How to Get Around Southern Taiwan

High-speed rail reaches Tainan and Kaohsiung’s Zuoying station from Taipei in about ninety minutes to two hours, and this is the obvious way in. Kaohsiung International Airport also takes regional flights.

Kaohsiung has a two-line metro and a circular light rail along the harbour, both cheap and easy with an EasyCard, plus an extensive bike-share scheme on flat ground.

Tainan has no metro and its sights are spread across the old city; buses are adequate, but most visitors use a scooter, a bicycle or taxis. The city is flat and cycling works well.

To Kenting: buses run from Kaohsiung’s Zuoying HSR station in about two and a half hours. There is no railway to the southern tip.

Scooters are the local default and need an international permit with a motorcycle entitlement.