The Only Kaohsiung Itinerary You Need: A 5-Day DIY Guide 🇹🇼
Taipei gets all the attention — but Kaohsiung deserves its own trip. Here's the complete 5-day DIY itinerary for Taiwan's most underrated city.
Taipei gets all the attention but if you've only ever stayed in the north and called it a Taiwan trip — you're missing half the story. Kaohsiung is Taiwan's second-largest city: warmer, more laid-back, and packed with its own set of iconic spots that deserve a dedicated itinerary.
This 5-day Kaohsiung guide covers where to stay, what to see, how to get around, and even a day trip to one of the most nostalgic filming locations in Philippine pop culture history. Ganito lang 'yan! 😉
Day 1: Arrival in Kaohsiung ✈️
Your journey begins at Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH) — a significantly smaller and more manageable airport than Taoyuan, with straightforward connections into the city center.
Getting from the Airport to the City 🚇
Take the Kaohsiung MRT Red Line from the airport directly into the city. It's fast, affordable, and your EasyCard works seamlessly — same card you use in Taipei, no need to get a new one.
Where to Stay: Kaohsiung Main Station Area 🏨
Two recommendations — both literally in front of Kaohsiung Main Station and bookable on both Klook and Agoda:
🏨 Kindness Hotel
- ✅ Very homey rooms with bidet toilet
- ✅ Free breakfast with a wide selection of options
- ✅ Right in front of Kaohsiung Main Station
→ Book on Klook — use promo code HEYIANCKLOOK for up to 5% off → Book on Agoda — use promo code HEYIANCHOTEL for up to 10% off
🏨 CU Hotel
- ✅ Very spacious rooms — even the budget tier is generously sized
- ✅ Bathroom with bathtub and bidet
- ✅ Right in front of Kaohsiung Main Station
→ Book on Klook — use promo code HEYIANCKLOOK for up to 5% off → Book on Agoda — use promo code HEYIANCHOTEL for up to 10% off
💡 Pro Tip: Kindness Hotel is the better pick if breakfast matters to you — the spread is genuinely good. CU Hotel wins on room size if you're packing light and eating out every day anyway.
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Day 2: Kaohsiung City Tour 🏙️
Morning: Dragon and Tiger Pagodas + Lotus Pond 🐉
Start the day at one of Kaohsiung's most iconic and visually dramatic landmarks — the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas at Lotus Pond. The two towers rise from the lake in brilliant colors, reflected in the still water below.
The ritual here is non-negotiable: enter through the Dragon's mouth and exit through the Tiger's mouth. According to local belief, doing this transforms bad luck into good fortune. For Filipino travelers steeped in faith and superstition, this one resonates on a personal level. Do it properly — don't skip it.
But don't leave Lotus Pond after just the pagodas. The surrounding area has more worth your time:
- 🏯 Spring and Autumn Pavilions — two more pagodas connected by a zigzag bridge over the lake, anchored by a massive white serpent sculpture. Dramatically photogenic, especially in morning light.
- 🌸 Lotus Pond walkways — the lake perimeter is lined with temples, shrines, and pavilions that make for a rewarding slow walk.
Afternoon: Pier-2 Art Center + Love Pier 🎨
In the afternoon, make your way to Pier-2 Art Center — a converted warehouse complex along the harbor that's become one of Kaohsiung's most creative and photogenic districts.
On the way, you'll ride the Kaohsiung Light Rail — a tram that runs along the streets parallel to Pier-2. It's a uniquely scenic mode of transport. Keep your eyes open along the route for the Rainbow Road — a stretch of colorful painted street that's become one of Kaohsiung's most shared photo spots.
At Pier-2, explore at your own pace:
- 🎨 Murals, sculptures, and rotating art installations across the open-air complex
- 🛍️ Independent shops and cafes inside the converted warehouses
- 📸 Every corner is a different kind of photo opportunity
From Pier-2, it's a short walk to Love Pier — a waterfront viewing deck with one of the best sunset views in the city. Time your visit so you're here when the light turns golden. It's worth planning around.
💡 Pro Tip: Your EasyCard covers the Kaohsiung Light Rail — no separate ticket needed. Same card, tap in and out.
Day 3: E-DA World + Dome of Light 🎢🌈
E-DA World: Outlet Mall and Theme Park 🛍️
Day 3 takes you out of the city center to E-DA World — a sprawling resort complex in Dashu District that combines a massive outlet mall, hotel accommodations, and a full theme park under one roof.
The sequence that works best: outlet mall in the heat of the day, theme park when it cools down. Midday in Kaohsiung can be intense — the air-conditioned outlet mall is a genuine relief, and it's a legitimately good shopping destination with international and local brands across multiple floors.
Once the afternoon heat eases, head into E-DA Theme Park for rides, photo spots, and the kind of energy that makes for a great travel day. The park has a good mix of thrill rides and more relaxed attractions, and the theming is elaborate enough to make even just walking through it worthwhile.
