Last updated on December 11th, 2023

Keelung is a charming port city filled with history, culture, and amazing food. Read my Keelung Travel Guide blog with an itinerary of what to do and see to help you discover all of the city’s attractions. An easy day trip from Taipei!

Out of the places that we’ve traveled to in Taiwan, Keelung (基隆) is one of the quieter and less touristy cities. It’s one of Taiwan’s major ports and is located less than an hour away from Taipei. Keelung is a charming coastal town for a chill-out day trip from Taipei. There are many great things to do to plan for your one-day Keelung itinerary. Popular attractions in Keelung include a colourful harbor and an enormous food market.

During one of my Taiwan visits, we finally made a day trip to Keelung from Taipei. We love seeing its coastal seaside and enjoying the sea breeze. Keelung is very relaxing with local charm.

Here’s my Keelung Travel Guide blog with suggestions on things to do and how to get around easily. My one-day Keelung itinerary for an easy day trip from Taipei is included!

How to get from Taipei to Keelung

Keelung is located less than 1 hour away from Taipei and is ideal for an easy day trip. The location is located in the northeast of Taipei between popular spots Yehliu in Wanli and the mountainous Jiufen.

The port city is superb and easy to reach via public transport. You can choose to get to Keelung by TRA train or bus from Taipei.

Keelung Station is the main public transport for Keelung port city.

From Taipei to Keelung by train: Take any local TRA to Keelung City from Taipei (Taipei Main Station, Songshan Station, or Nangang Station). Trains come every 15 to 20 minutes, and the journey takes 45 minutes. The fare costs NTD $41 and you can pay by using Easycard during entry. No reserved seating.

From Taipei to Keelung by bus: Hop on KuoKuang Bus 1813, departing from Taipei Main Station. The ride takes 50 minutes or slightly longer depending on traffic conditions. Avoid using the bus to Keelung during weekends or public holidays as road traffic is normally congested.

Rental Car: Self-driving to visit Keelung is another great option. This is the most convenient option and less hassle. You can save a lot of time and energy compared to taking public transport. It is also the cheapest option for groups of travelers. If you are looking to rent a car to visit Keelung, check out the RentalCar.com to compare the prices and car models.

Where To Stay in Keelung

While you can visit Keelung on a day trip from Taipei. But if you want to spend a night in Keelung to better enjoy this port town, we recommend that you stay for a full day or spend one day in Keelung. The port city is also a stopover before or after visiting Jiufen. Plus, hotels in Keelung can be very affordable in comparison with Taipei.

Below are some of the best pick accommodations in Keelung:

Evergreen Laurel Hotel – This is a popular modern accommodation for travelers when looking for where to stay in Keelung. The hotel is located beside Keelung Harbour and boasts enchanting harbor views. Getting around in the downtown area is also very convenient. Many room options are available to choose from.

Just Live Inn – This is a mid-budget accommodation for those who want to be near the Keelung Train station. Staffs are all friendly. Free soft drinks and snacks are served to the guests.

For budget travelers, Light Inn is a modern and clean budget hotel. It is located close to the night market and easy to get around in Keelung. Staff are helpful and welcoming.

Things to do in Keelung

People visit Keelung City to see the harbor and some of the city’s cultural sights and stunning nature. Most of the attractions all within walking distance of the Keelung Train and Bus Station. You will need to take a bus or taxi to some seaside attractions such as Helping Island Park and Chaojing Park.

Here are the top attractions in Keelung to visit on your Keelung day trip itinerary:

• Heping Island and Heping Island Park
• Zhengbin Fishing Port and its colourful houses
• Zhongzheng Park
• Keelung Maritime Plaza
• Keelung Miaokou Night Market
• Dianji Temple

Keelung Travel Tips: If you prefer to visit Keelung as part of an organised tour, there are several itineraries departing Taipei city that combine a visit to Keelung with other attractions in the area.

Recommended Tour to Keelung:

• Yehliu Geopark and Keelung Harbor Guided Tour from Taipei
• Heping Island, Shifen and Jiufen Day Tour from Taipei

Heping Island

If you’re looking for lovely coastlines around Keelung, Peace Island or Heping Island is a popular place to visit. 

