Keelung is one of those cities that doesn’t get much exposure, because 9 times out of 10, you’re starting in Taipei and either heading East to Yilan, Hualien, and then Taitung, or you’re heading West to Hsinchu, Taichung, Tainan, then Kaohsiung (and maybe even Kenting).
But is the port of Keelung really worth a trip?
Table of Contents
Please take note that this article contains links to services and products from which I may receive compensation at no additional cost to you.
Here are some useful links for you if you are going to Keelung:
Transportation
Tours and Tourist Attractions
- Keelung Half-Day Walking Tour
- Yehliu Geopark and Keelung Harbor Guided Tour from Taipei
- Keelung Northeast Corner One-Day Tour
- Keelung Night Market Food Tour
- Other things to do in Keelung: Klook | KKday
Staying
- Klook | Booking.com | Agoda | KKday
How to get there
From Taipei Main Station
- On public transport:
- From Taipei Main Station, the quickest way to get to Keelung is definitely by Train. Take the 112 from Taipei Main Station to Keelung Station, and it will pass through 3 stations on the way, and only take 38 mins. It will also cost you under $150 for a return ticket – a bargain!
- Driving:
- Get on to Civic Boulevard and take it all the way to Highway Number 1. That will take you directly to the heart of the city in under 30 minutes. It will cost you a negligible amount through Highway tolls.
From Gongguan
- On public transport:
- If you want to take the bus, then going from Gongguan is quite a good option. A short walk from Gongguan station is the National Taiwan University bus stop on Keelung Road. From there you can take the 1550 or 1551 right to the harbour in the heart of the city. It will cost you $48 each way, and take around 1hr, going through 12-13 stops, depending on which bus you take.
- Driving:
- The most direct route would be to go all the way up Keelung Road, through the underground tunnel next to the Taipei City Hall bus station, and follow that road until it links on to the Highway Number 1. That will take you right into the heart of the city in around 35 minutes.
From Neihu
- On public transport:
- From Neihu there is one transfer, but it’s still pretty simple. From Neihu MRT station get on either the 521, 630, or Red 29 bus to Times Plaza, and then get on the 1573, it will drop you off at The Maritime Plaza at the train station next to the harbour, and will take you around 1hr, with a total cost of $50 each way.
- Driving:
- From Neihu MRT station get on to Chenggong Road back towards the city, then continue on Chenggong road until it meets the Highway Number 1. This will take under 25 minutes into the heart of the city, only costing a negligible amount of money on the highway toll.
Fast ways to travel around by train or by car:
- Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) and Taiwan Railways (TRA) 5-Day Joint Train Pass– If you are planning a trip around Taiwan, this pass offers a good deal, highly recommended!
- Private Car Charter for Taipei– If you have a group of people, wouldn’t it be easier if a driver shows up and takes you to the destination for a day trip?
Parking in Keelung
If you drive, I feel your pain – parking is a hassle throughout Taiwan. And it’s just as much of a hassle here, if not more! Every single road you go down seems to have a red line – meaning you cannot park there without risking a fine.
Park <10min walk away from the center next to Keelung National Sports Center at the parking lot entitled uTagGO 俥亭基隆獅球停車場. It will cost you $30/hr, and can be directly deducted from your etag on your car. From there, it’s a short walk into the city, and even allows you the possibility of going through this weird and wonderful 100-year-old underground walkway for a bit of fun.
When you arrive
OK so you are finally here and parked ready for your Keelung day trip, what should be the first thing you do? Well, before we can even think about eating here in Keelung City, – the bathroom. If you parked at the car park recommended above, then the sports center has a bathroom you can use. If you are in the center at Keelung train station, then the ones there are kept moderately clean. If you are at the bus stop, then I would recommend MOS burger opposite the bus stop for some clean and well-kept toilets. Couple it with a MOS burger coffee, though, to show your appreciation for the clean facilities.
Without further ado, let the food tour begin!
Breakfast
So Keelung is just about good for every meal of the day, with breakfast coming in strong! The volume of cafes and Taiwanese breakfast shops is vast, with many Western-style breakfasts also available if that’s what you need in the morning (think McDonald’s, KFC etc).
Choice 1: 阿國碳烤燒餅 – Shaobing
But this is what you really should be getting, Shaobing! Shaobing is the absolute bomb, especially when it’s thick and bready like this one is, pumped with green onions and fragrant cracked pepper (if you’re looking for one in Taipei, then this one is top quality).
Get 1 of these to eat now, then a couple to take home with you for the next morning’s breakfast. A cheeky fried egg and some ham inside that tomorrow morning is going to set you right.
Choice 2: 魯平豆漿店 – Soy milk
But if you want a place to sit and chill for a bit, then Luping soy milk is going to sort you right out. The salted soy milk with chilli oil and fried dough sticks will give you that morning energy that you need to tackle the day with. Pair it with one of those delicious thin shaobing with a scrambled egg inside, and you’re sorted (if you’re looking for some awesome soy milk in Taipei, then check out this selection for more choices).
