Planning a trip to Kaohsiung with kids? Taiwan’s Kaohsiung is a safe, family-friendly city with lots of theme parks, waterside attractions and fun things to do.
This post may contain affiliate links to tours and hotels. These help us earn a small commission at no additional charge to you.
From Pokémon to Pier 2, station cats to the Sanrio train, there is something to suit all tastes when visiting Kaohsiung with kids.
And children’s activities don’t have to be expensive for families – many child friendly and kids attractions in Kaohsiung are free or inexpensive like Dream Mall or a colourful street art village.
Here is our guide to the best things to with kids in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
You might like – 40+ things to do in Kaohsiung >
Taiwan checklist
We love using agoda.com and booking.com for researching and booking all our hotels, and Hostelworld for booking hostels.
For booking tours, transfers and SIM cards/eSIMs we recommend Get Your Guide, Viator, KK Day or Klook. You can also purchase eSIMs from Airalo.
For booking rental cars visit Discover Cars.
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 >
Please note these discounted Taiwan High Speed Rail tickets are exclusive to overseas tourists and you will need to show your passport upon redemption.
As you’ll likely be travelling to Kaohsiung with children, it is worth spending a little extra on the HSR as it is much quicker – and kids will love whizzing through Taiwan on a quicker train.
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 (or a taxi).
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.
You might like – 40 things to do in Taipei with kids >
Join our Facebook Taiwan Travel Tips (TTT) Group!
Need help with your Taiwan itinerary or have any questions? Head on over to the most fun and fastest growing Taiwan Facebook group with 95k+ members and ask the experts!
Click here to join our group >
Getting around Kaohsiung with Kids
Kaohsiung has a really easy to use transport network for getting your family 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.
Children under 6 can ride for free on the Kaohsiung MRT and public transport system.
Book an unlimited Kaohsiung MRT pass >
You might like – Our guide to the best Taiwan phone apps to download (from transport to translation) >
Things to do in Kaohsiung with kids
1. Pokemon 7-Eleven and other themed stores
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?
It is one of over 10 different themed 7-Elevens in Kaohsiung which include Snoopy, TOMICA toy cars and even a Hello Kitty 7-Eleven.
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.
When we last visited in early 2025, the store was full of families with a small queue for the gaming area and lots of hijinks.
Read our Kaohsiung Pokemon 7-Eleven blog which has photos and the Google Maps location >
You might like – Our guide to all the best food and drink in 7-Eleven Taiwan stores >
2. Mikan 蜜柑, Kaohsiung’s Famous Station Cat
If your kids love cats, Kaohsiung is the place to be – it has several famous station cats, perhaps the most famous of which is Mikan.
Meet Mikan 蜜柑, Kaohsiung’s cutest station cat. Mikan has a huge social following, her own range of cute kitty merchandise and makes regular appearances at a Kaohsiung Metro KRTC station (KRTC stands for Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation).
A stray cat adopted by Kaohsiung station staff, Mikan the cat’s fanbase is growing all the time and hundreds flock to Ciaotou Sugar Refinery Kaohsiung Metro station every time she appears (often in costume).
The station is even cat-themed, plus a bakery next door sells cat shaped steamed buns.
Mikan celebrates her 5th birthday in 2025 so there are lots of anniversary events planned!
From what you can buy (including Mikan jam) to how to find out about her appearances, here is our guide to Mikan 蜜柑, Kaohsiung’s station cat >
If your visit doesn’t coincide with a Mikan appearance, later in this Kaohsiung with kids guide, we’ll feature some other station cats who have their own cat play area you can visit for free every day…
3. Godzilla cafe (Kaiju Tea Shop / Guaishou Chi Tea) in Kaohsiung
This has to be one of the most ‘roarsome’ things to do in Kaohsiung with kids.
Hidden away in the backstreets trendy Yancheng district, Kaohsiung’s Godzilla cafe AKA Kaiju Tea Shop is a monster of a tea shop, with Godzilla galore merchandise, across two floors.
