Choose Tamsui R28

Tamsui station Exit 1 in 2020

From Taipei Main Station R10, follow the Red Line toward Tamsui R28. On a different line, plan your transfer to the Red Line first; this guide starts from the city MRT, not the airport railway.

  • Read the train destination. A Beitou-terminating train does not take you all the way to Tamsui.
  • If your train ends at Beitou R22, follow the current signs for a continuing Tamsui service. Do not take the Xinbeitou R22A branch instead.

Card or pass?

Archival EasyCard reload machines

A supported stored-value card or a single-journey token is enough for a simple return ride. A day pass is worth comparing only against the rides you actually plan to make.

  • Check the official fare lookup for your starting station and age category, then add other confirmed journeys before buying an unlimited product.
  • The linked product and collection method differ by language: selected foreign-language options are Metro passes, while the Traditional Chinese link is a North-North-Keelung transport pass with its own scope.
  • Read calendar-day versus timed validity, activation, collection counter and cancellation terms. Do not assume the airport MRT or a Tamsui ferry is included just because the product says transport.

Arrive at the station

Tamsui station concourse in 2015

Get off at Tamsui, tap out with your travel card, and consult the station map before leaving. For a token, follow the exit gate's return slot instruction.

  • Find the Old Street and riverside side using today's signs; with bags or a stroller, check the lift route rather than following the nearest staircase.
  • Save the station location for the return. The brick station-building photographs are recognition aids, not a map of every exit or current shop.

Old street and water

Tamsui Old Street in 2025
Tamsui riverfront view in 2025

For a first visit, make a compact loop between the old-street lanes and the riverside, then return to the MRT. Start with the part most suited to the weather rather than adding every attraction.

  • Use the official Tamsui visitor map for Zhongzheng Road, the river and your station return. Leave time to sit or eat instead of crossing busy lanes repeatedly for photographs.
  • The riverfront and old street are outdoor spaces. Bring sun or rain protection according to the forecast and keep paths clear when taking photos.
  • Food stalls and shops have their own hours and prices. A Metro pass does not pay for snacks or restaurant seating.

Wharf is another trip

Boats and promenade by Tamsui old-town waterfront

Fisherman's Wharf and the old-street riverside are different places. Do not expect to step out of Tamsui MRT and already be at the Lover's Bridge.

  • Add a currently operating local bus, light-rail connection or ferry only after checking the exact boarding point, separate fare and return service.
  • Ferry operations depend on the route and conditions. A riverside boat photograph is not evidence that your intended crossing is sailing today.
  • With limited time, stay with the old-street loop rather than risking an onward booking for an extra sunset stop.

Ride back to Taipei

Square outside Tamsui station Exit 2

Return to the MRT with time for the station walk and your final city connection. Follow the departure display toward Taipei Main Station, not a destination copied from an old photograph.

  • Some services have shorter operating patterns. If a train ends before your city destination, use the current platform signs for the next connection.
  • Check the official timetable for the day, including the last usable transfer, before leaving the riverside for a late meal.
  • Keep enough balance or a valid pass until the last gate. A card souvenir and an activated travel entitlement are not the same thing.

Sources & photo credits

Photo credits

Photos are resized and converted to WebP. Archival images illustrate signs and spaces; they do not show current service conditions.