Anping is best as an afternoon that ends at the water. Arrive early enough to see Anping Old Fort and the Tree House before their 17:30 closing, graze the old street in between, then walk to the harbor for sunset. It's about 15 minutes from the old town by car, or take bus 102 or the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle 88 or 99 from Tainan Station.
The plan below suits the warmer months, when sunset comes after the sights close. In winter, when the sun sets earlier, start an hour or so sooner. Check the sunset time for your date.
14:30: shrimp rolls on the way
Stop at Huang Chia Shrimp Rolls (府城黃家蝦捲) on Xihe Road, between the old town and Anping, right as it opens. Its Bib Gourmand shrimp rolls beat the tourist halls. 14:30 to 19:00, closed Friday and Saturday. → What to eat
15:00: Anping Old Fort
Start where Tainan began. Anping Old Fort (安平古堡) was the Dutch Fort Zeelandia, begun in 1624 and taken by Koxinga in 1662. See the original brick wall gripped by banyan roots, the Zeelandia Museum, and the view from the lookout tower, whose white walls and pointed roof date from 1975.
- Hours: 08:30 to 17:30 daily (the city tourism site lists 10:00 to 17:10, so don't arrive late)
- Entry: NT$70, half price NT$35, free for Tainan residents with ID
15:45: Kaitai Mazu Temple and the old street
Pay your respects at the Anping Kaitai Mazu Temple (安平開臺天后宮), one of the oldest Mazu temples in Taiwan and open 05:00 to 22:00. Then wander Anping Old Street (延平街) for snacks, and look above old doorways for the sword lion (劍獅) emblems found only in Anping.
16:30: Anping Tree House and the Tait & Co. Merchant House
A short walk brings you to the Anping Tree House (安平樹屋), an old trading warehouse taken over by banyan trees, with walkways up among the branches. Your ticket also covers the white Tait & Co. Merchant House (英商德記洋行) next door, with its exhibition on Anping's trading years.
- Hours: 08:30 to 17:30 daily
- Entry: NT$70, half price NT$35, free for Tainan residents with ID
17:30: bean jelly
Cool down at Tongji Anping Bean Jelly (同記安平豆花) on Anbei Road. Order the traditional white douhua with tiny red beans and lemon-juice syrup.
Golden hour: the harbor sunset
This is what the afternoon builds toward. Walk or ride a YouBike to the waterfront and be there about 45 minutes before sunset to watch the harbor turn gold. Our local move is to skip the busiest platform and head slightly north to the Lin Moniang Park waterfront, where you'll share the view with local families rather than tour groups.
After dark
Head back to the old town for dinner, or check which night market is open tonight. → Night markets
Tips
- The gates close at 17:30, so do the fort and Tree House first and leave the old street flexible.
- For the 2026 historic sites pass, and what to ask at the counter now, see the fort guide.
- Midday Anping is hot and shadeless, which is why this plan starts mid-afternoon.
- Got more time? The Eternal Golden Castle (億載金城), a 19th-century fort, keeps the same 08:30 to 17:30 hours and NT$70 ticket.
→ Anping guide · 2 days in Tainan · All itineraries
Sources
Fort, Tree House and Eternal Golden Castle hours and tickets: Tainan Cultural Affairs Bureau, historic sites. Fort hours and Kaitai Mazu Temple hours: Travel Tainan. Food stops and the sunset tip from our Anping guide and food pages. Checked October 2026.