Kaohsiung Traveler Essentials
- Safety rating
- 9/10
- Best time to visit
- October to April brings warm, dry, pleasant weather, avoiding the hot, rainy summer.
- Population
- 2.8M
Overview
Kaohsiung is Taiwan's largest port and a breezy southern city of harbor views, public art, and a relaxed subtropical pace. Revitalized waterfront warehouses, a dazzling dragon-and-tiger temple, and lively night markets define its character. It offers a warmer, more laid-back alternative to the north.
Getting around
A clean metro, a light rail loop, ferries, and YouBike share cover the city well.
Local etiquette
Be polite and soft-spoken, queue orderly for transit, and don't eat or drink inside metro stations, where it's prohibited.
Safety
Kaohsiung is very safe with low crime; just watch traffic, as scooters are everywhere.