Keelung is often seen as a quick stop before heading elsewhere in Taiwan, but if you’re travelling with children it’s actually full of brilliant, free things to do. From indoor play spaces and quirky tunnels to waterfront walks and colourful streets, Keelung is an easy place to explore on a budget with kids.
Keelung has become one of my favourite places in Asia to explore, because there is always something fun to do nearby and often activities are free.
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Free indoor soft play in Keelung
Keelung has several government-funded indoor children’s play centres that are completely free to use. These are designed for younger children (generally under 128 cm tall) and are perfect on rainy days. Just so you are aware, they do measure kids who are close to the 128cm height and won’t let them in to play because the toys and space are designed for smaller kids.
基隆市仁愛室內兒童樂園 (aka Ren’ai Indoor Children’s Playland)
Often referred to in English as Ren’ai Indoor Children’s Playland, this is a free soft play space run by Keelung City Government. It’s located in the Ren’ai District inside a municipal building (with the Chinese name 基隆市中正戶政事務所仁愛辦公室 and the English name Renai District Administration Center) and includes padded play areas, slides and climbing features.
Entry is free but usually requires an online reservation. We went with no reservation and managed to get in to play with no issues (other than my oldest being unable to play due to his height). Online Google reviews suggested you go to the 5th floor of the building but this is incorrect. You need to make your way to the 6th floor to find it. The sign inside will say that on the floor 5F there is a Family Fun Center, this is not the soft play but more like a community space so just ignore it and go to floor 6F. In the images above, from the left to the right you will see the building from the outside that the soft play is in, the list of floors inside the building and a photo of the 5th floor family fun centre which does not host the soft play.
The elevator you need is actually on the back of this building, the opposite side of where I took this photo. Follow the path round to the left and you will find it (or walk right through here but if you have a stroller than taking the path to the left is easier).
We went not knowing about the 128cm height limit, meaning we found out on the spot that our oldest could not play. The strange thing is that children who are ‘too big’ to play also cannot sit inside the play area with their parents who are obviously usually bigger than any child but are still allowed to go inside to watch their kids. I had this discussion with them and said it felt like exclusion to have bigger kids sit outside if even a parent can sit inside. After a while they came over and said my oldest could go in if he would not run about (posing a danger to smaller kids) but he was over the idea of going in. I wanted to mention this because I thought they were honestly very kind to offer that, even if my son did refuse to go in. They even gave me a little gift for the kids to say sorry about the situation – they each got a shaped and colourful eraser toy inside a little plastic ball to protect it.
Location: location on Google maps
Review: review on Google maps – coming soon
基隆市中正室內兒童樂園 (aka Zhongzheng Indoor Children’s Playland)
Known as Zhongzheng Indoor Children’s Playland, this is another city-run indoor play space aimed at younger children. It has sensory-friendly play equipment and space for supervised free play. Again, it’s free but operates on timed sessions and comes with a height limit for the kids who play there.
Location: location on Google maps
小乳牛親子館 (aka Little Calf Parent-Child Center)
This translates roughly to Little Calf Parent-Child Center. It’s a parent-and-child play space which may not be open for business anymore – Google is a little unclear about this location exactly.
Location: location on Google maps
基隆市信義室內兒童樂園 (aka Xinyi Indoor Children’s Playland)
This is usually referred to in English as Xinyi Indoor Children’s Playland. Like the other indoor children’s centres in Keelung, it’s a government-funded, free soft play space designed for younger children, typically under 128 cm in height. It’s located in the Xinyi District within a municipal or community building and includes padded play areas, climbing equipment and space for supervised free play. It’s a great option on wet or very hot days and works well for families travelling with younger kids. Entry is free, but sessions are normally time-limited and require advance online reservation, so it’s worth checking availability before you go. You can book the online spaces by going to the information available on Google maps and opening the link for the soft play there.
Location: location on Google maps
Zhongzheng Park and the Big Bell
Zhongzheng Park is one of the best free places to visit in Keelung with kids. It’s a large hillside park and temple grounds with walking paths, open spaces and playground areas. One of the highlights for children is the Big Bell, which visitors are allowed to ring. It’s loud, fun and a great moment for kids, plus the views over Keelung Harbour from up here are fantastic.
There are so many aspects to the Zhongzheng Park – the statues of Goddess Guanyin and the buddhas, the Buddha Temple, the golden Buddha, the amusement areas for kids with carnival type games, ride on toys, music, viewpoints and so much more.
One of the things you can do as an activity for free in Zhongzheng Park is attempt to ring the Big Bell. It is not easy, there is a tactic to it. Let me know if you figure it out!
You can go up and explore all of the views, temples and statues for free but you can also join in with the activities that you find happening here if you bring seme Taiwanese dollars with you. My kids had so much fun here, they really did not want to leave.
Location of Zhongzheng Park: location on Google maps
Shoushan Pavilion and the Totoro mural
Near Zhongzheng Park you’ll find Shoushan Pavilion, which has become popular thanks to its Totoro mural. It’s a fun, unexpected spot that kids love, especially if they recognise the character, and it makes a great free photo stop. There are a few ways to access this area: you can go up the steps from the road beside this observation deck or you can go down the steps from the Zhongzheng park I spoke about above.
The first time I went here to find Totoro – I failed. I got to the Shousan Pavillion area which has the pagoda and then we continued to go up the steps and ended up at Zhongzheng park. This time I came downward and noticed another path by the pagoda. So instead of heading down the steps on the right of the pagoda, we took the path behind the pagoda and that leads you to Totoro.
I guess the thing to remember if you are using Google maps is that Shoushan Pavilion may refer to a larger area on the side of this mountain rather than to the pagoda area or the little plaza where you will find Totoro. People have left photo reviews for Shousan Pavillion which include Totoro but this is all user-submitted and could be wrong. Below is the best locations I have found to explain where you can find these (and the Totoro mural shows with a bus symbol which is so confusing and usually means a transport stop).
