Kaohsiung is King! No trip to the west coast of Taiwan is complete without a trip to the sprawling coastal city of Kaohsiung.
Although possibly not as well known as Taipei on the tourist scene, there are many things to do in Kaohsiung, from its vibrant arts scene, beautiful outlying islands and incredible street food – plus Kaohsiung calls its main waterway ‘Love River’ so bonus marks for that!
This article was originally published on cktravels.com in May 2019.
This post may contain affiliate links to tours and hotels. These help us earn a small commission at no additional charge to you.
We’ve visited Kaohsiung on several occasions (most recently in April 2024) and would totally recommend visiting this part of western Taiwan as part of your next Taiwan itinerary. On our latest trip we discovered Weiwuying Street Art Village, one of Kaohsiung’s most colorful neighborhoods.
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 in 2024.
You might like – Our guide to Tainan, Taiwan >
Travelling to Kaohsiung, Taipei
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 >
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 so 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 $15 one way. The quickest coaches / buses from Taipei to Kaohsiung take a little over four hours.
Flying to Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung International Airport is the second busiest airport in Taiwan (after Taipei) and has many international flights to and from it.
Direct flight destinations to and from Kaohsiung International Airport include China, Vietnam, Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and the Philippines.
Getting around Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung has a really easy to use transport network for getting you to all the main places of interest in the city.
There is an underground train system (MRT/KRT) with 2 separate lines (red and orange), plus a light-rail system (LRT), and an easy to use bus network.
Book an unlimited Kaohsiung MRT pass >
Taiwanderers Tip
Grab a Taiwan EasyCard as a convenient way to use buses and public transport in Taipei and across Taiwan. They can be easily topped up at stations and convenience stores.
Read more about how to use a Taiwan EasyCard, including how to top up >
You might like – 30+ cute EasyCards you can buy in Taiwan >
Kaohsuing accommodation
Budget to Mid-Range ($$)
Airline Inn – Kaohsiung Station
Budget hotel located within walking distance of Kaohsiung station. Check rates and availability on booking.com and agoda.com
Luxury ($$$)
TAI Urban Resort
Stylish 5 star hotel with a 27th floor bar, rooftop infinity pool, spa, gym and on-site restaurants. Check rates and availability on booking.com and agoda.com
Check out the best hotels in Kaohsiung via booking.com or agoda.com
Things to do in Kaohsuing
1. Lotus Lake Temples (currently undergoing renovations)
2024 update – several of the main Lotus Lake temples are currently covered in scaffolding, due to an extensive restoration process which will last many months. They are still undergoing restorations as of September 2024.
A short train or bus ride away from downtown Kaohsiung brings you to Lotus Lake – one of the top Kaohsiung things to do / attractions and famous for its eponymous lotus flowers .
Kaohsiung’s Lotus Lake is actually a man made lake that was built in the 1950s, as a way to entice more visitors to the area – it definitely seems to be working! The annual Kaohsiung Lantern Festival also often takes place at Lotus Lake.
It is also famous for being home to several large statues and religious shrines – the most famous of these (and likely the ones you will have seen on Instagram) are the Tiger and Dragon Pagodas, the Spring and Autumn Pavilions plus the Beiji Xuantian Shang Di Pavilion.
Our favourite pagodas at Lotus Lake are the Tiger and Dragon pagodas as we had never seen anything like this before.
In line with Taiwanese tradition, we visited by entering through the dragon’s mouth and out via the tiger’s jaws to hopefully increase our good fortune.
Using a drone at Lotus Lake
This was a perfect spot to use our drone as the views of the lake from up high with its epic religious relics looks incredible. We didn’t crash the drone either, so the good fortune from exiting the tiger’s mouth must have worked!
Please ensure you check the up-to-date local drone regulations in Kaohsiung as they may have changed since our trip.
