Kaohsiung

Travel Guide

Kaohsiung which includes a city
Beiji Xuantian Shangdi showing a sunset and a statue or sculpture
Dragon Tiger Tower featuring a statue or sculpture
Dragon Tiger Tower showing a temple or place of worship
Central Park showing a sunset

Taiwan’s second-largest city is changing its industrial focus and emerging as a modern hub of entertainment and culture.

Taiwan’s largest port, Kaohsiung, is a well-planned city with an eclectic mix of beaches, trendy cafés and historic sites. Its wide streets and harbor-side parks make it feel less congested than the island's capital, enticing many travelers to stay for longer than they originally planned.

Take a leisurely walk along the Love River, a former open sewer that has been transformed into a promenade lined with trees and sidewalk cafés. Check out the stores in Dream Mall, the second-biggest shopping mall in Asia. With an eye-catching Ferris Wheel on its rooftop, this massive mall is visible from almost all areas of the city.

Catch a ferry to Cijin Island, a thin district projecting right into Kaohsiung Harbor. This area is home to a busy retail and dining strip, known for its fantastic seafood. Walk along the sandy shoreline, go for a swim and bike around the island. Don’t miss the views from the top of the lighthouse.

Save time for the remarkable collection of temples, pavilions and pagodas set on the edge of Lotus Pond. This man-made lake is surrounded by a group of brightly colored and unusual monuments, including the Dragon and Tiger pagodas. Visitors are advised to enter through the enormous dragon’s mouth on one side, and exit through the tiger mouth on the other in order to symbolically transform their bad luck into good.

Head to the Old British Consulate in the late afternoon to watch the sunset. Set on a hill overlooking Kaohsiung Harbor, this 19th-century mansion has been converted into a pleasant café and museum.

Travel just outside the city to Fo Guang Shan, one of Taiwan’s most beautiful Buddhist monasteries. This serene complex, perched on Fo Guang Mountain, is home to grottoes, gardens, pavilions and hundreds of Buddha statues.

Kaohsiung is 4 to 5 hours away from Taipei by bus or 1.5 to 2 hours by high-speed rail. Metro and bus systems are available within the city, but it can also be enjoyable to explore by bike, with many special lanes allocated for cyclists.

Where to stay in Kaohsiung

Liuhe Night Market showing a city, night scenes and markets

Kaohsiung City Centre

4.5/5(294 area reviews)

Enjoy the popular shops in Kaohsiung City Centre. Liuhe Night Market is a worthwhile stop, and you can jump on the metro at Formosa Boulevard Station or Sinyi Elementary School Station to see more of Kaohsiung.

Kaohsiung City Centre
Spring and Autumn Pavillions featuring a sunset, a lake or waterhole and a temple or place of worship

Zuoying District

4.5/5(4 area reviews)

Get to know Zuoying District and its many features like its mountain views and restaurants. You might want to explore sights like Lotus Pond and Hanshin Arena Shopping Plaza, and you can jump on the metro at Ecological District Station or Zuoying High Speed Rail Station to get around the city.

Zuoying District
Dome of Light featuring interior views

Sinsing District

Spend some time visiting places like Dome of Light while getting to know Sinsing District, and be sure to check out the abundant dining options. You can hop aboard the metro at Sinyi Elementary School Station or Formosa Boulevard Station to see more of the area.

Sinsing District
Caishan Natural Park which includes a city

Gushan District

4.5/5(30 area reviews)

You might enjoy the shopping while in Gushan District. Shou Shan Zoo is a notable sight, and you can get around town at TRA Museum of Fine Arts Station Station or Hamasen Station to see more of the city.

Gushan District
Tuntex Sky Tower featuring a city

Lingya District

Noted for its shopping and waterfront views, there's plenty to explore in Lingya District. Top attractions like Kaohsiung Cultural Center and Glory Pier are major draws, and you can hop on the metro at Wukuaicuo Station or Lingya Sports Park Station to see more of the city.

Lingya District
Pier-2 Art Center showing a statue or sculpture and outdoor art as well as a small group of people

Yancheng District

Noted for its art galleries and waterfront views, there's plenty to explore in Yancheng District. Top attractions like Pier-2 Art Center and Love River are major draws, and you can hop on the metro at Yanchengpu Station or Penglai Pier-2 Station to see more of the city.

Yancheng District
Chateau de Chine Hotel Kaohsiung

Chateau de Chine Hotel Kaohsiung

4 out of 5
No.43, Daren Rd., Yancheng District, Kaohsiung
The price is ₩98,636 per night from Sep 10 to Sep 11
₩98,636
₩113,925 total
Sep 10 - Sep 11
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Kaohsiung. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,005 reviews)
"This hotel is quite old and run down. There is a lot of humidity throughout the hotel, especially in the elevators. The layout of the rooms, elevators and staircases are reminiscent of a cruise ship from the 1990’s. They do have free laundry machines, which is a fantastic perk. However, the stacked ..."

Reviewed on Aug 17, 2025

Chateau de Chine Hotel Kaohsiung
Han Hsien International Hotel

Han Hsien International Hotel

4.5 out of 5
No. 33, Sihwei 3rd Road, Kaohsiung
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is ₩108,986 per night from Aug 31 to Sep 1
₩108,986
₩125,879 total
Aug 31 - Sep 1
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury hotel in Kaohsiung. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,001 reviews)
"Friendly staffs"

Reviewed on Mar 23, 2025

Han Hsien International Hotel
HOTEL COZZI Zhongshan Kaohsiung

HOTEL COZZI Zhongshan Kaohsiung

4 out of 5
No. 260, Zhongshan 2nd Road, Qianzhen District, Kaohsiung
Fully refundable
The price is ₩134,507 per night from Aug 31 to Sep 1
₩134,507
₩155,356 total
Aug 31 - Sep 1
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Kaohsiung. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,007 reviews)
"Nice bedding, good internet access and just 30s to metro station."

Reviewed on Aug 5, 2025

HOTEL COZZI Zhongshan Kaohsiung
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
The Tale of Butterfly

The Tale of Butterfly

2 out of 5
No.92-5, Chaoyuan, Meinong District, Kaohsiung
Stay at this campground in Kaohsiung. Enjoy free breakfast, free parking, and a garden. Popular attractions Jian Shan and Jiuxionglin Shan are located ...
"去的時候剛好遇到寒流,但熱水溫度與水量相當充足。 自助吧結合當地食材做創意料理,也相當美味。 環境舒適貼心,也有免費出借桌遊供消遣。"

Reviewed on Jan 12, 2021

The Tale of Butterfly
Travelhome Service Apartment

Travelhome Service Apartment

4 out of 5
No.21, Xinguang Rd, Qianzhen District, Kaohsiung
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Kaohsiung. Enjoy free WiFi, parking (surcharge), and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Liuhe Night Market and Love River ...
"Good Location, free wifi, great pricing, air conditioning, fridge/freezer and quiet rooms"

Reviewed on Dec 6, 2019

Travelhome Service Apartment
Statt de Vallee - Campsite

Statt de Vallee - Campsite

2 out of 5
No. 130-72, Heping Rd., Liouguei District, Kaohsiung
Stay at this campground in Kaohsiung. Enjoy free parking, a conference center, and an airport shuttle (surcharge).
Statt de Vallee - Campsite
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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Cities near Kaohsiung