Keelung is often overlooked by travelers who prioritize places like Taipei, Jiufen, and other tourist attractions. After spending nearly 3 days in Keelung and exploring this northern port city, it ended up being one of my favorite places in Taiwan.  Many travelers visit Keelung as a day trip from Taipei or maybe when their cruise is at port in Keelung, but it’s well worth spending time in this city. There is an incredible amount of things to do in Keelung from famous night markets to leisure activities.  In this Keelung travel guide, I’ll cover my recommended things to do in Keelung, places to eat, how to get there, and share my itinerary. In my opinion, Keelung deserved more than just a few rushed hours. ** This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or widgets throughout the page, whether it be Viator, Booking.com, Agoda, or any other affiliate, I might receive commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, you can visit my affiliate link page here. Thanks for the support! Is Keelung Worth Visiting? If you enjoy food, coastal activities, and exploring off the beaten path, then yes, Keelung is absolutely worth visiting!  What makes Keelung worth visiting is that it feels completely different then Taipei. Keelung does have a maritime vibe to it with narrow streets, surprising attractions, and amazing food options.  Keelung also has one of the most famous night markets in Taiwan, the Keelung MiaoKou Night Market.  Most travelers visit Keelung as a day trip from Taipei or if their cruise ship is at port but I think you’ll get a more authentic experience if you stay in Keelung for multiple days. I stayed in Keelung for nearly three days and my itinerary was packed!  Keelung may not be the prettiest city in Taiwan but it does have a lot of character. With that being said, Keelung is absolutely a must visit and should be included in any Taiwan itinerary.  Where is Keelung? Keelung is a coastal port city located in northern Taiwan. It’s about 25 kilometers northeast of Taipei.  Keelung is known for its busy harbor, beautiful coastline, and rainy/cloudy weather. It’s also a great location to explore other areas of northern Taiwan like Houtong Cat Village, Jiufen, or Yehliu Geopark.  How to Get to Keelung from Taipei Getting to Keelung from Taipei is easy and affordable. There are two recommended ways to get to Keelung from Taipei, by bus or train. I’ve done both and will outline each mode of transportation below. Getting to Keelung by Bus: Head to Taipei City Hall Bus Station located next to Taipei City Hall MRT Station. Look for the Kuo-Kuang Bus counters and signs for 1813 Keelung. Stand in line at Bus Stop #1 and wait for the Keelung bus to arrive. If you are unsure about which stop, there are signs and you can always ask the bus driver just to make sure.  You can purchase a bus ticket at the counter at the station or just use a EasyCard and tap when boarding. I use my EasyCard, these are preloaded cards you can buy at Taoyuan Airport or train stations.  The journey to Keelung from Taipei takes about 45-60 minutes depending on traffic.  Get off at Keelung Station, it’s direct.  Getting to Keelung by Train:  From Taipei Main Station, take the TRA and not the High Speed Rail. Purchase a ticket or use your EasyCard (recommended).  Board a northbound train heading toward Keelung. Local trains to Keelung run frequent throughout the day.  The train ride usually takes around 30-45 minutes.  Arrive at Keelung Station.  Each route is the same for the way back from Keelung to Taipei. Getting Around Keelung Luckily, getting around Keelung is fairly easy, especially if you are staying near the station or Maritime Plaza. Most of the cities main attractions are within walking distance of each other.  For attractions that are farther out like Heping Island Park and the Shen’ao Rail Bike, I recommend hailing a taxi or using Uber.  Uber works well in Taiwan. In fact, the whole time I was in Keelung, I relied on Uber to get me to places that were farther out.  Where to Stay in Keelung Keelung is a walkable city, so in reality staying anywhere near the train station, Maritime Plaza, or MiaoKou Night Market, is a decent place to stay in Keelung.  Based on price and location, I stayed at the Keebe Hotel and really enjoyed my stay here.  Keebe Hotel was right next to all the action. The second I stepped out the front door, I was already at the Keelung MiaoKou Night Market. It was near many convenience stores, restaurants, and just a few minutes walk to the Maritime Plaza and train station.  If interested in staying at the same hotel I did, check out the Keebe Hotel, here.  Keebe HotelAddress: No. 215號, Rener Rd, Yutian Village, Ren’ai District, Keelung City, Taiwan 20048 Best Things to do in Keelung Despite often being treated as a quick day trip from Taipei, Keelung has plenty to offer. In this Keelung travel guide, I’ll cover the best things to do and provide tips and recommendations along the way.  These are in no particular order, I’ll provide a Keelung itinerary further along in the post to help you maximize your time spent in Keelung.  Sample Street Food at MiaoKou Night Market I love Night Markets in Taiwan and MiaoKou Night Market ranks up there as one of the best. For many, MiaoKou Night Market is the main reason to visit Keelung. MiaoKou Night Market is just a few blocks from the train station and Maritime Plaza. This night market is famous for its fresh seafood, traditional Taiwanese street food, and lively atmosphere.  Walking through the glowing yellow lanterns and browsing the crowded food stalls is an experience on its own.  Popular dishes here include crab soup, oyster omelets, tempura, grilled squid, and hundreds of other delicious food dishes to try.  