You might like: Watersports at Lotus Lake at Liantan Water Skiing Theme Park >
2. Pier 2 Art Center
Pier 2 Art Center is an immense complex, spread over several old industrial warehouses right next to the port in the Yancheng District.
Once a hive of fishing piers and international shipping trade, this area of Kaohsiung fell into disuse until it was revived in 2006.
The whole Pier 2 Art Center area is usually abuzz with families, friends and teenagers out shopping, browsing or going to the various pop-up exhibitions.
There is a lot to see and do here so make sure you give yourself at least a couple of hours to fully explore this ‘pierless’ part of Kaohsiung.
From quirky pop-up shops to weekend flea markets and fun outdoor sculptures and murals, there is a lot to see at Pier 2 Art Centre and it is one of Kaohsiung’s top things to do. There is also a branch of Taiwan’s famous bookstore chain and department store, Eslite.
To reach Pier 2 Art Centre, take the orange line on the KMRT to Yangchengpu Station (exit 1), or take the Light Rail tram to Dayi Pier-2 station.
Read our full blog on the Kaohsiung Pier 2 Art Centre >
You might like – Recommended Kaohsiung tours with Klook, Viator and Get Your Guide
3. Dome of Light, Formosa Boulevard MRT Station
Another unique Kaohsiung attraction, this has been described by many as the ‘…world’s most beautiful underground / train station’ and is one of the most popular things to see in Kaohsiung.
Kaohsiung’s Dome of Light can be found at the Formosa Boulevard MRT station and was designed by Italian artist Narcissus Quagliata.
It is the ‘world’s largest domed underground station’ and took over four years to complete and install (it is approx 30 metres in diameter, and made up of over 4,000 glass pieces).
The main Formosa Boulevard MRT station itself is as you’d expect of any Taiwanese MRT station but it is the Dome of Light that makes this so special and unique.
The four parts that comprise it (water, earth, light and fire) symbolize birth, growth, glory and destruction respectively, and refer to Taiwan’s democratic process and reform.
In 2024, we managed to catch the Dome of Light soundscape and lightshow that plays regularly – given how beautiful the dome itself is, we were disappointed by how bad the show was.
It was basically a project animation on the floor that even included adverts for laptops and movies part way through. Definitely visit the Dome of Light but don’t wait around for the show as it is rubbish!
Read our dedicated guide to visiting Kaohsiung’s ‘Dome of Light’ at Formosa Boulevard MRT station >
You might like – Our 1 day Taipei highlights itinerary or our 3 day ‘best of Taipei’ guide
4. Cijin Island
Kaohsiung is home to Cijin Island – a ‘tropical paradise’ just a short five minute ferry ride from main harbour in downtown Kaohsuing.
The Cijin Island beaches are beautiful but in a rough and rugged kind of way – the beaches at Cijin Island are also popular for sunbathing and surfing. You can walk along the coastal path (or hire a cyclo).
Along the boardwalk from the main Cijin Island beach, you’ll come across possibly the island’s most famous attraction, the Rainbow Church.
It is more of a contemporary art installation than an actual church – although Instagrammers do seem to worship it!
We recently revisited Cijin Island’s Rainbow Church in early 2024 and it has really faded since these photos were taken. Please can someone repaint it to be as colourful and vibrant as it once was.
Other Cijin Island sites include the Giant Seashell (no, really!), Tinamou Temple and the surreal sculptures in Turbine Park.
Cijin Island is easily one of our favourite Kaohsiung things to do and attractions – check out our guide to Cijin Island blog post >
Join our Facebook Taiwan Travel Tips Group!
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5. Liuhe Night Market
A tasty tourist treat, Kaohsiung’s Liuhe Night Market is predominantly a street food thoroughfare that lines both sides of a city block – it is a busy road by day but closed to traffic at night.
Renowned for its seafood due to being a coastal city, we visited Liuhe Night Market most nights whilst staying in Kaohsiung and sampled lots of local fare.