Heping Island was also called Sheliao Island (社寮島) during the Qing Dynasty and the Japanese Occupation. The island used to be separate from the mainland until the Heping Bridge was built to connect with Keelung City.

Getting there: Hop on a Keelung City Bus (#101) or (#102) which bus stop is located just outside Keelung’s train station. Get off at Heping Island Park stop and the bus ride takes about 15-20 minutes.

Heping Island Park

Next, continue your Keelung itinerary by exploring the Heping Island Park (和平島地質公園). The huge geopark is filled with incredible seaside views and interesting rock formations. The park is similar to the famous Yehliu Geopark (野柳地質公園) but it is less crowded.

There are several walking trails that skirt the rugged coastline which provide wonderful views of unusual rock formations. It has lots of interesting coastal formations after years of erosion by the wind and sea. The sandstone-rock formations are spread out over a huge area.

Some eroded rocks formed in the shapes of animals, which is interesting.

Use some vivid imagination to see what rock formations look like. It looks like a turtle!

The park lies in a beautiful nature surrounded by seawater pools where you can walk along the coast.

Follow the circle trail up to the Scenic Pavilion (等嶼亭). It is a perfect place to take some rest and enjoy the view. You can see the Keelung Islet (基隆嶼) from far away and surrounded by a sea cliff.

The visit is to Heping Island Park worthwhile and breathtaking.

Heping Island Park
Location: No. 360 Pingyi Road, Zhongzheng District.
Opening Hours: 8:00-19:00 (May-Oct) and 8:00-18:00 (Nov-Apr). Note that tickets are sold until one hour before the closing time.
Entrance fee: NTD $120 (Purchase E-Ticket from Klook)

Getting there: Walk 10 minutes to Heping Island Park after getting from the Heping Island Park bus stop.

Zhengbin Fishing Port Colourful Houses

If you have some time for your Keelung itinerary, it is worth to visit the Zhengbin Fishing Port (正濱漁港) on your way back to Keelung Station area. Zhengbin Fishing Port was established by the Japanese in the 1930s. It was once the biggest fishing harbor in Taiwan during the Japanese era. It gradually became a lot quieter as the fishing boats moved to neighbouring Badouzi.

The Zhengbin Fishing Port Colourful Houses is one of the popular IG sights in Keelung. This is one of the spots you’ll see most of when looking for Keelung. Here you’ll find dozens of colorful shophouses lining a sleepy fishing harbor. Rows of brightly painted houses along the coastlines and add some vibrancy to the harbor view.

After some nice photo shoots, you can walk over to the colorful houses for shopping and cafe hopping. There are plenty of harbor-side spots where you can sit back and have some drinks or coffee. We had our afternoon break at Tuman Cafe.

How to get there: Zhengbin Fishing Harbour is about 20 minutes by bus from Keelung Train Station. There is no proper bus stop to get to the harbor. You can ask the buses to stop at the Zhongzheng Road-Zhengbin Road intersection stop and then walk for a few minutes.

Keelung Maritime Plaza

Keelung Maritime Plaza (海洋廣場) is a lovely wooden promenade by Keelung’s Harbour. It is a nice place to just sit down with plenty of benches. Grab a drink from the nearby shops and enjoy the view of the Harbour and surrounding hillside. You can also spot the “Keelung” letters from the hillside.

Keelung Maritime Plaza is located on the way from Keelung Station to the Miaokou Night Market. It is so worth stopping by to have some rest and enjoy the view.

How to get to Keelung Maritime Plaza: A short 2 to 3-minute walk from Keelung Station.

Keelung Miaokou Night Market

After a busy day of sightseeing Keelung itinerary, lastly, head to the Miaokou Night Market for food!

Also known as Keelung Night Market, the Miaokou Night Market (基隆廟口夜市) is a lovely market street packed full of good and delicious food. It is easy to locate and navigate in the market as the stall number and name are displayed on the metal signage. The market with rows of yellow lanterns along the street, giving it with nostalgic vibe.

