TRAVEL TOGETHER
Make this trip work for your group
One base connects harbour, food and historic-city outings.
- Adjust the route
- Keep the Tainan return trip and Cijin ferry on separate days and shorten visits in heat.
- Check your room
- Compare the bed layout and room occupancy for your group. For friends, confirm separate beds or rooms; for couples, check the booked room category and outlook.
An editorial match to this route, not an accessibility or age-suitability certification. Existing budgets use the group size stated in the article; recalculate for your party.
HARBOR & OLD CITY
Two days by the harbor,
A day in the old town.
Use one Kaohsiung hotel as your base for all three nights. Explore Pier-2 on Day 1 and Lotus Pond and Cijin on Day 2. Day 3 is a Tainan day trip by high-speed rail plus the local Salun Line, since the high-speed station is outside the old town.
Pier-2's warehouse and harbor promenade is the best starting point for easy access after arriving from the airport on the first day.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
What to keep, book and leave flexible
Keep the experience
Leave time for the harbor and Cijin in Kaohsiung, then old-town food and Anping in Tainan. If you stay on Cijin for sunset, treat the night market as optional.
Arrange first
Keep the same Kaohsiung hotel for three nights and plan the Tainan round trip first. Arrival at Tainan HSR station still leaves a transfer into the city.
Leave room to change
If lunch runs late on day three, start for Anping later and shorten the sightseeing there. Choose a nearby alternative meal rather than risking the return connection for one restaurant.
Route and bilingual copy reviewed on 10 September 2026. Prices remain planning estimates; follow the dated operator and property information linked below.
3 NIGHTS · 4 DAYS
Schedule to follow
From the airport to the port, the first day goes only west.
The Great Harbor Bridge in Kaohsiung, in the waterfront area explored with Pier-2 Art Center.
- 01Arrive at Kaohsiung International Airport around 13:30 · Allow for immigration and baggage collection for 60-90 minutes
- 0215:00 Airport Station (R4) → Formosa Boulevard Station (R10) MRT approximately 15 minutes · Fare approximately NT$30
- 0315:30 Hotel check-in or luggage storage → MRT Yanchengpu Station
- 0416:30–18:30 Pier-2 Special Art Zone, Great Harbor Bridge, Warehouse Walk · Outdoor free, check times and fees for indoor exhibitions by facility
- 0518:40 Gangyuan Beef Noodle · Approximately 12–15 minutes walk from Pier-2
- 0620:00 Night view of Love River Bay and Kaohsiung Music Center by light rail → Return to hotel
Lakeside pagodas, then a ferry to Cijin
Lotus Pond in Kaohsiung. Allow a separate transfer to the Cijin coast.
- 0108:00 After breakfast at the hotel, go to MRT Zuoying Station → 5–10 minutes by taxi or bus to Lotus Pond
- 0209:00–10:20 Lotus Pond, Dragon Tiger Pagoda, Spring and Autumn Pavilion Walk · Outdoor free, opening of the pagoda is subject to on-site notice
- 0310:30 Go to Yancheng District by taxi or bus · Approximately 20–30 minutes depending on traffic conditions
- 0411:10 Early lunch at Duck Zhen: duck rice and sliced duck
- 0512:10 Move to Hamasen Station (O1, formerly Sizihwan) → Approximately 10 minutes walk to Gushan Ferry Terminal
- 0612:40 Gushan-Cijin ferry approx. 5 minutes · Adults pay NT$30 in cash, check on the day for transportation card discounts
- 07From around 13:00 on Cijin, choose two of the fort, lighthouse and beach. Plan to return around 16:00–17:00 and shorten the hill sections in heat or rain.
- 08Return by ferry and eat nearby. Liuhe Night Market and the Dome of Light at Formosa Boulevard are optional if you still have energy.
You have to transfer once more after the high-speed rail to reach Tainan old city center.
Chihkan Tower in Tainan, paired with historic streets and local food.
- 0107:30 Depart from hotel → Take MRT to THSR Zuoying Station
- 02Around 08:20 high-speed rail Zuoying → Tainan about 12-15 minutes · Reserved seat one way around NT$140
- 0308:40 Transfer to TRA Salun Line at THSR Tainan Station → Approximately 25 minutes to Tainan Station · allow another 10–20 minutes for the transfer
- 04Optional · 09:30 Go to Chihkan Tower by taxi or bus Check opening areas and maintenance notices — Skip Chihkan Tower if Anping is the day’s priority.
- 0511:00 Du Hsiao Yueh Tainan Original Store · danzai noodles and a Tainan lunch
- 0612:15 Go to Anping by bus or taxi · 25–40 minutes on weekends
- 0713:00–15:20 Anping Old Fort · Anping Tree House · NT$70 for each adult, usually 08:30–17:30
- 0815:30 Chou’s Shrimp Rolls Anping Main Branch · Shrimp roll and fish cake soup
- 0916:30 Return to Tainan Station → Return to Zuoying by Salun Line/High-Speed Rail · Hotel around 19:00
Spend our last morning in the park and head straight to the airport.
