Tainan vs Kaohsiung: Which Should You Choose for a First Trip?

The short answer

Tainan is one of Taiwan's oldest cities, full of old forts, temples and humble local dishes in every lane. The walkable old town and the seaside Anping district sit close together. If you want to walk between historic sights such as Chihkan Tower and the Tainan Confucius Temple, Tainan fits well.

Kaohsiung is Taiwan's big southern port city, made for relaxed days of seaside and riverside walks, warehouse art districts and night market food. The airport is close to town and linked by MRT, which suits a short trip.

Best for: Tainan suits history and food lovers happy to wander slowly through the lanes. Kaohsiung suits travelers who want easy MRT, light rail and ferry rides plus sea and river views. Tainan is also an easy high-speed rail day trip from Kaohsiung, so you can have both.

• Full Tainan travel guide →
• Full Kaohsiung travel guide →

From the airport to the city

At Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH), Kaohsiung International Airport station sits right by the terminal, and the MRT Red Line runs straight to Formosa Boulevard in the center with no change: about 15-20 minutes for about NT$30-40. With lots of luggage or late at night, use the official airport taxi rank.

Tainan Airport (TNN) is south of the city. Bus H31 links HSR Tainan station, the airport and Tainan City Hall about every 20-30 minutes, and bus 105 heads toward Tainan railway station. Metered taxis start from about NT$85.

You can also reach Tainan through Kaohsiung's airport: take the MRT Red Line to Kaohsiung Main Station, then a Taiwan Railway train to Tainan station, about 45 minutes to 1 hour in total. Through Taoyuan Airport (TPE), the Airport MRT and high-speed rail take about 3 hours in total to Tainan station.

• Kaohsiung MRT Red Line: about 15-20 min to Formosa Boulevard, about NT$30-40
• Kaohsiung taxi or ride-hailing: about 20-30 min to the city, about NT$250-400
• Tainan bus H31: about every 20-30 min (check official information for journey times and fares)
• Tainan taxi: metered, from about NT$85
• Tainan via Kaohsiung Airport: MRT and Taiwan Railway train, about 45 min to 1 hour to Tainan station (check official fares)
• Tainan via Taoyuan Airport: Airport MRT and high-speed rail, about 3 hours; HSR reserved seat about NT$1,200, plus Airport MRT and train fares

Tainan: the old town and Anping

On a first visit, staying in the West Central District around Chihkan Tower puts Chihkan Tower, the Confucius Temple and Shennong Street within walking distance. Chihkan Tower, pavilions built on the site of a Dutch-era fort, is open daily 08:30-21:30, so you can also see it lit up. Shennong Street is most atmospheric when the lanterns come on in the evening; people live there, so keep noise down.

Seaside Anping has Anping Old Fort, the site of a 17th-century Dutch fort, and the Anping Tree House, a former warehouse overtaken by the roots of giant banyan trees. Standard admission to Chihkan Tower, Anping Old Fort and the Anping Tree House is about NT$70 each. There is also the Sicao Green Tunnel, where small boats glide through a tunnel of mangroves, and the Chimei Museum, closed on Wednesdays.

Signature dishes include danzai noodles in shrimp broth, beef soup that many locals eat early in the morning, milkfish porridge or soup, and coffin bread. Garden Night Market does not open every day, mainly Thursday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, so check official information.

Kaohsiung: harbor and riverside

Cijin Island is a few minutes by boat from the Gushan ferry pier, with a beach promenade, a lighthouse and a seafood street; go in the afternoon and stay for sunset. Many seafood places price by weight, so confirm before ordering.

Pier-2 Art Center turns old harbor warehouses into galleries and workshops, and the Love River is best after dark for a walk along the lit banks or a short boat ride. At Lotus Pond, the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas let you walk in through the dragon's mouth and out through the tiger's, free of charge. The Dome of Light at Formosa Boulevard station is inside the station, so there is no separate ticket.