What To Eat at Keelung Miaokou Night Market

There is an incredible range of stalls covering almost every taste. Some of the stalls are very well known amongst locals and food bloggers. Long queues form at these stalls. We are able to try different foods throughout the market.

Here’s a collection of the food we ate in Keelung.

Seafood is fresh in Keelung. A small bowl of fishball noodle soup. This is a pretty classic Taiwanese snack staple but somehow I found it was most delicious in Keelung. Not something to shoot but truly local taste.

We didn’t have any must-eat food in Keelung Night Market and just picked what we liked when strolling along the market street.

Some other popular foods to try in Keelung Night Market include Fish paste tianbula, deep-fried sandwiches, Crab thick soup, barbeque seafood, and many more street food.

We tried the freshly steam prawn paste dumping which is vey delicious.

Lastly, lured by the dessert with a bowl of shaved ice (paopao bing 泡泡冰) or tofu. We were completely blown away by a bowl of ice tofu after all the street food. So refreshing!

In short, we experienced and tried a variety of food in Miaokou Night Market. It was one of the favorites among all the night markets we visited in Taiwan!

Miaokou Night Market is open from early afternoon until night. It can be crowded at night, so best to come at around 17:00.

How to get there: Miaokou Night Market is a 10 minute walk eastwards from Keelung Train Station.

Dianji Temple

Dianji Temple (奠濟宮) is a small shrine over 100 years old in Keelung. It is one of the remarkable architecture buildings located in the middle of the Miaokou Night Market food street. In fact, “Miaokou” translates to ‘Temple entrance’ in Chinese. It was first started by the market stalls set up at the entrance of Dianji Temple until more and more stalls along the market street.

The architecture is typical Taiwanese and features lots of intricate carvings and colorful paintings. Locals come to pray and pay their respects in the temple. A quick 5-minute visit to Dianji Temple.

Ren’ai Market

If you are looking for a wet market that sells fresh produce, head to Ren’ai market (仁愛市場). It is not a typical tourist place but if you can come here to look for some local food. There are many food stalls surrounding the market and eateries on the the second floor of the building.

The market is located about a block away from Miaokou Night Market along Aisan Road.

More Time for Keelung Itinerary

As aboved is an easy day trip from Taipei, so we didn’t packed too much of attractions in this keelung itinerary. If have more time or days to spend, consider below during your trip to Keelung:

Zhongzheng Park (基隆中正公園) – This huge religious park is home to several beautiful temples and an enormous statue of Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy.  The 25-metre Goddess of Mercy statue is flanked by grizzly gold companions. You’ll also get the best view of the city from here!

Getting there: About 15 minutes walk from the east side of Keelung Station. 

Chaojing Park (潮境公園) – On the east of Badouzi Peninsula, Chaojing Park is a seaside park for a great stroll with family. It was formerly a dumping ground but today has been turned into a cute little coastal park with several interesting art sculptures and rock formations.

Getting there: Take Keelung Bus (#791) or Keelung City Bus (#103) to the National Museum of Marine Science direction. Get off at the Technology (Bishuixiang) stop.

Overall: A Day Trip to Keelung from Taipei

All in all, we hope you get an idea of how to explore the charming city for your Keelung itinerary. It’s almost a little surprising how Keelung City offers visitors. We enjoyed our visit to the natural Peace Park, seeing the Zhengbin Fishing Port Colourful Houses, and eating at the Miaokou Night Market. This small and delightful port city is worth planning for an easy day trip from Taipei.

That’s it! Thanks for reading my Keelung travel guide blog!

Traveling to Taiwan and looking for travel inspiration? Here is our itinerary to some of the interesting places:

• Taipei Itinerary: A Travel Guide Blog For First-Timer
• Where To Stay in Taipei – Our Favourite Areas and Hotels
• Shifen and Jiufen Itinerary: A Travel Guide Blog

Last updated on December 11th, 2023

This Shifen & Jiufen itinerary highlights the best things to do and what you need to know, including transport details for your trip there. An ideal day trip from Taipei.