As you’d expect from this themed cafe in Kaohsiung, all of the food and drink is a nod to Godzilla, from the ‘Godzilla’ monster foam on the cappuccinos to the gorgeous Godzilla pancakes available in several flavours. Kids will love eating a gooey Godzilla sweet treat.
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 Kaohsiung’s famous Dome of Light MRT station >
4. Hamasen Museum of Taiwan Railway
2025 update – please note the main museum is closed for restoration until August 2025 but you can still ride on the outdoor miniature train.
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 Miniature Railway ticket >
You might like – 25+ best souvenirs to buy from Taiwan >
5. Donguri Republic (Kaohsiung Studio Ghibli Store)
Donguri Republic is the official Studio Ghibli store chain, with one store in Kaohsiung, containing mountains of Princess Mononoke merchandise, shedloads of Spirited Away souvenirs and tonnes of Totoro gifts – it is located at Hanshin Arena Shopping Plaza right next door to Kaohsiung Arena.
This Kaohsiung Donguri Republic store even has a huge recreation of the My Neighbour Totoro cat bus which kids can pose with and even go inside!
Thankfully, there is something to suit all budgets from glorious Studio Ghibli gachapon to huge plushies – so if you want to buy your kids something small, there are pin badges and coloring books. There are often free in-store activities too for children at Donguri Republic.
You might like – Our first timers guide to Taiwan including the online arrival card >
6. Take a ‘Spin’ in a sports car yacht
‘Water’ way to drive around Kaohsiung! These sub-aquatic supercars are available to hire and float around the Love River Bay, near Pier 2 Art Center. When we mentioned them in our Taiwan Travel Tips (TTT) Facebook group, they proved particularly popular.
One for the cool kids, Kaohsiung’s supercar boats would be driven by an adult but children are allowed and they can fit a fair sized family. They cost just over NT$4,000 to hire for an hour.
Pictured in the background is the impressive Kaohsiung Music Center plus a giant floating Chiikawa character, part of the Kaohsiung Winter Wonderful in February 2025.
You might like – Our guide to the best Taiwan chain restaurants (cheap for family meals) >
7. Taiwan Sanrio Train / Formosa Express
The Sanrio train has arrived in Taiwan!
Launched in January 2025 and replacing the previous Taiwan Disney train, the first Sanrio themed train loops Taiwan four days a week between Taipei, Hualien, Taichung, Kaohsiung and Chiayi plus many other stops.
We recently took the Sanrio train from Kaohsiung (Xinzuoying) back to Taipei.
With eight Sanrio character themed carriages (including a karaoke car!) plus drinks, activities and food included (plus beer for the adults), this is one of the best value ways to get around Taiwan with lots of Sanrio-themed fun along the way.
From a Kuromi carriage to My Melody, Pompompurin to Cinnamoroll and Hangyodon, many of your children’s favourite characters feature on the Taiwan Sanrio train. We’d rate this as one of the best children’s activities in Taiwan and a fun (but slower) alternative to the HSR.
Read our Taiwan Sanrio train guide and book the Sanrio train with Klook.
8. Hire a family bicycle or children’s car in Ciaotou
The old Ciaotou Sugar is very popular with local Kaohsiung families at the weekends, as they can hire all manner of bicycles, trishaws, tandems and even childrens remote controlled cars (like pandas and dinosaurs).
This means you can explore the extensive grounds and local area from the comfort of a shared bicycle (one idea might be to get the kids to cycle whilst you relax in the back – you’re welcome).
This is also the station (Ciaotou Old Sugar Refinery) that is Mikan cat themed so why not combine the two activities?
You might like – Our 7 day Taiwan itinerary: Taipei to Kaohsiung >
9. Go to a Kaohsiung baseball game
A fun night out in Kaohsiung with kids, make a home-run to a Taiwan baseball game – the 2025 Taiwan baseball season usually starts in late March until October, across two seasons.
