Welcome to Kaohsiung
The southern city of Kaohsiung (高雄; Gāoxióng) is Taiwan's largest port, its second-largest city and centre of the country's heavy and petrochemical industries. Despite this, today's Kaohsiung is a modern urban landscape of airy cafes, wide streets, waterside parks, public transport, bicycle lanes and cultural venues that have embraced and re-imagined the city's manufacturing past. There are also two swimming beaches within the city area, and 1000 hectares of almost-pristine forest right on its doorstep.
Top experiences in Kaohsiung
Amazing hotels and hostels
We've pre-picked the best hotels, hostels and bed and breakfasts to make your stay as enjoyable as possible.
Food and drink
Recent articles
Travel guides
Starting at $36.39
Kaohsiung activities
Taiwan from Taipei 5-Day Tour: Sun Moon Lake, Taroko Gorge
Start your 5-day round-island tour of Taiwan with hotel pickup in Taipei. Drive south into the lofty mountains to visit Sun Moon Lake, where you’ll stop at several temples like Wenwu Temple, Holy Monk Shrine and Tse-En Pagoda. At Fo Guang Shan Monastery, one of the most famous Buddhist sites in southern Taiwan, take a walking tour and interact with monks and nuns.The next day, head to Kaohsiung, the second-largest city in Taiwan. Pass Love River (Ai River) and stroll through Lio Ho Night Market.In southern Taiwan’s Kenting National Park the following day, admire 37 miles (60 km) of coral-rimmed shoreline and explore the forest recreation area. On your fourth day, continue your journey through Taiwan’s scenic landscapes with a visit to Taitung’s East Coast National Scenic Area, where unspoiled land stretches for miles down the coast. See incredible land formations created by years of erosion.Then, in Hualien, marvel at the exceptional beauty of Taroko National Park’s Taroko Gorge, whose marble formations are split by a road that looms under forested peaks and towering cliffs.You’ll end your journey back in Taipei. All entrance fees, transportation, accommodation and daily breakfasts are included, and for lunch and dinner, your guide will be happy to recommend great places for you to enjoy authentic Taiwanese cuisine.For details on each day of the tour, see the Itinerary section below.
Taiwan High Speed Rail 3 Days Pass
This 3 days Taiwan High Speed Rail pass is for transportation only.Entitled to ride on THSR trains with an unlimited number of times for 3 consecutive days.Important information: Limited to foreign visitors from outside of Taiwan holding tourist Visas for 6 months or less. Visitors who purchase this product are required to present their passports and verification code at the time of exchange, seat reservation, and boarding. All passport information must match the identities of the purchasers (see voucher for details). Children’s Passes are available for purchase for children between 6 and 12 years old. Hop on hop off from any Taiwan High Speed Rail stations as following: Taipei Banqiao Taoyuan Hsinchu Taichung Changhua Yunlin Chiayi Tainan Zuoying(Kaohsiung)
Sun Moon Lake, Kenting National Park: 5-Day Taiwan Tour by Bus
Start your 5-day Taiwan-island tour by the comfortable coach. Our driver will drive you from Taipei City to Sun Moon Lake, including Wen Wu Temple, Holy Monk Shrine and taking sightseeing boat. On Day 2, you will be taken to Lukang Historic Area. You will see the historical Mazu temple and Monuments. Then, you will explore Kenting National Park on Day 3. You will continue your journey by train , then visit Hualien Taroko National Park on the last day. Itineary Taipei - Sun Moon Lake - Taichung You will leave from Taipei City at around 8:00 AM by comfortable coach, and our driver will drive 2 hours to Sun Moon Lake. After lunch, you will check in at around 4:00-5:00 PM. The hotel will be Fushin Hotel Taichung or Maison de Chine Taichung or Taichung Inhouse Hotel. DAY 2 Taichung - Lukang - Kaohsiung You will leave your hotel at around 9:00 AM. You will be taken to Lukang Historic Area by the comfortable coach. After having lunch (on your own), you will go to Kaohsiung City by a coach or train. Our local tour guide will lead you to check in at around 5:00 PM. The hotel will be Hotel Kingdom Kaohsiung