Keelung cruise port guide: train to Taipei, Jiufen, Miaokou

Quick answer: Keelung's cruise terminals sit in the city centre: the West terminal is about four minutes' walk from Keelung Station and the East terminal about eight. Local trains to Taipei Main Station take 43–51 minutes and cost NT$62 one way (2026), running every 20–40 minutes. Get to Taipei Main Station at least three hours before all-aboard, and leave Taipei 2.5 hours before all-aboard if you return by road.

Keelung is Taipei's port, a rainy, working harbour city with its station, bus terminals and night market all within a short walk of the cruise piers. Most passengers head straight for Taipei by train; others take the bus up to the hillside lanes of Jiufen or stay local for Heping Island's rock formations and an afternoon at Miaokou's food stalls. The key decision is one destination, not two: Taipei and Jiufen in the same call is a common way to end up running for the ship.

When to leave Keelung

Times include the way back

All aboard (ship time) Ship’s clock Extra margin

Miaokou Night MarketWalk, 10–15 min along the harbour 16:15
Taipei Main Station (by train)Local train, 43–51 min, every 20–40 min in the afternoon, then 4–8 min walk 14:30
Taipei (by taxi or bus)Taxi or bus; rush-hour traffic can stretch 40 min to 90 min 15:00
Jiufen Old StreetBus 788, about 50 min to Keelung Station, then a short walk 15:00
Heping Island ParkTaxi, about 15 min 16:15

Times are port time, the time your phone shows ashore.

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Where the ship docks

East terminal (East Coast passenger terminal), No. 1 Zhongzheng Road · 0.65 km to the centre
Usually used by large ships, though berths can change on busy days. About eight minutes' walk to Keelung Station's South exit. Bank of Taiwan currency exchange on the first floor. Taxis use pillars 1–10; private drivers usually meet at pillars 14 or 15. Keelung has 12 automated e-Gate immigration lanes, opened to all foreign cruise passengers in June 2026. The East terminal and waterfront are due to be redeveloped in phases.
West terminal (West Passenger Terminal), No. 16 Gangxi Street · 0.2 km to the centre
Often used by smaller ships or as the second berth. About 100–200 m, four minutes' walk, from Keelung Station's North exit. There are no numbered pillars for pick-ups.

Can you walk? Yes, about 8 min. Both terminals are a short, flat walk from Keelung Station and the bus terminals. Miaokou Night Market is 10–15 minutes on foot along the harbour. Zhongzheng Park is about 15 minutes on foot with stairs. Taipei, Jiufen and Heping Island need a train, bus or taxi.

Getting to town

On foot

Free4–8 min to Keelung Station; 10–15 min to Miaokou

The West terminal is closest to the station's North exit; the East terminal to the South exit. Check which terminal you are at before you leave: the walk back differs.

Local train (區間車) to Taipei Main Station

NT$62 adult, NT$31 child or senior, one way (2026)43–51 min

Taiwan Railway's timetable for a weekday in November 2026 shows local trains every 20–30 minutes in the morning and every 20–40 minutes in the afternoon, with no reservation needed. Some trains do not run at weekends or on holidays, so check the Taiwan Railway timetable for your date. Buy a ticket at the station or tap an EasyCard. Tze-Chiang express trains (NT$97) are no faster on this stretch.

Bus 788 to Jiufen

Pay with EasyCard or cashAbout 50 min

Runs between Keelung Station and Jiufen Old Street, roughly every 15–20 minutes at busy times and every 25–30 minutes otherwise. On the way back you can get off at Yi'er Road junction (義二路口), about five minutes from Miaokou.

Taxi

Agree the fare before you set offJiufen about 30–35 min; Taipei traffic-dependent

Taxis queue outside both terminals. Agree in advance for any round trip with waiting time. Rush-hour traffic between Taipei and Keelung can turn a 40-minute drive into 90 minutes.

Keelung tourist shuttle T99 and city buses

Pay with EasyCard or cashVaries

Shuttle T99 links central Keelung with Zhongzheng Park, Heping Island Park and most sights outside the centre. City buses 101 and 102 also stop at Heping Island Park.

When to head back

Be back on board 60 minutes before all-aboard if you stay in Keelung. From Taipei by train, be at Taipei Main Station at least three hours before all-aboard. From Taipei by taxi or bus, leave 2.5 hours before all-aboard.

The train takes 43–51 minutes and is immune to traffic, but afternoon gaps between local trains reach about 40 minutes, so allow for just missing one. Road traffic between Taipei and Keelung is the main risk. From Jiufen, bus 788 takes about 50 minutes, and Jiufen is crowded with day-trippers.

If you are running late: If a bus or taxi is stuck, switch to the train: Keelung Station is a few minutes from both terminals. If you will miss all-aboard, phone the port agent number on your daily programme.

