Orientation
Tamsui (also spelled Danshui) is a seaside district on the northern edge of New Taipei City, sitting where the Tamsui River meets the Taiwan Strait. For visitors, the good news is that the sights cluster tightly around the waterfront and the main transit stops, so you can cover a lot of ground without a car. The name means "fresh water," and the district has long been a tourism hub on Taiwan's northwest coast.
Getting there by metro
The simplest way to reach Tamsui from Taipei is on the MRT Tamsui (Red) Line, which runs to its northern terminus at Tamsui Station. From Taipei Main Station the ride takes roughly 40 minutes. Tamsui Station is the most convenient stop for the main tourist attractions, and it is also where you'll find onward connections to buses, ferries, and the light rail.
Two other stations on the same line serve the district and are worth knowing about:
- Hongshulin Station — the interchange point for the Danhai Light Rail system serving Danhai New Township.
- Zhuwei Station — another stop within the district.
Getting around on foot
Much of Tamsui is easily walkable from the MRT station. The standard route into the historic waterfront is to turn left as you exit the station and then right to follow the river. From there, the old street, riverside parks, and many of the district's attractions are within comfortable strolling distance.
Ferries
Boats are a genuinely useful way to move around here, not just a sightseeing novelty. Ferries across the river to the town of Bali and north to the Fisherman's Wharf depart from the Tamsui Ferry Pier, about a ten-minute walk north of the MRT station. Sightseeing boats along Taiwan's northeast coast and the Tamsui River also leave from the Fisherman's Wharf.
- Tickets to Bali run around NT$50; tickets to Fisherman's Wharf around NT$100.
- Don't stand outside on the ferry unless you enjoy getting wet.
- Ferry service is suspended in bad weather, so have a backup plan.
Buses
Buses fill the gaps that walking can't cover. The R26 bus runs from Tamsui MRT Station to Fort Santo Domingo and on to Fisherman's Wharf. The wharf is beyond casual walking distance from the MRT station, so the bus is often the best choice if you'd rather not take a boat or rent a bike.
Light rail
The Danhai Light Rail (LRT) connects Fisherman's Wharf and MRT Hongshulin Station by way of Danhai New Town, making it a handy link between the waterfront and the metro line. A further extension to Bali from the wharf has been planned, but construction had not started at the time of writing — so don't be misled by brochures advertising it.
Bicycles
Renting a bike is a popular and inexpensive way to explore the riverside. Several rental shops sit on the main road north of Tamsui MRT Station, where a typical rate is around NT$300 for the whole day. In Bali you can also hire a bike to ride up and down the riverside; rates there are cheap, from about NT$30 for a small bike to NT$100 for a tandem per hour. Inspect the bike before you ride, as safety standards vary.
Taxis and ride-hailing
The source material for Tamsui does not describe taxi or ride-hailing services in the district, so no specific guidance on them can be given here. In practice, taxis are widely available in Taiwan and can be flagged or booked, but for Tamsui the documented options are the metro, light rail, buses, ferries, bicycles, and walking.
Arriving from the airport
The reference material does not cover airport transfers to Tamsui, so no route details can be confirmed from it. What is clear is that the MRT Tamsui (Red) Line is the backbone connection into the district from Taipei, so the practical approach is to reach the Taipei metro network first and then ride the Red Line north to Tamsui Station.
Practical summary
- Best base: Tamsui MRT Station — closest to most attractions and the hub for onward transport.
- On foot: turn left out of the MRT, then right along the river.
- To Fisherman's Wharf: R26 bus, ferry, or bike — it's too far to walk casually.
- To Bali: ferry from the Tamsui Ferry Pier (around NT$50).
- To Danhai New Town: Danhai Light Rail via Hongshulin Station.
- Watch the weather: ferries stop running in bad conditions.