Shousan Pavillion location: location on Google maps
Totoro mural location: location on Google maps
Hope Hill Parent-Child Playground
希望之丘親子遊戲場 is commonly referred to as Hope Hill Parent-Child Playground in English. This is an outdoor playground designed for younger children, with climbing equipment and space to run around. It’s a lovely local play space and completely free to use. It is set over multiple levels on the side of a mountain and features climbing equipment, slides, those things kids sit on and spin around and much more.
Hope Hill Parent-Child Playground location: location on Google maps
Yi Er Lu Old Street
義二路老街 (Yi Er Lu Old Street) is a great place to wander with kids. You don’t need to spend money to enjoy the atmosphere, look at the old buildings and soak up the everyday life of Keelung. It’s especially nice for a slow walk with curious kids who like spotting details.
Location: location on Google maps
Review: my Google maps review
Air-raid shelters and tunnels
Keelung is full of hidden history, and many of its tunnels are free to explore. There are so many in Keelung and the surrounding areas especially along the coast of Northern Taiwan. I love this type of thing – a great introduction to some local history and many of them accessible by foot in Keelung.
Xin 2nd Road Air-raid Shelter
This shelter gives a glimpse into Keelung’s wartime past. Walking through it feels like stepping back in time and kids often find it fascinating.
Location: location on Google maps
Review: my Google maps review
100-Year Bomb Shelter
This underground passage is over a century old and is one of Keelung’s most unusual free attractions. It’s short, easy to walk through and feels like a mini adventure for children.
Location: location on Google maps
Review: my Google maps review
Liu Mingchuan Tunnel
Another historic tunnel linked to Taiwan’s early military and transport history. It’s free to visit and works well as part of a walking route through the city.
Maritime Plaza
Maritime Plaza is a large open waterfront space where kids can run freely while adults enjoy the sea views. There are seating areas, seasonal décor and views of the big cruise shops which dock up in Keeling. You can sometimes see eagles soaring across the harbour too.
This is also where you’ll find the large Keelung letters which are also benches, making it a popular photo spot, especially around sunset.
Here you will also find the Keelung sign up on the hill, it reminds me of the Hollywood sign. You can take photos of this sign from the Maritime Plaza.
Location: location on Google maps
Zhongshanlu Bridge viewpoints
Walking across Zhongshanlu Bridge is free and gives you sweeping views over the port, boats and city. It’s a simple stop but great for photos and for letting kids see the harbour from above.
Location: location on Google maps
Buddha’s Hand Cave
Buddha’s Hand Cave is a natural rock formation that looks like a giant hand carved into the stone. Exploring this area feels adventurous and is especially exciting for older kids. Wear good shoes and bring a phone torch if needed.
Location: location on Google maps
Mount Dade hike
For families who enjoy walking, Mount Dade offers an easy to moderate hike with rewarding views. It’s a great way to add some nature to your Keelung visit without paying anything.
Location: location on Google maps
Zhengbin Port Color Houses
The Zhengbin Port Color Houses are one of Keelung’s most photogenic spots. Brightly painted buildings line the waterfront, making it a fun place to stroll and take photos with kids.
Location: location on Google maps
Nuannuan Waterfront Park
Nuannuan Waterfront Park is ideal for letting kids burn off energy. It’s flat, spacious and great for walking, cycling or simply enjoying some green space by the water.
Location: location on Google maps
Yizheng Park
Yizheng Park (義正公園) is a small local park that works well as a low-pressure stop with kids. It has open space, seating and a neighbourhood feel rather than being a big tourist attraction, which makes it calmer and easier for short breaks. It’s a good place to pause during a walk through the city or let younger children move around freely without crowds.
Location: location on Google maps
National Plaza at Zhongzheng Park
The National Plaza (國門廣場) area within Zhongzheng Park is completely free to access and offers wide, open viewpoints over Keelung Harbour. It’s a great spot for photos, especially with kids who like watching ships come and go. Because it’s spacious and outdoors, it’s easy to combine with a relaxed walk rather than feeling like a “sight” you have to rush through.
Location: location on Google maps
Haimen Tianxian
Haimen Tianxian (海門天險) is a historic coastal viewpoint and defensive site that you can visit for free. The name roughly translates to “Natural Sea Gate Fortress,” and the area gives kids a sense of Keelung’s military and maritime history without needing to enter a museum. It’s best paired with a coastal walk and works well for older children who enjoy exploring exposed viewpoints and stone structures.
Location: location on Google maps
Ershawan Fort
Ershawan Fort (二沙灣砲台) is a former coastal defence fort and is free to enter. Kids can walk along the old fortifications, see cannons and enjoy views out over the sea, which makes it feel more like an outdoor adventure than a historical site. There are no entry fees, and the open layout makes it easy to explore at your own pace.
Location: location on Google maps
Keelung Fortress Command
The Keelung Fortress Command (基隆要塞司令部遺址) is another free historic site that fits well with Keelung’s network of tunnels, forts and military remains. It’s an interesting stop for families who’ve already visited the bomb shelters or air-raid tunnels, as it helps connect the story of how Keelung was defended. There’s no ticket required, and it’s accessible as part of a walking route rather than a formal attraction.
Location: location on Google maps
Keelung is packed with free, family-friendly experiences that are easy to combine into a relaxed day out. Whether your kids love playgrounds, tunnels, views or colourful streets, there’s plenty here to keep them entertained without spending money.
If you plan to visit Taiwan with kids, my Taiwan travel hub has all of my guides ready for you to help you plan your trip. For more of Keelung, including some paid options and hotel recommendations check out my guide to Keelung.