The 9 Best Things to Do in Kaohsiung + What I Would Skip

I only recently visited Kaohsiung City in Taiwan and I was actually quite surprised by it, in fact, I’d say it’s a bit underrated. Kaohsiung is really different from Taipei, with its beautiful waterfront and harbor, loads of art (from street art to art museums), and some of the most stunning temples I’ve seen in Taiwan. There’s just a lot of cool stuff going on.

I’d say Kaohsiung comes in at number three on my ranking of favorite cities in Taiwan, right behind Taipei and Tainan, but I definitely think it’s worth visiting. There are some really cool and unique things to do here.

In this article, I’ll share my experience in Kaohsiung, but mostly focus on the best things to do in Kaohsiung. I’ll talk about all the stuff I loved and would recommend to you, and then at the bottom, I’ll also share a few things I thought were pretty overrated or just not worth the hype, in case you want to skip them.

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The 9 Best Things to Do in Kaohsiung + What I Would Skip

Things to Do in Kaohsiung – My Experience

So I visited Kaohsiung pretty recently, in April, and it was actually one of the last stops on my three-week Taiwan trip. I honestly thought Kaohsiung was super cool, way cooler than I expected, to be honest. The whole city felt a bit more edgy, artsy, and hipster. Some parts of the waterfront and harbor area even reminded me of Melbourne, Australia (which is a good thing in my book).

That being said, like most Taiwanese cities, it’s not exactly a “sightseeing overload” kind of place. There are definitely some great things to do, but it’s not like you have a never-ending list of must-sees. For me, the highlight was the whole waterfront around Pier 2 Art Center, there are art installations everywhere, fun bars and restaurants, and it just has a really cool, almost modern and slightly Western vibe. That’s probably why it gave me Melbourne energy.

I also loved the temples I visited. The Dragon and Tiger Pagodas looked super impressive, but my favorite was Sunfong Temple which is hands down one of the prettiest temples I’ve seen in Taiwan, with its beautiful Chinese architecture and all those red lanterns everywhere.

So, yeah, I definitely think you should add Kaohsiung to your Taiwan itinerary. There are some really fun and unique things to check out here, and it’s cool to see this more modern, younger vibe of Taiwan.

9 Places to Visit in Kaohsiung That I Think Are Worth it

1. Dragon And Tiger Pagodas

I loved visiting the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas which are at Lotus Pond, which you can easily reach via the red MRT line from Kaohsiung city center. We went on a super hot day (like, melt-into-the-pavement hot), and there’s barely any shade around, so definitely bring enough water.

The pagodas themselves are so cool to see, and yes, we of course entered through the dragon’s mouth and exited through the tiger’s mouth for good luck, hope it works!

Lotus Pond actually has way more to explore than just these two pagodas. We ended up walking around the whole lake and checked out all the other temples and quirky statues. It’s totally worth wandering around if you have the time.

2. Pier 2 Art Center

The Pier 2 Art Center is down at the harborfront in Kaohsiung, which was actually my favorite area in the whole city. There is an indoor art exhibition space, but honestly, most people come here for all the amazing outdoor art installations that are spread out along the waterfront and they’re totally free to enjoy.

When I went, the actual indoor center was closed (devastating, I know), but the real fun is outside anyway. You can wander around checking out all the quirky art pieces, and then grab a drink or something to eat at one of the cool cafes, restaurants, or bars by the water. This is definitely my favorite area to hang out in Kaohsiung!

3. Sunfong Temple

Sunfong Temple in Kaohsiung is for sure my favorite temple I visited in Taiwan. Okay, to be fair, I haven’t seen that many temples, but still, it’s absolutely stunning. It’s free to enter, but keep in mind people actually come here to pray, so definitely be respectful when you walk around.

The architecture is super beautiful with all the classic Chinese details and tons of red lanterns hanging everywhere, which makes it feel really special. I went in the morning, but honestly, I kept thinking it must look incredible at night when all the lanterns are lit up. The temple is open until 10 pm, so that’s definitely an option if you want to come back after sunset.

4. Ruifeng Night Market

I have to say, when it comes to night markets, Kaohsiung isn’t my favorite city in Taiwan. The ones in Taipei and Tainan are just way better in my opinion. But that said, there are still a few decent options here.

Ruifeng Night Market was definitely the best one I found. It’s the biggest in Kaohsiung (at least from what I saw), and it didn’t feel overly touristy at all. The prices were reasonable, and there was a good mix of different foods to try. So if you’re planning to hit up a night market in Kaohsiung, Ruifeng is for sure the one I’d recommend.

5. Cijin Island

Cijin Island is definitely one of the coolest things to do around Kaohsiung. It’s a little island literally right off the coast, you could probably swim there if you really wanted to, that’s how close it is. The easier way is to just hop on the quick ferry, which is what we did and you can even use your Easycard (Public Transport Card) for that.

