Where to go in winter break? A relaxing one-day foodie guide to the Northern Coast!

For those living in Taipei, you must be quite familiar with the Northern Coast... Back in our school days, we’d come here with classmates to stroll through the old streets, practice photography for class, and it was the best spot to chat and laugh with friends. It was also the perfect place for those ambiguous little romances when dating.

Leave your worries behind—whether it’s a family outing, a girls’ day out, or leisure activities with friends on the weekend, there’s so much more… The memories of speeding down the Danjin Highway with your buddies, the alleys of the Tamsui town, the glorious golden sunset, all the delicious street food along the way, the sound of crashing waves, cozy afternoon tea gatherings, the passionate beaches, and the blazing sun… The Northern Coast has given all of us so many bittersweet memories. The more I talk about it, the more I get lost in nostalgia—I could cry!

Xiao Bu: Brother Xin Yu, sob sob…
Gong Shao: (kicks the air) What drama is this?! As long as he’s been to the Northern Coast with you, I’ll beat him up!

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This is my first time putting together a lazy-pack-style travel guide. It's not easy compiling all the attractions. Some of them haven't even been posted yet, but I'm sharing them with you now. I'll slowly add links later when the posts go up.

No more beating around the bush—come and join us as we explore & relive the scenic beauty of the North Coast together!

Stroll and snack along Tamsui Old Street or Bali Old Street at noon → return to Tamsui (visit the Mini White House, Fort San Domingo, and Tamkang University) or head to Bali Left Bank and the Sanhsia Museum → enjoy afternoon tea (at a café or the Red House) → watch the sunset at Fisherman’s Wharf.

Lunch at Shallow Bay Cafe or Zhibaizhuang → Play at White Sand Beach or Shimen Cave → Visit the Wind Power Plant → Dinner at Jinshan Old Street.

[New Taipei City] A Relaxed Day Trip Guide to the North Coast: Eating, Drinking, and Sightseeing (We’re Collecting Attraction Suggestions—Please Recommend!)

By the way, Tamsui Old Street is where my first love with Xinyu happened… Gong Shao: (ninety-nine spinning kicks, kick kick kick)

Oh, Tamsui Old Street is one of the North Coast's most popular attractions for all ages (and many idol dramas have been filmed here too).The main reason is that the MRT provides direct access, making transportation much more convenient. For those who find transport less accessible, the Tamsui Old Street & Bali area can still offer a full day of fun.

The best way to explore Tamsui Old Street is to rent a bicycle (there are several bike rental shops near the exit of the MRT station heading toward the old street), because although Tamsui isn't huge, it's not exactly tiny either. Moreover, there are many attractions around the old street, along with some worthwhile architectural sites to explore — walking everywhere can be seriously exhausting =_=! In the afternoon, you can also find a unique riverside restaurant to relax and watch the sunset.

Xiao Bu: Our family's lawyer Xiang came here, haha → Lawyer Xiang = Jerry Yan (actor from the idol drama "Wanting to Stick to You")

Gong Shao: ...

The dock at the old street offers ferry services to Bali and Fisherman’s Wharf. If you have time after strolling around the old street, don’t…Forgot to try the peacock clams in Bali (but Gong Shao never took me on the ferry or to eat peacock clams, sigh)!

Playtime: There are quite a few options here, so plan for about two to two and a half hours.
Nearby attractions: Fort San Domingo, Chihnan Pavilion, Tamkang University, Tamsui Church, Tamkang High School, Oxford College Girl's Dormitory, and the Red House.
Architectural styles include Japanese, British, and the now-rare traditional Taiwanese building complex (in the market—I can’t remember the exact architectural style, haha!).

Bali is right across from Tamsui. You can buy a ferry ticket at the old street’s dock and take a ferry over. It’s actually another conveniently accessible attraction, but personally, I feel the Bali Old Street is a bit short—you can just grab some boiled peacock clams and that’s about it.

Playtime: There are quite a few options here, so plan for about two to two and a half hours.

Travel tip: For those renting a bike in Tamsui, make sure to ask in advance whether the bike can be taken on the ferry. If it's allowed, you can visit attractions near Bali Old Street. There are ferries at the pier that go to Tamsui Old Street and Fisherman's Wharf. It seems both Tamsui Old Street and Bali Old Street have bike rental services.

Nearby Attractions: Bali Left Bank, the 18th-Century Cultural Park Museum (Shi San Hang Museum).

Repulse Bay is home to many romantic seaside cafes, each with its own unique charm. There are Greek-style Mediterranean cafes, exotic coffee shops, and cafes with a strong Southeast Asian flair. After enjoying your coffee, you can head straight to the beach. The beach and the nearby area are the best spots to watch the sunset.

Playtime: two to three hours.
Transportation: Follow the Danjin Highway (Provincial Highway 2) and pass by “Shallow Water Bay Villa.”

Baishi Mountain Villa is an art village in Sanzhi, a twenty-year-old community with sea views that has attracted many artists and artisans. It now hosts specialty homestays and restaurants, and with media coverage, the area is quite lively on weekends.The resort features the Li Tien-lu Puppetry Museum, art galleries, fine art museums, ceramics, sculpture, glassware, and other specialty shops.There are also many distinctive houses, each with creatively designed facades, but there are also quite a few vacant buildings. It is precisely because of this contrasting scenery that many people come here to take photos on holidays. This place has also attracted many idol dramas to film here!

Playtime: two to three hours.

