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Getting There & Away in Kaohsiung

How do you get to Kaohsiung?

Getting There4.9/10Harder to reach than about 55% of cities
Main airport
Kaohsiung International Airport

Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: en.wikipedia.org, flightsfrom.com

Good to know

Good to Know

  • Kaohsiung Airport is Taiwan's second-busiest and well-integrated with the metro system; MRT is the most convenient airport-to-city option.
  • High-Speed Rail (THSR) to Taipei is fast (1h 34m on express) and runs very frequently (every 15-30 minutes), but book in advance for better pricing.
  • Kaohsiung Main Station (downtown) and Zuoying Station (HSR hub) are separate; connect via MRT Red Line (~10 minutes) or taxi.
  • Do not eat, drink, or chew gum on the MRT; violation fines start at NT$1,500.
  • Get an iPass or EasyCard transit card for seamless travel across MRT, buses, trains, ferries, and bike-sharing with automatic discounts.
  • Ferry services to Penghu and other islands adjust seasonally; confirm schedules before departure.
  • Taxi meters are standard; always confirm the driver is using it. Most popular attractions are reachable for under NT$200 (approximately US$6) by taxi from city center.
  • MRT stations are closed 24:00-06:00; taxis are your only option outside these hours.

Airport

Code
KHH
Name
Kaohsiung International Airport
Status
Second busiest airport in Taiwan
Location
Siaogang District, approximately 8.4 km southeast of city center
Terminals
2 (1 international, 1 domestic)
Major Airlines
27 carriers including China Airlines, EVA Air, Tigerair Taiwan, Vietnam Airlines, AirAsia, Thai Airways, Cathay Pacific
Distance To Center
Approximately 8.4 km (15-20 minutes by taxi or MRT)
International Destinations
35+ destinations across 10+ countries

Ground Transport From Airport

  • Kaohsiung International Airport Station (R4)
    Frequency
    4-6 minutes peak hours, max 8 minutes off-peak
    Travel Time To Center
    Approximately 20 minutes to downtown
    Notes
    Exit 2 connects Domestic Terminal; Exit 6 connects International Terminal
  • Fare
    NT$85
    Additional Charges
    International Terminal surcharge: NT$50; Subsequent: NT$5 per 200m
    Notes
    Metered fare, 24/7 available, turn right after exiting International Terminal
  • Located at International Terminal Automatic Doors 8-9
    Note
    Must wait for vehicle; vehicles not allowed to wait for passengers
  • Ticket Counter
    Pingtung Bus Counter in International Terminal Arrival Hall (1F), near Gate 5
    Notes
    Online reservation available via Pingtung Travel Agency Official Website

High Speed Rail

Operator
Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR)
Integration
Connected to Kaohsiung MRT Red Line and local bus routes
Main Station
Zuoying Station (R16)

Major Routes

  • Taipei
    Frequency
    70+ trains daily (departures every 15-30 minutes)
    Typical Fare
    NT$1,500
    Travel Time Minutes
    94-114 (fastest: 1h 34m)
    Notes
    Standard and Business class available; early-bird discounts 15-35% if booked 8-28 days in advance
  • Taichung
    Travel Time Minutes
    50-80
  • Tainan
    Travel Time Minutes
    45-70

Conventional Rail

Operator
Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA)
Train Types
Tze-Chiang Limited Express, Puyuma Express, Chu-Kuang Express
Main Station
Kaohsiung Main Station (downtown central location)
Secondary Station
New Zuoying Station (same building complex as THSR)
Notes
Express trains like Puyuma (approx 3h 40m to Taipei) offer fewer stops and more comfort than local trains

Regional Connections

  • Tainan
    Typical Fare USD
    3
    Travel Time Hours
    1-1.5
  • Taitung
    Typical Fare USD
    5-15
    Travel Time Hours
    2-3
  • Hualien
    Travel Time Hours
    4-5
  • Local Connections Within Southern Taiwan
    Destination
    Pingtung

