Kaohsiung, Taiwan’s third biggest city is one of the most popular places to stay for visitors to Taiwan. Located just 1.5 hours away from Taipei by Taiwan High Speed Railway and 45 minutes from Taichung, there are lots of affordable hotels in Kaohsiung.
Located on Taiwan’s west coast, Kaohsiung is a sprawling coastal city with a vibrant arts scene, beautiful outlying islands and incredible street food and night markets.
From chain hotels to budget accommodation, this our Taiwanderers guide to the best Kaohsiung hotel accommodation in 2025.
You might like – 40+ things to do in Kaohsiung >
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Why stay in Kaohsiung?
We’ve visited Kaohsiung on several occasions (most recently in February 2025) and would totally recommend visiting this part of south western Taiwan as part of your next Taiwan itinerary.
Our own personal highlights include Weiwuying Street Art Village, one of Kaohsiung’s most colorful neighborhoods, Pier 2 Arts Center and meeting Kaohsiung’s famous station cat, Mikan.
We also love exploring all the themed 7-Elevens in Kaohsiung including Hello Kitty and the famous Pokemon 7-Eleven.
Many travellers to Taiwan just make a rushed trip to Kaohsiung but it has so much to do and the hotels near Kaohsiung station are surprisingly inexpensive.
From the super-cool Yancheng neighbourhood (complete with a new Godzilla themed cafe) to Kaohsiung’s famed Dome of Light, likely the most beautiful station in the world, here is our guide to the top things to do in Kaohsiung, Taiwan >
You might like – Our first timers guide to Taipei and Taiwan including the best Taiwan apps to download
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Travelling to Kaohsiung, Taiwan
As Kaohsiung is Taiwan’s third biggest city (after Taipei and Taichung), plus the most populated place in southern Taiwan, there are many transport options to get here.
Going to Kaohsiung via Taiwan High Speed Rail (HSR)
Kaohsiung can be reached by high speed rail (HSR) from Taipei and other cities.
You can buy discounted high speed rail one way tickets between Taipei and Kaohsiung (plus other stations) via this Klook HSR booking link >
There is also a buy 1 get 1 free HSR ticket sale on Klook until the end of 2025.
Please note these discounted Taiwan High Speed Rail tickets are exclusive to overseas tourists and you will need to show your passport upon redemption.
If arriving from Taipei you should take the Taiwan High Speed Rail from Taipei Main Station to Kaohsiung’s HSR Zuoying Station.
The journey takes around an hour and a half, however Kaoshiung’s HSR station is located slightly out of town – you can connect to downtown Kaohsiung City by taking a short MRT ride.
There is an alternative and cheaper TRA train from Taipei (Tze-Chiang Limited Express train). The journey time is much longer at around 4-5 hours, but you arrive at Kaohsiung station which is in central downtown Kaohsiung.
Kaohsiung by bus
You can take a bus from Taipei to Kaohsiung for as little as $NT600 one way. The quickest coaches / buses from Taipei to Kaohsiung take a little over four hours.
Booking Kaohsiung hotels – top tips
Once you are ready to start booking your Kaohsiung hotel(s), there are a few general rules and tips:
- Peak season in Taiwan is generally classed as the summer months but you’ll also find room rates are likely higher in the winter because of Christmas in Taiwan, Taiwan Lunar New Year and cherry blossom season.
- We find agoda.com has the best room rates for Taiwan / Kaohsiung hotels plus booking.com is also quite good.
- Online rates for Taiwan hotels are generally better than booking in person. We even had a situation where we tried to extend a Taipei hotel booking at reception and the staff kindly informed us we should book it on Agoda instead as it would be cheaper!
- If possible, book your Kaohsiung hotel rooms several months in advance as the room rates tend to increase in the months before you arrive – also consider making use of the ‘cancellable’ room options that some hotel booking sites have like Agoda.
All set for Taiwan? Check out our guide to Taiwan’s best SIM cards /eSIMs and the Taiwan arrival card
Kaohsiung hotels and accommodation
Here are some highly rated Kaohsiung hotel and accommodation suggestions for all types of budget:
Luxury Kaohsiung Hotels ($$$)
TAI Urban Resort (5*)
This is a stylish 5 star Kaohsiung hotel with a 27th floor bar, rooftop infinity pool, spa, gym and four on-site restaurants. Or as TAI Urban Resort themselves describe it, “…the first five-star cultural and creative hotel in Taiwan with the theme of urban resort”.
This hotel is located near to the Sanduo Shopping District red line station and Kaohsiung Exhibition Center Light Rail stop.
The best hotel pool in Kaohsiung, a swim at TAI Urban Resort will take you to infinity (pool) and beyond! The gym also has amazing views of downtown Kaohsiung.
Check rates and availability for TAI Urban Resort on booking.com | agoda.com | expedia.com | hotels.com
InterContinental Kaohsiung (5*)
Kaohsiung’s newest 5* hotel, the InterContinental Kaohsiung opened in 2021 and is one of the most luxurious hotels in the whole of Kaohsiung.
Located near to Kaohsiung this stunning and sumptuous hotel has an indoor swimming pool and five restaurants, including the Japanese WA-RA, which is famous for its digital art installation. Treat yourself to Taiwanese afternoon tea in their BL.T33 Lobby Lounge.
Check rates and availability for InterContinental Kaohsiung on booking.com | agoda.com | expedia.com | hotels.com
Kaohsiung Marriott (5*)
A 5* Kaohsiung hotel with a pool and sauna, this is a great Kaohsiung accommodation choice if you want to have a little luxury doing your stay.