Some of my favorite things to try at MiaoKou Night Market include the One-Bite Sausages, Scallion Pancakes, Fried Rib Tips, Sugar Coated Fruits, and various styles of dumplings that I tried.  Visit Zhengbin Fishing Port In almost any Keelung Travel Guide, you’ll see Zhengbin Fishing Port as it is one of the more photogenic places in Keelung. This fishing port has become famous especially with influencers because of the colorful row of waterfront buildings that overlook the harbor. The area combines Keelung’s old fishing port with trendy cafes, local restaurants, and scenic ocean views.  The port is especially beautiful around sunset when the colorful buildings reflect across the water, making it one of the best photography spots in northern Taiwan.  At Zhengbin Fishing Port there is also the famous T-Ham Bus Station. The T-Ham Bus Station resembles an old school American Diner that sells hotdogs. I am not entirely sure what the story is behind the T-Ham Bus Station, but it’s a quirky attraction that is fun to take photos of or with. It is an active bus stop, so you can hop on the bus here back to the center of Keelung.  Walk Around Heping Island Park There are a few geoparks along the north coast of Taiwan, Yehliu Geopark is the most famous one but then there is Heping Island Park.  Heping Island Park is one of the best places to experience the dramatic coastal scenery around Keelung. It’s just a short bus ride away from the city center. We arrived here by Uber from the Shen’ao Rail Bike and took an Uber back to Keelung.  There are several maintained trails here where you can see the unique rock formations and get stunning ocean viewpoints. There are also seasonal swimming areas in the park.  Heping Island Park is a photographers paradise. The rock formations, ocean views, and just stunning landscape make it a unique and must visit attraction while staying in Keelung.  Explore Zhongzheng Park Zhongzheng Park is an interesting attraction in Keelung. It’s a bit quirky, interesting, beautiful, quiet, and even busy all at once.  Getting here, I took the elevator at Keelung Tower up and walked past the beautiful Pagoda. From the Pagoda, I walked to Zhongzheng Park.  The park is on a hill, elevated from the rest of the city. Because of this, you get some of the best panoramic views of Keelung. The park is famous for its massive white Goddess Guanyin Statue and the golden guardian lions.  Zhongzheng Park is also a great place for families. The day I was here, there were a lot of kid events going on. It almost feels like a theme park here but it is a temple complex with a lot going on!  Enjoy the Energy at Maritime Plaza Located along the waterfront near the train station, Keelung Maritime Plaza is one of the best places to see the harbor and take photos. The open promenade overlooks the busy port where you can see fishing boats, giant cruise ships, and cargo ships. The Maritime Plaza is a popular gathering spot for both locals and tourists. There was a lot of fun lights strung out at night, silly mascots, and tons of people taking memorable photos. Check out the 100-Year Bomb Shelter Just searching Keelung on Google Maps, I discovers a Point of Interest for this 100-Year Bomb Shelter and it was not far from the MiaoKou Night Market.  According to an old sign posted here, it’s listed as a Centennial Air Raid Shelter and was built in 1903 during Japanese occupation.  Today, the bomb shelter has now been converted into a passageway in a residential area. It’s free to visit and walk through. We did this first thing in the morning. Realistically, you don’t need but 5 minutes here.  Address: 200, Taiwan, Keelung City, Ren’ai District, Wen’an Village, Jing 1st Rd Watch the Giant Display at Guomen Square Close to the train station and located near the Maritime Plaza, Guomen Square is a large public area in Keelung where locals come to relax and visitors can view the harbor and city skyline.  One of the main reasons I recommend visiting Guomen Square is to watch the advertisements on the big screen here. There is even an adorable cat that shows up on the street, like the one in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Here, you can also find Aniverse Keelung. It’s a fun place to experience, especially on a rainy Keelung day.  Squeeze Through Buddha’s Hand Cave Buddha’s Hand Cave is one of the more unique hidden gems in Keelung and I highly recommend adding this to your Taiwan itinerary. This temple is beautiful, interesting, and kind of thrilling.  This small cave temple is on the other side of the port and I recommend taking an Uber to get here.  The whole temple is amazing, it’s built in a cave and there are carvings on the walls. The thrilling aspect here is that there is a very and I mean very narrow passageway to a small shrine. It took me two tries to get back here, it was that tight.  I’ve never felt an adrenaline rush while exploring a temple like this. It’s a fun experience that I feel is a must when visiting Keelung.  Relax and Get a Foot Massage Of course, I can’t write a post about Taiwan without mentioning ending the day with a foot massage. It’s part of my daily Taiwan ritual: Tea Eggs, Night Markets, and Foot Massage.  When traveling in Taiwan, I legit get a foot massage every night, usually after visiting a night market.  I went to the Anyue Health Center two nights in a row. Address: No. 8號, Lane 98, Ai 3rd Rd, Yutian Village, Ren’ai District, Keelung City, Taiwan 200 Best Food and Drinks to Try in Keelung Keelung is a food lovers paradise! In Keelung, you have one of Taiwan’s most famous night markets, great local restaurants, famous Japanese chains, amazing craft beer, and literally delicious eats on every