Keelung is a small city in the northern part of Taiwan, known for its deep harbor. Here you can find interesting historical sites dating back to the Dutch, Spanish, Qing, and Japanese colonization of Taiwan. Now the town is a bustling urban area with tons of food options, amazing coastline, waterfalls, mountains, and much more to explore. It should definitely be on your bucket list of places to visit in Taiwan.
Brief Historical Background of Keelung: Keelung was formed as sediment under the ocean millions of years ago and was then uplifted thanks to the collision of the Eurasian and Phillipine plates. The rocks have then been slowly eroded away by wind and water, creating odd shapes that you see today. You can see similar formations at Yehliu Geopark. What is now Keelung was once part of Basay aborigine lands. Keelung was first settled by the Spanish in 1626 because of the deep-watered Keelung Harbor. Their first settlement in what became their rule of northern Taiwan until they were defeated by the Dutch and left Taiwan in 1642 was on Heping Island. They built Fort San Salvador (聖薩爾瓦多城), which was destroyed and abandoned by the Dutch in 1668. The ruins of the fort were not confirmed to be found on the island until excavations in 2019. In 1891, the first train connecting Keelung and Taipei was completed. During this time, the Qing Dynasty built many forts near Keelung in response to the Opium Wars and the Sino-French War. During the Japanese Era, the capital of Taiwan was moved to Taipei and a round-island railway was completed. After WWII, as part of the White Terror Movement, on March 8th, 1947 KMT soldiers kidnapped and shot some of about 30 civilians on Sheliao island who were suspected enemy conspirators, known as the Sheliao Incident "社寮事件." After this, the people on the island decided to change to island's name to "Peace Island" or Heping Island in Chinese. Keelung is now a popular daytime and weekend destination for many Taiwanese. Basic Keelung Travel Tips:
When should you go to Keelung? In my opinion, the best weather in Keelung is from March-May, and October - November, when the temperatures stay around 26 degrees Celsius and there is not as much rain. Summers are also nice, with the most sunny weather, but also hot and rainy. Winters can be cold (but not below freezing) and usually wet. Overall, there is no wrong answer as to what time of year you should visit Keelung. You will have a great time here at any time of year. Hotels in Keelung: We recommend Just Live Inn-Keelung and Yung Feng Hotel, which are two great quality hotels for a reasonable price in Keelung's City Center. You can book Just Live Inn-Keelung on Booking.com here, Agoda here, Klook here, Hotels.com here, Trip.com here, or Kayak here. You can book Yung Feng Hotel on Booking.com here, Agoda here, Hotels.com here, Trip.com here, Klook here, or Kayak here. Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Booking.com here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan. Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. Tours near Keelung: There are many tour itineraries that you can enjoy in Keelung that will take you to multiple destinations and arrange transportation. For more information, you can check out Tripadvisor here, KKday here or Klook here, which are both great tour websites that can connect you with the right tour and tour guide for you. Here are some of the most popular tours of Taipei on Tripadvisor:
Attractions around Keelung: There are many attractions that you can enjoy in Keelung such as Heping Island Park, Miaokou Night Market, Chaojing Smart Aquarium, Kanziding Fish Market, National Museum of Marine Science and Biology, Yehliu Ocean World, Yehliu Geopark, Jiufen, Elephant Trunk Rock, Ju Ming Museum, New Taipei Gold Museum, Bat Cave, Candlestick Islet, and many more attractions on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here. Activities in Keelung: Don't forget that there are many activities available in Keelung such as Yachting, Fishing, Surfing, SUP / Paddle Boarding, Diving, Snorkeling Kayaking, Canoeing, Water Biking, River Tracing / Canyoneering, Glamping, Motorcycling, Motorbike Tour, Shen'ao Rail Bike, Night Fishing, Instagram Tour, Metaverse VR experience, Seaside Picnic, and more on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here. Just to let you know, if you book using the links above, we get some commission at no cost to you, and you can help support our blog. Some of the Klook links may not work if you are using an Ad blocker. You can click here to receive $5 USD on your first Klook purchase. How to get there: The only way to get to Taiwan is via airplane. Planes leave daily from Taipei's Songshan and Toayuan Airport. Taoyuan Airport: Taoyuan is Taiwan's largest airport and typically has cheaper flights and more flight times to choose from. It's about an hour's journey from Taoyuan Airport to the center of Taipei. You can travel via MRT, HSR, bus, or taxi to get to Taipei. You can get 30% off the Taoyuan Airport VIP lounge on KKday here. Songshan Airport: Songshan is a small airport in Taipei's city center, and can be a convenient option for people traveling within Asia. The airport is right on the Taipei MRT brown