Lunch
Alright, so lunch in this great city can be one big meal, or as I would recommend – lots of smaller meals that will eventually total up to the same as a bigger meal.
Choice 1: 榮生魚片 – Sushi w/stir-fried food
If sushi is your thing, then look no further than 榮生魚片 for your hit of sushi goodness. It’s a 5min walk away from the center of Keelung, offers up some incredible value, and also does hot dishes, too. The best thing to do is order by price. If you say you’d like $300, $400, or $500 worth of a variety of sushi then you could say something like：
老闆請幫我切$300塊綜合生魚片 – Lǎobǎn qǐng bāng wǒ qiè sān bǎi ($300) kuài zònghé shēng yú piàn
This translates to, please help me to cut $300 worth of a mixed sushi platter.
Choice 2: 海味海產店 – Stir-fried dishes
If sushi isn’t your thing, then next-door to 榮生魚片 is this spot, 海味海產店. They offer up a similar style of stir-fried food, with the better dishes being these deep-fried oysters, stir-fried clams, stir-fried squid, and stir-fried noodles.
Choice 3: 朱添鮮魚號 – Market sushi
Or, if you don’t want to leave the center at all costs, then you cannot go wrong with these awesome sushi places right there in one of Keelung’s most popular fish and meat markets in the heart of the city. The value for money here is incredible!
Choice 4: 基隆 孝三 大腸圈 – Rice sausage
So they take the big intestine of the pig, stuff it with glutinous rice and peanuts, steam it, then serve it up with knock-your-head-off chilli sauce, what is not to love? Well, if that’s not all you want to try, then go for some of their amazing other steamed or braised food such as their intestine or tongue – it will not disappoint you.
Dinner
Choice 1: 叁坪Sanpin – Delicious fusion food
Sanpin really has it all – amazing Italian fusion food that won’t break the bank, a relaxed vibe inside, and a great view over the harbor to the mutli-coloured houses. Yeh, it’s a short journey outside of the city center, but it’s totally worth it.
Choice 2: Casa Picasso – Spanish-style tapas
If the multi-coloured houses weren’t enough to lure you into Sanpin above (or if you didn’t make a reservation), then check out Casa Picasso, which is actually set inside one of those multi-coloured houses, for some Spanish-style tapas. Why Spanish-style, and not just Spanish? Well, it’s hard to call it fusion food, as I don’t think it’s actually done on purpose, but it’s kind of like an accidental Italian meets Spanish, with some other European mixed in.
Oh, and if you do happen to be slightly early for your dinner reservations, but are in need of a well-earned coffee break, then 閑閑 will absolutely sort you out!
Choice 3: Bad Mama – Cocktails and great bar food
If you want a moody bar that does some solid grub to go with some great cocktails, then Bad Mama is a great shout. It’s in the center, it’s reasonably priced, and they do a mean cocktail!
Gifts to buy
So there are some great gifts that are very particular to this city. Most of them are available from the morning through to the afternoon, so I wouldn’t wait until the evening to buy them. Here are my recommendations:
- For family – Renai market’s fish cakes
- For coworkers – Lee Hu confectioners
- For loved ones – Lenjen cakes
For family
Now when I say family, I mean if they are into cooking. If they are, then look no further than these incredible freshly-cooked fish cakes from Renai market. I challenge you to find better! Cooked fresh every morning, be prepared to line up – the show of a tried and tested/tasted incredible market find.
For coworkers
Lee Hu does some great confectionary and is really well-known all over the island. From what I have tried, I would most recommend their Green Bean cakes 綠豆餅. They are cram packed with green bean paste and are light and flakey on the outside. Your coworkers will be happy to receive these!
For loved ones
基隆連珍糕餅店 is right on the money, each and every time! I always, without fail, get the taro balls 芋泥球, their great taro panna cotta with sago balls (pictured below), and this weirdly wonderful banana oil chewy sugar cake that just ticks all boxes for me – it’s in a small rectangular plastic package and has red lines on it. Give it a go and let me know what you think!
The bottom line
So there’s plenty to eat in this incredible harbour city. We have barely scratched the surface with these places here, so stay tuned for Part 2 coming up later in the year.
Is it really worth it? Yes, go.
If you had to choose only one place to eat, which would it be? 朱添鮮魚號 – Market sushi
Should I stay overnight? I wouldn’t, personally, as I don’t think there’s enough to do over 24hrs here. I mean, I have been here countless times from Taipei, but I would not even know where to stay in Keelung. I think a day is enough, but most of the time I would only go for a morning and leave in the early afternoon.
Keelung Map, Part 1
In the above post is Keelung attractions part 1. Part 2 will come soon, with some more Keelung tour spots, things to do in Keelung City, Keelung night market food, and eventually, it will complete a comprehensive Keelung travel guide.