Kaohsiung Cruise Port
Kaohsiung, Taiwan · Asia
Cruise ships dock at Piers 17–21 — Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal Berths, Kaohsiung.
Plan my port daysTwo city-centre terminals, a light rail stop at the door and contactless bank cards accepted on every metro, tram, bus and ferry. Pier-2, Cijin Island and the Lotus Pond are easy half-days; Fo Guang Shan and Tainan need a long call.
At a glance
Port summary
Kaohsiung is one of the easiest big-city ports in Asia to do on your own. Most ships berth at the Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal, the silver ship-shaped tower on Haibian Road that opened in 2023, with its own light rail stop (Cruise Terminal, C9) at the door. Since March 2026 a second terminal, Penglai International Cruise Terminal, has been handling overflow and smaller ships from two converted 1950s warehouses on Penglai Road, about 2 km west and even closer to Pier-2 and the old Hamasen quarter. Your daily programme tells you which one you are at. From either terminal the Circular Light Rail is the key: a flat NT$30 fare, and you can simply tap a contactless Visa or Mastercard, or an unlocked phone. Kaohsiung was the first city in Taiwan to accept foreign bank cards on its metro, light rail, buses and the Cijin ferry, so you don't need to buy a transport card at all. The day trips sort themselves into three tiers. The harbourfront is effortless: Pier-2 Art Center, the rotating Great Harbor Bridge (it swings open at 15:00 every day) and the Music Center are all within 20 minutes' walk. Cijin Island is the best half-day: light rail to Hamasen, a five-minute ferry, then seafood, a Qing-era fort and a black-sand beach. The Lotus Pond and its Dragon and Tiger Pagodas are 25 minutes away by taxi. Fo Guang Shan's giant Buddha is 50 minutes each way and closed on Tuesdays, and historic Tainan is 75 to 90 minutes each way by taxi and train, so both need a long call. Kaohsiung's famous night markets only get going after about 18:00, so they are for evening departures or overnights. From May to September expect fierce heat, sudden afternoon downpours and a real chance of typhoons; October to April is dry, sunny and ideal.
Cruise docks
🚢 Piers 17–21 — Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal Berths
The main cruise berths in the Asia New Bay Area, alongside the Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal on Haibian Road; two large ships can berth at once. The Cruise Terminal light rail stop (C9) is outside and the Music Center is 10 minutes' walk.
📍 Latitude: 22.610864, Longitude: 120.293698
See dock on port map →🚢 Piers 8–10 — Penglai Cruise Berths
Old-harbour berths on Penglai Road used since March 2026 for additional and smaller ships. Pier-2, KW2 and the Penglai Pier-2 light rail stop (C13) are about 10 minutes' walk west.
📍 Latitude: 22.615411, Longitude: 120.285607
See dock on port map →Getting to Kaohsiung
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
The Circular Light Rail loops round the harbour: Dayi Pier-2 (C12) and Penglai Pier-2 (C13) for the arts district, Hamasen (C14) for the Cijin ferry and the MRT. Tap a contactless bank card or phone on the platform reader.
📍 Cruise Terminal station (C9) is right outside the main terminal on Haibian Road; from Penglai walk 10 minutes to Penglai Pier-2 station (C13).
From the main terminal the Music Center is 10 minutes' walk and Pier-2 about 20; from Penglai, Pier-2 and KW2 are 10 minutes. It is flat but shadeless, so bring water in summer.
📍 Follow the waterfront promenade west from either terminal towards the Music Center, the Great Harbor Bridge and Pier-2.
Metered and inexpensive: about NT$300–400 to the Lotus Pond. Most drivers speak little English, so show your destination in Chinese. Usually cash; some take cards, so ask first.
📍 Taxi rank outside each terminal on cruise days; otherwise hail one on Haibian Road or Penglai Road.
Uber works well in Kaohsiung and you pay by card in the app, which avoids language and cash issues. Handy for Fo Guang Shan or a return from the Lotus Pond.
📍 Request a pickup at the terminal's taxi and car drop-off area.
Useful for Formosa Boulevard (Dome of Light), Liuhe Night Market and the Red line north to the Lotus Pond. Use the gates marked for credit cards to tap a bank card.
📍 No metro station at the terminals: take the light rail to Hamasen (C14) and change to the Orange line at Sizihwan (O1).
The Gushan–Cijin ferry is the fun way to Cijin Island: a five-minute crossing with harbour views. Tap a contactless card or iPASS/EasyCard; queues build on weekend afternoons.
📍 Gushan Ferry Pier, a 5-minute walk from Hamasen light rail station (C14).