💡 Pro Tip: Book E-DA Theme Park tickets in advance on Klook using promo code HEYIANCKLOOKfor up to 5% off and skip the ticket counter queue.
Dome of Light at Formosa Boulevard Station 🌈
Either on the way home from E-DA or as a standalone morning visit, don't miss the Dome of Light at Formosa Boulevard MRT Station — and yes, this is free.
The Dome of Light is one of the largest glass installations in the world, filling the entire ceiling of the station's main concourse with a stunning circular mosaic of colored light. It's genuinely breathtaking — the kind of thing that stops you mid-step. Access it simply by entering Formosa Boulevard Station on the Kaohsiung MRT.
💡 Pro Tip: The Dome of Light looks best either early morning or in the evening when the surrounding station is less crowded and the light from the installation is more dramatic without competing with harsh daylight.
Day 4: Ying De University + Liouhe Night Market 🎓🏮
Morning to Afternoon: National Chung Cheng University — The Real Ying De University 🎓
For Filipino fans of Meteor Garden 2001, this is the day. National Chung Cheng University (NCCU) in Chiayi is the real-world campus of the fictional Ying De University — where F4 ruled, where Shan Cai fought back, and where locker number 150 actually exists.
Once on campus, allow 2–3 hours to walk through the filming locations:
- 🏛️ The Grand Staircase — F4's dramatic entrances
- 🌉 The Bridge by the River — where Shan Cai met Qing He
- 🌊 Tranquility Lake — lunch scenes, iconic confrontations
- 💛 Sancai and Dao Ming Si's Corner — their meeting spot
- 🎭 The Auditorium — school event scenes
- 🎓 University Square — the Season 2 graduation scene
- 🔐 Locker Number 150 — Sancai's locker
Entry to the campus is free and open to visitors. For the complete step-by-step guide with the full campus itinerary: Visiting Ying De University: National Chung Cheng University Complete Guide →
Prefer a Private Tour to NCCU? 🚌
If you'd rather not deal with the TRA + Bus 106 logistics, a private tour to National Chung Cheng University can be arranged — including airport transfers if needed.
Message the recommended travel provider here: bit.ly/TravelTours_Taiwan and mention promo code HEYIANC for discounts on tours and airport transfers.
Evening: Liouhe Night Market 🏮
Back in Kaohsiung for the evening, end the day at Liouhe Night Market — one of the city's most beloved night markets and a genuinely great food experience.
The atmosphere here is noticeably different from Taipei's major markets — still lively, still packed with options, but significantly less crowded and more comfortable to move through. Seafood is the specialty: grilled squid, oyster omelets, prawn dishes, and papaya milk are among the most recommended orders.
Day 5: Departure or Onward to Taipei ✈️🚄
Your final day is flex time — either fly home from Kaohsiung International Airport or continue your Taiwan trip northward.
Heading to Taipei? Board the Taiwan High Speed Rail from Zuoying HSR Station — the closest HSR station to Kaohsiung city center, accessible via MRT Red Line. The journey to Taipei takes approximately 90-120 minutes.
Book your THSR tickets in advance on Klook using promo code HEYIANCKLOOK for up to 5% off. → Book THSR Tickets on Klook →
If you need a Taipei itinerary after this, the complete 6-day guide is already live: The Only Taiwan Itinerary You Need as a First Timer →
Getting Around Kaohsiung: Transport Tips 🚇
Kaohsiung's public transport is efficient and easy to navigate — and your EasyCard from Taipei works for all of it:
- 🚇 EasyCard — covers the Kaohsiung MRT Red and Orange Lines, the Kaohsiung Light Rail, and select TRA routes. The single most useful card for this entire itinerary.
- 🚄 Taiwan HSR Tickets — for Day 5 onward to Taipei, or for coming from Taipei at the start of your trip. Book on Klook and reserve your seat at pass.thsrc.com.tw.
- 🚂 TRA — for the Day 4 day trip to Chiayi for NCCU.
Before You Fly: Don't Forget the Taiwan Arrival Card 📋
Taiwan's Online Arrival Card (TWAC) must be submitted within 3 days before your arrival — and it's completely free at twac.immigration.gov.tw.
⚠️ Fake websites are charging travelers $20–25 to submit this form. Don't fall for it. Full warning: Fake Taiwan Arrival Card Websites Are Scamming Travelers →
🏷️ Travel Discount Codes
✅ Agoda Hotels — Up to 10% off · HEYIANCHOTEL | Claim Code → |
✅ Agoda Activities — Up to 5% off · HEYIANC | Claim Code → |
✅ Klook — Up to 5% off hotels, insurance & activities · HEYIANCKLOOK | Claim Code → |
⚠️ Codes are limited use only. Tap the links above to open the app and save your code before booking.
Hope this helps! More travels soon!
