By MOOK Scenic Spots Family, compiled and reported
Too tired from work and just want to stay at home on the weekend? Don’t turn into a couch potato—this holiday weekend, take your partner or family out for a stroll and go on a one-day trip around Greater Taipei.
The Starbucks Tamsui Cloud Gate branch features a glass-house exterior design. (Photo by MOOK Scenic Spots Family’s Kao Chia-chun)
1. Tamsui
Tamsui, which you can reach by taking the MRT, is a great spot for romantic dates or family outings on the weekend. The Starbucks Cloud Gate branch is a café nestled within a performing arts and cultural space, blending into the artistic harmony between Cloud Gate Theater and nature. From here, you can gaze at Guanyin Mountain and the mouth of the Tamsui River, enjoying a serene and tranquil atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle, while sipping coffee leisurely and soaking in the cultural vibe.
Tamsui Old Street (Image / Tourism Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communications)
Tamsui Old Street is a well-known and popular attraction across Taiwan, also drawing many foreign visitors. The bustling streets are lined with lively shops, including traditional pastry stores and grocery shops rich in old-time charm, as well as trendy clothing and toy stores. Walking from the old street toward the river mouth will take you to the Customs Wharf Park, located on a low platform downhill from Fort San Domingo in Tamsui. With great views, you can overlook the Tamsui River estuary and the Guandu Bridge, taking in the surrounding landscape.
Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf (Image / New Taipei City Government)
The Fisherman’s Wharf, along with Lover’s Bridge, the wooden boardwalk shopping street, the fishing market restaurants, and the Seaview Plaza, forms a tourist belt that combines “cultural tourism, artistic leisure, and commercial shopping.” It’s a great place to watch the sunset and enjoy sea views, and also a favorite dating spot for couples.
The Shuiyue (Water-Moon) Temple at Beitou Nongchan Temple, with water surfaces as smooth as a mirror, is a top-tier art architectural site. (Image source / Far Eastern Architectural Award)
2. Beitou
Beitou is rich in culture, history, natural hot springs, and scenic landscapes, making it perfect for a short getaway on the weekend. The Fagushan Nongchan Temple features elegant and solemn architectural designs in exposed concrete, paired with the shimmering waters of the Shuiyue Pond—an atmospheric and tranquil spot that attracts many visitors to take photos and capture its idyllic, almost otherworldly ambiance.
The plants around Beitou Library are well worth a visitor’s pause to admire. (Photo by MOOK Scenic Spots Family’s Chang Ying-ying)
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