Central Park in Kaohsiung, the final morning walk before the airport transfer.
挪威 企鵝 / Wikimedia Commons · Resized · CC BY-SA 2.0- 0108:00 Breakfast · 09:00 Check out and store luggage
- 0209:20–10:30 Walk around Central Park and Shinkuchan commercial district · Many stores open after 11 o’clock
- 0310:40 Retrieve luggage from hotel → Move to the nearest MRT Red Line station
- 04Around 11:20, take the MRT Red Line toward Kaohsiung International Airport. Allow station access and waiting time as well as the ride.
- 05Arrive at the airport around 12:00. Aim to reach the airport at least 2 hours and 30 minutes before your international departure.
- 06Schedule tailored to flights departing after 14:30 · Skip the park walk if your flight is in the morning.
Just walking around the lake outside of Lotus Pond's Dragon Tiger Tower is enough, but you must check the maintenance and event notices on the day to see if the inside is open.
EAT ALONG THE ROUTE
From beef noodles
to Tainan’s shrimp rolls.
Opening hours and prices are approximate as of confirmation in September 2026. Check the linked official/tourist information just before departure as cash payment, regular closures, and material shortages apply.
DAY 1 · Dinner
Gangyuan Beef Noodles
- Getting there
- Approximately 10–15 minutes walk from Yanchengpu Station and Pier-2 Art Zone
- menu
- Beef noodle in clear soup or beef noodle without soup, pork noodle
- budget
- Approximately NT$140–200 per bowl of noodles · NT$200–320 per person
- Opening hours
- Around 10:30–20:00 every day · Check for supplies running out and temporary closures
It’s easy to stick to the port night view time if you go at 18:00 before the evening peak. Be prepared to pay in cash.
Check the latest information ↗
DAY 2 · Lunch
Duck Zhen (Wufu 4th Road)
- Getting there
- Wufu 4th Road, Yancheng District · Route before taking the Gushan Ferry
- menu
- Duck rice bowl, thinly sliced duck meat and intestine soup
- budget
- Duck rice bowl approx. NT$60–70 · NT$120–250 per person
- Opening hours
- Around 10:00–20:20 · Closed on Tuesdays
Look for the Wufu 4th Road branch. Aim for an early lunch and allow for a queue before continuing to the ferry.
Check the latest information ↗
DAY 3 · Lunch
Du Hsiao Yueh Tainan Original Store
- Getting there
- Approximately 12–15 minutes walk from Chikan Tower, No. 16 Zhongzheng Road
- menu
- Danzai noodles with minced pork and shrimp, plus side dishes from the current menu
- budget
- Small noodles approx. NT$60–90 · NT$350–750 per person
- Opening hours
- 11:00–21:30, last order 21:00 notice
Danzai noodles come in small portions. Add shared dishes to suit your appetite and aim to leave for Anping around 12:15. If lunch runs late, shorten the Anping stops.
Check the latest information ↗
DAY 3 · Afternoon
Chou’s Shrimp Rolls Anping Main Store
- Getting there
- Approximately 5–10 minutes by car from Anping Tree House · 408-1 Anping Road
- menu
- Freshly fried shrimp rolls, fish ball soup, seafood snacks
- budget
- Shrimp roll around NT$80 · NT$180–350 per person
- Opening hours
- Daily 10:00–21:30 Notice
After sightseeing in Anping, stop here for a snack or an early dinner. Eat the fried food immediately after ordering.
Check the latest information ↗AN AFTERNOON ON CIJIN
5 minutes by boat,
Half a day on the island.
Allow a relaxed afternoon on Cijin, choosing two of the fort, lighthouse and beach. The basic plan returns around 16:00–17:00. For sunset, check the sunset time and ferry service for your date, stay longer by the sea, and drop the optional night-market stop. Leave the hill paths before dark.
Lighthouses and coastal passages may be closed during strong winds and heavy rain. In this case, replace it with Pier-2 indoor exhibition and Kaohsiung Museum of Art.
ONE DAY IN TAINAN
Just look at the station name
Don't shorten the time.
THSR Tainan Station and Old City Tainan Station are far away. In addition to the 15 minutes for the high-speed rail, you’ll need to take an additional 35 to 45 minutes to transfer and travel on the Salun Line. Chihkan Tower is optional. If you visit it, continue to lunch and then Anping; skip it when transfers or queues leave less time.
WHERE TO STAY
Two luxury stays,
Two good-value stays
Which stay suits your trip?
