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
Kaohsiung

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 harbour-side parks make it feel less congested than the island's capital, enticing many travellers 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 Harbour. 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 Harbour, 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 which includes a city, night scenes and markets

Kaohsiung City Centre

4.5/5(25 area reviews)

Travellers love Kaohsiung City Centre for its popular shops, and you can see more of Kaohsiung by jumping on the metro at Formosa Boulevard Station or Sinyi Elementary School Station. You might spend time checking out top sights like Liuhe Night Market and Central Park.

Kaohsiung City Centre
Spring and Autumn Pavillions which includes a sunset, a temple or place of worship and a city

Zuoying District

4/5(1 area review)

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
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Gushan District

5/5(1 area review)

Gushan District is a destination travellers like for its shopping, and you might hop aboard the metro at TRA Museum of Fine Arts Station Station or Hamasen Station to explore sights like Shou Shan Zoo.

Gushan District
Dome of Light which includes interior views

Sinsing District

Consider exploring the abundant dining options in Sinsing District. If sightseeing is on the list, Dome of Light is a top attraction. Hop on the metro at Sinyi Elementary School Station or Formosa Boulevard Station to see more of the area.

Sinsing District
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Sanmin

3.5/5(3 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
Tuntex Sky Tower which includes 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
Chateau de Chine Hotel Kaohsiung
Chateau de Chine Hotel Kaohsiung
4 out of 5
No.43, Daren Rd., Yancheng District, Kaohsiung
The price is S$109 per night from 4 Aug to 5 Aug
S$109
4 Aug - 5 Aug
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! (1,003 reviews)
"I could not regulate the air conditioning, it was too strong"

Reviewed on 27 Jun, 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
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! (616 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 16 Jun, 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 S$147 per night from 20 Jul to 21 Jul
S$147
20 Jul - 21 Jul
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! (1,002 reviews)
"pretty decent hotel. however, no international electrical outlets were available in the rooms, requiring us to buy a local electrical plug to charge our electronics. furthermore, there were only 2 lifts serving the ground floor, so it took a long time for us to reach the lobby."

Reviewed on 29 Jun, 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 12 Jan, 2021

The Tale of Butterfly
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
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 Love River and Central Park are ...
"Good Location, free wifi, great pricing, air conditioning, fridge/freezer and quiet rooms"

Reviewed on 6 Dec, 2019

Travelhome Service Apartment
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

4.1
Top destination
5 - Excellent
6
5 - Excellent 29%
4 - Good
12
4 - Good 57%
3 - Okay
3
3 - Okay 14%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

A great place to visit, friendly, safe and amazing food.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

hot weather but a lot of place for sighseeing and good food

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Go to Cijin Island.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Although the government is clearly trying very hard to improve English proficiency and accessibility (you will find that public museums etc. generally have highly proficient staff), speaking some Mandarin will improve your experience.