Map & things to do
Money & payments
Use a contactless card for transport and withdraw NT$2,000–3,000 in cash for markets, temples and taxis. Taiwan is a non-tipping country; better restaurants add a 10% service charge.
Things to do
Dome of Light
Short stop⭐ Highlight
One of the world's largest stained-glass artworks, under Formosa Boulevard metro station.
🕐 Any time; free and inside the station, so ideal on a rainy day
Dragon and Tiger Pagodas
Short stop⭐ Highlight
Twin seven-storey pagodas on Lotus Pond: enter through the dragon, leave through the tiger.
🕐 Morning for softer light and fewer coach groups; closes 18:00
Pier-2 Art Center
Short stop⭐ Highlight
Old harbour warehouses turned into galleries, design shops, murals and cafés.
🕐 Weekday mornings are quiet; most warehouses open 10:00–18:00, later at weekends
Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum
⭐ Highlight
Vast Buddhist complex with a giant bronze Buddha, eight pagodas and free museum halls.
🕐 Arrive at 09:00 opening; closed on Tuesdays
Love River Walk
Short stop🚶 Walk
Tree-lined riverside promenade from the harbour to the Museum of History.
🕐 Late afternoon and dusk, when the heat eases and the bridges light up
Kaohsiung Music Center
Short stop🚶 Walk
Futuristic wave-shaped music venue with a free promenade along the harbour.
🕐 Late afternoon, when the heat eases and the buildings light up at dusk
Cijin Beach
🏖️ Beach
Long dark-sand beach on Cijin's ocean side, with a seaside promenade and sunset views.
🕐 Late afternoon for the sunset; avoid midday in summer
Liuhe Night Market
Short stop🛒 Market
Kaohsiung's best-known night market: papaya milk, seafood and grilled snacks after dark.
🕐 From about 18:00; only for evening departures or overnight calls
Cijin Seafood Street & Tianhou Temple
Short stop🍽️ Restaurant
Choose fish and shellfish on ice, have it cooked to order, next to Kaohsiung's oldest temple.
🕐 Lunchtime on weekdays; weekends are packed
Sanfeng Temple
Short stop⛪ Church / Cathedral
Busy Taoist temple famous for the hundreds of red lanterns hanging over its forecourt.
🕐 Morning, when worshippers are busiest; dress respectfully
Anping Old Fort
🏛️ Museum
Remains of the Dutch Fort Zeelandia, with a lookout tower over Anping's old streets.
🕐 Late morning, then snacks on Anping Old Street; open 10:00–17:10
Hamasen Museum of Taiwan Railway
Short stop🏛️ Museum
A huge model of Taiwan's railways in two Pier-2 warehouses, plus a ride-on mini train.
🕐 Morning, before school groups; check opening days before you go
British Consulate at Takao
Short stop🏛️ Museum
Red-brick 1879 British consulate on a hill with the best view over the harbour mouth.
🕐 Late afternoon for the light over the harbour; closed Wednesdays
Chihkan Tower
🏛️ Museum
Tainan's landmark: Chinese pavilions built on the foundations of the Dutch Fort Provintia.
🕐 Morning, before tour groups; open 08:30–21:30
Great Harbor Bridge
Short stop📸 Viewpoint
A white pedestrian bridge that swings open every afternoon to let boats pass.
🕐 Be there for the daily rotation at 15:00 (also 19:00 Friday to Sunday)
Cihou Fort & Cijin Lighthouse
📸 Viewpoint
Climb from the Cijin ferry to a Qing-era fort and lighthouse above the harbour entrance.
🕐 Early morning or late afternoon; the climb is exposed in the midday heat
KW2 Kaohsiung Port Warehouse No. 2
Short stop🛍️ Shopping
Restored port warehouse full of Taiwanese snacks, design brands and harbour-view cafés.
🕐 Late morning, then lunch on the harbour-side terrace
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Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Kaohsiung?
- Your ship docks at one of the cruise terminals in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The specific berth is assigned by the port a few days before arrival.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Kaohsiung?
- Yes. Kaohsiung is walkable from the cruise port — many cruisers reach the city centre on foot.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Kaohsiung centre?
- Typical options include Tram, On foot, Taxi, Ride-hail (Uber/Bolt), Metro, Ferry. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Kaohsiung?
- Plan for at least 3 hours ashore to see Kaohsiung independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Kaohsiung and are cards accepted?
- Kaohsiung uses the New Taiwan dollar. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Free Wi-Fi is available at the Kaohsiung cruise terminal.
- When should I be back at the ship?
- Cruise lines usually require all passengers on board about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Confirm the exact all-aboard time on your daily programme.
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