Popular local dishes to try whilst in Liu He night market included beef noodle soup and their take on clam spaghetti.
There is plenty of seating down the main strip at Liuhe Night Market and it never felt too crowded – Liuhe Night Market usually has around 150 to 200 stalls.
As well as street food at Liuhe Night Market, locals love to play fairground style amusements and fun games.
The prices may be a little higher than the local daytime markets, but it is still very cheap compared to western standards.
Liuhe Night Market is open every night from 6pm, and to get here take exit 11 from Formosa Boulevard MRT station – which takes you to the eastern end of the market.
Check out all our themed 7-Eleven stores in Taiwan guides:
• Coca-Cola
• Hello Kitty
• Mofusand
• Snoopy / Peanuts
• Pokémon
• Ultraman
• STARLUX
• Sumikko Gurashi
Plus check out our guide to why 7-Elevens in Taiwan are the best in the world!
6. Ruifeng Night Market
Another popular large night market to visit in Kaohsiung is Ruifeng Night Market, located between the Yucheng and Nanping Road in the Buoying District (a 3 minute walk from the Kaohsiung Arena MRT station).
We revisited in spring 2024 and it still hasn’t lost any of its street-food sparkle. Although we visited Ruifang Night Market on a Saturday night so it was crazy busy (some of the aisles are really narrow so if you are claustrophobic or don’t like crowds, this one is best to avoid).
Larger than Liuhe Night Market and near to legendary Lotus Lake, hop off at Kaohsiung Arena MRT for the bevy of budget bites that Ruifeng has to offer.
Unlike Liuhe where the stalls are in lines, Riufeng has more of a community feel, with a dedicated space that almost feels like a town square (and numbers are boosted by all the tourists that visit too).
From massages to Mahjong, shooting galleries to super-fun fairground rides, this night market also has one of the largest non-food sections we’ve ever encountered.
Ruifeng Night Market food stalls include fried dumplings, grilled mushrooms, peppered conch (snails), pork pepper buns and popcorn fish – we’d estimate there are around 150 food stalls here.
Kaohsiung’s Ruifeng Night Market is open Tuesday and Thursday to Sunday from 5pm to midnight.
7. Weiwuying Street Art Village
Could Weiwuying Street Art Village / WeiWu Mi Mi Village be Taiwan’s most colorful place? We think it is a true Kaohsiung Kaleidoscope of color!
Bigger than the famous Rainbow Village in Taichung, Weiwuying Street Art Village has welcomed illustrators and street artists from all over the world.
A rainbow residential estate on the outskirts of Kaohsiung in the Lingya District, Weiwuying Street Art Village (衛武營街頭藝術彩繪) is easily accessible by the Kaohsiung MRT and one of the best free things to do in Kaohsiung.
From the most marvelous murals to sublime street art-alleys, here is our guide to visiting Weiwuying Street Art Village in Kaohsiung >
8. The Kaohsiung Shoushan Love Lookout
A short (but fairly steep) walk from the Pier 2 Art Center complex takes you to the Shoushan LOVE lookout.
Located just in front of the hilltop Martyr’s Shrine, the Kaohsiung Shoushan Love Lookout opened in 2012 and is a superb vantage point to see the whole of Kaohsiung including the surrounding port and mountains. It is also one of the best free things to do in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
As well as an observation lookout, there is a huge metal ‘LOVE’ sculpture at the top (hence the name), which is very popular as a photo spot with romantic local couples.
You may need to either queue to get a picture or if that fails, shoulder barge as alas, not everyone signs up to the queuing etiquette.
9. Sanfeng Temple
Built over 300 years ago and moved to its current location brick by brick only 40 or so years ago, Sanfeng Temple is one of the most beautiful temples in Taiwan we have ever explored, up there with Longshan temple in Taipei.
As there were no other tourists there when we visited Sanfeng Temple, it felt even more special. It is regarded as a Taoism temple of south Taiwan, but with Northern style architecture.
