Kaohsiung

Travel Guide

Kaohsiung showing a city
Beiji Xuantian Shangdi showing a statue or sculpture and a sunset
Dragon Tiger Tower which includes 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 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 markets, night scenes and a city

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 showing 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
Tuntex Sky Tower showing 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
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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
Chateau de Chine Hotel Kaohsiung

Chateau de Chine Hotel Kaohsiung

4 out of 5
No.43, Daren Rd., Yancheng District, Kaohsiung
The price is HK$601 per night from 21 Aug to 22 Aug
HK$601
HK$694 total
21 Aug - 22 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! (1,012 reviews)
"Great hotel to stay at in Kaohsiung!"

Reviewed on 24 Jul 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! (624 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 HK$692 per night from 5 Aug to 6 Aug
HK$692
HK$799 total
5 Aug - 6 Aug
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! (1,011 reviews)
"酒店很近三多商圈捷運站,附近亦有大型商場,找餐廳亦很容易 。 酒店員工方面好 helpful!! 房間都算大,舒適,但夏天真的不太夠冷氣;每天整理房間的員工很細心,超讚! 隔音設備很好 。"

Reviewed on 21 Jul 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 9 Apr 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 29 Apr 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.

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