Overlooking Taipei’s Tamsui River, Bali is a historic port area famous for its coastal trail and cycle path, amazing waterside views plus Bali Old Street.
Popular with local families at the weekends, Bali in Taipei is blessed with beautiful beach views and seaside vistas plus is accessible by MRT and bus (or from nearby Tamsui by boat).
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From traditional temples to tourist selfie spots, fossils to food courts, there are many things to do in Bali, Taipei.
A fun place for the family in Taiwan, this is why you should be Bali bound on your next trip to Tamsui and Taipei.
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Taiwan checklist
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For booking tours, transfers and SIM cards we recommend Get Your Guide, Viator, KK Day or Klook.
How to get to Bali in Taipei
If you are visiting from Tamsui, the boat from Tamsui to Bali Left Bank Wharf takes around 5 to 10 minutes (depending on the tide) and runs regularly throughout the day. Fares cost NT$40 one way (prices correct as of summer 2024).
Alternatively, to get from downtown Taipei to Bali, take the MRT to Taipei MRT Guandu Station, then take Tamsui Red Bus 13 to Left Bank Pier stop – you’ll arrive by Bali Old Street.
The main Bali waterside area is quite compact, so you can walk along the boardwalks and explore the Old Street on foot, or alternatively, hire a bike – more on this shortly.
Taiwanderers Tip
Grab a Taiwan EasyCard as a convenient way to use buses and public transport in Taipei and across Taiwan. They can be easily topped up at stations and convenience stores.
Read more about how to use a Taiwan EasyCard, including how to top up >
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Recommended Bali Taipei accommodation & hotels
4* Four Points by Sheraton Taipei Bali
If you want to stay in Bali itself, the best hotel with ocean views is the 4* Four Points by Sheraton Taipei Bali, with an outdoor pool plus onsite bars and restaurants. Check rates and availability on booking.com and agoda.com.
Hotelday Tamsui
Just across the water, the 3* Hotelday Tamsui is a 15 minute walk from Fisherman’s Wharf and an easy way to see Bali by night and enjoy Tamsui’s night-time delights. Check rates and availability on booking.com and agoda.com.
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Things to do in Bali, Taipei
1. Bali Old Street
Although VERY small compared to other famous old streets like nearby Tamsui or Shifen and Jiufen, Bali Old Street is a short stretch of shops, restaurants and food kiosks where enthusiastic owners beckon you over, tempting you with their tasty Taiwanese tidbits
At Bali Old Street, you find lots of tasty Taiwan foods – on our last visit in spring 2024, we saw everything from a ‘Wine Snail store’ to twisted donuts, peanut and coriander ice-cream rolls to Tanghulu (candied fruit).
With Bali being a port, grilled squid and other seafood was also a popular ‘catch of the day’.
Most of the stalls here are for takeaway food but there were a few places you could eat in – however, you might want to save food for one of the food courts or restaurants overlooking the water along Bali Left Bank Park.
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• Hello Kitty
• Mofusand
• Snoopy / Peanuts
• Pokémon
• Ultraman
• STARLUX
• Sumikko Gurashi
Plus check out our guide to why 7-Elevens in Taiwan are the best in the world!
2. Bali Left Bank Park and and Wharf
For us, this was our favorite thing to do in Bali (Taipei) – after we arrived via the Tamsui ferry, we really enjoyed walking along the coastal stretch, taking in the sea breeze and watching local families cycle along in trishaws or colorful bikes.
The views along this stretch are stunning and there are lots of places to grab snacks or sit-down food – also along the way are a few gaudy / tacky tourist selfie spots but we’ll forgive them as the panoramic vistas make up for it.
At the time of writing (August 2024), part of the Bali Left Bank Park trail has been turned into a huge rainbow walkway to support LGBTQ+ and Pride in Taiwan, reminiscent of the Rainbow Six Crossing in Ximending.
