Comparison · Taiwan
Taipei vs Kaohsiung: Which Should You Pick for a First Taiwan Trip?
Day-trip-rich Taipei or Kaohsiung, a relaxed port city of sea and river? Airports, budgets, monthly weather and sights compared.
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The short answer
Taipei is friendly, affordable and packed with night markets serving endless street food. Easy day trips to Jiufen, hot springs and seaside towns make it a good fit for a short break or a first trip to Asia.
Kaohsiung is Taiwan's big southern port city. You get relaxed walks along the Love River, an art district in old warehouses, Cijin Island a short ferry ride away, and night market food. The airport is close to town and linked by MRT.
Best for: Taipei suits travelers who want full days of museums, viewpoints and nearby towns. Kaohsiung suits those who want slow walks by the sea and river, plus an easy high-speed rail day trip to Tainan.
From the airport to the city
Taipei has two airports. From Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), the purple Express train on the Airport MRT reaches Taipei Main Station in about 35-40 minutes. Songshan Airport (TSA) sits in the city and is linked directly by the brown Wenhu Line, about 10-20 minutes.
At Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH), the airport MRT station sits right by the terminal, and the Red Line runs straight to Formosa Boulevard in the center with no change, in about 15-20 minutes. Buy a transit card at the airport station and you are set.
With lots of luggage or late at night, use the official airport taxi rank in either city. A taxi from Taoyuan to the city takes about 40-60 minutes and is metered, so the fare varies by distance and time.
- Taipei Airport MRT Express: about 35-40 min to Taipei Main Station, about NT$150-160
- Taipei airport bus: about 50-70 min (fares vary by route; check official information)
- Taipei Songshan Airport MRT: about 10-20 min to the city, about NT$20-30
- 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
How many days, budget and getting around
Both guides suggest 3 to 4 days. By the guides' own daily budgets, Kaohsiung comes out a little lower: the mid-range figure is about NT$3,500-4,500 per day in Taipei (3-4 star hotel, restaurant meals) and about NT$3,000-4,000 per day in Kaohsiung (city hotel, restaurant meals).
Food prices are similar. Night market snacks are about NT$50-100 each in both cities, and mango shaved ice is about NT$150-250 a bowl. The Taipei guide lists beef noodle soup at about NT$150-300 a bowl, the Kaohsiung guide at about NT$150-250. Night markets and small eateries are often cash only, so carry Taiwan dollars.
Both cities run on the MRT. In Taipei it covers most sights, and an EasyCard works on the MRT, buses and YouBike. In Kaohsiung the Red and Orange Lines cross at Formosa Boulevard, and one transit card (iPASS or EasyCard) covers the MRT, light rail, buses, ferry and YouBike. In both cities there is no eating or drinking, even water, in MRT stations or on trains.
- Suggested length: 3 to 4 days in either city
- Budget per day: Taipei about NT$1,500-2,000 (hostel, night markets, MRT), Kaohsiung about NT$1,300-1,800 (guesthouse, night markets, MRT)
- Mid-range per day: Taipei about NT$3,500-4,500, Kaohsiung about NT$3,000-4,000
- Upscale per day: Taipei about NT$8,000+, Kaohsiung about NT$7,000+
- There is no tipping; some restaurants add a 10% service charge
Weather month by month, side by side
The Taipei guide names October-December and March-April as the best times; the Kaohsiung guide names October-March. In October-December and March, which both guides pick, either city works. Many shops close in both cities over Lunar New Year.
By the 1991–2020 normals from the Central Weather Administration (CWA), Taiwan, for Taipei station and Kaohsiung station, winter temperatures differ a lot. In January Taipei averages a high of 19°C and a low of 14°C, Kaohsiung a high of 24°C and a low of 16°C. The Taipei guide calls January-February cool and damp, while the Kaohsiung guide says winters stay mild. In July it flips: the average high is 35°C in Taipei and 33°C in Kaohsiung.
Rainfall differs too. Across October-December and March-April, monthly rainfall is 83-157 mm in Taipei and 19-68 mm in Kaohsiung. May-September brings a lot of rain in both cities. In Taipei, June (345 mm) is the wettest month of the year. In Kaohsiung, August (512 mm) is the wettest month of the year. The Taipei guide calls July-September typhoon season, and the Kaohsiung guide says typhoons are possible from summer into autumn.
