Updated August 16, 2023
Sightseeing in Kaohsiung (Lotus Lake, Cijin, Consulate of the British Empire in Dagu, etc.)
Hotels in Kaohsiung (Luxury)
Hotel in Kaohsiung (Intermediate 1)
Hotel in Kaohsiung (Intermediate 2)
Kaohsiung Gourmet (1)
Kaohsiung Gourmet (2)
Gourmet in Kaohsiung (3)
Shopping in Kaohsiung (1)
Shopping in Kaohsiung (2)
Shopping in Kaohsiung (3)
Laundry situation in Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung Overview
Kaohsiung is a large port city located in southern Taiwan.
Many skyscrapers, including the 248-meter-high Kaohsiung 85 Building, dot the area, which is dotted with various parks.
There are numerous promenades and cafes along the Ai River, which is the center of the city, and there are also sightseeing boats.
There are also a variety of shopping destinations, from upscale malls to the Liouhe Night Market and Ruifeng Night Market.
(The information below is current as of October 2020)
population: 2,773,000 (October 2019)
area2,952 km²: 2,952 km
airportKaohsiung International Airport (KHH)
Direct flights from Japan are operated by JAL, ANA, China Airlines, EVA Air, Tiger Air Taiwan, Peach Aviation, etc. (4h10min flight).
Kaohsiung International Airport is about 10 km from the city center.
Kaohsiung International Airport(International and domestic flights arrive and depart.)⇔ City Access:
- MRT (subway)There is a subway and MRT station (Kaohsiung International Airport Station) located only 30 seconds from the airport.
Kaohsiung Station is only 18 minutes away.
It is recommended to make an "iPass" IC card, which can be used for sightseeing in the city.
Since it is chargeable, it saves you the trouble of buying tickets and also offers discounts on MRT and other subway fares.
No food or drink is allowed in the car at all, and violations are subject to a fine. - Airport Connection Bus
Airport trunk line, Kaohsiung Land Transportation Co.There are several routes, including public buses, but if you have booked a hotel in the city, the airport trunk line through the downtown area is convenient.
It takes about 30 minutes to Kaohsiung Station. The fare is NT$12 for the first ride.
You must pay in advance, so be sure to have your money ready before boarding the bus. - cabIf you want to get to the hotel easily, we recommend taking a cab from the airport.
The cab stand is located just outside the domestic and international arrival lobbies.
The Kaohsiung Train Station is approximately 15 minutes away, and the Kaohsiung City Center is also approximately 20 minutes away.
Fares range from NT$150 to NT$300, but airport fees and late-night charges are added depending on the time of day.
If a cab has a scratched body, it is better to avoid it, as the driver may be rough. - Travel agency shuttles & hotel shuttles
For those who come with package tours from various travel agencies, a local meeting place is often set up just outside the arrival lobby after passing through customs, where local tour guides are holding placards and talking to visitors.
Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Ministry of Transportation Official WebsiteTaiwan: A lot of information about Taiwan.
Hotel:The average price for a 3-star hotel is ￥4,527 and for a 5-star hotel is ￥8,739.
Map of Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung Travel Guide
Kaohsiung Travel Guide
Kaohsiung City Transportation
MRT
MRT Kaohsiung currently has two lines, the Red Line and Orange Line, and a light rail line.
Public Art at MRT Meilidao Station - Kwang Ji Kyu Ting
local bus
Kaohsiung's city buses are called "gong1che1" and cover all of Kaohsiung City, and are very reasonably priced, starting at 12 yuan (about 45 Japanese yen) per ride.
The city is served by subways and trains, but tourist attractions are often located far from the station.
In Kaohsiung, where temperatures are high throughout the year, it is difficult to make the long walk from the station to tourist attractions.
Therefore, many people use cabs for sightseeing, but once you learn how to use Kaohsiung's buses, they are very convenient and make sightseeing more comfortable.
Kaohsiung City Bus Riding Guide
cab
Cab is ji chong chia (計程車) in Chinese.
Cabs in Taiwan are yellow, so they stand out from a distance, and if you show them a note of where you are going, they will get you to your destination.
Fees are also more reasonable than in Japan, so we would definitely like to take advantage of this service.
There are four- and six-seaters.
Take the MRT to the nearest station and then take a cab.
