Things To Do In Kaohsiung: Itinerary (2025)

Should I bother visiting Kaohsiung? If I had a euro for every time I was asked that, erm I would have just two euro. Ahem, anyway, those two times struck me, not many people know how awesome this city is, at least when devising their Taiwan itinerary.

There seems to be a bit of discourse online that Kaohsiung is boring. To me, that’s a bizarre statement, so you’re telling me temples where you climb through a tiger and out a dragon, grand buddha complexes, busy night markets, colourful art centers and interesting local delicacies, are considered “nothing to do”?

Situated in the south of Taiwan on a harbour, Kaohsiung is Taiwan’s second largest city. Its industry is this city’s beating heart, with steel plants along the port. This gives it an edgy feel, and as you wander the streets there’s more of a down to earth feel to it. Where Taipei is the business capital, Kaohsiung is the industrial one.

Easily reached by high speed train, it’s just 1.5 hours from Taipei, and is not to be skipped on any Taiwan itinerary. Let me show you all the best things to do in Kaohsiung, so you too can silence its critics on Taiwan’s most underrated city.

Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

How Many Days Do I Need In Kaohsiung?

I suggest 3 days to see the city and the surrounding attractions. Kaohsiung is pretty spread out, and several of its must-visit sights are vast complexes that need a few hours to truly appreciate.

Here’s how I’d break it down: Fo Guang Shan alone can easily eat up half a day if you want to explore the monastery properly (and trust me, you do). The Lotus Pond temple circuit takes about 4 hours if you’re cycling between all the pagodas and not rushing. Monkey Mountain is a solid 2-3 hour commitment when you factor in the hiking and inevitable monkey-watching breaks.

If you’re the type who likes to really soak in places rather than tick off a list, you could easily spend 4-5 days here. But 3 days hits the sweet spot for seeing the highlights without feeling rushed or like you’re just passing through.

Getting To Kaohsiung

You can reach Kaohsiung in just 90 minutes from Taipei via High Speed Rail (HSR). Train tickets can be booked on Thsr.com, the station in Kaohsiung is called Zuoying Station. From here you can take the MRT to the city centre.

Additionally, you can also take a slower Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) train. This will take between 3 hours 30minutes to 9 hours. The Puyama Express and Tze-Chiang Express are often the fastest and direct whereas the others require changes. You need to book these tickets on this website in advance.

Getting Around Kaohsiung

Kaohsiung’s attractions are spread out, it’s not really feasible to only get around on foot during your trip.

Kaohsiung MRT has two main lines: Red (north-south) and Orange (east-west) which intersect at Formosa Boulevard. It also connects to Kaohsiung Airport.

Light Rail (LRT) runs in a loop beatween Lizihnei Station and LRT Depot. It brings you along the city skyline, through the pier and waterfront, on mostly grass covered tracks.

Kaohsiung also has a good bus network, with a single fare costing NT$12.

You can pay for all of Kaohsiung’s public transport with your EasyCard. You simply tap on and off.

YouBike is a local city bike rental which requires a Taiwanese number. If you don’t have this you can register for a single use but need to pay a deposit on top of the fee. The deposit is then refunded to you but can take up to 2 weeks to return to your account. This may not be feasible for many travellers.

Best Time To Visit Kaohsiung

Due to its coastal location, Kaohsiung has a more comfortable climate compared to Taipei which instead sits inside a mountainous basin.

The coolest and driest months are December and February where temperatures are 19 – 22°C (66.2 – 71.6°F). It’s the best time for hiking and exploring by foot.

Spring (March, April, May) is warm and pleasant, but with occasional rain showers.

Summer is the hottest, wettest and most humid, from June to August the average is 30 °C. (86°F). Not only is this the hottest but also typhoon season is from July to October. An average of four typhoons hits the country during this time, although you might not experience one, it’s best to avoid visiting in these months as damage can be severe, and most businesses will close for the day.

Where To Stay In Kaohsiung

Xinxing district and Yancheng district are both central areas to stay in Kaohsiung. They offer excellent food choices including night markets, affordable accommodations, and easy access to public transportation.

$ Big Bear Hotel – conveniently located above a 7-11, very close to Liuhe Night Market and Formosa Boulevard MRT Station. Rooms are spacious and clean. The hotel also features laundry room, drying rack, snacks and filtered water.

$$ The Cloud Hotel – we stayed here and loved the location. Also located very close to 7-11 and Liuhe Night Market. Rooms are comfortable, spacious and quiet. The hotel also features a laundry room and a good breakfast buffet.

$$$ River Trees Hotel – located close to Pier2 and light rail. The rooms are stunning with a minimalistic Japanese interior, perfect for relaxing after a busy day exploring. Offer water machines for use on every level.