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3. Bali Sign
Talking of tourist things to do – if you are so inclined, you can pose with a big BALI sign by the waterfront. It is kind of cute and kids will love it – but it is pretty small compared to say the huge Keelung Port sign.
Try this – Tamsui Historic Site & Beitou Hot Spring day tour from Taipei >
4. Hire a bike
Bali is very popular with local families at the weekends, as they can hire all manner of bicycles, trishaws, tandems and even childrens remote controlled cars.
This means you can see the whole of the coast along Bali and look out to Tamsui from the comfort of a shared bicycle (just get your partner / family to cycle whilst you relax).
As soon as you get off the ferry at Bali Wharf / Left Bank Pier, the first thing you see is numerous bicycles plus bicycle hire shops.
Prices are low and you can either head northwest along the coastal trail towards Shihsanhang Museum of Archaeology or (and much quieter), eastwards towards Micang Park.
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5. Bali Wedding Plaza & Love for Life Sign
Cool or kitsch – you decide! Bali Wedding Plaza is another Bali beauty spot, where lovers or ‘brides to be’ can pose with the ‘Love for Life’ sign (kind of like a church style wedding motif) – colorful by day and illuminated by night.
There is also a boat with several big love hearts and a motif that says ‘Love, Laughter and Happily Ever After’. This was one of the most popular photo-spots in Bali too.,
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6. Ah Hui’s Food Court
Bali’s bright blue boardwalk food market, Ah Hui serves up fresh fish, squid, clams and other seafood dishes in a cute restaurant looking out over the water and Bali Left Bank Park. The fact it also serves ice-cold beers (NT$100) is also a bonus.
Always busy, be sure to get there early if you want to guarantee a riverside seat – it is also a great place to shelter if it is raining in Bali (as theren’t aren’t many indoor places along the boardwalk).
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7. Jumbo Ice-Cream
One of the n-’icest’ things to do in Bali, Taipei, you can head to the famous ‘Bali Jumbo Ice-Cream stall. These super-cold sweet treats ‘tower’ above any other desserts you’ll find here (literally – they are massive).
Taipei is famous for these big ice creams and these are no different, but they are much more enjoyable with the port views here.
Various combinations of flavors are available like vanilla, matcha and chocolate but remember to eat them quickly on hot days.
Try this – The best Taipei food tours with Viator or Get Your Guide
8. Shihsanhang Archaeological Site and Museum
A 3km walk along the coast from the Bali Wharf brings you to Shihsanhang Museum of Archaeology, opened in the early 1990s to coincide with the excavations taking place at the nearby Shihsanhang Archaeological Site.
The Shihsanhang Museum of Archaeology in Bali is open from 9:30am to 5pm on weekdays and until 6pm on weekends and costs NT$80 admission (free for local residents).
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9. Bali Mazu Temple
A small and serene Mazu temple located just across the road from the top of Bali Old Street, this is a peaceful spot to escape the hustle and bustle (and bicycles) of Bali Wharf.
When we visited, it was incredibly quiet and there were not any worshippers – the highlight is the dragon pillar in the Sanchuan Hall.
It is one of three historical Mazu temples along this stretch of the Tamsui River, the others being Tamsui Fuyou Temple and Guandu Temple.
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Our final thing to do in Bali, Taipei
10. PopSmile Popcorn Tourism Factory
Pop (pop) along to Bali’s PopSmile Popcorn Tourism Factory, one of Taiwan’s most famous popcorn brands (you’ll see it in 7-Eleven and other convenience stores in Taipei).
Fun for all the family, you get to go along on a guided tour of the factory watching how popcorn is made before getting to make your own popcorn with flavors of your choosing (including kimchi and corn soup)!
Billed as Asia’s ‘first popcorn factory’, admission to PopSmile Popcorn Tourism Factory starts from NT$250 which includes a tour, DIY popcorn session plus a NT$50 voucher to spend in the shop.
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