or Holiday Garden Hotel or Just Sleep Hotel Kaohsiung. DAY 3 Kaohsiung - Kenting You will leave your hotel at 9:00 AM, and bound for Kenting National Park by the comfortable coach. Next, our driver will drive 2 hours to visit Maopitou and Eluanbi Lighthouse. After lunch (on own), you will return to Kaohsiung City, and arrive at your hotel at around 5:30 PM. You will stay at Hotel Kingdom Kaohsiung or Holiday Garden Hotel or Just Sleep Hotel Kaohsiung. DAY 4 Kaohsiung - Hualien Leave hotel at 7:00 AM, and visit Former British Consulate and Sizih Bay by coach. You will leave Kaohsiung by train at 11:18 AM. The train will arrive Hualien Station at 4:55 PM. The driver will drive you to hotel to check in. The hotel will be Hoya Resort Hotel Hualien or Park City Hotel Hualien or Just Sleep Hualien. DAY 5 Hualien - Taiepi Explore Taroko Gorge National Park, such as Swallow Grotto, Marble Bridge, and Marble Exhibition Center by bus. Lunch is provided in this day. You will finish tour at 4 :00 PM then return to Taipei City by train. You will arrive Taipei City at 7:21 PM. Our driver will pick you up to your hotel in Taipei City. Important NOTICE : Please book hotel in Taipei city on Day 5 . Our driver can only drive you to your accommodation in Taipei city . Please confirm with us before your make hotel reservation for Day 5 .
Taipei Best of Taiwan 5-Day Tour, Sun Moon Lake, Taroko Gorge
Day 1: Taipei – Sun Moon Lake Pickup by your private guide at your hotel in Taipei. Hop in the comfortable private minivan and start with a drive south to Sun Moon Lake. Travel around this national scenic area and visit several temples including Wenwu Temple, also known as the Literature Warrior Temple — dedicated to Confucius and Kuan Ti, the Protector of Buddhism — as well as Holy Monk Shrine and Tse-En Pagoda. Continue to your hotel for check-in. Relax in the nearby natural hot springs or free time at the lake. Overnight: 5-star Fleur De Chine or similar near Sun Moon Lake Day 2: Sun Moon Lake – Kaohsiung (B) After breakfast at the hotel, head to Fo Guang Shan Monastery. Learn about Buddhism on a private walking tour. You have the opportunity to interact with monks and nuns during a visit to the Main Shrine. After a traditional vegetarian lunch (own expense) here, continue on to Kaohsiung, the second-largest city in Taiwan. Stop at the Former British Consulate at Takao and passes by Love River (Ai River) before a stroll through Lio Ho Night Market. Overnight: 5-star Grand Hi-Lai Hotel in Kaohsiung or similar Day 3: Kaoshiung – Kenting – Taitung (B) Private morning tour of Kenting National Park, located on the southern tip of Taiwan. Stop at notable attractions such as the Oluanpi lighthouse, the Maobitou scenic coastal area, Longpan Park and the forest recreation area. Travel via the Southern Cross-Island Highway to Taitung, where you’ll stay overnight in Zhiben and relax in natural hot springs at the hotel.Overnight: 5-star Hotel Royal Chihpen or similar in TaitungDay 4: Taitung – Hualien (B) Private tour of Taitung’s East Coast National Scenic Area. Explore scenic spots including Siaoyeliou, Sanxientai or Sanxiantai (Terrace of the Three Immortals). You’ll also see the Sanxiantai Bridge, Caves of the Eight Immortals and Shitiping — step-like rocks formed by coral reefs. Stop by a marble factory and showroom en route to Hualien for an overnight stay in Taroko National Park.Overnight: 5-star Silks Place Taroko or similar in HualienDay 5: Hualien – Taroko National Park – Taipei (B)Spend the day with your guide exploring Taroko National Park, whose marble formations are split by a road that winds under forested peaks and towering cliffs. Drive along the 11-mile-long (19-km) Taroko Gorge and look down hundreds of feet to the Liwu River, which roars past marble boulders - a sight to behold. Passing through the Tunnel of Nine Turns and crossing Cimu Bridge, your guide stops at notable natural monuments such as Eternal Spring Shrine and Swallow Grotto. Visit Changchun Temple and step onto the Shakadang Trail for an easy guided hike along a paved, flat path following the winding river. When your tour is concluded, you'll be dropped off at your hotel in the central Taipei area.