Things To Do In Kaohsiung

1. Sunfong Temple

You know the old adage “never judge a book by its cover”? Well this couldn’t ring more true for Sunfong Temple. From the outside the temple doesn’t look like much, but what’s inside ended up taking my breath away. I consider it the most beautiful temple I have ever visited. Dedicated to the Taoist deity Nezha, it dates back 300 years.

Inside, Sunfong Temple has a surreal feeling to it, hundreds of crimson lanterns hang across the second storey, creating a canopy, which is not only visually beautiful, but it creates a calm and dreamy atmosphere.

Although the lanterns undoubtedly steal the show, Sunfong Temple is huge, it has a Chinese-style architecture that spans three storeys with multiple rooms, I encourage you to explore it all.

The best time to visit Sunfong Temple is in the evening, during and after sunset. This allows you to truly appreciate the lanterns and the calmness they instill.

This temple is free to enter but there is a donation box you can contribute to to help keep this temple enchanting. This is a must on any Kaohsiung itinerary.

2. Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum

I was unsure about visiting this place, I felt I’d seen enough Buddha’s throughout my time in Asia, surely I wouldn’t find this place impressive, right? Erm no, this turned out to be one of the best things to do in Kaohsiung.

Fo Guang Shan is actually so much more than a Buddha Museum, it’s a far cry from a regular museum. Fo Guang Shan is a huge complex that houses a monastery, a university, temples, statues, gardens, and yes, a museum.

As you enter the complex the tone and grandeur is immediately set, greeted by a long walkway lined with eight pagodas. Despite the grandeur, there is still a meditative atmosphere surrounding the place. The mountains in the background help this atmosphere.

The sheer size of Fo Guang Shan can often feel like you have this complex to yourself. Not only is it spacious, but it’s quiet with every visitor respecting this immense spiritual place. Even though I don’t consider myself to be particularly spiritual, I couldn’t help but find myself absorbed by the serenity and grandeur of the place.

These are some of highlights of Fo Guang Shan

We planned to spend 3 hours here, but actually stayed for the full day. There are cafes, even a Starbucks, and restaurants that serve vegetarian meals.

Surprisingly, Fo Guang Shan is free to visit. I strongly recommend wearing comfy shoes and dedicating at least 4 hours here. The museum is closed every Tuesday, please check here for the most up to date opening hours.

To get here you need to take the 8010 bus which drops you directly to Fo Guang Shan. You can use your EasyCard to pay.

3. Lotus Pond

Lotus Pond is a significant landmark in Kaohsiung. Gaining its name from the number of lotus flowers on the lake. It’s not so much the lake that attracts people, rather that it’s surrounded by several famous pagodas, temples, and palaces.

To maximise your time I recommend renting a bike and cycling to each place that interests you.

• Tiger And Dragon Pagodas: the most famous landmarks on Lotus Pond. These colourful pagodas involve Walking through the dragon’s mouth and exiting the tiger’s mouth. You can also climb up to the top for views.
• Spring and Autumn Pavilions: Similar to the Tiger and Dragon Pagodas, but instead it’s a large dragon where you enter through his mouth and walk through his belly which is painted in colourful murals.
• Beiji Pavilion of Yuandi Temple (元帝廟北極亭): my personal favourite along the lotus pond temple trail. Different statues flank the bridge when you walk up to Yuandi. There are also vending machines that will give you a divination for some money.
• Chiji Temple: located opposite the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas. Small but lots of small intricate details to admire.
• Zuoying Chiming Temple: gold hall with nice nice views over the lake
• City Temple of Confucius: dates back to 1684, dedicated to the Chinese philosopher and politician Confucius who heavily influenced east Asian culture to present day. gate that is similar to Taipei’s, serene atmosphere.

All the above temples are free to enter, but you can donate if you so wish. I recommend spending 4 hours here.

Getting here: you can take a local train from Kaohsiung Station to Zuoying Station. From here it’s then just a 10 minute walk to Lotus Pond.

4. Liuhe Night Market

No trip to a Taiwan city is complete without visiting the local night market, and Liuhe Market should be on your Kaohsiung Itinerary.

