Kaohsiung may have made its mark on the tourist map because it is the political and economic center of southern Taiwan, but it more than that. This massive municipality has quite a handful attractions for the jaded city slicker to discover.
Easily one of country’s most beautiful destinations, a beautiful blend of creative and eco-friendly lifestyles, hipster café culture, waterside parks, bike lanes, wide avenues, lush parks, gorgeous metro station, cultural venues and cool art spaces. What I like about Kaohsiung is, aside from it’s carefully-planned, most tourist spots here are free and accessible via MRT so it is pretty easy to explore.
So how many days should you spend in Kaohsiung? About 2-3 days should be enough to cover the top attractions here. I’ll be blogging a Kaohsiung travel guide soon but for the meantime, here’s a detailed Kaohsiung itinerary with budget to help you plan your trip here soon.
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SAMPLE KAOHSIUNG ITINERARY (2 Days – 3 Days)
Here’s a sample Kaohsiung itinerary for 2 Days up to 3 Days. Feel free to tweak this depending on your budget and schedule.
SCHEDULE | ACTIVITIES |
DAY 1 | DOME OF LIGHT + LOTUS POND + HEART OF LOVE RIVER |
08:00 AM | ETA Kaohsiung. If coming from Kaohsiung International Airport, ride MRT (train) to Formosa Boulevard. Regular fare is NTD 30/PHP 51(USD 1/EURO 1/SGD 1.34/MYR 4). Travel time is roughly 16 minutes.
Note: If you use your Easy Card/Ipass/Icash/HappyCash the MRT fare is discounted. |
08:16 AM | ETA Formosa Boulevard Station. Walk towards B Level 1 to see the Dome of Light. |
08:45 AM | Exit Formosa Boulevard Station and walk towards Hotel. Check-in. Freshen up. |
09:30 AM | Back to MRT. ETD to Lotus Pond. Free entrance.
STEP 1:Take MRT to Zouying Station. If coming from Formosa Boulevard. Fare is NTD 25/PHP 42 (USD 0.83/EURO 0.70/SGD 1/MYR 4). Travel time is about 13 minutes. STEP 2: Take Exit 2 and walk towards the bus stop on the right side. STEP 3: Wait and ride Bus 301. Fare is NTD 15/PHP 25 (USD 0.50/EURO 0.42/SGD 0.68/MYR 2). Travel time is about 15 minutes. STEP 4: Alight at Shoushan National Nature Park.
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10:00 AM | ETA Shousan National Park. Walk towards Lotus Pond. |
10:10 AM | Explore Lotus Pond. Visit Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, Ciji Palace (Bao Sheng Da Di Temple), the Spring and Autumn Pavilion, Chi Ming Palaca (Temple of Enlightenment) and Pei Chi Pavillion. |
12:30 AM | Hail bus 301 back to Zouying Station. You can wait for it in front of the road of Shoushan National Nature Park, just walk across the road where you alighted to get to Lotus Pond. |
01:00 PM | ETA Zouying Station. Lunch. |
01:30 PM | ETD Martyr Shrine, Shoushan Love Observatory and Former British Consulate. Free Entrance.
Take MRT to Sizihwan Station. If coming from Zuoying Station, train fare is NTD 35/PHP 59(USD 1/EURO 1/SGD 2/MYR 5) and transit time is about 23 minutes.
Note: You need to hike up a hill to reach these destinations. |
02:00 PM | ETA Sizihwan Station. Walk towards Martyr Shrine. Hike up and explore. Note: Shoushan Love Observatory is also nearby. |
03:30 PM | Hike down Martyr’s Shrine and head towards the Former British Consulate. You need to hike up again. Explore. |
05:00 PM | ETD to Love River. Back to MRT Sizihwan Station. Take the train to Yanchengpu Station.
If coming from MRT Sizihwan Station, transit time is only 2 minutes and fare is NTD 20/PHP 34(USD 0.66/EURO 0.55/SGD 0.89/MYR 3).
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05:05 PM | ETA Love River. Explore and eat. You can also take the boat cruise. |
09:00 PM | ETD Love River. Back to MRT Yanchengpu Station to go back to hotel near Formosa Boulevard Station.
If coming from Yanchengpu Station, transit time to Formosa Boulevard Station is roughly 4 minutes only and fare is NTD 20/PHP 34(USD 0.66/EURO 0.55/SGD 0.89/MYR 3).
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09:05 PM | ETA Formosa Boulevard Station. Walk to hotel. Freshen up. Sleep. |
DAY 2 | |
07:00 AM | Breakfast |
08:00 AM | ETD to Tian Liao Moon World.