InterContinental is better for port views and facilities, and THE AMNIS is better for the largest and quietest rooms. Kindness is right for travel efficiency and breakfast, and Brio is right for Central Park, design, and night walks.
InterContinental Kaohsiung
Walking distance from Sanduo Shopping District Station / Between the airport and Asia New Bay Area
- price
- Double occupancy approximately NT$6,800–13,000+ per night
- breakfast
- Seeds All-day dining buffet · Check included plan, excluding adult costs around NT$1,000
- Dinner
- Numerous hotel restaurants including Chinese, Japanese, and steak · Not included in basic room rate
- parking
- Free self-parking for hotel guests, 86 spaces, no reservations, spaces are subject to availability.
- Advantages
- Strengths include rooms over 36㎡, an indoor swimming pool, and a southern location connecting Pier-2, the port, and the airport.
- Cons
- The MRT ride to Tainan THSR Zuoying Station is long and the additional cost for breakfast is high.
THE AMNIS Kaohsiung
Near Sanduo Shopping District, former Silks Club, converted to luxury collection in 2026
- price
- Double occupancy approximately NT$7,500–14,000+ per night
- breakfast
- Breakfast at hotel restaurant · Regular 06:30–10:30, check availability
- Dinner
- UKAI affiliated dining and bar available · Normally not included in room rate
- parking
- Announcement of free self- and valet parking for guests · Check vehicle conditions
- Advantages
- Spacious rooms starting from about 60㎡, outdoor infinity pool, and quiet adult-friendly atmosphere.
- Cons
- After the brand switch in 2026, rates are high, and old reservation pages and reviews are mixed, so it’s necessary to check the reservation name.
Kindness Hotel Kaohsiung Main Station
Opposite TRA Kaohsiung Station · Convenient for round trip to MRT Red Line and Tainan
- price
- Double occupancy approximately NT$2,100–4,200 per night
- breakfast
- 07:00–10:00 Buffet · Check reservation plan for inclusion
- Dinner
- Dinner service is not available at this branch. Check whether snacks and drinks are provided in the 24-hour lounge.
- parking
- Limited parking, first-come-first-served basis, no reservations or guaranteed seats
- Advantages
- Practical for schedule-based travel thanks to convenient access to the station, spacious breakfast, and laundry and lounge facilities.
- Cons
- The room design is simple, and rooms facing the road due to station construction may be noisy. Parking lot is full, alternative is needed
Brio Hotel
Approximately 2 minutes walk from Central Park Station, between Formosa Boulevard and Shinkuchan
- price
- Double occupancy approximately NT$3,500–5,500 per night
- breakfast
- 14th floor Breakfast 07:00–11:00 · NT$549 per adult if not included
- Dinner
- 14th floor restaurant/bar available · Basic plan not included, check official reservation conditions for late-night snack bar on 2nd floor
- parking
- Limited parking space provided for guests · First-come, first-served basis, paid parking nearby when full.
- Advantages
- This 50-room design hotel has strengths such as access to Central Park Station, room ambience, and late check-out at 12 o'clock.
- Cons
- Some basic rooms are small and soundproofing reviews are mixed. No swimming pool or fitness center
Rate criteria · Approximate range of 2 people per room per night searchable in September 2026. Whether tax, breakfast, and parking are included and the brand name are based on the final payment screen.
BUDGET GUIDE
Estimated cost per person
This is the cost per person for a two-person trip and excludes flights and shopping. Tainan coverage includes THSR regular reserved seats and some city taxi rides.
GOOD
Advantages of this schedule
- Stay in Kaohsiung for three nights without moving your luggage between hotels.
- Harbor walks, an island afternoon and Tainan’s old town give each day a different feel.
- Restaurants don’t deviate too much from the tourist route.
CHECK
Things to know
- THSR Tainan Station is a different station from the old city center.
- Cijin Lighthouse and Battery has stairs and uphill climbs.
- THE AMNIS confirms reservations under new brand name in 2026
OFFICIAL SOURCES
Check again before departure.
Kaohsiung MRT · Operation · Fare Information ↗Kaohsiung Tourism Bureau·Pier-2·Lotus Pond·Cijin Latest Information ↗Kaohsiung municipal vessel · Gushan-Cijin ferry fare · time ↗Taiwan High-Speed Rail · Zuoying–Tainan timetable search ↗Taiwan high-speed rail · General fare table ↗Tainan Cultural Bureau · Chikan Tower · Anping Historic Site Operation Notice ↗Anping Old Fort · Official rates · Opening hours ↗Anping Tree House · Official visitor information ↗Great Harbor Bridge · Official visitor information ↗Times and prices are as of confirmation on September 3, 2026. For flights, trains, and ferries, the official results of the travel date are the final criteria.
English edition of our Korean guide. Times and prices retain the source review date; they are not live booking quotes. Check eligibility for visitor fares and plan international flights separately.