Light Inn

Don’t be fooled by the grimy-looking exterior; this no-frills hostel located on the sixth floor of an old commercial building is welllit, clean, and wholesome with all the required amenities for a budget stay. There’s a spacious, comfy lounge to hang out in, and the hostel has free Wi-Fi, laundry and drying machines, a public kitchenette with fridge and coffee machine, a public computer, as well as lockers inside the guestrooms. Sticky notes gushing with kind messages cover the wall of the lounge and spill over to the ceiling, along with maps and detailed travel information. Located close to Keelung’s railway and bus stations and just a one-minute walk to the popular Miaokou Night Market, it’s an ideal place to drop off your bags after arrival and head off exploring. Staff have listed their personal recommendations for the night market’s dizzying array of offerings, and there is also a large number of restaurants and shops close by. Buses to other parts of the city and beyond can be hailed right across the street. The well-known Kanziding Fish Market, where auctions begin at midnight, is just a five-minute walk away.

The decor of the hostel is simple and crisp, primarily featuring whites and gray washes for the walls with splashes of bright color. The public space has nice views of the bustling waterfront and the city center.

Light Inn offers eight-, six-, and four-person bunk-bed rooms as well as more costly private single and double rooms and a four-person family suite. Christian scripture passages are written on the walls, as the owner says he opened this spot five years ago to provide employment opportunities for the disadvantaged youngsters at his church. He says his hope is that after a few years they can take over the place so he can retire.

LIGHT INN ( 輕旅背包客棧 )

0908-953-358

6F-1, No. 87, Sec. 3, Ai 3rd Rd., Ren'ai District, Keelung City ( 基隆市仁愛區愛三路 87 號 6 樓之 1) lightinn.com.tw www.facebook.com/lightinnkeelung