Where people go wrong: Coming back from Taipei by taxi or bus in afternoon traffic, or arriving at Taipei Main Station just after a train has left.

Keelung is one day. Time the whole cruise.

Ships do not wait.

In March 2024, eight Norwegian Dawn passengers on a private tour came back to the pier in São Tomé more than an hour after all-aboard. Getting back on board took six days, seven countries and over $5,000. The details
The ship charges for the easy part.

Carnival sells a coach to Rome for US$129.99 a person. The train is from €9.20 return. PortTrip tells you which train, and the last one that gets you back. The details
On the day, it watches the clock.

Google Maps travel time from where you stand back to the pier, with alerts at 30, 15 and 0 minutes. The details

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A day in Keelung

Assumes the ship docks at the East terminal at 08:00 and all-aboard is 17:30.

08:30Clear immigration (e-Gates are available) and walk about eight minutes to Keelung Station.
08:50Local train to Taipei Main Station, 43–51 minutes, NT$62.
09:45MRT to Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (free) for the changing of the guard, on the hour from 09:00 to 17:00.
11:00MRT to Taipei 101. Observatory on the 89th floor (book ahead; opens 10:00).
12:30Lunch near Taipei 101.
14:00MRT back to Taipei Main Station.
14:30Be at Taipei Main Station, three hours before all-aboard. Take the next local train to Keelung, about 45 minutes.
16:00Back on board, 90 minutes before all-aboard.

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Tours in Keelung

10 top-rated on Viator, from €30

Each tour is checked against your time ashore (7 h 45 min on a 17:30 all-aboard). If a tour you booked yourself runs late, the ship does not wait.

Prices are Viator’s “from” prices in euros, checked 27 October 2026. You book and pay on Viator. If you book through these links we may earn a commission; it never changes the price or what we recommend.

What to see

Taipei 101 Observatory

Views over Taipei from the 89th floor of the city's landmark tower.

1–1.5 hours'Foreign limited' ticket NT$600 on the official sales site (2026)

Open 10:00–21:00, last entry 20:15. Reservation required for this ticket. From 1 July 2026 the ticket counter and entrance moved temporarily to the first floor of the Office Tower.

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

Taipei's grand memorial hall and Liberty Square, with an hourly changing of the guard.

45 minutesFree

Hall open 09:00–18:00. The guard ceremony runs on the hour from 09:00 to 17:00, lasts about 10 minutes and is usually cancelled in rain.

Jiufen Old Street

Hillside former gold-mining town of steep lanes, teahouses and snack stalls above the sea.

3–4 hours including the busFree to walk; bus 788 or taxi

Go around 10:00–12:00, before the crowds peak. Since 2025 vehicles cannot drop off at the main entrance, so allow a 10–15 minute walk from the car park.

Heping Island Park

Coastal geopark of eroded sandstone formations with a seawater pool.

1.5–2 hoursNT$80 adult at the gate (2026)

Open 08:00–18:00 from November to April (last tickets 17:00) and 08:00–19:00 from May to October. About 15 minutes by car; buses 101, 102 and shuttle T99 stop there.

Miaokou Night Market

Keelung's food street around Dianji Temple, with numbered family stalls.

1 hourFree entry; carry cash

Many stalls open from mid-afternoon and it is busiest in the evening, so it fits the end of a cruise day close to the pier.

Zhongzheng Park and the Guanyin statue

Hilltop park with a large Guanyin statue and views over the harbour and your ship.

45 minutesFree

About 15 minutes on foot from the port or night market, starting at the arch on Xin'er Road; there are stairs. Shuttle T99 also goes up.

Zhengbin Port colour houses

Row of brightly painted houses along a fishing harbour.

30 minutesFree

A photo stop; combine with Heping Island, just past the bridge.

Beaches

Heping Island Park seawater pool

Bus 101 or 102, shuttle T99, or a 15-minute taxi · About 15 min by car · NT$80 park entry (2026)

Outdoor pools open 08:00–17:00 from November to April and 08:00–18:00 from May to October. The nearest place to swim from the port.

What to eat

Crab thick soup (螃蟹羹) · Miaokou Night Market stalls
'Nutritious sandwich' (deep-fried bun with egg, ham and mayonnaise) · Miaokou Night Market stalls
Taiwanese tempura (fried fish paste) with sweet sauce · Miaokou Night Market stalls
Oyster vermicelli (misua) · Miaokou Night Market stalls
Pao pao bing (fine shaved ice) · Miaokou Night Market stalls

On your own or a ship excursion?

Taipei by train needs no tour: it is cheap, regular and the station is next to the pier. Jiufen by bus 788 is also easy, though Jiufen itself is crowded. A ship's tour makes sense if you want Jiufen plus Shifen's sky lanterns or the north-coast sights in one day, because that combination involves several connections; Princess, for example, runs an evening sky-lantern, Keelung night view and Miaokou tour. Otherwise, go independently and keep to one destination.