Liuhe Night Market might be smaller than Taipei’s famous markets but it has packed many great stalls into it. From 5 PM every night, this wide 350 meter street becomes filled with people wandering the smokey and aroma filled path.

• Boa Buns from 楊家肉圓 – fluffy steamed buns with a tender slice of pork belly, sweet crushed peanut , cabbage, cilantro, and a spicy sauce. I went here twice during my stay.
• Papaya Milk from 木瓜牛: slightly sweet and creamy iced milk drink. The lady is so friendly.
• Taiwanese sausage from 盛奕大腸包小腸: can you go to a night market in Taiwan and not get one of these? Remember to enjoy with a piece of garlic.

5. The Pier2 Art Center

The Pier2 Art Center is a collection of converted warehouses that has become Kaohsiung’s creative hub and coolest area. What used to be abandoned railway storage is now filled with street art, quirky shops, cafes, and weekend markets right along the harbour.

You’ll be wandering around and stumbling across massive murals and art installations made from old shipping containers and scrap metal. It perfectly captures that industrial-meets-artsy vibe that Kaohsiung does so well. The old railway tracks running through the middle have also been turned into walkways.

You’ll find plenty of small boutiques selling local designs and vintage stuff, plus outdoor seating areas with harbour views. It’s especially nice at sunset when the light hits the water and makes even the industrial cranes look kind of romantic.

Just heads up, food and drinks here are pricier than the rest of the city, but the atmosphere makes up for it.

I’d budget about 2 hours here, and definitely time it for late afternoon to catch that golden hour lighting.

Getting here: Light Rail to Dayi/Pier-2 Station or a 10-minute walk from Yanchengpu MRT.

6. Po Po Ice

It’s inevitable, as you wander Kaohsiung’s cool streets, you’ll be feeling anything but cool. When this hot sweat takes over your body, the only cure is a large bowl of shaved ice.

Dating back to 1934, PoPo Ice (高雄婆婆冰) translates to “grandmother”, it’s a much loved spot for locals, and tends to get very busy during the Summer months.

Their signature dish is the mango shaved iced which is served with generous helping of mangos and condensed milk. We also got one with strawberry jam, which was equally as delicious. Neither were too sweet and contributed to us being able to explore the city for another few hours.

Shaved ice bowls cost from NT$50 to NT$120. One bowl could easily be shared between two.

7. Cijin Island

Cijin Island is without a doubt one of the most fun things to do in Kaohsiung. We ended our time in the city here and we left on such a high, grinning ear to ear.

Cijin is located just 5 minutes from Kaohsiung city. It’s easy to get to, you just need to get a ferry from Gushan (beside Pier2 Warehouses). The ferry costs NT$80 one way which you can pay by EasyCard or cash. They go pretty regularly, check here for an up to date schedule. The port has a few nice restaurants, cafes and shops to browse while you wait.

Once in Cijin the best way to explore is to rent an electric bike. They are themed so some have pokemon, Hello Kitty or Mario on the front. You are given a map and off you go. The bikes don’t go too fast, they are similar to golf carts.

The route takes you along the coast and through Cijin Tunnel, where you’ll pass lots of art installations. The most famous one is the Rainbow Church. The route should take just 1.5 hours.

When finished the town is pretty lively with food stalls and shops. I encourage you to wander around. Cijin Sunset Bar (旗津沙灘吧) is also a nice place for a drink.

8. Take A Walk Down Umbrella Street

Umbrella street, or as it’s officially known Hou Yi Shopping District, is one of the most Instagrammable places in Kaohsiung.

The 1,000 metre street mostly runs down Anning Street, and is covered in a canopy of colourful umbrellas.

The majority shops here are wholesale, therefore unless you want to buy 20+ of one item, you can’t purchase anything from many of the shops.

It’s located just a 5-minute walk from Kaohsiung Station.

9. Try Mullet Roe

A delicacy in Kaohsiung is bottarga, this is dried and cured mullet roe. To be completely transparent it’s basically ovaries from a mullet fish. You see these interesting amber coloured sausage shaped objects all around the city.

We often stumbled upon them down random alleys where they appeared to be left out to dry in the sun.

You usually eat it sliced as a snack or added to pasta dishes for extra flavour. It has a soft texture and is pretty salty with a nutty after taste.

Although this is a unique thing to do in Kaohsiung, there’s no better way to get to know a place and its people by trying the foods they love.

10. Watch The Rotating Bridge

Located nearby is the Great Harbor Bridge which rotates (or swings). You can check this out at 3 pm every day, and an additional one at 7 pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. It is the longest cross-harbour rotating bridge in Asia.

