Getting Your Bearings
Keelung is a port city in northeastern Taiwan, part of the Taipei–Keelung metropolitan area, and its downtown core is compact enough to cover on foot. That said, the city spreads across several districts separated by hills and mountains, so for anything beyond the centre you'll want to use the train, a city bus, or a taxi. A good first stop is the Keelung City Tourist Information office, where you can pick up maps and local advice before setting out.
Car-free travel here is entirely feasible: trains, buses, taxis, and walking cover the practical needs of most visitors.
Rail: TRA Trains
The Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) network is the backbone of public transport in Keelung. Keelung Station, on Gangxi Street in Ren'ai District, is the main point of access to the city centre and the hub connecting Keelung to the rest of Taiwan. Trains are generally described as safe, reliable, and punctual, and they are the popular choice for daily commuting.
Several other stations serve the city's outlying districts, which is useful if your destination isn't downtown:
- Badu — an important transfer point between the West Coast line and the Yilan line.
- Baifu — served only by local trains and used mostly by commuters travelling between Keelung and Taipei.
- Nuannuan — on the Yilan line, in Nuannuan District.
- Qidu — the origin station for most southbound trains on the West Coast line.
- Sankeng — local trains only.
Fares are distance-based and generally affordable, and women-only cars are available during certain hours. One important practical warning: although Keelung sits at the extreme northern end of the main Western Line, not every train heading north continues to Keelung. Many services branch off at Badu and head for the east coast instead. Only board trains that clearly show Keelung as their final destination — otherwise you may find yourself on a long express run toward Taitung. If that happens, get off before Badu station.
Buses and Other Public Transport
City buses cover most of Keelung, including key visitor destinations such as the Keelung Night Market and Zhongzheng Park. Service is frequent and fares are cheap. Keelung Bus Company offers a mobile app with real-time bus information, which is worth installing if you plan to rely on buses.
For travel between Keelung and Taipei, the Keelung–Taipei Bus is the popular commuter option. It runs frequently during peak hours, with well-marked stops, and the journey takes roughly an hour. Buses are also the quickest link from Taipei when traffic cooperates: services from the Kuo-Kuang Bus company's East-West bus station beside Taipei Railway Station run non-stop to Keelung harbour, leave frequently, and take around 35 minutes under good conditions. That same building also serves as the terminal for the Taipei–Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport service.
On fares and payment: you can buy a ticket in advance at the clearly marked ticket booths (signage is in English), or simply use an EasyCard — the same stored-value card used on the Taipei Metro and local buses. Touch the sensor when you board and again when you get off.
One caveat worth weighing: because there are many bus routes and stops, delays are common, and most drivers have limited English, taking a bus from Taipei to Keelung can be confusing unless you know the greater Taipei area and speak some Mandarin or Taiwanese. If you're not confident, take the train instead and then transfer to a city bus, taxi, or Taipei's MRT to reach your final destination.
Note that Keelung has no metro or tram system of its own. The nearest metro is Taipei's MRT, and the nearest high-speed rail access is via Taipei as well — there is no THSR station in Keelung. THSR is the option for long-distance island travel, with amenities such as free Wi-Fi and power outlets.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are plentiful in Keelung and can be hailed on the street or booked through an app. They are metered and more expensive than trains or buses, but they offer door-to-door service, which is a real advantage given the city's hilly, spread-out districts. If you're arriving by train with luggage or heading somewhere off the bus routes, a taxi is the simplest solution.
Walking
The downtown area is small enough to cover on foot, and walking is the easiest way to explore the harbourfront and central streets. For the outer districts, though, the terrain and distances make walking impractical — plan on combining a walk around the centre with trains, buses, or taxis for the rest.
Getting In from the Airport
Keelung has no airport of its own; international visitors arrive at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and continue overland. The practical route is via Taipei: the Kuo-Kuang Bus company's East-West bus station, just to the left of Taipei Railway Station, is the terminal for the airport service and also the departure point for buses on to Keelung. From there you can either take a Keelung-bound bus or switch to a TRA commuter train at Taipei Railway Station — trains run frequently and stop at many stations along the way.
If you'd rather not navigate the transfer yourself, a taxi from the airport is the most direct option, though it will cost considerably more than the bus or train.
Arriving by Sea
Keelung is one of Taiwan's busiest container ports, second only to Kaohsiung, thanks to its long deep-water harbour. Passenger services are limited and changeable, so check current schedules before planning around them. A weekly overnight ferry connects Keelung with Ishigaki, Japan, with tickets sold through specified travel agents at least a day before departure. A regular domestic ferry to the outlying Matsu islands also runs, though it is basic and used mostly by military personnel; the nightly sailing leaves the harbour at 23:00. Ferry service to Xiamen and Damaiyu has been indefinitely suspended.
Practical Summary
- Train — best for reaching Keelung from Taipei and for moving between the city's districts; check that Keelung is the final destination.
- City bus — cheap and frequent for local trips; use the Keelung Bus app for real-time info.
- Keelung–Taipei Bus — the commuter link to Taipei, with free Wi-Fi on board.
- Taxi — plentiful, metered, door-to-door; the easiest option with luggage or for hilly districts.
- EasyCard — works on local buses and the Taipei Metro; touch on and off.
- From the airport — bus or train via Taipei, or a taxi for direct door-to-door service.