Ships dock directly at one of two modern terminals — no tendering. You can walk straight into the city or hop the harbour light rail.
💡 Pro move: Port handles up to four large ships simultaneously; immigration is fast with biometric e-gates. Bring NT$ cash for street food, ferries and small vendors — ATMs at any 7-Eleven.
Two purpose-built cruise terminals opened or upgraded in 2023 — both docked, no tender boats.
| Cruise Line | Typical Berth / Arrival | Dock or Tender |
|---|---|---|
| Most major cruise lines (Princess, Holland America, Norwegian, Costa) | Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal (KPCT), Piers 17–21📍 | Docked |
| Smaller & expedition ships | Penglai International Cruise Terminal (PICT), Piers 8–10📍 | Docked |
From harbour art and island ferries you can do solo to the great Buddha complex that needs a half-day — Kaohsiung rewards independent explorers.
Warehouses from the 1950s transformed into galleries, giant murals, whimsical street sculptures and indie cafes. The LRT loops through — board at C09 or walk the waterfront from PICT.
Find Kaohsiung city tours →A 5-minute ferry (NT$30 cash, ~NT$20 with an iPASS card) delivers you to a narrow island with Taiwan's best cheap seafood street, a black-sand beach, and the hilltop Cijin Lighthouse.
Find Cijin Island tours →Kaohsiung's most iconic image — enter the dragon's mouth and exit the tiger's to turn bad luck to good. The colourful pagodas sit on a lily-covered lake 25 minutes from port by taxi.
Find Kaohsiung highlights tours →Taiwan's oldest Western building (1879), a two-storey colonial-era red-brick residence on a hilltop above Gushan with sweeping views over Sizihwan Bay and the harbour entrance. Admission ~NT$99.
Find Kaohsiung heritage tours →A world-scale Buddhist complex crowned by the Fo Guang Big Buddha — a 40-metre golden-bronze seated statue rising to 108 metres including its base — flanked by eight towering pagodas, and home to a tooth relic of the Buddha. Best on a long call with a shore excursion.
Find Fo Guang Shan tours →From braised pork rice (lu rou fan) and Tainan-style coffin bread to Taiwan's beloved bubble tea — the Yancheng District behind Pier-2 and Cijin Old Street are two of Kaohsiung's finest food streets.
Find Kaohsiung food tours →The LRT harbour loop and flat waterfront make Kaohsiung one of Asia's most walkable cruise ports.
Stroll the water's edge from the cruise terminal past the Great Harbour Swing Bridge, along the LRT grass track to the Pier-2 Art Center warehouses.
🗺️ See full route in Maps →After the 5-minute ferry from Gushan Pier, walk Cijin Old Street for live-seafood restaurants and stalls, then continue to the black-sand beach and Cijin Rainbow Church art installation.
🗺️ See full route in Maps →Climate normals for Kaohsiung, Taiwan (2014–2023 averages). Pack for the month you sail — highs, lows, and how many rainy days to expect.
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Rainy Days | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 73°F / 23°C | 60°F / 16°C | 5 | 6:41 AM | 5:35 PM |
| Feb | 75°F / 24°C | 61°F / 16°C | 5 | 6:30 AM | 5:55 PM |
| Mar | 79°F / 26°C | 66°F / 19°C | 7 | 6:07 AM | 6:07 PM |
| Apr | 83°F / 28°C | 71°F / 22°C | 8 | 5:38 AM | 6:18 PM |
| May | 86°F / 30°C | 76°F / 24°C | 17 | 5:18 AM | 6:31 PM |
| Jun | 87°F / 31°C | 79°F / 26°C | 22 | 5:14 AM | 6:44 PM |
| Jul | 88°F / 31°C | 79°F / 26°C | 23 | 5:23 AM | 6:46 PM |
| Aug | 86°F / 30°C | 78°F / 26°C | 24 | 5:35 AM | 6:30 PM |
| Sep | 87°F / 31°C | 78°F / 26°C | 19 | 5:45 AM | 6:02 PM |
| Oct | 84°F / 29°C | 74°F / 23°C | 12 | 5:55 AM | 5:33 PM |
| Nov | 81°F / 27°C | 70°F / 21°C | 6 | 6:11 AM | 5:14 PM |
| Dec | 76°F / 24°C | 64°F / 18°C | 5 | 6:31 AM | 5:16 PM |
Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 (10-yr daily averages)
Transport options from the pier — taxis, shuttles, transit passes, and whether ride-share apps work here.
Kaohsiung Sightseeing Bus offers two hop-on hop-off routes (Sizihwan and New Bay Area). Regular ticket ~NT$300 (~$9 USD). Audio guides available in English, Japanese, and Korean. No dedicated stop at the cruise terminal but the Light Rail (LRT) connects the port to the bus network.
LRT Station C09 (Cruise Terminal) is directly outside the port exit. Flat fare of NT$30 (~$1 USD) with an EasyCard; transfer at Hamasen (C14) to access the MRT Orange Line and the wider city.
Metered taxis are plentiful at the port. A ride to central Kaohsiung is approximately 3–5 km and takes under 10 minutes. Fares are low by Western standards.
Uber is active in Kaohsiung with 24/7 availability. The app also connects to licensed local taxis, offering a cashless option with upfront pricing.
Transfer from the LRT at Hamasen Station to reach the MRT Orange Line. Fares are distance-based and very affordable; reaches major districts and Zuoying Station for high-speed rail connections.
Upcoming cruises that call at Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.
Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.