- Kaohsiung was historically known as Takau, a name derived from the Makatao indigenous language referring to bamboo forests.
- The city is home to the Pier-2 Art Center, a reclaimed warehouse district that was once abandoned before being repurposed into an expansive contemporary art hub.
- It maintains one of the world's most unique public transport transit stations, the Formosa Boulevard Station, famous for its massive stained-glass 'Dome of Light'.
- The city’s harbor is the largest in Taiwan, historically driving the nation's economic rise through container shipping and manufacturing.
- Kaohsiung experiences a tropical savanna climate, meaning it remains warm to hot year-round with very little variation in seasonal temperature.
About Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung serves as Taiwan’s primary maritime gateway and largest industrial hub, uniquely defined by its expansive harbor and tropical climate. The city seamlessly integrates massive urban green spaces like Weiwuying Metropolitan Park with traditional cultural sites such as the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas at Lotus Pond. Travelers often balance high-tech exploration at the National Science and Technology Museum with the recreational offerings of the Kaohsiung Eye Ferris wheel. Its urban landscape is marked by wide boulevards and a focus on sustainable infrastructure, making it a strategic base for exploring southern Taiwan.
Highlights of Kaohsiung
The places our editors single out — and why they're worth your time.
Museums
Explore interactive scientific exhibits housed in one of the largest technology museums in Asia.
Parks
Walk through a massive urban park that serves as a premier venue for international performing arts.
Temples
Enter the dragons' mouths and exit the tigers' to symbolize turning bad luck into good fortune at this iconic temple complex.
Parks
Relax in a central green lung featuring a sunken plaza designed to host community events and public gatherings.
Venues
Catch major concerts or sports events at this multi-purpose indoor arena located in the heart of the city.
Museums
View a diverse collection of contemporary Taiwanese art housed within a sprawling, architecturally significant museum.
Amusement parks
Get a panoramic view of the harbor and cityscape from the top of this iconic waterfront ferris wheel.
Amusement parks
Experience motor racing-themed amusement rides in a park inspired by the Suzuka Circuit in Japan.
Top things to do in Kaohsiung
The 340 highest-rated places in Kaohsiung, ranked by travellers.
1
Places of interest
The Pier-2 Art Center is a sprawling arts complex in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, housed in repurposed 1970s harbor warehouses. It...
2
Places of interest
Weiwuying is the world's largest performing arts center under a single roof, designed by Dutch architect Francine Houben...
3
Museums
The National Science and Technology Museum in Kaohsiung is one of the largest science museums in Asia, spanning a massiv...
4
Parks
Weiwuying Metropolitan Park is a massive 47-hectare green space in Kaohsiung that integrates extensive recreational park...
5
Temples
The Dragon and Tiger Pagodas are seven-story towers situated on the edge of Lotus Pond in Kaohsiung. Visitors enter thro...
6
Zoos
Shoushan Zoo is Kaohsiung's primary zoological facility, situated on the eastern slopes of Shoushan mountain. The park u...
7
Parks
Kaohsiung Central Park is a 12-hectare urban green space designed by architect Philippe Starck in collaboration with lan...
8
Venues
Kaohsiung Arena is a multi-purpose indoor stadium primarily used for professional basketball games, concerts, and large-...
9
Amusement parks
The Kaohsiung Eye is a 50-meter diameter Ferris wheel situated on the rooftop of the Dream Mall in the Cianjhen District...
10
Parks
Aozidi Forest Park is a 10-hectare green space in Kaohsiung that serves as a central ecological lung for the Gushan Dist...
11
Museums
The Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts is a comprehensive art institution situated within the expansive Neiweipi Cultural Par...
12
Parks
Lotus WakePark is Taiwan's premier cable wakeboarding facility located directly on the Lotus Pond in Kaohsiung. It featu...
13
Amusement parks
Taroko Park's Kuroro Space Amusement Park is a specialized indoor playground located on the third floor of the SKM Park...
14
Places of interest
The Shoushan LOVE Lookout is a popular observation deck situated on the western ridge of Shoushan, featuring a signature...
15
Historical places
The British Consulate at Takow is a late 19th-century colonial complex perched on a hill overlooking the Xiziwan Bay and...
16
Parks
Cijin Windmill Park is a coastal recreational area on Cijin Island that utilizes seven massive, three-bladed wind turbin...
17
Parks
Labor Park in Kaohsiung serves as a central green space that functions as both a recreational area and a focal point for...
18
Venues
Kaohsiung National Stadium, originally known as the World Games Stadium, is a multi-purpose facility designed by Japanes...
19
Amusement parks
Suzuka Circuit Park is a motor-sports-themed amusement park located within the Taroko Park shopping complex in Kaohsiung...
20
Museums
Hamasen Railway Cultural Park occupies the former site of the Takao Station, Kaohsiung's first railway hub dating back t...
21
Beaches and ponds
Cijin Beach is a black-sand coastline located on the western edge of Qijin Island in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The beach featur...
22
Places of interest
Kaohsiung Lighthouse, also known as Cijin Lighthouse, is a historic white octagonal structure built in 1883 by the Briti...
23
Amusement parks
Taroko Park's 'Treehouse Park' is an indoor playground located within the Dream Mall in Kaohsiung, specifically designed...
24
Places of interest
Lotus Pond is an artificial lake in the Zuoying District, famous for its high concentration of traditional Chinese templ...
25
Places of interest
The Heart of Love River, locally known as Love River Heart, is an artificial landscape lake located in the Gushan Distri...
26
Museums
The Kaohsiung Museum of History is housed in the former Kaohsiung City Hall, a Japanese-colonial era building completed...
27
Places of interest
The Spring and Autumn Pavilions are a pair of Taoist temple structures located on the banks of Lotus Pond in the Zuoying...
28
Museums
The National Science and Technology Museum in Kaohsiung is one of Asia's largest applied science museums, spanning 19 he...
29
Parks
Singuang Riverside Park, also known as the Water Starlight Playground, is a waterfront recreational area located along t...
30
Parks
Lover River Waterfront Park, locally known as the Love River (Ai He) promenade, serves as the primary urban green space...
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Kaohsiung on the map
Top attractions plotted across the city.
Plan your visit to Kaohsiung
November to March, when the weather is cooler and drier, avoiding the intense heat and typhoon season of the summer months.
3-4 days, allowing enough time to explore central urban sites, the harbor area, and a day trip to surrounding coastal districts.
The city features a comprehensive mass rapid transit (MRT) system, a circular light rail network, and extensive bike-sharing infrastructure.
Stay in the Lingya or Cianjin Districts for proximity to the MRT, major shopping malls, and the waterfront areas.
Mid-range; while luxury options are available, Kaohsiung is generally more affordable than Taipei regarding dining and accommodation.
Frequently asked
Aventuro lists 340 curated attractions in and around Kaohsiung, ranked by traveller ratings.
The Pier2 Art Center is the highest-rated place to visit in Kaohsiung right now.
The largest category is parks, with 121 places to explore.
Travellers also explore Taipei, Tainan, Taichung.
Explore more of Taiwan
Other cities ranked by number of curated places.
