Keelung

Keelung sits on Taiwan's northern coast and is the closest port to Taipei, which is under an hour away by train. The city itself has Miaokou Night Market, a tight network of food stalls wrapped around Dianji Temple, serving stinky tofu, grilled squid, and pineapple cakes from afternoon into the night. Ershawan Fort above the harbour has views over the port and dates from the Qing dynasty. Most people use Keelung as a base for Taipei. The train is efficient and drops you near the city's MRT network, which connects the National Palace Museum, Lungshan Temple, and the major shopping districts. Bubble tea shops are on every block and worth trying. If you stay in Keelung, Jungjeng Park above the harbour has panoramic views. English is not widely spoken, so a map with Chinese characters helps. The currency is New Taiwan Dollar, and cash is preferred at market stalls.