What	Ship	On your own	Saving
Taipei for the day	Varies by line; check your cruise planner	Local train NT$62 each way (2026)	Large; the train is simple and cheap

Common mistakes

Trying to do Taipei and Jiufen in one call.
Pick one. Each takes most of a day once travel is included.
Returning from Taipei by taxi in the afternoon.
Take the train; it is immune to traffic. If you go by road, leave Taipei 2.5 hours before all-aboard.
Assuming trains back from Taipei run every few minutes.
Afternoon local trains can be 40 minutes apart. Check the Taiwan Railway timetable and be at Taipei Main Station three hours before all-aboard.
Walking back to the wrong terminal.
Note whether your ship is at the East or West terminal before you leave; they use different station exits and the walks differ.
Leaving the passport on board.
Carry your physical passport; digital copies are not accepted for port re-entry.
Relying on cards at the night market.
Most Miaokou vendors take cash only. Change money at the Bank of Taiwan desk in the East terminal.

Safety, access and bad weather

Safety: Taiwan has low crime, though petty theft and card skimming occur, so watch your bags and your card. Traffic is busy and scooters weave between cars; cross at signals. Drink only branded, sealed drinks: methanol-contaminated alcohol has been reported. Typhoon season runs roughly from May to November, and authorities can declare a 'typhoon day' at short notice; follow the ship's instructions. Police 110, fire and ambulance 119. Emergency number: 110 (police), 119 (fire and ambulance).
Scams to know: Fake Taiwan Arrival Card websites that charge a fee: the official card is free.
Card skimming at shops: keep your card in sight when paying.
Staged minor traffic accidents used to extort money: call the police rather than paying on the spot.
Accessibility: Both terminals and the walk to Keelung Station are flat and short. The train to Taipei is the most predictable option. Jiufen is built on steep steps and narrow lanes and is hard going with limited mobility. Zhongzheng Park involves stairs; take a taxi or the shuttle to the top. Heping Island Park has some level paths near the entrance, but the rock platforms are uneven.
If it rains: Keelung is famously wet. On a rainy day head for Taipei by train and stay indoors: the Taipei 101 mall and observatory (views may be lost in low cloud) and the memorial hall's museum. The outdoor guard ceremony is usually cancelled in rain. Jiufen's steps and Heping Island's rocks become slippery, so skip them in heavy rain.
Crowds: Keelung handled three cruise ships at once in 2026 for the first time in seven years, so terminal queues can build; the e-Gates help with immigration. Jiufen is busiest from late morning; go as early as you can.

Keelung cruise port FAQ

Is Keelung a tender port?

No. Ships dock at the East or West cruise terminal in the city centre.

Is Keelung walkable from the cruise port?

Yes. Keelung Station is a 4–8 minute walk and Miaokou Night Market 10–15 minutes.

How do I get from Keelung cruise port to Taipei?

Walk to Keelung Station and take a local train to Taipei Main Station: 43–51 minutes and NT$62 one way in 2026. Trains run every 20–40 minutes.

How do I get from Keelung to Jiufen?

Take bus 788 from Keelung Station, about 50 minutes, or a taxi, about 30–35 minutes.

Do I need a Taiwan Arrival Card on a cruise?

All incoming passengers must complete the free online Taiwan Arrival Card within three days before arrival. Ask your cruise line whether it handles this for you.

What can I do in Keelung in one day from a cruise ship?

Either Taipei by train (Taipei 101, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall), or Jiufen by bus, or a local day at Heping Island, Zhongzheng Park and Miaokou.

Beaches near Keelung cruise port

There is no beach in town. Heping Island Park, about 15 minutes away, has a seawater pool.

Is Keelung safe?

Yes. Crime is low; watch the traffic and keep an eye on your card when paying.

Not yet confirmed

Taxi fare from Keelung to central Taipei (one 2026 guide gives two different ranges).
Keelung City taxi meter rates.
Bus 788 fare from Keelung.
A typical all-aboard time at Keelung (no published standard found; the day plan uses the 17:30 default).
Exact MRT journey times between Taipei Main Station, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and Taipei 101.
Whether contactless bank cards are accepted at Taiwan Railway gates.

Sources

Checked November 2026. Spotted something out of date? Email hello@porttrip.com.

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When to leave Keelung

Times include the way back

All aboard (ship time) Ship’s clock Extra margin

Miaokou Night MarketWalk, 10–15 min along the harbour 16:15
Taipei Main Station (by train)Local train, 43–51 min, every 20–40 min in the afternoon, then 4–8 min walk 14:30
Taipei (by taxi or bus)Taxi or bus; rush-hour traffic can stretch 40 min to 90 min 15:00
Jiufen Old StreetBus 788, about 50 min to Keelung Station, then a short walk 15:00
Heping Island ParkTaxi, about 15 min 16:15

Times are port time, the time your phone shows ashore.

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