Transportation: Head toward Tamsui and Sanzhi → Take Danjin Highway → After reaching Sanzhi downtown → Zhongzheng Road → Zhibai Villa
※ The fastest way is to set your GPS to the Li Tianlu Puppet Museum (located within Zhibai Villa)

Nearby attractions: Sanzhi Old Place Soup Dumplings – No. 21, Section 2, Danjin Road, Sanzhi District, New Taipei City (next to Sanzhi Post Office)

After visiting Zhibai Villa, don’t miss the highly acclaimed Pizza Olmo wood-fired Italian restaurant and Kikuchi Eitaro kaiseki cuisine inside the villa. Kikuchi Eitaro is an omakase-style restaurant with price tiers of NT$1,000 and NT$1,200—be sure to make a reservation in advance!

Babe, let’s come back for omakase next time!

The place we’re introducing here also requires a reservation! And when you book, make sure to ask for a room with air conditioning=_=, otherwise the first-floor open area and outdoor seating are unbearably hot in summer—you’ll be sweating while eating!

Recommended dishes: Wood-fired German-style pork knuckle, wood-fired pizza

Baishawan Beach is located along the coast of Demao Village in Shimen District and could arguably be called Taipei’s Little Kenting! Haha! It’s packed with people on weekends! So youthful and energetic! The facilities here are complete, including changing rooms, a food court, rest areas, and beach gear rentals... etc. But if you don’t want to squeeze with the crowds, the beach a bit further in tends to be a little less crowded!

Playtime: Three to four hours.

Transportation: No. 1-2, Bajia, Demao Li, Shimen District, New Taipei City

Is this considered a new attraction? Most wedding photos seem to be taken at Pacific Jade Bay Summer Resort in Wanli! It’s right by the road, very easy to spot, and the venue isn’t large—just takes a little time to walk around. But don’t come here to look at the sea in the scorching heat—it’s super hot XD!

Playtime: Half an hour

Transportation: Kilometer 24, Provincial Highway 2, Jiaolu Village, Shimen District, New Taipei City

Shiba Wanggong (Eighteen Lords) meat zongzi is very famous, and this nearly 40-year-old Liu Family Zongzi is one of the pioneers that made Shiba Wanggong zongzi well-known locally. The Liu Family offers a variety of flavors—besides northern and southern-style zongzi, there are also specialty zongzi, with plenty of choices. It used to be located near Shiba Wanggong Temple, but has been moved away for several years now!

Shimen Cave is a sea erosion cave landscape, commonly referred to as a sea arch. The cave is about ten meters high, and currently, the seaside area has stairs, pathways, and pavilions built for visitors to enjoy the scenery and rest. This spot has been marked by my mom as a must-visit for Little Fen Yuan after she turns three, because there are pavilions for shade and you can also keep an eye on your kid’s every move.

Playtime: Three to four hours.
Transportation: Around kilometer 29 on Provincial Highway 2.

Currently, the Shimen Wind Power Station only opens the area around the first wind turbine for tourism. The open area includes parking, an observation deck trail, and a viewing platform under the wind turbine. When we went, it was covered in reeds, and with the blue sky and white clouds, everything looked amazing in photos!

About one hour.

The power station is located on the hill behind Nuclear Power Plant 1 and Shiba Wanggong Temple. You can enter from the intersection leading to Shiba Wanggong Temple while heading from Tamsui toward Jinshan, then go up the mountain in the opposite direction—the intersection has signs to guide you.

I really love this old street because Gong Shaoge brought me here when we were dating. Gong Shao!You’re back to normal, huh?Xinyu Ge!

Besides the uniquely flavored temple-front duck, there’s also a hot spring here, and one household even has a well where you can draw water and do laundry—how special is that!

Playtime: Three to four hours.
Souvenirs: Jinshan sweet potatoes, Jinshan duck.
Transportation: Jinbaoli Street, Jinshan District, New Taipei City

Speaking of “Zhiweixiang Corn” in Jinshan and Wanli, it’s seriously a super famous queue-worthy snack! Pricing is by weight, with larger ones costing around NT$90 or so! This super popular grilled corn is located on Provincial Highway 2 in Jinshan—whether you’re heading toward Keelung or Jinshan, there are shops on both sides selling it. Isn’t that thoughtful! And both sides do super brisk business!

Since you have to wait a while, it’s recommended to call the shop in advance to let them know how many you want? What time? And which direction you’ll be picking it up from? That way it’ll be faster and more time-efficient!

Haha!After exploring the entire North Coast, you’ll definitely get stuck in terrible traffic back in Tamsui XD. If you’re heading back around 5 PM, it’s suggested to swing by Jiufen in Keelung for dinner and then take the expressway back to Taipei!

Phew, I’ve finally written my first-ever travel lazy guide! There was a little incident in the middle.

Xiao Bu: How much time does it take to play in Tamsui?
Gong Shao: It takes about an afternoon—riding a bike, taking a walk, watching the sunset, and having coffee.
Xiao Bu: Really? How come you know it so well.
Gong Shao: Most people around here do.
Xiao Bu: ……Who are you calling “most people”?
Gong Shao: Oh come on, everyone’s got a past...
Xiao Bu: Looks sideways
Gong Shao: No, I used to run sightseeing boats there.

After a while

Xiao Bu: Can you have afternoon tea at the Red House?
Gong Shao: Yes, you can also have a meal there.
Xiao Bu: Not bad, huh...
Gong Shao: That’s what the guests said when I was running the boat there.
Xiao Bu: Hmph, snorts through the nose.

After a while...

Xiao Bu: Can you see the sunset at Fisherman’s Wharf?
Gong Shao: Yeah, it’s on the same side as Tamsui.
Xiao Bu: As if you know just from going there so many times with other people.
Gong Shao: Hey, I used to drive the boat there, okay?

Looks like I’d have to go to Tamsui eight hundred times to make up for it. Anyway, this article took me three days to write. So exhausting. First time I’ve spent that long writing one. Next time I’ll switch things up—won’t write so much. Oh yeah.

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