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

Kaohsiung Travel Guide Video

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 Dragon Tiger Tower and Lotus Pond, 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
Sanmin District

Sanmin

4.5/5(17 area reviews)

Well-liked for its museums and art galleries, Sanmin is worth a visit. Check out the variety of things to see and do like National Science and Technology Museum and Heart of Love River, and jump on the metro at Houyi Station to get around the city.

Sanmin
Chateau de Chine Hotel Kaohsiung

Chateau de Chine Hotel Kaohsiung

4 out of 5
No.43, Daren Rd., Yancheng District, Kaohsiung
The price is ¥10,872 per night from Aug 4 to Aug 5
¥10,872
¥12,557 total
Aug 4 - Aug 5
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)
"I could not regulate the air conditioning, it was too strong"

Reviewed on Jun 27, 2025

Chateau de Chine Hotel Kaohsiung
Guide Hotel Kaoshiung Liuhe

Guide Hotel Kaoshiung Liuhe

3.5 out of 5
279 Liu-he, 2nd Rd, Kaohsiung
The price is ¥4,648 per night from Jul 23 to Jul 24
¥4,648
¥5,369 total
Jul 23 - Jul 24
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3.5-star family-friendly hotel in Kaohsiung. Enjoy free WiFi, a 24-hour front desk, and a business center. Our guests praise the property condition ...
8/10 Very Good! (618 reviews)
"While the hotel itself is mostly fine, there was an accumulation of small things that made it slightly inconvenient. For example, no power outlets near the bed or the bathroom, no ventilation in the bathroom, no hand soap, no room safe. There was also peeling wallpaper and mold in one corner of our ..."

Reviewed on Jun 16, 2025

Guide Hotel Kaoshiung Liuhe
HOTEL COZZI Zhongshan Kaohsiung

HOTEL COZZI Zhongshan Kaohsiung

4 out of 5
No. 260, Zhongshan 2nd Road, Qianzhen District, Kaohsiung
The price is ¥13,095 per night from Jul 20 to Jul 21
¥13,095
¥15,125 total
Jul 20 - Jul 21
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! (1,006 reviews)
"Great hotel, new and comfortable"

Reviewed on Jul 14, 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.
Relaxation Moments

Relaxation Moments

Kaohsiung City
Stay at this vacation home in Kaohsiung. Enjoy air conditioning. Popular attractions Kaohsiung Arena and Kaohsiung National Stadium are located nearby.
Relaxation Moments
Chic Studio With Everything You Need

Chic Studio With Everything You Need

Kaohsiung City
Stay at this condo in Kaohsiung. Enjoy laundry facilities, balconies, and cable/satellite TV service. Popular attractions Central Park and Love River are located ...
10/10 Exceptional! (1 review)
"Very clean and well appointed. Very fun area with lots of local culture. It also has great metro access. Thank you for a lovely stay"

Reviewed on Apr 9, 2025

Chic Studio With Everything You Need
Fengshan cozy quadruple room

Fengshan cozy quadruple room

Kaohsiung
Stay at this condo in Kaohsiung. Popular attractions Liuhe Night Market and Central Park are located nearby.
terrible experience
"Fengshan cozy quadruple room My friends and I couldn't even enter to the apartment. It was very complicated to find the location of the supposed apartment; the address was so confusing, and when we arrived there was no entrance. We called the owner with the number the website gave and he said he ..."

Reviewed on Apr 29, 2023

Fengshan cozy quadruple room
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.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Kaohsiung

4.4
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
110
5 - Excellent 49%
4 - Good
95
4 - Good 42%
3 - Okay
19
3 - Okay 8%
2 - Disappointing
2
2 - Disappointing 1%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

Kaohsiung is nice. There’s a lot of western amenities. The Love River is nice. Cijin Beach is a fun family place.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Rueifong Night Market is great and accessible via MRT

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

Layback

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

spacious, nice infrastructures.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

People are nice. Easy to travel with transportation and taxi

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

Pier 2 art area is a great idea and example for attracting tourist visit.

Cities near Kaohsiung