STEP 1: Ride the Kaohsiung MRT and alight at Gangshan South MRT Station. If coming from Formosa Boulevard to MRT to Gangshan South Station, single-journey ticket is NTD 55/PHP 93(USD 2/EURO 2/SGD 2.48/MYR 8), if you use Easycard or other rechargeable card, fare is discounted – NTD 47/PHP 80(USD 2/EURO 1.32/SGD 2.12/MYR 7) only. Transit time is approximately 31 minutes.
STEP 2: Exit and ride the red bus #70 to Tianliao District. Get off at Moon World Bus Station. Buses are available from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Travel time is roughly 1 hour and bus fare is NTD 30/PHP 51 (EURO 1/USD 1/SGD 1/MYR 4).
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09:30 AM | ETA Tian Liao Moon World. Explore. |
11:30 AM | Lunch. |
12:00 PM | ETD Tian Liao Moon World. Ride bus#70 at Moon World Bus Station back to Gangshan South Station in Kaohsiung city. Travel time is roughly 1 hour and bus fare is NTD 30/PHP 51 (EURO 1/USD 1/SGD 1/MYR 4). |
01:00 PM | ETA Gangshan South Station. ETD to Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Memorial Center.
Take MRT and alight at Zouying Station.
If coming from Gangshan South Station fare to Zouying Station is NTD 40/PHP 68 (USD 1.33/EURO 1/SGD 2/ MYR 6) but if you are using Easycard or other rechargeable card, discounted fare is NTD 34/PHP 58 (USD 1/EURO 0.94/SGD 2/ MYR 5). Transit time is about 19 minutes.
Take exit No.1 and look for the bus stop just beside Zouying Station. Take bus #8501 via E-DA World. Alight at Fo Guang Shan Memorial Center. Bus fare is roughly NTD 65/PHP 110 (USD 2/EURO 2/SGD 3/MYR 9). Travel time is about 45 minutes.
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02:10 PM | ETA Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Memorial Center. Explore. |
05:00 PM | ETD Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Memorial Center. Take bus #8501 back to Zouying Station. |
06:00 PM | ETA Zouying Station in Kaohsiung. ETD to Liuhe Night Market. Take MRT to Formosa Boulevard Station.
If coming from Yanchengpu Station, transit time to Formosa Boulevard Station is roughly 4 minutes only and fare is NTD 20/PHP 34(USD 0.66/EURO 0.55/SGD 0.89/MYR 3). Take Exit 11 to Liuhe Night Market . |
06:05 PM | ETA Liuhe Night Market. Explore and eat. |
08:00 PM | Back to hotel. Freshen up. Sleep. Or check-out and take the train back to Taipei. |
If you are planning to stay in Kaohsiung for 3 days, you can do Alishan Mountain on the 3rd day. I recommend booking a tour package below for a hassle-free trip.
Discover Alishan Mountain
Drive by the quaint towns and beautiful scenery of Chiayi County
Explore Alishan’s nature including bamboo forests, sparkling waterfalls and tea plantations
Enjoy a tasty aboriginal lunch before a traditional performance from the colorful Tsou tribe
Inclusive of comfortable coach transportation including hotel pick up and drop off
DAY 3 | ACTIVITIES |
08:00 AM | Breakfast |
09:00 AM | Pick up. Pass by Zhongpu |
11:30 AM | Aboriginal meal at Longmei |
01:00 PM | Tsou dance performance Alishan Forest Recreation Area |
05:00 PM | End of tour Return to Kaohsiung. |
ALSO READ: TOP KAOHSIUNG ATTRACTIONS AND HOW TO GET THERE
SAMPLE KAOHSIUNG TRIP BUDGET
Here’s a sample Kaohsiung trip budget if you follow the itinerary above.
EXPENSES | DAY 1 |
NTD 30/PHP 51(USD 1/EURO 1/SGD 1.34/MYR 4) | MRT fare from Kaohsiung International Airport, to Formosa Boulevard. |
NTD 25/PHP 42 (USD 0.83/EURO 0.70/SGD 1/MYR 4) | MRT from Formosa Boulevard to Zouying Station |
NTD 15/PHP 25 (USD 0.50/EURO 0.42/SGD 0.68/MYR 2) | Bus 301. Bus fare from Zouying Station to Lotus Pond. |
NTD 35/PHP 59(USD 1/EURO 1/SGD 2/MYR 5) | MRT fare from Zouying Station to Sizihwan Station |
NTD 15/PHP 25 (USD 0.50/EURO 0.42/SGD 0.68/MYR 2) | Bus 301. Bus fare from Lotus Pond to Zouying Station |
NTD 89/PHP 150 (USD 3/EURO 3/SGD 4/MYR 12) | Lunch |
NTD 35/PHP 59(USD 1/EURO 1/SGD 2/MYR 5) | MRT fare from Zouying Station to MRT to Sizihwan Station |
NTD 20/PHP 34(USD 0.66/EURO 0.55/SGD 0.89/MYR 3). | MRT fare from Sizihwan Station to Yanchengpu Station.
