Cruise port · Taiwan · Southeast & East Asia
Keelung cruise port guide
Keelung is the cruise gateway to Taipei, Taiwan’s capital, about 40 minutes away by road or rail. Ships dock right in downtown Keelung, so you can head into Taipei for Taipei 101 and the National Palace Museum, explore the hillside town of Jiufen and the rock formations of Yehliu, or simply graze at Keelung’s famous Miaokou Night Market.
- Taipei sightseeing
- Night markets
- Museums
- Coastal scenery
- Street food
Photo: Taiwankengo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Country
- Taiwan
- Region
- Southeast & East Asia
- Type of stop
- Cruise port
- Language
- Mandarin Chinese, written in traditional characters; Taiwanese Hokkien is also widely spoken. Taipei’s MRT has English signs.
- Currency
- New Taiwan dollar (NT$). Cards are accepted in Taipei shops and hotels; night markets and small stalls are often cash only.
- Best time to visit
- January–December
- Average highs
- 67–88°F through the year
About Keelung
Keelung is a working port city on Taiwan’s rainy northern coast, squeezed between green hills and a deep harbor. It’s not glamorous, but its central location makes it one of the most convenient cruise gateways in Asia: you step off the ship into the middle of town, with the train station and bus stops just across the road.
Most cruisers choose between Taipei and the northeast coast. Taipei offers the National Palace Museum’s extraordinary collection of Chinese imperial treasures, the views from Taipei 101 and temples such as Longshan. The coast offers Jiufen’s lantern-lit lanes and teahouses, sky lanterns at Shifen and the eroded sandstone shapes of Yehliu Geopark.
Taiwan is friendly, safe and easy for first-time visitors to Asia. The main drawback is weather: Keelung is one of the wettest cities in Taiwan, so come prepared for rain.
Where cruise ships dock in Keelung
Ships berth at the East or West Passenger Terminal in Keelung Harbor, both in the city center beside Keelung Station. Miaokou Night Market is about a 10 minute walk. Buses and local trains reach Taipei Main Station in roughly 40 to 50 minutes. Jiufen is about 30 to 40 minutes by bus or taxi, Yehliu Geopark around 30 minutes, and Shifen roughly 45 minutes. A Taipei day or a northeast coast tour each fills most of a port day; combining both is rushed.
Best things to do in Keelung on a cruise
- 1
National Palace Museum
culture
Home to one of the world’s greatest collections of Chinese art, much of it brought from Beijing’s Forbidden City, including jade, bronzes, calligraphy and ceramics. The Jadeite Cabbage and Meat-shaped Stone are the famous crowd-pleasers. Allow at least two hours; it’s in northern Taipei, about an hour from Keelung.
- 2
Taipei 101
scenery
Once the world’s tallest building, Taipei 101 has a high-speed elevator to an observatory with views across the Taipei basin. Inside, you can see the giant tuned mass damper that steadies the tower. Din Tai Fung’s soup dumplings are served in the mall below.
- 3
Jiufen Old Street
culture
A former gold-mining town clinging to a hillside above the sea, Jiufen has narrow stepped lanes of snack stalls, red lanterns and teahouses with ocean views. It gets very crowded at midday and on weekends; a teahouse break is the best way to enjoy it.
- 4
Yehliu Geopark
nature
Wind and waves have carved this cape into mushroom-shaped rocks and odd formations, the most famous being the Queen’s Head. It’s about 30 minutes from Keelung and takes an hour or so to walk. Paths can be slippery when wet.
- 5
Shifen sky lanterns and waterfall
culture
In the old mining village of Shifen, you write wishes on a paper lantern and release it from the railway tracks, which trains still use, so watch for them. A short walk away, Shifen Waterfall is a wide curtain of water in a forested gorge.
- 6
Miaokou Night Market
food
Keelung’s famous food market, centered on the Dianji Temple, is a short walk from the ship. Many stalls open during the day as well as evening, serving seafood, Keelung’s fried “nutritious sandwiches” and pot-side scraped noodle soup. It’s the perfect last stop before all aboard.
Keelung weather by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F (°C) | 6720 | 6820 | 7222 | 7725 | 8228 | 8630 | 8831 | 8731 | 8529 | 8027 | 7625 | 7021 |
| Low °F (°C) | 6217 | 6317 | 6519 | 7122 | 7624 | 8127 | 8328 | 8328 | 8027 | 7625 | 7222 | 6518 |
| Rain in (mm) | 4.1105 | 3.487 | 5.5139 | 5.0126 | 9.6244 | 11.7298 | 6.7170 | 11.7296 | 7.8198 | 6.4162 | 4.1104 | 3.897 |
| Daylight (hrs) | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 |
What to eat and drink in Keelung
Taiwan is a food lover’s destination. Try xiaolongbao soup dumplings, beef noodle soup, oyster omelets and gua bao pork buns, plus bubble tea, which was invented in Taiwan. In Keelung, look for dingbianchuo, a pot-side scraped rice-noodle soup, tempura-style fish cakes and the nutritious sandwich, a deep-fried bun filled with ham, egg and cucumber. Jiufen is known for taro balls, and pineapple cake is the classic souvenir. In summer, mango shaved ice is a treat.
Tips for your port day
- Bring an umbrella or rain jacket; Keelung’s nickname is “Rain Port” for good reason.
- Buy an EasyCard at a convenience store for trains, buses and Taipei’s MRT; it also works at many shops.
- Choose either Taipei or the northeast coast; trying both in one day usually means more time on the road than at sights.
- Night markets and small eateries are often cash only, so carry some local currency.
- Allow extra time to return from Taipei; traffic on the highway to Keelung can slow down in late afternoon.
Cruise lines that visit Keelung
Often on the same itinerary
Keelung cruise FAQs
How do you get from Keelung cruise port to Taipei?
By bus, train or taxi, in about 40 to 50 minutes. Keelung Station and bus stops are directly across from the cruise terminals.
Can you walk from the Keelung cruise terminal to the night market?
Yes. Miaokou Night Market is about a 10 minute walk from the terminals, and many stalls are open during the day.
Is Jiufen worth visiting from Keelung?
Yes, for its hillside setting, teahouses and ocean views. It’s about 30 to 40 minutes away, but expect heavy crowds at midday.
Do US and Canadian citizens need a visa for Taiwan?
No, not for short tourist visits. You need a valid passport, and your cruise line will explain any arrival procedures.
Is Taiwan safe for cruise passengers?
Yes. Taiwan has very low crime and a reputation for friendly, helpful locals, making it one of the easiest destinations in Asia to explore on your own.
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: Wikipedia, Wikidata, NASA POWER climate data.