My visit to Shifen and Jiufen was one of the highlights of my trip to Taiwan. These two scenic places are located an hour east of Taipei, making an ideal places to visit. Both places are perfect addition to a Taipei itinerary, especially considering how beautiful it is. We highly recommend visiting those places when you are visiting Taipei.

If you planning the Shifen and Jiufen itinerary, you must know it can be a bit confusing expecially for first timers. Due to the popularity, it is advice to plan and decide what to do, what to eat, and know your transport before your trip.

That’s why we have come out of this Shifen and Jiufen travel guide blog for you, so you don’t have to do a crazy amount of research! In this article we will be sharing about our travel experience, how to plan your itinerary, and what to look for on a tour that you can choose from!

Check out our Jiufen and Shifen travel guide blog for more information.

How To Get to Jiufen and Shifen from Taipei

Getting from Taipei to Shifen or Jiufen is quite straightforward. You can either go by public transport, hire a taxi or a guided tour.

From Taipei to Shifen: It is the cheapest option. Take a local TRA train from Taipei Main Station (or Songshan if you’re staying east) to Ruifang Station. From there, you will need to transfer to the Pingxi Line to Shifen Station. Train goes once hourly and you make stops along the way including Houtong Cat Village and Pinxi Village. 

The train trip to Shinfen should cost you about NTD $40 per one way. Consider getting a day transport pass for the Pingxi Line at NTD $56. It is a great option if you plan to use the train to many stops.

From Shinfen to Jiufen: There’s no direct transportation from Shifen to Jiufen. If you follow our Shifen and Jiufen itinerary below, you’ll need to go back to Ruifang Station first. Once at Ruifang, walk a few minutes from the main road to the bus station (beside the police station). There are a few buses running for this route. You can catch the #827 or #788 buses on weekdays or an additional #825 bus at weekends to Jiufen. The ride from Ruifang to Jiufen takes about 20 minutes and costs NTD $15.

From Taipei to Jiufen: Some people will opt to get to Jiufen first before heading to Shifen, or only plan for Jiufen itinerary alone. If you are taking a day trip to Jiufen only, you can catch a direct bus from Taipei Zhongli train station to Jiufen.

Public transport can be overwhelming at first glance. An alternative option, take a Day Tour to Jiufen, Shinfen, and Yehliu Geopark hassle free.

Planning the Jiufen and Shifen Itinerary

It would be fun to visit Shifen and Jiufen from Taipei. Pick your stops and plan your itinerary carefully if you want to do the Shifen and Jiufen itinerary on the same day. With a proper itinerary, a day trip is doable.

Planning for Jiufen and Shifen Itinerary:

• Take the TRA train from Taipei Main Station to Ruifeng Station.
• Take the Pingxi train to Shifen
• Stop by Houtong Cat Village (Optional, 1 hour)
• Shifen Old Street, release a sky lantern at Shifen Old Street and have some snacks (1 – 2 hours)
• Walk to Shifen Waterfalls (1 hour)
• Take the train back to Ruifang Station then catch the bus to Jiufen (Estimate 1 hour)
• Jiufen (3 to 4 hours)

Jiufen and Shifen Travel Tips: We have squeezed into Houtong Cat Village during our trip to Shifen and Jiufen, and we feel it would be too tight. We would rather spend more time in each attraction. So plan your itinerary based on your interest and time arrangement.

What to do in Jiufen and Shifen

Below, we are going to share with you what to do and see during your trip to Shinfen and Jiufen. The Shifen is in located Pingxi (平溪) District while Jiufen is in Ruifang (瑞芳) District. Although both places are located in different districts, they can be reachable by a little effort and transfer.

Most travelers will couple together with a day trip to maximize the travel experience. Besides, there are also some little gems such as Pingxi Village, Houtong, Sandiaoling along the Pingxi line that you include on your itinerary.

Recommended Tour:

• Yehliu Geological Park, Jiufen, Shifen Day Tour from Taipei
• Heping Island, Shifen and Jiufen Day Tour from Taipei

Houtong Cat Village

On the way to Shifen, you can stop at Houtong Cat Village (猴硐貓村).

