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Kaohsiung Music Center lit at night over Love River Bay, 1.6 km from the cruise terminal

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Plan your day · Kaohsiung

How long are you ashore in Kaohsiung?

Pick your hours and get a finished day, every step timed from the gangway and back.

Photo: Tiouraren (Y.-C. Tsai) / CC BY-SA 4.0
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PORT OF JAPAN — Port Day Sheet
Kaohsiung

Shore plans, timed from official timetables and our estimates · port-of-japan.com/kaohsiung/ · Checked

Finished days

Your day in Kaohsiung, hour by hour

Pick the one that fits your call. Times count from the moment you step off, and every plan is back on board an hour before all-aboard.

Kaohsiung Music Center, Kaohsiung
Photo: Hanyu Hsieh / CC BY-SA 4.0
For a 5-hour call or longer · 3 hr door to door

The Music Center and Pier-2 by light rail

Calls of 5 hours or more, the afternoon Norwegian Jade call (11:00–18:00) among them. No taxi needed

Fits a 5-hour stop with nothing to add (off the ship 30 minutes after arrival, back at the gangway an hour before all-aboard). A longer call gives you the extra time; on this one, do not add a stop.

The waterfront by light rail, Kaohsiung
Light rail Love PierPhoto: Takeshi Aida from Hong Kong, Hong Kong / CC BY-SA 2.0
Pier-2 Art Center, Kaohsiung
Pier-2 Art CenterPhoto: Jonashtand / CC BY-SA 4.0
Back at the gangway, Kaohsiung
Back at the gangwayPhoto: The Nature Box / CC0 1.0
  1. +0:00
    Walk to the Kaohsiung Music Center on Love River Bay (1.6 km, about 25 min, our estimate)

    Or two light-rail stops to Love Pier (C11)

  2. +0:25
    The Music Center terraces and the Whale Bridge lookout

    Free; building hours not confirmed

  3. +1:00
    Light rail Love Pier (C11) → Dayi Pier-2 (C12)

    NT$20, coins only; every 10–15 min

  4. +1:10
    Pier-2 Art Center: the warehouses, the rail trail and the outdoor art

    Free outside; ticketed venues Mon–Thu 10:00–18:00, Fri–Sun 10:00–20:00

  5. +2:30
    Light rail Dayi Pier-2 (C12) → Cruise Terminal (C9)

    NT$20

  6. +3:00
    Back at the gangway

Running late? Short of time? Pier-2 alone is three stops each way. Out of coins? The light-rail machines take coins only: change some money on the ship or tap an iPASS or EasyCard.

Transport spend: two or three light-rail rides, NT$20 each; coins only at the machines. Pier-2’s outdoor areas and the Music Center terraces are free. Full route, map and photos

The waterfront by light rail, Kaohsiung
Photo: Takeshi Aida from Hong Kong, Hong Kong / CC BY-SA 2.0
For a 7-hour call or longer · 5 hr door to door

Cijin by light rail and ferry

Calls of 7 hours or more. The lighthouse opens at 10:00

Fits a 7-hour stop with nothing to add (off the ship 30 minutes after arrival, back at the gangway an hour before all-aboard). A longer call gives you the extra time; on this one, do not add a stop.

The ferry to Cijin, Kaohsiung
Ferry to Cijin, about 5 minPhoto: Jonashtand / CC BY-SA 4.0
Kaohsiung Lighthouse on Qihou hill, Kaohsiung
Walk up Qihou hill to the Kaohsiung LighthousePhoto: WEI, WAN-CHEN（魏琬臻） / CC BY-SA 4.0
Back at the gangway, Kaohsiung
Back at the gangwayPhoto: The Nature Box / CC0 1.0
  1. +0:00
    Light rail Cruise Terminal (C9) → Hamasen (C14)

    NT$20; 10 min (KRTC running times)

  2. +0:20
    Walk to the Gushan Ferry Pier (747 m, about 10 min, our estimate)
  3. +0:35
    Ferry to Cijin, about 5 min

    NT$30, no change given; iPASS, EasyCard, icash

  4. +0:45
    Cijin Tianhou Temple, Kaohsiung’s oldest

    05:00–22:00

  5. +1:15
    Walk up Qihou hill to the Kaohsiung Lighthouse (about 10 min, our estimate)

    Daily 10:00–21:00; steps

  6. +2:15
    Lunch on the seafood street by the temple

    Agree the price by weight before cooking

  7. +3:30
    Ferry back, walk to Hamasen, light rail to Cruise Terminal (C9)

    NT$30 + NT$20

  8. +4:30
    Back at the gangway

Running late? Skip the lighthouse and take the ferry straight back. Not a Wednesday? The British Consulate at Takao is 7 min uphill from the Gushan pier on the way back (NT$99).

