Stand on the platform at Tamsui and look west: the river mouth widens into the Taiwan Strait, fishing boats work the current, and the old port quarter climbs the slope behind you. New Taipei City wraps around Taipei and stretches from this northern coast to the mountains of Wulai and Sanxia, so a single day can hold a wharf, a Qing-era garden and a hot spring.
The city suits travellers who are happy to ride the Metro and the bus to the end of the line, who want beaches and trails as much as temples and museums, and who prefer to build a day out of two or three substantial stops rather than a checklist. This guide covers the sights and experiences worth your time, with a one-day plan that strings the strongest of them together.
Top things to do in New Taipei City
1. Lin Family Mansion and Garden
In Banqiao, the Lin Family Mansion and Garden is one of the best examples of Qing era Chinese architecture in Taiwan. The garden and its buildings reward slow walking rather than a quick circuit, and entry is free of charge.
Because it sits in Banqiao District, the municipal seat and the city's biggest commercial area, you can pair it with a meal or an evening walk in the surrounding streets before heading back.
2. Danshui Fisherman's Wharf
Danshui Fisherman's Wharf is New Taipei's most famous scenic sight, and it is the obvious anchor for a day on the northern coast. Come for the water, the boats and the light.
Build the rest of the day around it: the Tamsui river mouth and the old port area are the natural companions, and the wharf is best saved for the later part of the day.
3. Jiufen
Jiufen is famous for gold mining, and the mining history is the reason to come rather than the crowds alone. There is an excellent gold museum here, which gives the lanes and the hillside setting their context.
Give the museum real time before you wander, and treat the museum as the fixed point of the visit rather than an afterthought.
4. Wulai
Wulai offers an Aboriginal dancing show and a hot spring, which makes it a full half-day or more rather than a quick stop. The combination of performance and soaking is what distinguishes it from the coastal sights.
Plan it as a single outing: see the dancing show, then take the hot spring while you are already there.
5. Fulong
Fulong is a coastal district with an excellent beach, and it is the place to go when you want sand and sea rather than harbour views.
If you are travelling in July, the three-day Ho-hai-yan Rock Festival takes place here, so check the dates before you fix your plans.
6. Bitan Lake, Xindian
Bitan Lake in Xindian is a riverside spot for sitting down with a coffee or a tea beside the water. It is a gentler, slower stop than the coast or the mountains.
It works well as a late-afternoon pause, when you want somewhere to sit rather than somewhere to walk.
7. Ju Ming Museum
The Ju Ming Museum in Jinshan District holds indoor and open-air exhibits of the works of the Taiwanese sculptor Ju Ming. The open-air pieces are the reason to give it a generous slot rather than a rushed hour.
Opening hours vary by season: May to October it is open 10:00-18:00, and November to April 10:00-17:00. It is in Jinshan, so pair it with the Jinshan area rather than trying to fold it into a Banqiao day.
8. Dharma Drum Mountain
Dharma Drum Mountain (Fagushan) in Jinshan District is a large and modern chan monastery and monastic college, with impressive buildings and gardens. It is a contemplative stop rather than an entertainment one.
It is reached by car via the Danjin Highway through Sanzhi, the Yangjin Highway via Yangmingshan, or Freeway 1 or 3 with a turn onto the Jijin Highway via Wanli; by bus, take the Kuo-Kuang Bus from Taipei West Bus Station, Terminal A. Since it shares Jinshan District with the Ju Ming Museum, the two combine naturally into one day.
9. Wuliaojian trail
For serious hikers, the challenging Wuliaojian trail in Sanxia is the standout walk in the city. It is a genuine undertaking rather than a stroll.
Approach it as the main event of the day and leave the rest of your schedule light.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at the Lin Family Mansion and Garden in Banqiao, while the day is still cool and the garden is quiet. Entry is free, so there is no reason to hurry through it.
Afternoon: Head north to Tamsui and spend the afternoon around the water, finishing at Danshui Fisherman's Wharf. If you would rather have a seated pause than more walking, break the journey at Bitan Lake in Xindian for a coffee or tea beside the water.
Evening: Stay on the coast for the wharf in the softer light, then make your way back into Banqiao District for dinner, since it is the city's biggest commercial area and the easiest place to end the day.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Fulong beach?
July is the month to note, because the three-day Ho-hai-yan Rock Festival is held at Fulong then. Outside that period the beach is simply a coastal district with an excellent beach.
Do I need a car to reach Dharma Drum Mountain and the Ju Ming Museum?
Not necessarily. Dharma Drum Mountain can be reached by Kuo-Kuang Bus from Taipei West Bus Station, Terminal A, as well as by car via the Danjin, Yangjin or Jijin highways. Both it and the Ju Ming Museum are in Jinshan District, so they pair well in one trip.
What are the opening hours of the Ju Ming Museum?
From May to October it is open 10:00-18:00, and from November to April 10:00-17:00.
Is the Lin Family Mansion and Garden worth the trip if I am short on time?
Yes. It is one of the best examples of Qing era Chinese architecture in Taiwan, it is free of charge, and it sits in Banqiao District, which makes it easy to combine with the rest of a day in the city.
Decide which end of the city you want first, the coast or the mountains, and start building your days around it.