We visited Kaohsiung during the Chinese New Year festivities so Sanfeng Temple was adorned with hundreds of red lanterns strewn across every available space, with a steady stream of well wishers and worshippers.
Safeng Temple has several sublime storeys to explore – make sure you head up the staircases at the rear of the temple, up two flights of stairs, to get the best views of the temple and Kaohsiung.
You might like – Our Sun Moon Lake area guides including how to get to Sun Moon Lake
10. Love River
Is there a more beautifully titled river in the world than the ‘Love River’? Kaohsiung has definitely made something special out of its waterfront.
The riverside parks, cafes and boardwalks are wonderful to explore plus there is even an outdoor saloon bar overlooking the water.
In fact, Kaohsiung’s Love River feels even more European when you see the Italian gondolas glistening in the evening sun along the river here. Bella bella – a little piece of Italy in Kaohsiung.
Love (River) this? Book your romantic gondola in Kaohsiung here >
Very much the focal point of the Kaohsiung city, the locals really appear to have taken the Love River to the hearts (naturally) and it is a haven for picnics, dog walkers and waterfront diners.
Go on a Love River Boat Cruise >
11. Kaohsiung Godzilla cafe (Kaiju Tea Shop / Guaishou Chi Tea)
This has to be one of the most ‘roarsome’ things to do in Kaohsiung! Hidden away in the backstreets trendy Yancheng district, Kaohsiung’s Godzilla cafe AKA Kaiju Tea Shop (map) is a monster of a tea shop, with Godzilla galore merchandise, across two floors.
As you’d expect, all of the food and drink is Godzilla themed, from the ‘Godzilla’monstorous’ foam on the cappuccinos to the gorgeous Godzilla pancakes available in several flavours.
Browse hundreds of Godzilla statues as you wait for your drinks to be made – there is also a small museum upstairs. If you can, try to get a seat at the counter to get up close with giant Godzilla heads.
Find Kaohsiung’s Godzilla Cafe on Google Maps >
You might like – Our guide to Taipei’s best neighborhoods to stay in >
12. Yancheng District
Old school Yancheng district in Kaohsiung used to be an industrial district, known for its black market goods and cheap eateries. These days, the alley-ways are bustling with retro bars, vintage goods and top rated restaurants.
Half the fun here is just stepping into random side streets to see what eateries or stores you’ll find, from boutique bakeries to marvellous Mexican street food stalls like Maddog.
Lots of the local youth indulge in cocktails and craft beer here in hole in the wall bars that are only big enough to house three or four drinkers – it is such a cool experience to walk around, especially in the early evenings.
Also be saw to check out the 75 year old Yancheng First Public Market, including the famous milkfish stall, a local Kaohsiung speciality.
Read more in our guide to the Yancheng district >
13. Kaohsiung Weiwuying Metropolitan Park
A short walk from Weiwuying Street Art Village, Kaohsiung Metropolitan Park is a huge urban park with lots of trails, lakes and pathways to explore.
It is a pleasant spot to walk around and also seems to be home to a large collection of parrot owners who meet up here regularly to release their colorful birds.
Their squawks can be heard around the park and they fly in circles until returning to their handlers – it was fascinating to watch.
You can walk around various lakes via boardwalks plus you might hear some street-performers and musicians playing in the park or locals undertaking tai-chi.
Try this – Classic Kenting day tour from Kaohsiung >
14. National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts
Located on the edge of Weiwuying Metropolitan Park, Kaohsiung Center for the Arts is a combined cultural center, home to a concert hall, opera house and play theater.
It is a very cool building to explore and the design and architecture are stunning; it reminded us of the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul.
The area used to be a former military base before the center was built and it now has the ‘largest single roof art space’ in the world (so the poster told us!)
There are even gift-shops inside plus the center is free to explore and walk around – for us, the best bit was the communal piano located on the concourse outside, below the center.
