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
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.
Build your perfect day in Kaohsiung
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Inside the China, Korea & Taiwan collection
Here's a peek at everything waiting for your Kaohsiung cruise day.
Typical weather
Emergency & contacts
Excursions compared
3 comparedLotus Lake pagodas, Cijin Island ferry and Great Harbor Bridge
≈ 4.5 h · sold by 4 cruise lines
Cruise line
€100$112
Do it yourself
€28$31
Save ≈ €72Save ≈ $81 (72% off)
From the Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal take a taxi or Uber from the rank outside to the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas (about 25 min, NT$300-400 per car, ~EUR 10); the pagodas and the lakeside pavilions are free and close at 18:00. Then taxi to Gushan Ferry Pier (about 25 min, NT$300-400) for the Gushan-Cijin ferry, a five-minute crossing every 10-20 min for about NT$30 paid by contactless bank card; Miaoqian Road with its seafood restaurants and the Tianhou Temple starts at the Cijin pier. Ferry back, walk 5 min to Hamasen light rail (C14) and ride to Dayi Pier-2 (C12) for NT$30, time it for the Great Harbor Bridge's 15:00 rotation, and walk 20 min back along the waterfront to the terminal.
See the DIY plan →
Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum and monastery day
≈ 7 h · sold by 4 cruise lines
Cruise line
€195$218
Do it yourself
€40$45
Save ≈ €155Save ≈ $173 (79% off)
Take a taxi or Uber from the terminal rank to the Buddha Museum in Dashu (about 50 min, roughly NT$900-1,200 / EUR 26-34 per car); the alternative is bus 8010 from Kaohsiung Main Station (about an hour) after a 15-min taxi to the station. Entry to the museum and monastery is free; it is open 09:00-18:00 (to 19:00 at weekends) and closed every Tuesday, and a free shuttle links the museum with the older monastery. For the return, either agree a pickup time with the same driver or book an Uber from the museum car park before you finish.
See the DIY plan →
Ready-made port days
12 plansThe Free Harbourfront Walk
Wave-shaped concert halls, a bridge that swings open and a mile of warehouse art — all from the gangway, all free.
The Lotus Pond & Cijin Classic
Dragon's mouth to tiger's jaws, then a five-minute ferry to seafood and Kaohsiung's oldest temple — the ship's top tour at a quarter of the price.
Cijin by Bike: Fort, Lighthouse and Rainbow Church
Start at the old British consulate, then ferry, climb and cycle your way down Kaohsiung's island sand spit.
Fo Guang Shan: The Big Buddha Day
Taiwan's largest monastery, a giant bronze Buddha and a vegetarian lunch — then the Lotus Pond pagodas on the way home.
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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