Kaohsiung is located along the southern coast of Taiwan. For most of its modern history, the city has thrived as the industrial centre of the country.
Known as the maritime capital, the coastal city of Kaohsiung is also becoming one of the best places to visit in Taiwan. The city has focused on its tourism industry in recent years. Now you’ll find excellent jazz bars, impressive museums, and lots of open green space.
Instead of a few hotels near the harbour, you now have a wide selection of choices for where to stay in Kaohsiung.
Each area has its own distinct benefits and convenient access to different attractions. Whether you want to stay near the beaches or the historical sites, you’ve got plenty of choices.
While most of the cityscape includes skyscrapers and modern developments, you’ll also find dozens of temples and public parks.
Not sure where to search? Start looking for accommodations with this guide to the best places to stay in Kaohsiung…
Where to stay in Kaohsiung: A complete guide to the best neighbourhoods & areas for travellers
The urban metropolis spreads several kilometres inland from the coast. The harbour area includes the typical mixture of commercial activity, with numerous resorts, clubs, and beachfront restaurants.
As you travel further from the coast, you’ll discover a modern city with wide, pedestrian-friendly streets. It’s a great city to explore on foot.
Of course, you can also give your legs a rest and rely on public transportation. Bicycle rentals offer a popular mode of transportation, and the city even has a Taxi English Service – allowing you to search specifically for English-speaking drivers.
Outside of the harbour, the city has markets, a historic village, and several shopping districts. Depending on where you stay, you’ll also come across museums and the biggest mall in Taiwan.
The best areas to stay in Kaohsiung for travellers include:
- Xinxing District
- Zuoying District
- Lingya District
- Sanmin District
Xinxing District
✔ Best area to stay in Kaohsiung for shopping & nightlife
Xinxing (Sinsing) district covers a small portion of downtown Kaohsiung, just east of Central Park and west of Water Tower Park.
It’s not the biggest district, but it has the most shopping and entertainment. It’s home to Liuhe Night Market, the Yuansu Yuchu Shopping Area, and the Shinkuchan Shopping District. Between these three locations, you can find just about anything, from electronics to clothing to street food.
The Night Market is a popular spot for shopping for souvenirs, while the shopping districts offer endless department stores and boutique shops.
Xinxing is also a short trip from other areas of the city, due to its central location. The harbour is a few city blocks to the southwest, and Lingya district covers the area to the east.
If you enjoy cycling, you could call Xinxing your home for the night and reach just about any part of the city on a bike during the day.
As the district borders the KRT Central Park Station, you can also hop on a bus and quickly get to the destinations on your Kaohsiung itinerary.
Recommended hotels in Xinxing District
Your options for accommodations in Xinxing district include various business hotels and three-star or four-star locations. As the hotels are near the centre of the city, vacancies disappear quickly during peak tourist seasons.
- La Hotel-Baseball Theme Hall: Located a short walk from Liuhe Night Market and a few of the main bus stations, this hotel offers a great location combined with interesting décor. The rooms feature a baseball theme, but it’s not overwhelming. You may notice a mural of a baseball field and lamp bases made from baseballs.
- The Howard Plaza Hotel Kaohsiung: If you’re looking for a luxury hotel, try this location. It has an onsite spa, restaurant, gym, and outdoor pool. When you’re ready to shop, the hotel is just a 10-minute walk from the Hsinshing Night Market. Some of the rooms also offer views of the city.
- Hotel Lainn: Despite the small building, this hotel offers spacious rooms. It’s also one of the best choices for those wanting to try local street food and shopping at night markets. It’s near a couple of the busiest markets and surrounded by food options.
Zuoying District
✔ Top area to stay in Kaohsiung for culture & history lovers
Zuoying district is in the northern part of the city, covering the area that includes Lotus Pond. Compared to the other districts, it’s further from the harbour, but it also has its own collection of attractions to keep you busy.
The area around Lotus Pond includes several important cultural and historical sites. You could spend an entire day visiting the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, Zuoying Yuandi Temple, and other temples located on the western shore of the pond.
Just south of the pond, the district includes the Old City of Zuoying. Hundreds of years ago, the city had a defensive wall. Some parts of the old city walls remain, along with a few other historic buildings and gates.
While Zuoying is best suited for culture and history aficionados, it also offers shopping. The Rueifong Night Market is a few blocks southeast of the pond, on your way to Love River.
The bustling outdoor market has dozens of vendors selling handicrafts, clothing, and food. As a night market, the vendors don’t start setting up shop until the afternoon.
Recommended hotels in Zuoying District
You don’t have a lot of options for accommodations in Zuoying District. In fact, there are currently about four hotels in the area, with one hotel on each side of Lotus Pond.