Taiwan baseball is suitable for all ages and it is easy to buy baseball tickets online or in person at the baseball stadiums or using the Taiwan convenience store ticket machines in 7-Eleven and FamilyMart.
Kaohsiung’s baseball team is the TSG Hawks who play their home games at Kaohsiung Chengcing Lake Baseball Stadium.
SG Hawks tickets can be purchased from the FamilyMart Famiticket website and instore machines.
The Taiwan baseball / CPBL games can usually be seen 6 days a week during baseball season – it is only Monday when there are no baseball games played (and the odd other day).
Kids will love the action on and off the field as the stands often erupt into cheers with entertainment and dancing also quite common.
Check out our guide to getting Taipei baseball tickets here >
10. Cijin Island
Kaohsiung is home to Cijin Island – a ‘tropical paradise’ just a short five minute ferry ride from the main harbour in downtown Kaohsiung.
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. There is lots of room for children to play.
You can walk along the coastal path but many families hire a pedalo that fits up to 6 – there are lots of cartoon pedalos like the Cat Bus from My Neighbor Totoro.
Cijin Island is easily one of our favourite Kaohsiung things to do and it is fun place to explore with children – check out our guide to Cijin Island blog post >
11. Love River cruise
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 but the best way to see it all is from the water.
We’d recommend taking a Love River cruise with children as it is inexpensive (NT$150 for foreigners) and a great way to see the iconic Kaohsiung Music Center from the water. There are discounted tickets for children aged between 2 and 12.
We did a Love River Cruise in February 2025 so we could see all the giant Chiikawa floating figures, which were part of the 2025 Kaohsiung Wonderland Winter Festival (Kaohsiung is becoming famous for its giant floating structures, like the recent Squid Game doll and yellow rubber duck).
Go on a Love River Boat Cruise >
You might like – Our guide to Kaohsiung’s Yancheng District >
12. 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 – it is now packed with pop up exhibitions aimed at kids, teenagers and cartoon character fans.
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.
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 with kids.
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 Kaohsiung Pier 2 Art Centre article >
13. Jing Yuan Leisure Farm
Taiwan is capybara crazy and one of the best places to see a capybara in Kaohsiung is at Jing Yuan Leisure Farm, near Kaohsiung Airport.
Here, you can watch airplanes take off from the runway-side cafe (a bit like Airplane Alley in Taipei) and feed animals like ducks, llamas and capybaras.
Kids will also enjoy the mini train and playground – it also holds night / twilight events where you can clearly see the stars.
Get your Jing Yuan Leisure Farm ticket with Klook >
You might like – Our guide to Taipei’s capybara cafe or Taiwan’s capybara rock attraction
14. Kaohsiung Station Goes Kawaii
So train stations aren’t normally tourist attractions but there are a few reasons to visit Kaohsiung station with kids (and we don’t mean just to get a train).
For starters, Kaohsiung Station has recently unveiled an amazing new structure designed by Dutch architects which kind of looks like a space-ship.
It’s a structural marvel and there are several staircases that allow you to explore a small roof-park on top.
Secondly, if your teenager is into Anime, there is a huge Anime, Manga and Japanese store collection across two of Kaohsiung station’s basement floors, which includes a huge branch of Japanese collectibles store Animate, a maid cafe (more for adults / older teens) plus gashapons galore.
Finally if your kids like collecting Taiwan souvenir stamps,, the tourist information visitor center has several stamps for your collection including Tall Bear, Kaohsiung’s official bear mascot.
You might like – Our guide to Taiwan stamp souvenir collecting >
15. Kaohsiung Station Cats at Xin Zuoying Station
Move over Mikan – did you know Xin Zuoying station in Kaohsiung also has three station cats with their own station play area?
Three stray cats were adopted by Xin Zuoying Station staff and in early 2025, a new cat lounge was unveiled where the cats can play whilst travellers watch.