Once you get there, it’s super popular to rent a bike and ride along the coastal trails. After spending so much time in cities all over Taiwan, it felt amazing to get a bit of a nature break and some ocean breeze.

And definitely don’t miss Cijin Sunset Bar, it’s such a fun spot to grab a beer and watch the sun go down.

6. KW2 Kaohsiung Warehouse No. 2

Kaohsiung Warehouse No. 2 isn’t really a must see in Kaohsiung, but I still thought it was pretty cool and worth a stop. It’s right on the waterfront, close to Hamasen station so if you’re heading to the harbor area, you’ll probably pass by anyway.

It’s an old warehouse that’s been converted into a space with shops, restaurants, and cafes, and there’s even a hostel inside which I thought was super quirky and fun. It’s a great place to escape the heat for a bit, grab a drink or snack, or even get some work done on your laptop (I saw loads of people doing just that).

7. Visit the Museums

Kaohsiung actually has some pretty cool museums, and honestly, they’re perfect for when it gets crazy hot outside (which it does a lot). The Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts is probably the most popular one, great if you’re into modern and contemporary art.

There’s also the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying), which is a huge performing arts center that looks super impressive from the outside too. I always think museums are the perfect excuse to escape the heat (and get some AC) while still doing something “cultural,” so win-win.

8. Kenting National Park

Kenting National Park isn’t technically in Kaohsiung, but loads of people visit it as a day trip or overnight from the city. It’s all the way down at the southern tip of Taiwan and known for its beaches, surfing ( yes you heard that right), and more tropical scenery. If you’re getting tired of cities (I get it), then a little beach break here is a great idea. Personally, I didn’t make it there on this trip, but it’s super popular and I’ve heard only good things.

9. Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum

This is a bit of a trek out of the city center, but it’s worth it if you want to see something really impressive. The Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum is massive, and the giant Buddha statue there is super iconic.

The whole place feels peaceful and almost a bit overwhelming with all the statues and big open spaces. Just keep in mind it’s not really in Kaohsiung city itself, so you’ll need to plan a bit of time to get there. But if you’re into temples or Buddhist culture, it’s definitely worth adding to your list.

Things I Would Skip or Thought Were Overrated

Liuhe Night Market

Liuhe Night Market was honestly one of the worst night markets I visited in Taiwan. From what I’ve heard, it used to be the number one night market in Kaohsiung, but when I went, there were barely any food stalls, prices were higher, and it just felt super touristy. You could tell locals don’t really bother coming here anymore. The only good part for me was that there’s a 7-Eleven right next to it where they sell beer on tap (yes, on tap!) and they had a baseball game playing, so obviously I sat down and had a pint. But otherwise it’s a total skip.

Formosa Boulevard Station

Formosa Boulevard Station pops up in so many guides as “the most beautiful train station in the world” and a “must-see” in Kaohsiung. Honestly… no. It has this light dome thing with some artsy images, which is kinda cool if you’re already there, but absolutely not worth going out of your way just to see. At the end of the day, it’s still just an MRT station.

FAQs About What to Do in Kaohsiung

What are unique things to do in Kaohsiung City?

The Dragon and Tiger Pagodas are definitely one of the most unique things to check out, and I totally recommend visiting them. You can get some “good luck” by walking through (hope it works!), and it’s a super cool photo spot.

Can you get to Alishan Forest from Kaohsiung?

Well, not directly. You’ll need to go to Chiayi first, that’s what I did. I took a train from Kaohsiung to Chiayi, and then from there, I went up to Alishan Forest.

Is Kaohsiung worth visiting?

Yep, for sure. It’s a super cool city with a great art scene and just feels really modern and edgy, which I thought was awesome. It felt like a great contrast to places like Tainan and Taipei.

What are the best attractions in Kaohsiung?

For me, spending time by the waterfront and Pier 2 Art Center, as well as visiting Sunfong Temple and the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, were definitely the highlights.

Final Thoughts on the Best Things to Do in Kaohsiung Taiwan

As I said earlier in this article, I don’t think Taiwanese cities are necessarily huge on “classic sightseeing”, at least not in the same way cities like Bangkok or Rome are, where you could spend a week visiting churches, monuments, markets, and endless sights. Taiwan in general, even Taipei and definitely Kaohsiung, just didn’t feel like that for me. And honestly, that’s not a bad thing at all.

These cities are more about wandering around, enjoying the local atmosphere, finding cute alleyways, and trying loads of local food rather than ticking things off a sightseeing list.

That said, many of the things I did in Kaohsiung were super fun and totally worth checking out, even if they’re not the biggest “bucket list” sights in the world. Kaohsiung is still 100% worth visiting.

I hope my little guide on the best things to do in Kaohsiung helps you plan your trip here!