This used to be a coal mining village and it is now overpopulated with cats. There were lots of cats around that you could feed and pet and most wanted the attention.

Pick a cafe, get an ice-cold coffee, and play with some adorable cats. Cat Village Houtong is a must-go place for cat lovers for your Shifen & Jiufen itinerary.

Shifen travel Tips: Trains run hourly so you can have a stroll around the cat village and catch the next one to the next destination.

Shifen Old Street

Nested in spectacular mountain ranges, Shifen Old Street (十分老街) is a albeit busy town with local charm. There are plenty of shops located along an actual rail track still in use. Trains come in every hour, and people will jump off the tracks to allow the train to rumble through this charming village.

Travelers coming to Shifen to draw their wishes and release sky lanterns. But it is also worth checking out the shops around for some souvenirs and to try out some food like the infamous wrap ice cream.

It is best to allocate about one to two hours in Shinfen Old Street to soak in the atmosphere.

Release Sky Lanterns

Shifen Old Street is one of the famous spots to experience the sky lantern activity. This is the also main reason why people flock to Shifen. The sky lanterns release activities takes place on the functional railway track that runs through the main street.

When a train approaches, the people would move away from the tracks.

There are many sellers offering release sky lanterns activity. The lanterns come in a variety of colors and each color has its own symbol and description. Once you have selected and paid for which color you want, you can decorate the lantern, writing down your wishes or messages on it. The seller will assist you in releasing it into the sky.

Watching the sky lanterns floating away was magical!

Shifen Travel Tips: All the shops selling the sky lantern for about the same prices, so save your time and just pick one of the sellers. But you can get a further discount if you are buying in large quantities.

Shifen Waterfall

Continue down the Shifen Old Street and take a 15-minute walk to Shifen Waterfall. The walk is serene and you have to walk over the suspension bridge before reaching the falls. 

Shifen waterfall is a 20-meter-tall cascading waterfall. It isn’t the biggest waterfall but it’s scenic, with plenty of viewing platforms set up all around. Shifen Waterfall has also earned it the nickname the “Little Niagara of Taiwan”.

There are eateries in the area, so if you’re hungry, you can grab something to eat.

Time to Spend: 30 mins to 1 hour.

Pingxi Village

If you travel from Taipei to Shifen and plan to spend a whole day in the area, you could take the Pinxi line further to Pingxi Village (平溪). It is another old street where you can experience the local Taiwanese vibe and atmosphere.

Pingxi Village is the final stop of the Pingxi train line.

From Shifen To Jiufen

Going to Jiufen by public transport is quite easy. If you are following this Shifen and Jiufen itinerary, you will need to take a bus from Ruifang train station. The ride from Ruifang to Jiufen takes about 20 minutes and costs NTD $15.

You can also come directly from downtown Taipei, Zhongli train station. It takes an hour from downtown Taipei to get there.

Jiufen Old Street

Visit Jiufen (九份), an iconic hillside town village overlooking mountains and ocean. It is an old mining settlement dating back to the Japanese rule. The village is now transformed into one of the popular attractions to visit with an easy day trip from Taipei.

Locals and travelers visit Jiufen for scenery and food. The quaint mountain Jiufen village with narrow winding up and down walking. Plenty of shops, authentic historical tea houses, restaurants, and souvenir shops lined along the narrow street.

Beware that Jiufen is crowded and packed with tourists. Wandering round the main Street is fun but exploring above the crowds and going off the main street to see the scenery along the coast. It’s an amazing place that should be on everyone’s itinerary in Taipei.

Food Feast at Jiufen Market

Jiufen is known for its street food and this is another reason we keep going back. There are tons of delicious street food snacks along the market street. From glutinous rice cakes to peanut ice cream rolls, you will never come out with an empty stomach.

Below are some of the must-eat foods with popular shops in Jiufen that are worth trying during your visit:

• Jin Zhi Red Yeast Meatball Dumpling (金枝紅槽肉圓)
• Grandma Lai’s Taro Balls (賴阿婆芋圓)
• Ah-Zhu Peanut Ice Cream Roll (阿珠雪在燒花生捲冰淇淋)
• Hakka Glutinous Rice Cake
• Fishball or meatball
• Steam buns
• Beef Noodles
• Taiwanese Pork Sausages
• Stinky tofu
• Deep-fried battered seafood
• and many more!