We caught up with these cute Kaohsiung station kitties just before we boarded Taiwan’s Sanrio train back to Taipei – how much cuteness can you handle in one day?
From what to expect to the location of the cat play area, here is our guide to checking out the cats of Xin Zuoying Kaohsiung station (a short walk from the Zuoying HSR station next door).
You might like – Our guide to Taiwan’s first ever cat cafe, and the oldest in the world!
16. 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 and 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 Taiwan supermarkets and convenience stores >
17. Kaohsiung’s ‘Bananas’ Train
Kaohsiung’s latest family attraction is ‘bananas’ – quite literally, and has gone viral on social media.
Initially planned as a temporary installation to celebrate Kaohsiung’s agricultural importance, these BIG bananas look set to be a long-term feature (well, unless anyone tries to peel them).
This ‘fruity’ addition can be found in one of the old locomotives in the park by giant bananas to decorate the Hamasen Museum of Taiwan Railway. So many Kaohsiung bananas used to be exported to Japan, the city had the nickname of ‘Banana Kingdom’!”
You might like – The 30+ most Instagrammable and colourful places in Taiwan >
18. 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.
We aren’t suggesting this is healthy but it might be a nice cheap and cheerful family meal in Kaohsiung.
Popular with Kaohsiungl 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 Taiwan’s best night markets >
19. Weiwuying Street Art Village – Kaohsiung’s colorful artist village
Could Weiwuying Street Art Village / WeiWu Mi Mi Village be Taiwan’s most colorful place? Bigger than the famous Rainbow Village in Taichung, Weiwuying Street Art Village has welcomed illustrators and street artists from all over the world to create a kaleidoscope of color.
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.
Kids will enjoy wandering around the side-alleys spotting cute cartoon animals and fun murals.
From the most marvelous murals to sublime street alleys, here is our guide to visiting Weiwuying Street Art Village / WeiWu Mi Mi Village >
20. Pose with Kaohsiung’s Tall Bear
Have you met Kaohsiung’s tourism mascot, Tall Bear? You’ll see him all over the city at key attractions for fun family selfies like outside the Dragon & Tiger pagodas at Lotus Lake or along the Love River.
There are also Tall Bear souvenir stamps like at the Kaohsiung Station visitor centre.
New for 2025, this kute…sorry…cute Kaohsiung bear mascot even has its own hot air balloon which is flying at lots of Asian balloon festivals to promote Kaohsiung (高雄) and Taiwan as a destination.
With all the new publicity, we just hope he doesn’t get a big head and become too un-BEAR-able!!
You might like – Our Taiwan events and festivals hub, with monthly events guides >
21. Get your children a cute EasyCard
If you are planning to use public transport in Kaohsiung with your family, make sure you buy an EasyCard or iPass and read this simple guide about how to use them and top it up >
Best of all, there are lots of cute and cartoon EasyCard designs that kids will love – we got Doraemon EasyCards at Taoyuan airport when we last arrived in Taiwan but there are so many different colorful designs, including some 3D miniatures.
Note that children under 6 can ride for free on the Kaohsiung MRT and public transport system.
Check out our guide to the 40 cutest EasyCard designs in Taiwan here >
Our final Kaohsiung with kids activity
22. Kid’s Tours, Theme Parks and Museums
Still looking for more Kaohsiung kid’s activities? Here are some more fun family activities:
Visit the biggest VR experience theme park in Asia – E-Da Theme Park >
Kids will love Austin Land in Kaohsiung >
Wooderful Life wooden game zone and museum >
The National Science and Technology Museum in Kaohsiung >
Found this things to do in Kaohsiung with kids article helpful?
Did you enjoy our things to do in Kaohsiung with kids article? Let us know in the comments or by sharing it on social media.
You can follow Taiwanderers on:
Instagram
Facebook
TikTok
YouTube
Pinterest
