Kaohsiung Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Kaohsiung showing a city
Beiji Xuantian Shangdi featuring a statue or sculpture and a sunset
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
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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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
Pier-2 Art Center featuring outdoor art and a statue or sculpture 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
Central Park featuring a fountain as well as a small group of people

Cianjin District

Shopping and coffee shops are highlights of Cianjin District. Make a stop by Liuhe Night Market or Central Park while you're visiting, and jump aboard the metro at Cianjin Station to get around town.

Cianjin 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 Rp1.168.448 per night from 1 Sept to 2 Sept
Rp1.168.448
Rp1.349.557 total
1 Sept - 2 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Kaohsiung. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,006 reviews)
"Love the place excellent service, great employess"

Reviewed on 29 Jul 2025

Chateau de Chine Hotel Kaohsiung
TAI Urban Resort

TAI Urban Resort

4.5 out of 5
Qianzhen District Linsen 4th Rd 189, Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung City
The price is Rp2.772.463 per night from 11 Aug to 12 Aug
Rp2.772.463
Rp3.202.195 total
11 Aug - 12 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury hotel in Kaohsiung. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and 3 restaurants. Popular attractions Liuhe Night Market and Love River are ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (176 reviews)
"Very Special stay. An exceptional interior design and the tea set (including a tea table ) in the room is a much valued plus."

Reviewed on 9 Jun 2025

TAI Urban Resort
HOTEL COZZI Zhongshan Kaohsiung

HOTEL COZZI Zhongshan Kaohsiung

4 out of 5
No. 260, Zhongshan 2nd Road, Qianzhen District, Kaohsiung
The price is Rp1.593.370 per night from 24 Aug to 25 Aug
Rp1.593.370
Rp1.840.342 total
24 Aug - 25 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Kaohsiung. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,000 reviews)
"Nice bedding, good internet access and just 30s to metro station."

Reviewed on 5 Aug 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 campsite in Kaohsiung. Enjoy free breakfast, free parking and a garden. Popular attractions Jian Shan and Jiuxionglin Shan are located nearby.
"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
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 Wi-Fi, 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
Statt de Vallee - Campsite

Statt de Vallee - Campsite

2 out of 5
No. 130-72, Heping Rd., Liouguei District, Kaohsiung
Stay at this campsite in Kaohsiung. Enjoy free parking, a conference centre 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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