Ferry Connections

International Ferry
No direct current service from Kaohsiung to international destinations; historical routes (Kaohsiung-Macau, Kaohsiung-Ishigaki) are suspended

Domestic Island Ferries

  • Multiple Ferry Services From Kaohsiung Port
    Route
    Kaohsiung to Penghu
    Frequency
    Seasonal services; adjust by season and climate conditions
    Travel Time Hours
    4
    Notes
    Lightweight boats may stop service in winter or bad weather; Penghu Boat is primary winter operator
  • Kaohsiung to Kinmen
    Status
    Available via ferry services
  • Kaohsiung City Steamship Co.
    Route
    Gushan-Cijin (local waterfront)
    Destination
    Cijin Island with seafood restaurants, traditional markets, beach
    Travel Time Minutes
    5

    Fares

    • Cash one-way
      Cash One Way
      NT$30
    • iPass/EasyCard one-way
      IPass/EasyCard One Way
      NT$20
  • Kaohsiung City Steamship Co.
    Route
    Sea-bus (Gushan-KW2-Cijin)
    Notes
    Scenic route passing KW2 cultural space; connects to Cijin attractions (Old Street, Church, Fort, Shell Museum, Rainbow Church)

Day Trip Access

Kenting Beach
South (by HSR to Zuoying + local transport; or direct bus service)
Nearby Cities
Tainan (1-1.5h by conventional rail), Taichung (50-80min by HSR), Taitung (2-3h by conventional rail)
Note
Kaohsiung is a transit hub in southern Taiwan with seamless connections to regional destinations via HSR, conventional rail, and intercity buses

Ground Transport From City Center

Bus

Coverage
Extensive network covering areas not served by MRT
Fare Structure
Mileage-based (≤8 km = 1 zone; >8 km = 2 zones); discounted via iPass/EasyCard
Operating Hours
06:00-22:00/23:00
Note
Multiple operators; check bus schedule via Kaohsiung iBus app (supports English)

Taxi

Apps
Taiwan Taxi (台灣大車隊), Line Taxi, Uber (less prevalent)
Payment
Cash most common; some accept iPass/EasyCard or credit cards
Base Fare
NT$85
Availability
24/7 licensed yellow taxis with meters
Per Distance
NT$5.00
Night Surcharge
NT$20

Metro

Lines
2 main lines (Red and Orange) forming a cross pattern
System
Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit (KMRT)
Payment
iPass, EasyCard, or cash tokens; vending machines at each station
Frequency
5-10 minute intervals during operation
Connections
Red Line connects airport (R4), Zuoying HSR Station (R16), Kaohsiung Main Station (R9)
Operating Hours
06:00-24:00

Fare Example

Note
All but longest one-way fares under US$2; use iPass/EasyCard for discounts

Bicycle

Rental
Available in tourist areas like Cijin Island
System
YouBike 2.0 public bike-sharing
Payment
iPass/EasyCard or local mobile/credit card
First 30 Minutes
Often free or very inexpensive

Light Rail

System
Circular Light Rail (Circular Line)
Operating Hours
06:30-22:30
Attractions Served
Pier-2 Art Center, Kaohsiung Dream Mall
Description
Above-ground scenic line connecting city center to cultural zones and shoreline attractions
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026

Sources cited for this category

These are the sources cited in this getting there & away research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.

  1. 1.en.wikipedia.org
  2. 2.flightsfrom.com
  3. 3.flightconnections.com
  4. 4.railmonsters.com
  5. 5.pelago.com
  6. 6.travelking.com.tw
  7. 7.asiaodysseytravel.com
  8. 8.ferryroutes.com
  9. 9.penghu-nsa.gov.tw
  10. 10.en.wikipedia.org
  11. 11.khh.travel
  12. 12.khh.travel
  13. 13.chloestravelogue.com
  14. 14.kia.gov.tw
  15. 15.milehacker.com
  16. 16.lifeoftaiwan.com
  17. 17.wise.com
  18. 18.xe.com
  19. 19.investing.com

More About Kaohsiung

Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.