- Direct Hotel: A simple hotel with basic accommodations, this option caters to budget travellers. The rooms feature plain décor and white sheets. While it’s not the most luxurious hotel, the staff is friendly. It’s also a good back-up option, as you can often find vacancies during busy travel seasons.
- Hua Xiang Hotel: This classy hotel is about an 11-minute walk from the pond. If you don’t feel like walking, the hotel offers free bikes. You can explore the city as you cycle the wide streets or take a trip around Lotus Pond. If you get hungry, there’s a supermarket just around the corner from the hotel.
- Garden Villa: Just a three-minute walk from the Dragon and Tiger pagodas, this hotel is the closest to Lotus Pond. Unfortunately, it’s far from the downtown attractions. If you need help reaching the rest of the city, the hotel can arrange car rentals. They also have a shuttle service to take you to and from the airport.
Lingya District
✔ Top-rated area to stay in Kaohsiung for luxury shopping & sightseeing
The Lingya district includes some of the top attractions in Kaohsiung. Located just south of the Xinxing district, the area includes 85 Sky Tower, the cultural centre, and several of the city’s parks.
Lingya also extends to the harbour. From your hotel, you may be able to walk to Holy Rosary Cathedral and the various shops and restaurants lining the harbour area.
You can also cross Lingualeo Iron Bridge to reach the main harbour district. On the other side of Love River, you’ll find the Pier2 Art Center and several of the city’s museums.
You’ll also have a lot of reasons to stay in the district. Lingya has some of the city’s best restaurants and high-end shops. It’s also home to several night markets with the typical assortment of vendors selling a little bit of everything.
If you’re looking for designer clothes and accessories, visit Sanduo Shopping District in the western part of Lingya. Within several blocks, you can visit a handful of department stores and clothing boutiques offering name brand clothing.
Recommended hotels in Lingya District
Lingya district has some of the best hotels in Kaohsiung based on customer reviews. Choose from four-star hotels located near some of the top attractions. There are even a few hotels located inside 85 Sky Tower, offering views of the city from your hotel room.
- Sanduo Rose Hotel: The quaint furnishings, friendly staff, and free breakfast at this hotel should help you feel at home. It’s also a short walk from the Liuhe Night Market and several other attractions. To help you get around the city, the hotel offers free bikes.
- 85 Eagle Hotel: This three-star hotel is on the 34th floor of 85 Sky Tower. You can travel up to the observation deck without needing to leave your hotel. It also boasts some of the biggest double rooms in the city, some of which offer views of the city.
- Goodness Hotel: Located on the eastern edge of Lingya district, this hotel is further from everything, making it a good choice for a quiet night’s rest. The rooms are elegantly decorated, spacious, and full of amenities. The streets around the hotel also offer some of the best dining options in the city.
Sanmin District
✔ Best neighbourhood to stay in Kaohsiung for families & couples seeking relaxation
Sanmin is one of the more laidback districts, as it attracts fewer tourists compared to the other areas. It doesn’t have a lot of attractions to entice visitors to its streets, but you may enjoy the quieter setting.
This district is just south of Zuoying and north of Xinxing, covering a large portion of central Kaohsiung. It’s mostly comprised of residential districts with a few shopping districts scattered throughout the area.
Sanmin also borders the northern portion of Love River. In fact, the heart of the river is located just north of some of the best hotels in the Sanmin district.
The riverfront area includes a couple of small parks with boat rentals and tours that take you down the river and to the harbour.
If you’re looking to get away from the tourists, travel further into the district. In the northeastern corner of the district sits Fudingjin Baoan Temple. It’s one of the most impressive temples in the city, yet people tend to overlook it, travelling to the temples surrounding Lotus Pond instead.
Recommended hotels in Sanmin District
Sanmin includes a diverse selection of hotels, hostels, and apartments. Most of these options are found in the western part of the district, close to the harbour and a short walk from the other districts.
- Kindness Hotel: As the name suggests, the staff at this hotel shower you with kindness. It’s become one of the top-rated hotels due to the friendly, helpful employees. It’s also very clean with comfortable rooms, but it’s also a little pricey compared to other three-star hotels in the city.
- PAPO-A HOTEL: This hotel stands out for its stylish room décor. You’ll feel as if you’re staying at a four-star hotel instead of this budget location. The closest attraction to the hotel is Liuhe Night Market, but you can easily catch the bus. It’s just around the corner from Kaohsiung Main Station.
- J-HOTEL: This hotel aims to please, offering a wide selection of amenities. It’s a boutique-style hotel with decent rates, comfy beds, and lots of extras. You get a fridge, electric kettle, flat-screen TV, wardrobe, iron, and a safety deposit box. You can even get a room with a large family room and views of the city.
