaces, museums, and restaurants to explore in the area. You should definitely make a stop in this historically rich area on your trip to Taipei.

Historical Background:
The land that Dadaocheng (aka Twatutia in Taiwanese 大稻埕) stands on was once part of Basay tribal land. The Basay people had lived on the land for thousands of years before the first Chinese settlers.
Sections of Dadaocheng indicate that there were settlements here during the Dutch rule in the 1600s.
The first Chinese settlers came to the area in the mid-1800's during the Qing Dynasty. They created a public area for drying rice and grain, called Dadaocheng (大稻埕) from which the place gets its name, which also became the central market in the area.
The earliest trading shops were built in 1851, mainly selling rice, sugar, camphor, and tea. Dihua Street (迪化街), or center street (中街) was created around this time, making it the oldest street in Taipei.
In 1859 the City God Temple was completed, the religious center of the area, and many streets sprouted out of the area. Most of the buildings were one story and made of red brick in Fujian style, and later western style houses were built. 
In 1891, the first train connecting Keelung and Taipei was completed. In 1902, Dadaocheng station was completed on the Tamsui Railway line. Tea and rice were the major exports from Dadaocheng during the Japanese era.
After WWII, the main street, known as Center Street (中街) was changed to Dihua Street, to remember Dihua City in Xinjiang. 
Dihua Street is an important place to buy traditional food supplies and ingredients. It is particularly popular during Chinese festivals. 

Hours:
About 9 AM to 7 PM.

Price:
Free

Tours:
You can book a walking tour of Dihua Street on TripAdvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here. 
You can also book a Changing Cheongsam Tour at Dadaocheng on TripAdvisor here. 
There are many tours of Dihua Street, Dadaocheng, and other spots in Taipei available on Klook here or KKday here. 

Hotels in Taipei:
High end: We have 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, or Agoda here). We have also stayed at and recommend the Grand Hyatt (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here), Marriot (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here), Sheraton (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here), Shangri-la (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here), and Regent (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here), which are all very high quality hotels in the middle of Taipei City.
We also recommend Fullon Hotel which has locations in Tamsui and Fulong near the beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here). 
Budget Hotels: We have also stayed at and recommend Fu Chang Hotel in Ximending, which is within walking distance of Ximending shopping district (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, or Agoda here). We have also stayed at and recommend Hai Xia Your Home which is right in front of Fulong Beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com 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.

Just to let you know, if you book using the links above, we get some commission at no cost to you, and you can help support our blog. Some of the Klook links may not work if you are using an Ad blocker. 
You can click here to receive $5 USD on your first Klook purchase. 

How to get there:
By MRT: From Beimen MRT station, walk north to Tacheng Street. Keep going until the street becomes Dihua Street (about 500 meters). 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 Car/Scooter: Take Shimin Blvd. west to Tacheng Street. Keep going until the street becomes Dihua Street (about 500 meters). There is paid car parking on Shimin Blvd.
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. 
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 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. 
​
Map:
Please see below: