A facile electrochemical sensor for dopamine detection was successfully fabricated by the modification of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and poly(hydroquinone) film on three-dimensional nickel foam. The results of scanning electron microscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry measurements demonstrated the successfully preparation of the sensor. The effect factors of electrodeposition time of AuNPs, polymerization pH, cycles of polymerization and rate of polymerization were optimized for the sensor preparation. Under the optimized conditions, the prepared sensor exhibited selective and sensitive detection capacities toward dopamine. The linear response to dopamine ranged from 1.0 x 10(-7) mol/L to 1.0 x 10(-5) mol/L with a detection limit of 4.19 x 10(-8) mol/L. Moreover, the sensor could be applied in the detection of dopamine in real samples with satisfactory results.