Transport spend: light rail NT$20 each way, ferry NT$30 each way, exact cash or a stored-value card. Temple and lighthouse free. Full route, map and photos

Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, Lotus Pond, Kaohsiung
Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas / CC BY-SA 3.0
For a 9-hour call or longer · 7 hr door to door

Lotus Pond, then Cijin by ferry

Calls of 9 hours or more: Westerdam (07:00–16:00), Sapphire Princess and Diamond Princess (07:00–19:00). Times assume 07:30 off the ship

Fits a 9-hour stop with nothing to add (off the ship 30 minutes after arrival, back at the gangway an hour before all-aboard). A longer call gives you the extra time; on this one, do not add a stop.

The ferry to Cijin, Kaohsiung
Ferry to Cijin, NT$30Photo: Jonashtand / CC BY-SA 4.0
Kaohsiung Lighthouse on Qihou hill, Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung Lighthouse on Qihou hillPhoto: WEI, WAN-CHEN（魏琬臻） / CC BY-SA 4.0
Back at the gangway, Kaohsiung
Back at the gangwayPhoto: The Nature Box / CC0 1.0
  1. +0:00
    Taxi to Lotus Pond (9.2 km, about 20 min, our estimate)

    A rank at the terminal is not confirmed; ask the terminal desk

  2. +0:30
    Dragon and Tiger Pagodas: in by the dragon, out by the tiger, then the zigzag bridge

    The lake is open 24 h; the pagodas’ own hours are not published

  3. +1:45
    Taxi to the Gushan Ferry Pier (9.1 km, about 20 min, our estimate)
  4. +2:15
    Ferry to Cijin, NT$30

    Exact cash or a stored-value card

  5. +2:30
    Kaohsiung Lighthouse on Qihou hill

    Daily 10:00–21:00

  6. +3:30
    Tianhou Temple and lunch on the seafood street
  7. +5:15
    Ferry back; walk 10 min to Hamasen; light rail to Cruise Terminal (C9)

    NT$30 + NT$20

  8. +7:00
    Back at the gangway

    For a 07:00–16:00 call that is 14:30, an hour before all-aboard

Running late? Short of time? Do Lotus Pond and come straight back by taxi (about 20 min, our estimate), then Pier-2 by light rail.

Transport spend: about NT$650 in all: taxi to Lotus Pond about NT$285 and on to the Gushan pier about NT$285, our estimates; ferry NT$30 each way; light rail NT$20 back. Full route, map and photos

The Dome of Light, Kaohsiung
Photo: Suicasmo / CC BY-SA 4.0
Rainy day · 4 hr door to door

The Dome of Light and Pier-2’s warehouses

A wet day on any call

Fits a 6-hour stop with nothing to add (off the ship 30 minutes after arrival, back at the gangway an hour before all-aboard). A longer call gives you the extra time; on this one, do not add a stop.

Pier-2 Art Center, Kaohsiung
Pier-2’s indoor venues and shopsPhoto: Jonashtand / CC BY-SA 4.0
The waterfront by light rail, Kaohsiung
Light rail Dayi Pier-2Photo: Takeshi Aida from Hong Kong, Hong Kong / CC BY-SA 2.0
Back at the gangway, Kaohsiung
Back at the gangwayPhoto: The Nature Box / CC0 1.0
  1. +0:00
    Taxi to Formosa Boulevard station (3.3 km, about 6 min, our estimate)

    Or walk about 20 min to Sanduo and ride 2 MRT stops: tap a Visa, Mastercard or JCB at the gate

  2. +0:20
    The Dome of Light on the station concourse

    Station open 05:55–00:25

  3. +1:00
    Taxi or MRT and light rail to Pier-2 Art Center

    Light rail NT$20, coins only

  4. +1:30
    Pier-2’s indoor venues and shops

    Mon–Thu 10:00–18:00, Fri–Sun 10:00–20:00; ticket prices vary by exhibition

  5. +3:30
    Light rail Dayi Pier-2 (C12) → Cruise Terminal (C9)

    NT$20

  6. +4:00
    Back at the gangway

Running late? The light-rail stations are open-air: wait under the shelters, or take a taxi between stops.