We listened to a steady stream of piano players (of all abilities) and the acoustics given the unique shape of the building were incredible; the twinkle of the piano just reverberated across the plaza.
You might like – Our guide to Taiwan’s highest coffee shop, Simple Kaffa Sola atop Taipei 101 (cheaper than Taipei 101 admission) >
15. Dream Mall Kaohsiung & Kaohsiung Eye
Welcome to Taiwan’s largest shopping mall, Dream Mall in Kaohsiung (and once the largest mall in the whole of East Asia).
Opened in 2007 and accessible by the Dream Mall light rail transit, it has 12 floors of shops, services and parking plus a kid’s theme park on the top floor, including the Kaohsiung Eye, a big ferris wheel with fantastic views.
There are two main buildings with air bridges between the two, plus features like fountains and outdoor plazas – international brands and shops at Kaohsiung Dream Mall include Gap, Sony, H&M, Samsung & DJI.
On the 8th floor, you’ll also find a rather gorgeous theater and the slightly odd ‘Time-Hall’ (lots of clocks) plus gachapon machines galore.
You might like – Our guide to the 15+best shopping malls and districts in Taipei >
16. Kaohsiung 7-Eleven Pokémon Store
You may have heard about Taiwan’s only Pokémon Center in Taipei, but did you know there is also a Pokémon 7-Eleven store in Kaohsiung?
With a recent refurbishment in May 2024, the 7-Eleven Pokémon theme store Chonghui in Kaohsiung has all your Pokémon favorites like big Pikachu plushies, Nintendo Switch gaming, a Pokémon trading card battle area plus awesome arcade machines.
Read our Kaohsiung Pokemon 7-Eleven blog which has photos and the Google Maps location >
You might like – 10 Hello Kitty things to do in Taiwan >
17. Hamasen Museum of Taiwan Railway
Chances are if you’ve ever seen any photos of Kaohsiung’s Pier 2 Art Center before, it will be full of families riding the famous miniature train. This can be found at the Hamasen Museum of Taiwan Railway, in the Penglai Warehouse.
Inside, there are lots of dainty dioramas, miniature railways plus a detailed overview of Kaohsiung Port’s rich railway history.
Across from the museum, Hamasen Railway Cultural Park is where you can see lots of old train carriages and locomotives for free, in an outdoor museum. The Hamasen Railway Cultural Park is fantastic if you love old trains and vintage vehicles.
Book your Hamasen Museum of Taiwan Railway ticket >
18. Kaohsiung Music Center (KMC)
Opened in 2009 and looking like something out of a STAR WARS movie, the futuristic Kaohsiung Music Center can be easily walked to from the Pier 2 Art Center and is free to visit, even if you aren’t going to a concert.
The design of the building is unique, using hexagonal formations to almost create something like a beautiful beehive.
Inside you’ll find a 12,000 seater venue plus a smaller concert hall, several restaurants and a few concession stalls (plus free toilets – handy if you are doing a long walk around Kaohsiung’s port area).
We visited the Kaohsiung Music Center (KMC) on a weekend to have a look inside – there were a few pop-up food-stalls outside plus a Taiwanese pop store during a pop-up signing.
At night, the building lights up in a variety of colors and is one of the most famous sights in Kaohsiung at night.
You might like – Our guide to the ‘free’ Taiwan Receipt Lottery, which travelers can enter >
19. Sanfong Jhong Street
Like taking a step back in time, Sanfong Jhong Street in Kaohsiung is a 1950’s covered shopping arcade and wholesale market popular with locals for fresh produce and preserved goods.
With around 100 shops along one street with a roof canopy, this is a popular place in Kaohsiung to buy traditional Chinese herbal medicines, a little reminiscent of Dihua Street in Taipei.
We also saw pick and mix sweets / candy, loose leaf teas, pharmaceuticals plus stalls selling religious charms and fortunes.
