Danshui

Dreamy day and night destination

Noteworthy for: The most-visited attraction - and for a good reason - is Fort San Domingo, which has stood since the Spanish occupation of northern Taiwan from 1626 to 1641.
Located in the northernmost reaches of Taipei, getting to Danshui on the subway is a trek, but a deliberate trip to the docks here is certainly rewarding. Once a bustling harbour, Danshui is home to Fort San Domingo and a fisherman's wharf that is lined with al fresco barbecue restaurants, cute shops, carnival games and row boats.

While more and more city-dwellers are relocating to Danshui, it's proximity an hour from Taipei's downtown means its largely unspoiled by gentrification and provides an authentic experience without having to go too far afield.
Take the ferry across to Bali, an island populated with wetlands where one may go birdwatching and rent bicycles to saunter along 14km of biking and hiking trails.