- January: Taipei high 19°C, low 14°C, rain 91 mm / Kaohsiung high 24°C, low 16°C, rain 19 mm
- March: Taipei high 23°C, low 16°C, rain 157 mm / Kaohsiung high 27°C, low 20°C, rain 32 mm
- April: Taipei high 26°C, low 19°C, rain 153 mm / Kaohsiung high 29°C, low 23°C, rain 68 mm
- July: Taipei high 35°C, low 27°C, rain 226 mm / Kaohsiung high 33°C, low 27°C, rain 377 mm
- October: Taipei high 28°C, low 22°C, rain 150 mm / Kaohsiung high 30°C, low 24°C, rain 53 mm
- November: Taipei high 25°C, low 20°C, rain 83 mm / Kaohsiung high 28°C, low 22°C, rain 26 mm
- December: Taipei high 21°C, low 16°C, rain 89 mm / Kaohsiung high 25°C, low 18°C, rain 19 mm
What you do there: museums and day trips vs harbor and river
Taipei packs in sights. Allow at least 2-3 hours for the National Palace Museum (closed on Mondays, with some exceptions). Elephant Mountain is a 20-30 minute stair climb to a free viewpoint facing Taipei 101. Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and Longshan Temple are free, and Shilin Night Market is liveliest after 6 pm.
Day trips are one of Taipei's big strengths. The classic is releasing a sky lantern in Shifen, then heading to Jiufen in the late afternoon for its red lanterns. Jiufen is very crowded on weekends, so go on a weekday. Beitou Hot Springs and Tamsui are on the MRT, and Beitou's Thermal Valley is closed on Mondays.
Kaohsiung is a city for walking by the water. A few minutes by ferry from Gushan takes you to Cijin Island for the lighthouse, the seafood street and sunset. Pier-2 Art Center, the Love River after dark, the free Dragon and Tiger Pagodas at Lotus Pond and the Dome of Light at Formosa Boulevard station are the highlights. Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum is about an hour by bus, so allow half a day (closed Tuesdays), and Ruifeng Night Market is closed on Mondays and Wednesdays.
- Where to stay in Taipei: Taipei Main Station (transport hub), Ximending (shopping, value), Zhongshan (cafes, relaxed stays), Xinyi (upscale hotels, skyline)
- Where to stay in Kaohsiung: around Formosa Boulevard (first visit, transport hub), Love River and Yancheng (riverside walks, old streets), Zuoying (high-speed rail), Sizihwan and Hamasen (sea views, sunsets; fewer hotels)
How to choose, or combine both
If you want days full of sights and nearby towns, pick Taipei; if you want slow walks by the sea and river, pick Kaohsiung. In January-February, look first at Kaohsiung with its higher average temperatures; in April, look first at Taipei, whose guide counts it among the best months.
The two cities are linked by high-speed rail. Taipei Main Station brings together the Airport MRT, high-speed rail and regional trains, while Kaohsiung's high-speed rail station is in Zuoying, a bit far from the center. The Kaohsiung guide's Day 4 is a high-speed rail day trip to Tainan, so if you want more of the south, see the Tainan vs Kaohsiung comparison.
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 (twac.immigration.gov.tw) within 3 days before arrival, and avoid lookalike sites that charge fees.
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FAQ
Which is better for a first trip to Taiwan?
The Taipei guide calls it a good fit for a short break or a first trip to Asia, thanks to its many sights and day trips. If you prefer slow walks by the sea and river, Kaohsiung works well too, with an airport close to town and linked by MRT.
Which is better in winter (January-February)?
In January, Taipei averages a high of 19°C and a low of 14°C, Kaohsiung a high of 24°C and a low of 16°C. The Kaohsiung guide names October-March as the best time, while the Taipei guide calls January-February cool and damp. Many shops close in both cities over Lunar New Year.
Which costs less?
By the guides' figures, the mid-range daily budget is about NT$3,500-4,500 in Taipei and about NT$3,000-4,000 in Kaohsiung, so Kaohsiung is a little lower. Night market snacks are about NT$50-100 each in both.
Can I visit both cities on one trip?
Yes, they are linked by high-speed rail. Kaohsiung's high-speed rail station is in Zuoying, a bit far from the center. Both guides suggest 3 to 4 days per city, so give yourself enough time.
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