The Former British Consulate at Takao, a red-brick hilltop building overlooking the sea, is great at sunset over Sizihwan. Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum is about an hour by bus from the city, so allow half a day; it is closed on Tuesdays. Ruifeng Night Market is closed on Mondays and Wednesdays. Papaya milk is about NT$60-90 a cup, and mango shaved ice and beef noodle soup are about NT$150-250 a bowl.

Days, budget and getting around

Both guides suggest 3 to 4 days, and their daily budgets per person are the same: about NT$1,300-1,800 on a budget, about NT$3,000-4,000 mid-range, and about NT$7,000+ for upscale. Night market snacks cost about NT$50-100 each in both cities.

Getting around is quite different. Tainan has no MRT, so buses are the main public transport, and many routes run infrequently. Check timetables in a map app and mix in taxis or ride-hailing for Anping and Sicao. The visitor-oriented Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Anping line passes the Confucius Temple and Chihkan Tower on its way to Anping.

In Kaohsiung, the MRT Red and Orange lines cross at Formosa Boulevard, and one transit card covers the MRT, light rail, buses, the ferry and YouBike. No eating or drinking, even water, in MRT stations or on trains. Both cities have YouBike shared bikes, and taxis are metered.

• Suggested stay: 3 to 4 days in either city
• Mid-range daily budget: Tainan about NT$3,000-4,000 (city hotel, restaurant meals, some taxis), Kaohsiung about NT$3,000-4,000 (city hotel, restaurant meals)
• Public transport: Tainan by bus and Taiwan Railway trains; Kaohsiung by MRT, light rail and ferry
• Transit cards: EasyCard or iPASS in both cities
• Cash: lane eateries and night markets are often cash only

Weather month by month, side by side

Both guides say October to March has less rain and more sunshine, making it the best time, and winters stay mild. May to September is hot with frequent showers, and typhoons are possible from summer into autumn. Many shops close and sights are crowded over Lunar New Year.

By the 1991–2020 normals, temperatures in the two cities are very similar. In January, Tainan averages a high of 23°C and a low of 15°C, and Kaohsiung a high of 24°C and a low of 16°C. In July, both average a high of 33°C and a low of 27°C.

Rainfall changes much more with the season. From October to March, monthly rainfall is 16-31 mm in Tainan and 18-53 mm in Kaohsiung. In both cities August is the wettest month of the year, with 466 mm in Tainan and 512 mm in Kaohsiung. These are 1991–2020 normals for Tainan station and Kaohsiung station from the Central Weather Administration (CWA), Taiwan.

• January: Tainan high 23°C, low 15°C, rainfall 21 mm / Kaohsiung high 24°C, low 16°C, rainfall 19 mm
• April: Tainan high 29°C, low 22°C, rainfall 70 mm / Kaohsiung high 29°C, low 23°C, rainfall 68 mm
• July: Tainan high 33°C, low 27°C, rainfall 375 mm / Kaohsiung high 33°C, low 27°C, rainfall 377 mm
• October: Tainan high 31°C, low 23°C, rainfall 31 mm / Kaohsiung high 30°C, low 24°C, rainfall 53 mm

How to choose, or combine both

The two cities are linked by rail. Regular Taiwan Railway trains run between Tainan station and Kaohsiung, and getting from Kaohsiung's airport to Tainan station by MRT and train takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour in total. The Kaohsiung guide's Day 4 is a high-speed rail day trip to Tainan for old streets and temples, and the Tainan guide's last day ends with a train to Kaohsiung or the HSR station for your flight.

By high-speed rail, Kaohsiung's station is in Zuoying, and HSR Tainan station is outside Tainan's center. From there, continue on the Shalun Line from neighboring Shalun station (about 20-40 minutes) or by bus H31.

Entry rules, including visa-free stays, can change, so check official Taiwan government information before you travel. Complete the free online Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC) on the official site within 3 days before arrival, and avoid lookalike sites that charge fees.

• Full Tainan travel guide →
• Full Kaohsiung travel guide →

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