We visited at the weekend and it was pretty quiet, with only a handful of shops open and the odd moped driving down the main path – maybe one to check out early mornings during the week.
You might like – Our guide to Yongkang Street, Taipei’s tastiest neighborhood >
20. Dain Dain Burgers
A local southern Taiwan burger and fast food chain, we had our first bite of Dain Dain burgers in Kaohsiung – kind of like a Taiwan McDonalds, you order at the serving hatch and then are served up your meals a few minutes later.
Popular with local families (expect big queues at the weekend), the branch we visited near Sanfeng temple was so busy so we reckoned it must be good.
From hamburgers and fried chicken to congee and corn soup, this is fast-food Taiwan style. Most combos cost between NT$100 to NT$120 including a main, side (like fries) and a drink.
You might like – Our guide to Din Tai Fung, Taiwan’s most famous dumpling restaurant chain >
21. Kaohsiung Glory Pier
For one of the best views of Kaohsiung Harbor, Pier 2 and the Kaohsiung and the modern Kaohsiung Music Center, head to Glory Pier overlooking the Love River.
A perfect place to see in sunset in Kaohsiung, there are evening ferry departures from here plus you can see the Kaohsiung Music Center light up at night.
Try this – Kaohsiung cultural yacht round-trip ferry ticket & cultural park ticket >
22. Sunny Hills Kaohsiung store
See that MASSIVE queue snaking around the block at Pier 2 Art Center? That’ll likely be Sunny Hills pineapple cake and pastry shop.
Popular with overseas tourists (and the odd local), this decadent dessert shop and pastry place offers everything from mooncake to apple turnovers.
The reason for the big queue? Amazingly, Sunny Hills Kaohsiung Pier 2 Store offers up small samples of tea and pineapple cake (likely in a bid to encourage you to buy more). Nice!
You might like – 10 Hello Kitty things to do in Taiwan >
23. Takao Railway Museum
Run by local and enthusiastic volunteers, the Takao Railway Museum is free to visit and is a two room museum in the former waiting room and freight office of the once busy station.
Take a step back in time and get up close to old railway artifacts and miniature railways – alas we don’t speak Chinese nor do the volunteers speak English but they were very smiling and beckoning us over to look at things.
You might like – Taiwanderers guide to the Bugcat Capoo House or the themed Bugcat Capoo 7-Eleven in Taipei
24. Kura Sushi (Global Flagship Store)
OK, so it’s not traditional Taiwanese food, but if you like the sound of sashimi or think nigiri is nice, consider a trip to Kaohsiung’s flagship Kura Sushi restaurant.
It is a joyful Japanese conveyor belt restaurant right next to Kaisyuan Station on the Red Metro line.
Popular with locals and travelers alike, Kura Sushi is one of the biggest restaurant chains from Japan, a fun and inexpensive dining experience that is now popping up all over Japan.
All of the sushi, snacks and drinks arrive by conveyor belt – even putting away your finished, dirty dishes has been ‘gamified’ (for every five dirty plates you drop into a slot on your table, you get a free go at an online game – smart!).
25. Don Don Donki Kaohsiung
Japan’s most delightful discount store is now open in Kaohsiung, on the lower levels of Talee Department Store.
Originally known as Don Quijote in Japan where it has dozens of stores all over the country, Don Don Donki (as it is branded in Taiwan) opened their first Taiwan store in Ximending in 2021.
This is a fairly new Don Don Donki store in Kaohsiung (launched December 2023) that is open from 10am to 11pm daily (alas not 24 hours like Ximending).
Located over several stories including a big fresh food area (with lots of Japanese food like takoyaki and sashimi / sushi), DON DON DONKI is a great place for late night shopping in Kaohsiung.
26. Day trip to Tainan
If you have a spare day in your Kaohsiung itinerary then you might want to consider visiting the charming city of Tainan (Taiwan’s former capital and oldest city).