Transport spend: taxi to Formosa Boulevard about NT$140, our estimate; MRT and light rail single fares. Dome free to see from the concourse. Full route, map and photos

What you can do

What fits your hours in Kaohsiung

Everything here is a round trip from the gangway. The half hour to get off and the hour before all-aboard are already set aside. Tap what you want.

Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, Lotus Pond, KaohsiungSee · 2h 30m round trip

Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, Lotus Pond

Two seven-storey pagodas of 1976 on a zigzag bridge over Lotus Pond in Zuoying. Custom says enter by the dragon’s mouth and leave by the tiger’s. The pagodas were renovated from 2023 into early 2025 and are open again (news reports). The lake and its walks are open 24 hours; the pagodas’ own hours are not published on the city’s page.

~2.5hSee the detail
The ferry to Cijin, KaohsiungDo · 3h round trip

The ferry to Cijin

The city ferry crosses the harbour from Gushan to Cijin in about five minutes for NT$30. The counter gives no change; iPASS, EasyCard and icash cards work. Children under 6 or under 115 cm ride free. On the island the Tianhou Temple and the seafood street are by the pier.

~3hSee the detail
Kaohsiung Lighthouse on Qihou hill, KaohsiungSee · 3h round trip

Kaohsiung Lighthouse on Qihou hill

The lighthouse on the hill at Cijin’s north tip, over the harbour mouth. Open daily 10:00–21:00 since April 2023, when the Maritime and Port Bureau dropped its Monday closing (news report). The Star Tunnel through the hill comes out on the sea side.

~3hSee the detail
Pier-2 Art Center, KaohsiungSee · 2h round trip

Pier-2 Art Center

Harbour warehouses on the third basin turned into an art district, with the old harbour railway as a cycle trail. The outdoor areas are free. Ticketed venues open Monday to Thursday 10:00–18:00 and Friday to Sunday and holidays 10:00–20:00; the Pier-2 Tower is a NT$10 coin entry.

~2hSee the detail
Kaohsiung Music Center, KaohsiungSee · 1h round trip

Kaohsiung Music Center

The hexagon towers on Love River Bay, 1.6 km from the cruise terminal: the Wave Towers, the Coral Zone and the Whale Bridge with a lookout over the harbour. The terraces are free; building hours are not confirmed. Lit after dark.

~1hSee the detail
The Dome of Light, KaohsiungSee · 1h 30m round trip

The Dome of Light

A glass dome by the Italian artist Narcissus Quagliata over the concourse of Formosa Boulevard station, where the Red and Orange lines cross. It took four and a half years. The station is open 05:55–00:25.

~1.5hSee the detail
The British Consulate at Takao, KaohsiungSee · 2h round trip

The British Consulate at Takao

The red-brick consular residence and office on the headland above the harbour mouth. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10:00–19:00; weekends and holidays 09:00–19:00; last ticket 18:30. Closed on Wednesdays unless a holiday. Adult NT$99, NT$39 for over-65s; the ticket includes a voucher for food in the park.

~2hSee the detail
Eat · 1h 30m round trip

Beef noodles at Gangyuan

Gangyuan in Yancheng is the beef-noodle shop on the city tourism bureau’s own map of the port area. Its hours are not confirmed, so check on the day. Yancheng’s milk-tea street, also on the map, is nearby.

~1.5hSee the detail
Liuhe Night Market, KaohsiungEat · 2h round trip

Liuhe Night Market

Kaohsiung’s best-known night market, 3.6 km from the ship. It runs in the evening only; opening times are not confirmed. For late sailings: Le Soléal 18 September (to 21:30), Asuka III 4 May (to 22:00) and Spectrum of the Seas 29 December 2027 (to 22:00).

