Skip to content
A historic red-brick shophouse facade with arched windows and a covered arcade on Dihua Street, Dadaocheng, Taipei
Taipei · 台北 · 25.03°N 121.56°E

Fort San Domingo: a layered-history fort above Tamsui

A classic Tamsui stop with deep history layers: first built by the Spanish in 1628, rebuilt by the Dutch in 1642 as ‘Fort Antonio,’ and later leased by Britain as a consulate. Known locally as Hongmaocheng (‘Fort of the Red-Haired’), it pairs a thick-walled stone fort and a Victorian British consular residence with a hilltop view over the Tamsui River.

Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada · CC BY-SA 2.0

A classic Tamsui stop with deep history layers: first built by the Spanish in 1628, rebuilt by the Dutch in 1642 as ‘Fort Antonio,’ and later leased by Britain as a consulate. Known locally as Hongmaocheng (‘Fort of the Red-Haired’), it pairs a thick-walled stone fort and a Victorian British consular residence with a hilltop view over the Tamsui River.

Updated June 20, 2026

Map

Visualize where this fits in your day (and plan nearby pairings).

Open full map →

Quick facts資訊

Cost
NT$80 general admission (a combo ticket that also includes the former British Consular Residence, and is valid for the Tamsui Customs Officer’s Residence and Huwei Fort); ticketing stops 30 min before closing
Hours
09:30–17:00 Mon–Fri; 09:30–18:00 Sat–Sun; closed the first Monday of each month and Lunar New Year
Time needed
1–2 hours
Getting there
MRT Tamsui (Red Line terminus), then bus R26, 836 (weekends/holidays) or 857 to Fort San Domingo (No. 1, Ln. 28, Zhongzheng Rd.)
Best time / for
Daytime; late afternoon for views over the Tamsui River; weekends have extended hours (to 18:00)
Good to know
Closed the first Monday of every month, and the last tickets are sold 30 minutes before closing.
District
New Taipei (Tamsui day trip)
Best for
History-light sightseeing, views, photos
Closed
First Monday of each month

Highlights亮點

  • A 1628 Spanish fort, rebuilt by the Dutch in 1642 as ‘Fort Antonio’
  • Combo ticket also covers the British Consular Residence, Customs Officer’s Residence and Huwei Fort
  • Hilltop views over the Tamsui riverfront—great in late afternoon

Why go

Fort San Domingo is one of those places where you can feel the layers of time. Originally established by the Spanish in 1628 and rebuilt by the Dutch in 1642 as ‘Fort Antonio,’ it’s a two-story, cube-shaped building roughly 15 m on each side, with thick stone-and-brick walls built to last.

You don’t need a deep history dive to enjoy it—the setting does the work: a fort above the river, sea breeze, and a view that immediately says ‘Tamsui.’ If you’re doing Tamsui, this is a high-payoff add-on that makes the day feel complete.

Songshan Cultural and Creative Park in Taipei — the historic tobacco-factory warehouses with the curved Taipei New Horizon building behind
Photo: 玄史生 · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

The history layers

Locals call it Hongmaocheng—‘Fort of the Red-Haired’—a reference to the Dutch who rebuilt it. After the Opium War, Britain leased the fort from the Qing and used it as a consulate, adding a distinctly British chapter to a Spanish-and-Dutch story.

Right beside the fort stands the former British Consular Residence, a Victorian red-brick building with elegant verandas—an easy, atmospheric companion to the fort itself, and included on the same ticket.

  • Spanish 1628 → Dutch 1642 (‘Fort Antonio’) → British consulate
  • Known locally as Hongmaocheng (‘Fort of the Red-Haired’)
  • Adjacent Victorian red-brick British Consular Residence with verandas

Tickets, hours, and getting there

Admission is NT$80, and it’s a combo ticket: it includes the former British Consular Residence and is also valid for the Tamsui Customs Officer’s Residence and Huwei Fort, so keep your ticket for the day. Ticketing stops 30 minutes before closing.

Hours run 09:30–17:00 Monday to Friday and 09:30–18:00 on weekends, with the site closed the first Monday of each month and during Lunar New Year. To get there, take the MRT Red Line to its Tamsui terminus, then bus R26, 836 (weekends/holidays) or 857 to the fort at No. 1, Ln. 28, Zhongzheng Road.