line. You can book cheap flights to Taiwan on KKday here, Trip.com here, CheapO Air here, or Kiwi here. How to get around in Keelung: Taipei's transportation system is convenient and safe. There are many options you can consider to get around in Taipei below: By Train: Gets you to the city center of all major cities in Taiwan. It is about 800NT to get from Taipei to Kaohsiung. Roughly half the price of the HSR. Book tickets via the normal train (TRA) on Klook here. By Bus: Long-range buses such as Ubus and King Bus are easier to understand and cheaper than the local train. You can book tickets to travel to Keelung via inter-city bus on Klook here. By Taxi: You can take short rides for about 150 NT, or hire a Taxi for a day for around 150 USD. You can search for private chartered cars on KKDay here. By Car: If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. By Scooter: Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? Search KKday here for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan's many Youbike bike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. Tourist Site Map: Check out our map below of tourist sites in Taiwan, which is constantly updated: Places we will cover in this blog:
Let's get this list started! Keelung Miaokou Night Market 基隆廟口夜市 
Keelung's Miaokou Night Market is a large night market in northern Taiwan, full of all kinds of delicious Taiwanese street food considered by some to be the best in Taiwan. The market consists mostly of food stalls in front of the Dianji Temple in Keelung, stretching on both sides down the street. It is said to be a must-see night market and one of the busiest in Taiwan...(read more)
You can book a tour to Miaokou Night Market on Klook here or KKday here. You can check out our full blog about Miaokou Night Market here. Dawulun Beach 大武崙沙灘 
Only a 20 minute car drive away, Dawulun Beach in Keelung is the closest sandy ocean beach to Taipei City. Although it is small, it has a calm shallow swimming area and the sand looks like it was shipped straight from Kenting. It is definitely worth a visit for all beach lovers in Taipei...(read more)
Check out our full guide to Dawulun Beach here. Heping Island 和平島 
Heping Island Park is a geo-park and water park on Heping Island, just outside of downtown Keelung. Here you can find many interesting rock formations in the sedimentary rock along the seashore. There are also salt water swimming pools, amazing places to go diving, a playground, hiking trails, and historical sights. Some would say this island is the world's best kept secret. It is definitely worth stopping here along Taiwan's northern coast...read more.
Price: 80 NT per person You can buy a discount entrance ticket to Heping Island Park on Klook here or KKday here. You can also book a tour to Heping Island on TripAdvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here. You can also enjoy a seaside picnic at Heping Island on KKday here. Check out our full guide to Heping Island Park here. Zhengbin Harbor 正濱漁港
The colorful houses at Zhengbin Harbor in Keelung, also known as the popular rainbow house Instagram selfie spot.
You can book a walking tour to Zhengbin Harbor and Heping Island on Klook here or KKday here. Keelung Islet 基隆嶼 
Keelung Islet is a small but tall rock off the coast of Keelung City. It first opened for tourists in 2001, but was closed in 2013 due to Typhoon damage, but then opened again in 2019. You can hike to the top of the island to its lighthouse and enjoy the views of Taiwan's Northern Coast. You can take a ferry ride to the island from Keelung harbor, but tourists are barred from visiting in the winter months...(read more)
Price: Boat trip to the island and hike to the lighthouse: about 700 NT Boat trip to the island, lighthouse, and other places such as elephant trunk rock: about 1200 NT Again, you can book tickets on Klook here or KKday here; booking on these sites is usually cheaper than buying tickets in person. Check out our full guide to Keelung Islet here. Keelung Marine Science Museum (國立海洋科技博物館) 
The Keelung Marine Science Museum (國立海洋科技博物館) is a former power plant that has been converted into a museum and IMAX Theater. It also features many educational exhibits about Taiwan's sea life and marine science. It is definitely worth a stop during your next trip to Keelung.
Price: The price for admission is 200 NT. You can book tickets for a discount on Klook here or KKday here. You can also book a chartered tour to the museum and nearby sights on KKday here. Check out our full guide to the Keelung Marine Science Museum here. Tai'an Waterfall 泰安瀑布 
Tai'an Waterfall is a tall waterfall in Qidu District in Keelung City, Taiwan. It is easily accessible via a flat hiking path that takes about 10 minutes to complete, and includes amazing natural scenery. Its spectacular cascading falls are definitely worth a stop for anyone in Taiwan...(read more)
Chaojing Park 潮境公園 
Badouzi is a rocky area along Taiwan's north coast in Keelung. It includes a seafood market, marine science museum, and a wide grassy area (Chaojing Park). There are also many interesting rock formations in the area. It is a popular location for its seafood, flying kites, hiking, and enjoying the ocean scenery.