~2hSee the detail
The waterfront by light rail, KaohsiungDo · 4h round trip

The waterfront by light rail

The light rail runs from the terminal along the harbour: Glory Pier, Love Pier for the Music Center, Dayi and Penglai for Pier-2, Hamasen for the Cijin ferry. 06:30–22:30, every 10–15 minutes. The machines take coins only; iPASS and EasyCard work at the readers.

~4hSee the detail

Round trips are counted from the gangway and include getting back. Two stops in the same direction overlap, so a real day usually comes in under the total you see, never over it.

Every ride from this berth

Getting around Kaohsiung

Every port
TRAIN

Light rail along the waterfront

NT$20 for the first 5 km, NT$5 per 2 km after, NT$35 at most (news report of the 2024 fare change) · C9 → C14 is NT$20 · a single ticket is valid 2 hours06:30–22:30 daily; every 10 min at peak (weekdays 06:30–08:30 and 16:30–18:30, weekends and holidays 14:00–18:00), every 15 min otherwise (KRTC)Pay before boarding
How to get there
  1. Cruise Terminal station (C9) is about 1 min from the terminal door (port operator)
  2. Westbound: C10 Glory Pier, C11 Love Pier (Music Center), C12 Dayi Pier-2, C13 Penglai Pier-2, C14 Hamasen (Gushan ferry, 10 min on foot, our estimate)
  3. Buy a single ticket at the platform machine, or tap an iPASS, EasyCard or icash card at the reader

The ticket machines take coins only, no notes (KRTC). Whether a tapped bank card works on the light rail is not confirmed. No toilets at the stations. C9 → C14 Hamasen takes 10 min, and 11 min back (KRTC running times).

Today's times in Google Maps
FERRY

Cijin island by the Gushan ferry

Ferry NT$30 adult one way; free under 6 or under 115 cm; iPASS, EasyCard and icash charged the same NT$30 · the counter gives no changeCrossing about 5 min. From Gushan 05:15 to 02:00: by day every 15 min on weekdays (every 6–8 min at the morning and evening peaks) and every 6–15 min at weekends; every 30 min after midnight (Kaohsiung City Shipping timetable, times given as a guide)Pay before boarding
How to get there
  1. Light rail C9 → C14 Hamasen, NT$20
  2. Walk to the Gushan Ferry Station, 1 Binhai 2nd Rd, 747 m, about 10 min (our estimate)
  3. Ferry to Cijin, about 5 min; from the Cijin pier the Tianhou Temple is at the start of the old street and the lighthouse about 10 min up Qihou hill (our estimate)

Taxi from the terminal to the Gushan pier is about 15 min and ~NT$170, our estimate. On long weekends visitors’ petrol scooters are barred 11:00–19:00, which does not affect foot passengers.

Today's times in Google Maps
TAXI

Lotus Pond and the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas

About NT$285 each way on the meter, distance only, our estimate · the lake is free and open 24 hTaxi tariff: NT$85 for the first 1.25 km, then NT$5 per 200 m; +20% 23:00–06:00 (reported city tariff of Jan 2022)Pay the driver
How to get there
  1. Taxi from the terminal, 9.2 km, about 20 min free-flow (our estimate)
  2. Say “Lianchitan Longhuta” or show 蓮池潭 龍虎塔
  3. Back: ask a shop to call a taxi, or MRT from Ecological District (about 2 km from the pagodas, our estimate) to Sanduo and walk about 20 min

A taxi rank at Wharf 20 is not confirmed. The pagodas were renovated from 2023 into early 2025 and are open again (news reports); their own opening hours are not published on the city’s page.

Today's times in Google Maps
TRAIN

MRT: Formosa Boulevard and the Dome of Light

Tap a Visa, Mastercard, JCB or UnionPay contactless card at the gate (KRTC), charged the single fare · single fares by distance; the exact fare is not confirmed hereEvery 5–10 min (city tourism bureau); station open 05:55–00:25Pay before boarding
How to get there
  1. Walk to Sanduo Shopping District station, Exit 5, about 18 min (port operator)
  2. Red Line north 2 stops to Formosa Boulevard; the Dome of Light is on the concourse
  3. Or taxi from the terminal, 3.3 km, about 6 min, ~NT$140 (our estimate)

Use the same card to enter and leave. Liuhe Night Market is about 4 min on foot from Formosa Boulevard; its opening times are not confirmed.