  • NT$80 combo ticket (fort + Consular Residence + Customs Officer’s Residence + Huwei Fort)
  • 09:30–17:00 weekdays; 09:30–18:00 weekends; closed the first Monday monthly
  • MRT Tamsui, then bus R26/836/857
Tamsui Fisherman's Wharf Lover's Bridge silhouetted against a glowing orange sunset with boats moored below
Photo: 4300streetcar · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

How to fit it into a Tamsui day

Think in a simple arc: snacks and strolling first, history second, sunset last. Fort San Domingo works best in the middle—when you’re energized but not rushing. Late afternoon is ideal for the river views and softer light, and the weekend hours run later (to 18:00), giving you more flexibility.

  • Tamsui Old Street → Fort San Domingo → Fisherman’s Wharf
  • Fort stop → coffee break → sunset walk

FAQ 常見問題

Quick answers to common planning questions.

What’s nearby to combine it with?
It sits above Tamsui Old Street, so the easy plan is the riverside street and snacks first, the fort and former British Consular Residence next, then Fisherman’s Wharf and the Lover’s Bridge for sunset — a full Tamsui day reached on the Red Line.
How much is admission?
NT$80 for a combo ticket that also covers the former British Consular Residence and is valid for the Tamsui Customs Officer’s Residence and Huwei Fort. Ticketing stops 30 minutes before closing.
What are the opening hours?
09:30–17:00 Monday to Friday and 09:30–18:00 on weekends. It’s closed the first Monday of each month and during Lunar New Year.
How do I get there?
Take the MRT Red Line to the Tamsui terminus, then bus R26, 836 (weekends and holidays) or 857 to Fort San Domingo at No. 1, Ln. 28, Zhongzheng Road.
What’s the fort’s history?
The Spanish first built it in 1628; the Dutch rebuilt it in 1642 as ‘Fort Antonio.’ Locals call it Hongmaocheng (‘Fort of the Red-Haired’) after the Dutch, and Britain later leased it as a consulate.
When is the best time to visit?
Daytime, with late afternoon best for the views over the Tamsui River. Weekends have extended hours until 18:00, which suits a sunset-leaning Tamsui plan.

Helpful links 連結

Official pages and references for planning details.

Keep exploring 繼續逛

Hand-picked next reads to make your Taipei plan smoother.

Tamsui Old Street: an easy riverside day trip

Tamsui Old Street: an easy riverside day trip

A classic half-day escape from Taipei: a riverside walkway and a shop-lined street along the Tamsui River, packed with local snacks and famous for its sunset views—nostalgic, relaxed, and reached in one quick MRT ride.

Read more →
Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf: boardwalk sunset + river-sea breeze

Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf: boardwalk sunset + river-sea breeze

A sunset-forward waterfront at the mouth of the Tamsui River—come for the long wooden boardwalk, the sail-shaped Lover’s Bridge, the rotating Lover’s Tower, and the ‘end of day’ feeling that’s hard to get in the city center.

Read more →
Tamsui Lover’s Bridge: a postcard-perfect blue-hour walk

Tamsui Lover’s Bridge: a postcard-perfect blue-hour walk

A sleek white cable-stayed pedestrian bridge at the mouth of the Tamsui River—about 196 m of curved deck shaped like a sailing ship’s mast, named on Valentine’s Day 2003. A premier sunset viewpoint that lights up with rainbow projection-mapping after dark.

Read more →
Day trip from Taipei: coast + old streets (choose your adventure)

Day trip from Taipei: coast + old streets (choose your adventure)

A flexible day-trip template that lets you choose one major landscape (coast or waterfall) and one atmospheric old-street stop—without turning the day into a rushed checklist.

Read more →
Day trip: north coast + Keelung night market (Yehliu or Bitou + dinner)

Day trip: north coast + Keelung night market (Yehliu or Bitou + dinner)

A high-payoff day trip that balances scenery with food: do one coastal anchor in the afternoon, then finish with Keelung’s famous night market in the evening.

Read more →
Best day trips from Taipei (with a simple decision framework)

Best day trips from Taipei (with a simple decision framework)

Taipei is an ideal base for easy day trips—choose between old towns, coastlines, hikes, hot springs, and lantern villages with minimal planning friction.

Read more →

Ready to plan your next stop? 下一站

Start with a simple loop: one neighborhood stroll, one iconic sight, and one night market. Taipei rewards balance.

Tip: hours, prices, and seasonal schedules can change. When something matters (like a museum ticket or a special exhibition), check the official listing before you go.