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NTD 20/PHP 34(USD 0.66/EURO 0.55/SGD 0.89/MYR 3).
| MRT fare from Yanchengpu Station to Formosa Boulevard |
NTD 89/PHP 150 (USD 3/EURO 3/SGD 4/MYR 12) | Dinner |
NTD 592/PHP 1000 (USD 20/EURO 16/SGD 27/MYR 82) | Kaohsiung Hotel (1 night) |
EXPENSES | DAY 2 |
NTD 59/PHP 150 (USD 2/EURO 2/SGD 3/MYR 8) | Breakfast |
NTD 55/PHP 93(USD 2/EURO 2/SGD 2.48/MYR 8 | MRT fare from Formosa Boulevard to Gangshan South Station |
NTD 30/PHP 51 (EURO 1/USD 1/SGD 1/MYR 4) | Red bus #70 to Tianliao District |
NTD 30/PHP 51 (EURO 1/USD 1/SGD 1/MYR 4) | Red bus #70 from Tianliao District Gangshan South Station |
NTD 89/PHP 150 (USD 3/EURO 3/SGD 4/MYR 12) | Lunch |
NTD 40/PHP 68 (USD 1.33/EURO 1/SGD 2/ MYR 6) | MRT fare from Gangshan South Station to Zouying Station |
NTD 65/PHP 110 (USD 2/EURO 2/SGD 3/MYR 9). | Bus fare from Zouying Station to Fo Guang Shan Memorial Center. Bus #8501 via E-DA World |
NTD 65/PHP 110 (USD 2/EURO 2/SGD 3/MYR 9). | Bus fare from Fo Guang Shan Memorial Center to Zouying Station. Bus #8501 via E-DA World. |
NTD 20/PHP 34(USD 0.66/EURO 0.55/SGD 0.89/MYR 3). | MRT fare from Zouying Station to Formosa Boulevard Station |
NTD 89/PHP 150 (USD 3/EURO 3/SGD 4/MYR 12) | Dinner |
NTD 592/PHP 1000 (USD 20/EURO 16/SGD 27/MYR 82) | Kaohsiung Hotel (1 night) |
NTD 2,099 /PHP 3,547 (USD 117/EURO 58/SGD 94/MYR 292) | TOTAL EXPENSES |
The sample budget of NTD 2,099 /PHP 3,547 (USD 117/EURO 58/SGD 94/MYR 292) is good for 2 days trip in Kaohsiung if you follow the above itinerary. You can still lower this down if you skip some attractions listed above. If you are only planning to stay for 1 day in Kaohsiung, you can pick from either Day 1 or Day 2 sample itinerary.
If you plan to do Kaohsiung for 3 days, you can add Alishan Mountain on the 3rd day of your itinerary. If you do it via the tour package I mentioned about, add additional NTD 1,680/PHP 2,862 (USD 56/EURO 47/SGD 75/MYR 236) on your budget.
WHERE TO STAY IN KAOSHIUNG
Tree House Hostel in Kaoshiung is not a budget hotel, but if you check their room rates, your jaw will drop! It’s quite cheap considering how posh their rooms are! It’s like staying in a luxurious hotel at a budget price!
The Tree House Hotel
3F No.132, Liuhe 2nd Rd, Cianjin District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
SEARCH FOR MORE HOTELS HERE:
TAIWAN POCKET WIFI
If you’re traveling to Taiwan soon. You can RENT CHEAP POCKET WI-FI HERE or BUY DISCOUNTED SIM CARD HERE.
THSR One Way Ticket to or from Zuoying (Kaohsiung)
KAOHSIUNG TRAVEL TIPS

Buy rechargeable MRT card like Easy Card, Happy Cash, Icash or Ipass, you’ll save a few bucks riding the MRT. For example, for NTD 20/PHP 34(USD 0.66/EURO0.56/SGD 0.90/MYR 3) fare, you are only charge NTD 17/PHP 29(USD 0.56/EURO 0.48/SGD 0.77/MYR 2) if you use your rechargeable card.
There are luggage storage/lockers at Kaohsiung MRT Stations. Small locker charge is NTD 20/PHP 34(USD 0.66/EURO0.56/SGD 0.90/MYR 3) for one day use, medium lockers charge is NTD 30/PHP 51(USD 1/EURO 0.84/SGD 1.35/MYR 4) while large lockers charge is NTD 50/PHP 85(USD 2/EURO 1.41/SGD 2.26/MYR 7)
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