Located in North Kaohsiung and connected to the rather plush E-sky mall (with a CostCo next door!), the rooms are clean and modern with large TVs, mini-bars and are very well appointed (many with Kaohsiung city views).
There are 10 restaurants at the Kaohsiung Marriott to suit all tastes from the Kyo Kyo Vegetarian Restaurant to the M-Chef Steak & Teppanyaki (plus a French bistro).
The nearest station is Sinshang Elementary School Light rail stop and the hotel is around a 12 minute drive from the Zuoying Kaohsiung HSR station.
Check rates and availability for Kaohsiung Marriott on booking.com | agoda.com | expedia.com | hotels.com
Kaohsiung Chateau de Chine Hotel (4*)
Located on the banks of Kaohsiung’s Love River, many of the rooms at Chateau de Chine have waterside views and you can see the nightly light-show that emits from the Kaohsiung Music Center by Pier 2.
The hotel has three restaurants and cafes (Japanese, Cantonese and international) plus all rooms have a bath-tub. Some of the guests also rave about the happy hour drinks for guests on level 7 with unlimited beer, drinks and snacks served for free from 6pm to 10pm.
As well as modern and clean rooms, Chateau de Chine offers a free shuttle to the train station or airport, and a laundry that is open 24/7.
Check rates and availability for Kaohsiung Chateau de Chine Hotel on booking.com | agoda.com | expedia.com | hotels.com
Fullon Poshtel – Kaohsiung (4*)
Close to the Liouhe Night Market (one of our favourite night markets in Taiwan), Fullon Poshtel is a 4* Kaohsiung Hotel with a 24/7 gym, laundry facilities plus a restaurant on a high floor with amazing views.
Opened in 2023, this is one of the newest Kaohsiung hotels so all the fixtures and furnishings are still quite fresh.
Check rates and availability for Fullon Poshtel on booking.com | agoda.com | expedia.com
Please note there is a second branch of Fullon Hotel (slightly older with a pool) that is sometimes cheaper than the Poshtel version.
Hotel Nikko Kaohsiung
A newly opened Kaohsiung hotel (in December 2024), Hotel Nikko Kaohsiung is a Japanese style chain hotel with a rooftop pool, sauna and hot tub.
Guests love the buffet breakfast, and as you’d expect from a modern Japanese hotel, there are automatic and heated toilet seats.
Check rates and availability for Hotel Nikko Kaohsiung on booking.com | agoda.com | expedia.com | hotels.com
Budget to mid-range hotels in Kaohsiung ($$)
Airline Inn – Kaohsiung Station
On our last couple of trips to Kaohsiung, we stayed at the Airline Inn – Kaohsiung Station.
It is a budget hotel located less than 5 minutes walk from Kaohsiung station.
We like it for its location plus the free laundry facilities – on our latest visit in February 2025, our room was much lighter and more modern than our first trip so they may have had a refurbishment.
The buffet breakfast served in the basement is also pretty good (compared to a lot of Taiwan hotels we’ve stayed in) – there are several hot dishes, salads, toast, tea and juices.
Check rates and availability for Airline Inn on booking.com | agoda.com | expedia.com | hotels.com
Hotel Midtown Richardson – Kaohsiung Bo’ai (3*)
Similar to Midtown in Ximending, Taipei, this 3* hotel is all about the location, just 1 stop from Kaohsiung Station and a couple of mins walk from MRT Houyi Station.
There is lots to do and eat in the surrounding area but some guests have said the rooms at Hotel Midtown Richardson – Kaohsiung Bo’ai are on the small side.
However, if you are busy doing lots of things in Kaohsiung, the prices when we last looked for this hotel were surprisingly cheap for a mid-range hotel.
Check rates and availability for Hotel Midtown Richardson on booking.com | agoda.com | expedia.com | hotels.com
City Suites – Kaohsiung Pier2
Industrial chic and no-nonsense rooms, City Suites – Kaohsiung Pier2 is near the LRT green line and the Pier2 Art Center.
Many of the rooms have no windows and are quite small, but the prices are pretty good and the 24/7 laundry is a bonus.
The location is great as it is close to Wufu 4th road which has many small restaurants and bars including the Michelin Bib Gourmand, Duck Zhen, renowned for its divine duck dishes and nice rice and pork dishes.
Check rates and availability for City Suites on booking.com | agoda.com | expedia.com | hotels.com
Green Inn Kaohsiung
One of Kaohsiung’s smaller guest-houses, this is an inexpensive place to stay very close to the famous Dome of Light / Formosa Boulevard MRT station and Liouhe Night Market.
With a small terrace and friendly host, this guest-house also has family rooms and disabled access facilities.
Check rates and availability for Green Inn Kaohsiung on booking.com | agoda.com | expedia.com | hotels.com
Budget hotels and hostels in Kaohsiung ($)
Single inn – Kaohsiung Lisen
If you are travelling to Kaohsiung on a budget and are considering dorms, Single Inn has shared rooms as well as privates and singles. Dorm beds start from £9 / $12 USD / NT$400 per night.
Check rates and availability for Single inn – Kaohsiung Lisen on booking.com | agoda.com | expedia.com | hotels.com
Uno Backpackers Inn (2*)
A stone’s throw from Kaohsiung’s Central Park, Uno Backpackers Inn is described by many reviewers as Kaohsiung’s best hostel.
5 minutes walk from Central Park Station, this hostel also offers single, double and quad rooms with a bed in a shared dorm starting from £13 / $17 USD / NT$550 per night.
Check rates and availability for Uno Backpackers Inn on booking.com | agoda.com | expedia.com
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