There are surprisingly few cabs in the flow, which can be frustrating on hot summer days or when you are in a hurry.
In such cases, it is a good idea to get a cab calling service (add 10 yuan). (see below)
Tell them the address you are at, and they will give you the number of a pick-up car to call back.
A pick-up car usually arrives within 3-5 minutes.
The number is marked on the door or on a lamp on the ceiling.
There are places like cab waiting areas in each neighborhood, where many cabs are waiting.
Some drivers speak Japanese, but they are hard to hit.
However, some drivers say that it is difficult to understand with a map, although they can get to their destination by showing a map or an address.
In that case, it is better to provide an address.
6~23:00 ...... NT$85 for the first 1.5km, then NT$5 (approx. ¥17) for every 250m or every 3 minutes after that, or every 3 minutes at a speed of 5km/h or less.
23-6:00 ...... 20% more than the daytime rate.
If you call a cab by phone, NT$10 will be added.
If luggage is loaded in the rear trunk, an additional NT$10 will be charged, but many drivers do not charge for the rear trunk.
The doors of Taiwanese cabs open and close manually, so passengers open and close them by hand.
When you start running, check to see if the meter is working.
The following companies provide calling services
- Dafa Taxi: 07-330-8888
- Jiayu Radio Taxi: 07-345-5555
- Yufu Radio Taxi: 07-556-1111
- New Zo Radio Taxi: 07-315-6666
Try to avoid anything that says "TAXI" or "personal" in black letters on the roof lamp portion.
Five Principles of Taxi Use
- Have change ready.
- Prepare a piece of paper with your destination (address) written on it.
- Doors open and close by themselves.
- Seat belts must be worn (all seats are required to wear seat belts and are subject to fines).
- I avoid cabs that are touting.
Cabs in Kaohsiung
Car Distribution App
The Uber car-dispatch service is available.
Uber" runs in large numbers and is available in Japanese.
rent-a-cycle
Cities in Taiwan have a very extensive bicycle rental system, which is one of the most convenient ways to get around.
The bike rental service in Kaohsiung is called City Bike (C-Bike).
Visitors from abroad can use the service if they have a credit card.
Yuyu Card (EasyCard) can also be used if pre-registered through the official application, but it is necessary to register a personal ID and a residence number, which is not required for tourists.
Different stations for borrowing and returning are acceptable.
There is a convenient bicycle parking lot search application (C-Bike).
The first 30 minutes of Kaohsiung's bike rental (C-Bike) is free.
NT$5 (about 18 Japanese yen, as of May 2019) for 31-60 minutes of use,
NT$10 (about ¥36 in Japanese yen, as of May 2019) for 61-90 minutes of use,
After 91 minutes of use, NT$20 (about ¥108 in Japanese yen, as of May 2019) every 30 minutes.
Detailed explanation of usage
Public Bicycle - Taiwan Tourism Bureau
C-Bike
long-haul bus
Each bus company in Kaohsiung is operated by its own operator, and there is currently no large integrated bus terminal.
The boarding stations vary depending on the route to be boarded and are widely distributed within Kaohsiung City.
Find the best route for your ride.
railroad
Kaohsiung Station (高雄車站) is a station of Taiwan Railway Administration and Kaohsiung Rapid Transit. [Map]
The station on the Kaohsiung side of Taiwan High Speed Rail is called Kaohsiung Railway Zuoying Station, which is different from Kaohsiung Station (高雄車站).
THSR Zuoying Station is the entrance station for the bullet train in Kaohsiung, with connections to the Taiwan Railway and MRT. [Map]
Kaohsiung Station
Ko-Tetsu Zuoying Station
local travel agent
MyTaiwanTour
MyTaiwanTour provides local optional tour services in Taiwan.
The company offers a wide range of services, from standard sightseeing tours to tailor-made tour planning, from small group participation to large group accommodations.
KK Day (May 8)
KKday is a website and app that handles online reservations for travel-related activities and local tours.
KKday.com International Company Limited, headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, operates the service with a focus on Asian cities.
HOT HOLIDAY
Optional tour company in Australia. Offers local tours from Taipei and Kaohsiung.
Wendy Tour
Offers a variety of guided tours in Japanese. Inquiries and applications can be made in Japanese.