Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf

I have fond memories of this place because I lived near Beitou when I first moved to Taipei, and it wasn’t too hard to get to Tamsui.

However, for most people, Tamsui is a bit of a trek even though it’s on the Red Line. And although Fisherman’s Wharf is now connected to MRT Tamsui Station via the Danhai light rail, that thing is certainly not fast! Nonetheless, this place is a must for seeing a bay sunset.

Many people like to go to Tamsui Station first and walk around. From there, you can walk, YouBike, or take a bus to Fisherman’s Wharf. If you choose this route, just take the Red Line to the terminal station, Tamsui. There’s a YouBike station, and the R26 (紅26) bus goes to Fisherman’s Wharf.

If you plan on taking the Danhai LRT, get off one stop before the end (Hongshulin) and transfer to the light rail. It’s about a 30-minute ride, then another 10 or so minute walk from the LRT Fisherman’s Wharf Station.

When you arrive, you’ll have many different sunset viewing options; the wharf is positioned along the coast of the Tamsui River as it empties into the Taiwan Strait.

On clear days, you can see Bali and Guanyinshan on the opposite side of the river, and boats transiting from sea to river and from Bali to Tamsui. Within Fisherman’s Wharf, you’ll naturally see many locals fishing. The area is filled with couples of all ages taking in the scenery. Anywhere along the wharf is a good place to see the sunset. I like going to the very end.

You can also view the sunset from atop Lover’s Bridge (whether you’re on a date or not!), which on nice days is very crowded.

It’s important to plan a bit for a trip up to Fisherman’s Wharf – it can get very foggy (and cold) up in Tamsui, so make sure to check the weather and visibility conditions before you go.

Update, 2026: the Danjiang Bridge now spans the river mouth right beside the wharf and has become the thing to photograph here. Around the summer solstice the sun sets between its two towers. The Highway Bureau’s top pick for shooting it is the Youchekou boardwalk, back toward town below FAB Green Village (see writeup here), and the Customs Wharf by the old street (see writeup here) works from February to May and late July to early November.