Today's times in Google Maps
The one rule: be back on board 60 minutes before all-aboard — every day above already banks it. Phones auto-switch to local time, but all-aboard runs on ship time. Check the daily programme's clock, not your lock screen. More to pick from on the Kaohsiung guide and the Top 10.

Checked · Researched, not yet visited · times from official timetables and our estimates · Takumi Yamada

MY SHIP DAY — fill this in before you walk off
Ship
Date
Docked at (berth)
All-aboard (SHIP time)
My deadline = all-aboard − 60 min
Last shuttle back

Phones auto-switch to local time; all-aboard runs on ship time. Write both if they differ.

GETTING AROUND — the facts that don't change by day (today's times: ship's programme or Google Maps)

Light rail along the waterfront: ① Cruise Terminal station (C9) is about 1 min from the terminal door (port operator) ② Westbound: C10 Glory Pier, C11 Love Pier (Music Center), C12 Dayi Pier-2, C13 Penglai Pier-2, C14 Hamasen (Gushan ferry, 10 min on foot, our estimate) ③ Buy a single ticket at the platform machine, or tap an iPASS, EasyCard or icash card at the reader Fare NT$20 for the first 5 km, NT$5 per 2 km after, NT$35 at most (news report of the 2024 fare change) · C9 → C14 is NT$20 · a single ticket is valid 2 hours. 06:30–22:30 daily; every 10 min at peak (weekdays 06:30–08:30 and 16:30–18:30, weekends and holidays 14:00–18:00), every 15 min otherwise (KRTC).

Cijin island by the Gushan ferry: ① Light rail C9 → C14 Hamasen, NT$20 ② Walk to the Gushan Ferry Station, 1 Binhai 2nd Rd, 747 m, about 10 min (our estimate) ③ Ferry to Cijin, about 5 min; from the Cijin pier the Tianhou Temple is at the start of the old street and the lighthouse about 10 min up Qihou hill (our estimate) Fare Ferry NT$30 adult one way; free under 6 or under 115 cm; iPASS, EasyCard and icash charged the same NT$30 · the counter gives no change. Crossing about 5 min. From Gushan 05:15 to 02:00: by day every 15 min on weekdays (every 6–8 min at the morning and evening peaks) and every 6–15 min at weekends; every 30 min after midnight (Kaohsiung City Shipping timetable, times given as a guide).

Lotus Pond and the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas: ① Taxi from the terminal, 9.2 km, about 20 min free-flow (our estimate) ② Say “Lianchitan Longhuta” or show 蓮池潭 龍虎塔 ③ Back: ask a shop to call a taxi, or MRT from Ecological District (about 2 km from the pagodas, our estimate) to Sanduo and walk about 20 min Fare About NT$285 each way on the meter, distance only, our estimate · the lake is free and open 24 h. Taxi tariff: NT$85 for the first 1.25 km, then NT$5 per 200 m; +20% 23:00–06:00 (reported city tariff of Jan 2022).

MRT: Formosa Boulevard and the Dome of Light: ① Walk to Sanduo Shopping District station, Exit 5, about 18 min (port operator) ② Red Line north 2 stops to Formosa Boulevard; the Dome of Light is on the concourse ③ Or taxi from the terminal, 3.3 km, about 6 min, ~NT$140 (our estimate) Fare Tap a Visa, Mastercard, JCB or UnionPay contactless card at the gate (KRTC), charged the single fare · single fares by distance; the exact fare is not confirmed here. Every 5–10 min (city tourism bureau); station open 05:55–00:25.

SHOW THIS TO A TAXI DRIVER
Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal, 5 Haibian Road, Lingya District高雄港旅運中心（苓雅區海邊路5號）
Kaohsiung Lighthouse on Qihou hill旗後燈塔
Pier-2 Art Center駁二藝術特區
Kaohsiung Music Center高雄流行音樂中心
The British Consulate at Takao打狗英國領事館文化園區
Beef noodles at Gangyuan港園牛肉麵
Liuhe Night Market六合夜市

Point at a line. Taxis are metered.

The one rule: be back on board 60 minutes before all-aboard — every plan above already banks it. · Free guide: port-of-japan.com/kaohsiung/ · By Takumi Yamada, Tokyo, Japan
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