Kaohsiung City Day Tour
You will be picked up at your hotel or the port in Kaohsiung at 9:30 AM. You will visit Takao British consulate residence, a lovely red-brick architecture that was built in 1879 to serve as the British consul's abode. Stop by the Wude Hall that was completed in 1924 and originally used as a martial-arts training center for police and youth.You will also visit the Rose Mary Catholic Church. The church is the first Catholic church in Taiwan and one of the top 3 holy churches in Asia. Later on go to the popular Pier 2 Art Center that was once an abandoned and forgotten warehouse buried in history, and now a must-go for any visitors. Don't miss the MRT Central Park and Formosa Boulevard Station that is ranked in the top 15 most beautiful train stations in the world by the famous travel magazine “BootsnAll.” Experience the oil-paper umbrella and clay as the traditional Hakka hand-craft and the beautiful sunset at Sizihwan. When the tour ends, you will be transferred back to your hotel or Kaohsiung Port.
6 Days Taiwan Bus Tour (Sun moon lake , Alishan , Kenting , Taitung and Taroko)
Day 1: Taipei - Sun Moon Lake - Taichung Pick up from your hotel in Taipei city by a comfortable coach, and drive 2.5 hours to Sun Moon Lake (Wen Wu Temple, Ita Thao and boat sightseeing.) After having lunch (on own), you will check in to the 5 star hotel at around 5:00 PM. The hotel will be The Splendor Hotel or Tempus Hotel Taichung or other 5 star hotel in Taicung City . Day 2: Taichung - Alishan - Chaiyi Leave from your hotel around 8 AM. You will go to YUYUPAS TRIBE and Alishan National Park by a comfortable coach. You will see natural landscape and experience Alishan train. After having lunch (on own), you will head to Chiayi City by coach at around 2:30 PM. Your local guide will take you to check in at around 5 PM. You will stay at Nice Prince Hotel or other 5 star hotel. Day 3 Chaiyi - Kaohsiung Leave your hotel at 7 AM to visit HINOIKI Museum and go to Kaohsiung Spring & Autumn Pavilions (A local Taiwanese temple), Fo Guang Shan (A famous budda temple). Then, you will visit Love River in the afternoon. The hotel will be Han Hsien International Hotel Kaohsiung or other 5 star hotel . Day 4 Kaohsiung - Kenting Leave from your hotel at 9 AM and head to Kenting National Park by a cozy coach. It will take 2 hours to arrive at Maopitou and Eluanbi Lighthouse and have lunch (at your own expense). Afterward, you will return to Kaohsiung at the hotel around 5:30pm. Stay at Kaohsiung Han –Hsien International Hotel or other 5 stars hotel . Day 5 Kaohsiung - East Coast National Scenic Area You will be picked up at the hotel by your local tour guide at 8 AM. Our driver will drive 2 hours to Taitung. Your first stop will be at the East Coast National Scenic Area, then you will visit the Pachi Scenic Lookout, and proceed to the Caves of the Eight Immortals to enjoy its unique landscape. In addition, you will stop by the Stone Umbrella, which are sea rock pillars in the shape of an umbrella. Later on, you will visit the famous Sansiantai. The story behind it involves three Gods who stopped by this area, and when they left, they left three pairs of footprints that you can see on the rock. You will stay at Taitung Chihpen Century Hotel or other 5 star hotel. Day 6 Taitung - Hualien Leave your hotel at 8 AM to start to explore the Taroko Gorge National Park such as Swallow Grotto and Chi Sing Tan Scenic Area. Next, you will return to Taipei City by a comfortable coach.