Tainan is revered for its ancient temples and fortresses – it was even the island’s capital for over 200 years until 1887 under the Qing dynasty.
As well as beautiful old buildings and modern street art, Tainan is home to some of the best Taiwanese food plus sublime side-streets packed full of lanterns and old tea shops.
From night markets to old movie theatres, creative parks to ‘coffin bread’ (better than it sounds), there are so many things to do in Tainan (and eat and drink!).
Tainan is only 1 hour away by local train and there are lots of things to do in the city.
Check out our guide to Tainan blog post >
27. 7-Eleven Bar at Liuhe Night Market
Ok, this is a bit random but you’d be surprised how many times on our Taiwanderers Facebook group we get asked about locations of 7-Eleven bars in Taiwan.
Cheers / “Ganbei” to Liuhe Night Market 7-Eleven (map), where you can drink pints of beer and watch live sports with the locals.
Yes, in Taiwan, there are selected 7-Eleven stores that have their own in-store bars where you can enjoy a freshly served pint, sit at the counter and enjoy convenience store snacks.
We like this Kaohsiung 7-Eleven bar as it is in the midst of all the night market stalls so you can people watch and have some Buckskin beer, after eating your way around all the food stalls outside.
28. Kaohsiung 85 Observatory
One of the most striking looking buildings in Kaohsiung if not the whole of Taiwan.
The 85 Sky Tower is the tallest building in Southern Taiwan and once had an observatory but this has closed down in recent years (it is mainly offices and accommodation now).
Spoiler alert, it is also only 83 floors high so they rounded it up to 85 to make it sound better!
29. 7-Eleven Fantasea Underwater themed store and Starbucks at Dream Mall
Taiwan is famous for its themed 7-Elevens (there are over 100), and Kaohsiung is no different – swim down to the basement level of Dream Mall and find an underwater themed 7-Eleven.
You can drink your coffee in an aquatic themed seating area (complete with jellyfish lights) and Open chan characters diving from the room – there are even seating booths with portals, which makes it look to passersby that you are eating underwater.
Also, there is a special themed Starbucks upstairs at Dream Mall which is themed like a ship – the decor is dandy and it is one of the more unusual themed Starbucks we’ve been to in Kaohsiung.
You might like – Guide to the newly opened Taiwan National Museum of Comics in Taichung >
30. Kaohsiung Museums and Factory Tours
There are several museums to enjoy in Kaohsiung including
- The National Science and Technology Museum >
- Hamasen Museum of Taiwan Railway >
- Wooderful Life wooden game zone and museum >
- FLOMO Stationery Museum; one of Taiwan’s most famous and historic stationery brands >
- Yuga Beef tourist factory ticket >
- Puhu Taiwan shoes factory tours admission ticket and DIY experience in Kaohsiung >
31. Go on a guided tour or visit attractions in Kaohsiung
If you fancy a local to show you around, Kaohsiung tours and activities include:
- Visit the biggest VR experience theme park in Asia – E-Da Theme Park >
- Experience the newest multi-sensory and most extraordinary theater showcasing the beauty of Kaohsiung >
- Hit the water on a Kaohsiung Cultural Yacht: Zhan Erku – British Consulate Dagang Cruise & Gourmet Package for Two >
- The Japanese style Senya Village Restaurant >
- Kids will love Austin Land in Kaohsiung >
- Hot spring glamping in Kaohsiung >
- Feet Massage in Kaohsiung >
Our final thing to do in Kaohsiung, Taiwan
32. Kaohsiung Lantern Festival
Kaohsiung is renowned for its annual Lantern Festival, which usually takes place in late January / early February every year.
We were fortunate enough to visit Kaohsiung during Chinese New Year when the banks of the Lover River played host to the Kaohsiung Lantern Festival.
Note the Kaohsiung Lantern Festival in 2023 and 2024 took place at Lotus Lake, not the Love River, so it may look a little different now.
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