The bridge is located near the Love River, which has to be one of the most adorably named waterways in Taiwan.

Disclaimer: I actually thought it rotated, as in turned upside down (I know, what was I thinking). No, it more so turns 90 degrees to allow for boats to pass.

11. Lotus WakePark

For the ultimate thrill, take a visit to Lotus Wake Park where you can learn to wake board with the help of an overhead cable.

Don’t worry if you have never done it before, they do a beginner course and then you are eligible to move up to the next level. Instructors are patient and friendly.

Suitable for anyone over 8 years old, it’s a family friendly and fun thing to add to you Kaohsiung itinerary.

You can book tickets here in advance

12. Dome Of Light

Located in Formosa Boulevard MRT station, the Dome of Light is a massive stained-glass installation, with a 30-meter diameter designed by artist Narcissus Quagliata. The dome is divided into four sections: water, earth, light and fire.

It surprised me one of Kaohsiung’s top attractions was located in an MRT station. But you can see it as soon as you tap out of the station. It’s often described as the worlds most beautiful station, this was our main station close to our hotel, so we saw it a lot.

There is a light show daily 11 AM, 3 PM, and 8 PM (as per 2025). However this isn’t anything special, personally, I prefer how it looks without the show.

I wouldn’t go out of my way to visit this, it looks better in photos. However, it’s still cool in person and worth adding to your Kaohsiung itinerary, just not as “wow” as some of the photos make it out to be.

13. Hike Up Monkey Mountain

Also known as Chaishan, Monkey Mountain ended up being one of my favourite hikes in Kaohsiung. Don’t worry, it’s not as scary as it sounds, the main paths are mostly boardwalks so it’s not treacherous at all. The mountain is home to many cheeky Taiwanese Macaques.

That said, you’ll definitely feel the burn with lots of elevation gain packed into a short distance. You’ll be walking on wooden planks, stone steps, and my personal nemesis, the 120-meter Haohan Slope, which is basically a steep climb over coral reef rocks that had me questioning my life choices halfway up.

The mountain splits into North Chaishan with nice wooden boardwalks, and South Shoushan which is more like walking on old cement mining roads.

All the trails extend in several directions like a spider web, and while there are some cool hidden limestone caves and canyons off the main path, I don’t recommend wandering off unless you really know what you’re doing.

You can find 10 different trails for monkey mountain on AllTrails. However, if you are seeking a moderate trail that will just take a few hours of your day then the 4.8 km monkey trail is a popular loop route that takes just 2 hours.

And seriously, don’t bring snacks. The monkeys here don’t mess around, and staring at them too much is asking for trouble. Trust me, you don’t want to become part of their entertainment.

14. Day Trip To Tainan

Dating back to the 1600’s Tainan is Taiwan’s oldest city. It was once the capital of Taiwan and today is considered the food capital of the country. It’s an ancient city that was once the capital of Taiwan.

This is an easy day trip from Kaohsiung, taking just 35 minutes by train.

The city does not have an MRT, many locals get around by bike. Exploring by foot or bike is the best way to explore. Home to over 1,600 temples and many small alleys that are a joy to just wander and stumble upon cute teahouses and cafes.

As it’s Taiwan’s food capital, you have to eat your way around the city. Some of its specialities are shrimp rolls (shrimp paste with vegetables stuffed into a pig peritoneum and then deep fried), Danzai Noodles (egg noodles in a shrimp broth with mince meat), stir-fried eel noodles (chewy eel with noodles served dry or in a broth), and milkfish (delicate and sweet fish served in congee, fried or in soup).

The best way to explore all the food that Tainan has to offer is a walking food tour.

Comments

Related Posts

1 Day In Taipei Itinerary
15 Things To Do When In Rains In Taipei
Where To Stay In Taipei: 6 Best Neighbourhoods (with map)
Ultimate 4 Day Itinerary Taipei
Xinyi District Taipei: Best Things To Do, Eat & Where To Stay (Ultimate Guide 2025)
Yongkang Street, Taipei – Eat, See & Coffee Guide
1 Day In Tokyo: How To Spend The Perfect 24 Hours
33 Unforgettable Things To Do In Seoul
28 Best things To Do In Haeundae
Where To Stay In Seoul For First Timers
Where To Stay In Toyo: 8 Best Neighbourhoods
Haeridan Gil Street, Busan’s Coolest Street