You can book tickets to Chaojing Smart Aquarium on KKday here. Badouzi Harbor Seafood Market 八斗子漁港海鮮市場 
Badouzi Harbor is a busy fishing harbor with a popular seafood market in Keelung, and also has a few seafood restaurants inside. You can also take a ferry to Keelung Islet from here. It is definitely worth visiting on your next trip to Keelung...(read more)
Check out our full blog on Badouzi Harbor here. Baodouzi Weekend Night Market 八斗子假日夜市 
Badouzi Weekend Night Market is a popular night market on the coast of Keelung near Baodouzi Harbor. Even though it is only open on weekends, you will find almost every Taiwanese night market snack you could want here. You probably won't see any other tourists or foreigners. Popular foods here include fried squid, steak, onion pancakes, papaya milk, and more...(read more)
Check out our full blog on Badouzi Weekend Night Market here. Baimiweng Fort 白米甕砲台 
Baimiweng Fort is an abandoned fort in Keelung that is now open to the public, dating back to the Dutch colonization of Taiwan. Here you can learn more about Taiwan's colonial history, and enjoy amazing panoramic views of Keelung and the surrounding area. Keelung Lighthouse is also within walking distance...(read more)
Check out our full blog on Baimiweng Fort here. Keelung Lighthouse 基隆燈塔 
Unfortunately, Keelung Lighthouse was closed for renovations when we visited. It was built during the Qing Dynasty in 1900 and refurbished in 1962. It is still an important lighthouse for ships in the area...(read more)
Check out more photos near Keelung lighthouse in our blog here. Ershawan Fort 二沙灣砲臺 
Ershawan Fort (aka Ershawan Battery or Tenable Gate of the Sea 海門天險), is a Qing Dynasty era fort that once guarded Keelung Harbor among a network of other forts. For a brief time was taken over by the French during the Sino-French War. Now it stands as a wonderfully preserved monument to the past, with great views of Keelung Harbor...(read more).
Check out our full blog on Ershawan Fort here. Dawulun Fort 大武侖砲台 
Dawulun Fort is a Qing Dynasty era fort that once guarded the coast along Wanli, Jinshan, and Keelung, among a network of other forts. Now it stands as a wonderfully preserved monument to the past, with great views of Keelung Harbor and Wanli District...(read more)
You can book a tour to Dawulun Fort on KKday here. Check out our full blog on Dawulun Fort here. Lovers Lake 情人湖 
Lovers Lake is a small lake a recreation area in Anle District of Keelung City. It has some easy trails, bridges, and a tower that looks over the area. The lake trails also connect to Dawulun Fort. Overall it is a nice scenic spot for a day trip in Northern Taiwan...(read more).
You can book a hiking tour of Lover's Lake on KKday here. Check out our full blog on Lover's Lake here. Lover's Tower 情人塔 
Lover's Tower, which is about a half hour hike through the woods from Lover's Lake. It is one of the best spots to enjoy the scenery on Taiwan's Northern Coast. It is definitely a must visit on your next trip to Keelung.
You can book a tour to Lover's Tower on KKday here. Check out our full blog on Lover's Tower here. Elephant Trunk Rock 象鼻岩 
Elephant Trunk Rock is a rock shaped like its name in the Shenao area of Ruifang District, New Taipei City, but it is right on the border of Keelung so I am adding it in. There are also many interesting rock formations in the area. It is one of the most recognizable rock formations on the north coast and a popular location for, kayakers, snorkelers, and Instagrammers...(read more).
Here you can enjoy kayaking, canoeing, snorkeling, SUP / paddle boarding, water biking, and more activities which you can book on Klook here or KKday here. You can check out our full guide to Elephant Trunk Rock here. Some places we missed:
This guide is still a work in progress. For more blogs on Keelung, check out our category tab here. Don't forget that there are many activities available in Keelung such as Yachting, Fishing, Surfing, SUP / Paddle Boarding, Diving, Snorkeling Kayaking, Canoeing, Water Biking, River Tracing / Canyoneering, Glamping, Motorcycling, Motorbike Tour, Shen'ao Rail Bike, Night Fishing, Instagram Tour, Metaverse VR experience, Seaside Picnic, and more on Tripadvisor here, Klook here, or KKday here. Check out our full guide to Taiwan’s Northern Coast here. Also be sure to check out our guide to Taipei here. You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here.
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Author 作家I am an American expat who has extensive experience living, working, and traveling in Taiwan. In my day, I had to learn many things about Taiwan the hard way. But I have come to learn that Taiwan is one of the best places in the world for Foreigners to live. This blog does not represent the opinions of every foreigner in Taiwan. I am just trying to help others learn more about this beautiful country. Categories
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