Jiufen Food Trip: Our advice is do not stuff yourself in one single eatery and try to sample the local delicacies as much as you can!

Drink Tea at a Traditional Tea House

Drinking tea is one of the cultures inherited from past times. so you can experience this Chinese culture in Jiufen.

There are many authentic tea houses in Jiufen, perhap the most popular spot in Jiufen is the A-Mei Tea House. It is the most iconic building in Jiufen and is often featured in Jiufen advertisements. The tea house is said to inspire the animation movie ‘Spirited Away’.

Sitting in the tea house, sipping oolong tea on the terrace, and looking out the panoramic view of the bay area.

Jiufen at Night

Jiufen at night is truly magical.

When the sun goes down, locals start turning on the red lanterns in Jiufen. Everything simply becomes wonderful. It is such a fantastic view when lanterns light up along the narrow winding streets.

If possible, it is worth staying at Jiufen until the nighttime visit or spending an overnight in one of the hostel or guesthouses.

Visiting Jiufen and Shifen in One Day

As per the above Shinfen and Jiufen travel blog post, Jiufen and Shinfen in One Day is absolutely doable. You can visit both places on a day trip, either on your own or on a guided tour.

Doing this day trip on your own will mean lots of time spent on buses and trains to get to all the destinations. From Taipei to Jiufen, the train ride takes you about 1.5 hours. You will need to look for the public transport arrangement from Shifen to Jiufen which usually take you about 1.5 hour. This does not count the 1.5-hour bus journey from Jiufen back to Taipei.

As it is a long traveling day start your itinerary as early as possible. Besides, try to avoid weekends and public holidays to avoid the extreme crowds.

While the tour option is less flexible, but you can visit more places within a day’s tour. Most tours will be coupled together with Yehliu Geopark which is another interesting place to visit nearby. Check on below tour options below if you are interested in it

Staying in Jiufen

We would absolutely recommend staying a night in Jiufen. This place is best appreciated at night when the lanterns are lit up. Jiufen is also less crowded when all the day-trippers leave. I think you’ll appreciate it more if you stay the night. But accommodation in Jiufen is limited, so it is best to reserve early.

Recommended places to stay overnight in Jiufen include:

Chiu Chunt Dint B&B is located on Jiufen Old Street with 3-minute walk from the market and bus stop. The guesthouse boasted with stunning view. The scenery is perfect with the balcony and large windows.

Dosun B&B is a charming guesthouse boasting beautiful ocean views from the terrace. The host is very friendly and the rooms are spacious and clean. It takes about 5 5-minute walk from the Jiufen Old Street.

H& Jiufen The Ocean Theory is gaining popularity when looking for where to stay in Jiufen. This charming guesthouse is located at the top of the stairs in Jiufen. It is away from the bustling but just a step away from the food stalls on Old Street. The room is compact, tidy, and clean. The communal space is decent with a nice view. Stay here for relaxing and a great unwind experience.

Overall: A Trip to Shifen and Jiufen

All in all, there are many things you can put into your Shifen and Jiufen itinerary. It is a good day trip to soak in the atmosphere, taste the local Taiwanese food, and experience the uniqueness of the location. Worth a visit especially for first-timers to Taiwan.

However, Jiufen is packed with tourists and even locals. It would be a great idea if you could split Jiufen and Shifen into two separate day trips or stay overnight. But if you’re tight on time, it’s easily possible to see them in one day. Just best to avoid weekends and public holidays. Thanks for stopping by and have a great time in Shinfen and Jiufen. Enjoy your trip!

Traveling to Taiwan and looking for travel inspiration? Here is our itinerary to some of the interesting places:

• Taipei Itinerary: A Travel Guide Blog For First-Timer
• Where To Stay in Taipei – Our Favourite Areas and Hotels
• Day Trip to Keelung Itinerary: A Travel Guide Blog