Keelung, Taiwan guide

A low ferry horn carries across the water as fishing boats weave between cargo ships in Keelung’s sheltered harbor. From the pier, you can see temple roofs along the hillsides, roads climbing toward green ridgelines and the streets that lead to Miaokou Night Market (Keelung’s most celebrated food destination). Cruises to Keelung also place you close to coastal rock formations and historic defenses, while Taipei’s museums, temples, parks and panoramic vistas are within easy reach when you book a spot on a Princess® excursion.

Here, we explore the best ways to experience Keelung and Taipei as part of your Princess Japan cruise itinerary.

Keelung occupies a natural harbor enclosed by steep mountains near Taiwan’s northern coast. Damp sea air moving inland carries mist and rainfall that lend the waterfront its recognizable grey-blue cast and help keep the surrounding hills richly green throughout the year. Keelung’s wet climate gives the harbor an atmospheric coastal character and helps set it apart as a truly memorable port of call in northern Taiwan. Pack a light waterproof layer so you can enjoy the lush scenery even when the fog rolls in.

Keelung’s protected harbor has also made it a strategically important location across the centuries:

• Spanish and Dutch periods: Spanish forces established Fort San Salvador on Heping Island in 1626, followed by Dutch control later in the 17th century.
• Japanese colonial period: From 1895 to 1945, the port expanded through new infrastructure that helped shape modern Keelung.
• Later defenses and monuments: Qing-era fortifications, Japanese-period buildings and post-war landmarks now reveal how control of the harbor shifted across generations.

Keelung’s role has expanded beyond the harbor itself. For many guests, it is the point of entry to northern Taiwan — a well-connected starting place that makes the region’s cities, cultural sites and inland landscapes open for discovery.

Keelung’s position on Taiwan’s northern edge puts some of the region’s most unusual geology within easy reach of the port. 

Yehliu Geo Park is one of the most distinctive natural attractions accessible from Keelung port. Its exposed headland has been worn by wind and sea into a pale, lunar-like landscape where mushroom rocks, honeycombed surfaces and ginger-root formations rise beside the water. The best-known feature is Queen’s Head Rock, a sandstone formation eroded into the profile of an Egyptian queen. Its narrow neck continues to weather each year, which gives the formation an added sense of fragility.

Closer to Keelung, Heping Island Park offers another view of the coast’s geology. Walking paths follow the headland, where sea erosion has carved the rock into broad platforms and shallow pools. From the coastal track, you can look toward Keelung Islet offshore while taking in the open stretch of water beyond the harbor.

Keelung’s city center is compact enough for guests who prefer to explore independently. Several landmarks are within walking distance of the cruise terminal, while others are only a short taxi ride away.

• Zhengbin Fishing Harbor: Brightly painted waterfront buildings in reds, blues and ochres overlook an active fishing port. Boats, nets and small businesses keep the setting connected to Keelung’s maritime industry, while the mountains behind the harbor add depth to the view.

• Zhongzheng Park: Set above central Keelung, the park is marked by a large white Guanyin statue visible from parts of the waterfront. Its hillside position provides broad views across the city basin and toward the sea, though reaching the upper areas involves stairs and inclines.

• Ershawan Fort: This Qing-era fortification once helped protect the harbor entrance. Stone walls and former gun positions remain in a wooded setting, offering a closer look at the military importance of Keelung’s natural harbor.

Keelung’s food traditions and annual observances reveal how closely the city remains connected to its harbor, temples and local communities.

• Miaokou Night Market: Numbered stalls fill compact lanes near the harbor, serving crab soup, oyster omelets, grilled squid and other local specialties. It is an easy place to sample several dishes in one visit. See our dedicated Keelung night market guide for more details.
• Renai Market: This daytime market brings you into Keelung’s everyday food scene, where produce vendors, seafood counters and small eateries share the same indoor space. Browse the displays, watch locals shop for fresh ingredients or stop for a simple meal before continuing through the city.
• Keelung Zhongyuan Festival: Held during the seventh lunar month, this major Ghost Festival observance includes offerings prepared by families and clan associations to honor ancestors. Ceremonies extend to the waterfront, where illuminated lanterns are released onto the water. Dates change each year according to the lunar calendar.

Keelung’s proximity to Taipei gives you access to the capital’s major cultural sites within a single port day. Princess excursions from Keelung handle the journey from the pier and group nearby attractions into focused itineraries, so you can choose the version of Taipei that best matches your interests.

• The Best of Taipei: National Palace Museum, Chiang Kai Shek & Temples excursion covers the capital’s political, religious and artistic heritage. Stops include Martyrs’ Shrine, Pao An Temple and Taipei Confucius Temple, where the “imperial way” entrance reflects its ceremonial past. After lunch at the Grand Hotel, you visit the National Palace Museum before ending at Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall in Liberty Square.
• The Taipei Old & New excursion traces the city through contrasting architecture. Lin An Tai Historical House and Museum preserves a traditional Fujian-style courtyard residence and classical garden. The excursion then continues to Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall and Taipei 101, where the 89th-floor observatory provides sweeping views across the city.
• The Nature Wonder of Yehliu Geo Park excursion combines Yehliu's sea-carved formations with Heping Island Park and a stop at Agenna Shipyard Relics and Zhengbin fishing port. At the fishing port, boats unload nearby while vendors display the day's catch, offering a closer look at the fishing industry that continues to support Keelung.
• The Taipei Life Style excursion focuses on daily customs and established neighborhoods. You visit Lungshan Temple, browse the herbal shops of Grass Lane and explore Nanmen Market before lunch at a dumpling restaurant. A tea-house visit follows before the day concludes on Dihua Street, one of Taipei’s historic commercial districts.
• The Yang Ming Shan Hot Springs & Yehliu Geographic Park excursion pairs mountain scenery with the northern coast. At Tienlai Hot Springs Resort, you have time to soak in mildly alkaline sulfuric pools before lunch. The excursion then continues to Yehliu Geo Park for Queen’s Head Rock and the surrounding formations.

A little preparation helps you make the most of your time ashore, whether you join a Princess excursion or explore Keelung independently.

• Excursion timing: Princess excursions depart from the pier by air-conditioned motorcoach. Taipei itineraries are generally full-day experiences, while the Nature Wonder of Yehliu Geo Park excursion is a half-day option. Confirm the listed duration for your sailing before booking.
• Weather: Carry a light waterproof layer, as showers can develop quickly along the coast.
• Footwear: Choose supportive shoes for temple grounds, plazas and uneven geological surfaces.
• Currency: Taiwan uses the New Taiwan dollar. Cards are widely accepted at major attractions and restaurants, while smaller vendors may prefer cash.
• Independent exploration: The central waterfront is easy to reach from the terminal. Allow extra time for hills, traffic and wet pavement when visiting farther stops such as Zhengbin Fishing Harbor, Zhongzheng Park or Ershawan Fort.

Explore current Keelung shore excursions.

Keelung lets you stay close to the harbor or extend the day into Taipei. You might explore the city’s fishing ports and historic defenses, then return to the pier as afternoon light settles across the green slopes and ships move through the harbor below. With Princess handling the journey, you can stay focused on the details that make northern Taiwan feel vivid, approachable and worth remembering.