Port of Keelung - Taiwan's gateway cruise harbor

The passenger terminals sit along a naturally sheltered harbor basin that has supported trade for centuries. Downtown streets, the waterfront and active port facilities all meet in a relatively compact area, with cargo operations continuing alongside cruise traffic. Passenger services and cruise tourism have become a more visible part of the port’s role in the Asia-Pacific region, while steep terrain and dense development limit how much the harbor can physically expand.

That maritime role has changed repeatedly. Spanish forces established defenses along this coast in the 17th century, while Ershawan Fort was built during the Qing dynasty as part of the area’s coastal defenses. Large-scale port development began under Japanese colonial rule in 1899, with a series of construction projects that expanded the harbor through the first half of the 20th century. Further modernization followed after World War II.

If you are wondering what to see in Keelung without spending much of the day in transit, several of the city’s best-known sights sit close to where your ship is docked.

• Miaokou Night Market - Numbered stalls cluster around Dianji Temple, with steam rising from soup pots, seafood cooking behind the counters and yellow lanterns marking the lanes. It’s one of the best places to sample the city’s local food culture. For more details, see our Keelung night market guide.
• Zhongzheng Park - About a 15-minute walk uphill from the port (with some stairs along the way), or a short taxi ride if you'd rather skip the climb, Zhongzheng Park has the large white Guanyin statue and a lookout over the city and port below.
• Ershawan Fort - Reachable by taxi or the local Keelung Tourist Shuttle, this Qing-dynasty fortification dates to 1840 and preserves part of the coastal defense system that once guarded the harbor entrance.
• Zhengbin Fishing Harbor - Painted waterfront buildings line the basin a short taxi ride from the terminal, with rows of saturated blues, yellows and reds reflected in the water. The color-blocked facades make it a popular photography spot.

Guests can reach Taipei by train or bus from the Keelung cruise port. The main rail station is approximately a 10- to 15-minute walk from the terminal, with trains generally reaching Taipei Main Station in about 40 to 50 minutes. Kuo-Kuang Bus 1813 also connects the port area with Taipei Main Station, though traffic can affect travel time. Build extra time into the return trip, keep the ship’s all-aboard time in mind and consider carrying destination names in Chinese for easier taxi or transit use.

Princess Taipei excursions offer a more relaxed, logistically secure alternative to exploring beyond Keelung on your own. Air-conditioned motorcoaches depart from the pier; local guides provide context along the way; and transportation and timing are coordinated for you. Princess shore excursions also include the Guaranteed Return to Ship program, which means you won’t have to worry about being left behind if your return to the ship gets delayed.

Princess offers a variety of ways to spend your day in Taipei and northern Taiwan — from cultural interactions and educational experiences, to shore-day adventures among hot springs and coastal landscapes.

• Best of Taipei - National Palace Museum, Chiang Kai Shek & Temples gives you a deeper look at the beliefs, artistry and political history that have influenced Taipei. You can study temple carvings at eye level, stand beneath the broad roofline of Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall and spend time with centuries of Chinese art at the National Palace Museum.
• Taipei Old & New lets you experience the capital across sharply different eras. Historic architecture and memorial spaces give way to the glass-and-steel skyline of Taipei 101, where the 89th-floor observatory changes your sense of the city’s scale.
• Taipei Life Style takes you into places where people worship, shop and gather. You can take in the incense and carved details of Lungshan Temple, sample local flavors over lunch and linger over tea before visiting the older storefronts of Dihua Street.
• Yang Ming Shan Hot Springs & Yehliu Geographic Park pairs restorative time in warm alkaline springs with an afternoon on Taiwan’s exposed northern coast. After soaking at Tienlai Hot Springs Resort, you can walk among Yehliu’s wind- and wave-sculpted rock formations, including the slender profile of Queen’s Head.
• Nature Wonder of Yehliu Geo Park follows the northern shoreline, where geology becomes the main attraction. At Yehliu, wind and waves have carved the headland into mushroom-like formations, while a stop at Agenna Shipyard Relics and Zhengbin fishing port offers a look at the seafood culture and maritime history tied to this coast. The excursion continues to Heping Island Park, where weathered rock shelves and open-water views give the day a more elemental finish.

Before you head ashore, a few details can help the day run more smoothly.

• Currency - The New Taiwan Dollar (TWD) is the local currency. Credit cards are commonly accepted at larger businesses, while cash is useful for street-food stalls and smaller vendors.
• Language - Mandarin Chinese is the primary language. English is commonly used at major visitor sites, but may be less widely spoken in local markets, taxis and smaller businesses.
• Footwear - Comfortable walking shoes with good traction are helpful, particularly if you plan to visit hillside sites or experience Taipei on foot.
• Sailing schedule - Princess offers cruises to Keelung as a port on specific Japan itineraries. Check the arrival and departure times for your specific sailing before making independent plans.

You can spend the day exploring the waterfront and nearby markets or let Princess handle the trip into Taipei, with both options beginning right at the pier. By the time you return, the harbor may feel even more like the watercolor scenery that greeted you on arrival, with evening light catching on the water while Miaokou’s yellow lanterns begin to glow a few streets inland.