Kaohsiung 4-Day 3-Night Family Trip | Pier-2, Qijin, E-Da World
A complete 4-day, 3-night Kaohsiung itinerary for two adults and two kids (ages 2 and 9): Pier-2 Art Center, Qijin beach, E-Da Theme Park, and SKM Park Suzuka Circuit fully covered, with flight, hotel, and Love River dinner recommendations.
Kaohsiung 4-Day 3-Night Family Trip (Final Updated Edition)
Taking two kids (age 2 and age 9) to Kaohsiung for a four-day, three-night trip is a perfect pace for both big and small—you've got beaches, theme parks, old streets, and night views all rolled in. This is the final updated itinerary cheat sheet, covering flights, hotels, daily plans, restaurant recommendations and every little detail. Designed to be practical and ready for you to copy-and-go.
Trip Cheat Sheet
- Flight dates and times:
- Outbound: July 30 (Thursday) 11:05 departing Hong Kong → 12:40 arriving Kaohsiung
- Return: August 2 (Sunday) 19:10 departing Kaohsiung (Cathay Pacific CX425, late flight with dinner onboard)
- Hotel: Holiday Inn Express Kaohsiung Love River (Yancheng District), 3 nights
- Family combo: 2 adults + a 2-year-old + a 9-year-old
The trip revolves around "not too rushed, with air-conditioned spots, a beach to burn energy, and night-market street food." The 4-day rhythm is roughly: Day 1 relaxed city tour, Day 2 beach and bike ride, Day 3 full-day theme park, Day 4 theme park morning, Outlet sprint, then fly home.
Day 1 (July 30, Thursday) | Pier-2 + Formosa Boulevard + Liuhe Night Market
Today's theme: Burn energy after landing, urban arts vibe, night-market street food.
After the flight arrives at 12:40, take a transfer to the hotel to drop off luggage. Start the afternoon slowly—no need to rush—but at least have some sightseeing, some food, and some street eating to officially kick off the trip.
Afternoon itinerary: Pier-2 Art Center
- 12:40 Arrive at Kaohsiung Airport, transfer to the hotel to drop off luggage
- 14:30 Walk to Pier-2 Art Center (about 10 minutes from Yancheng District), take a leisurely stroll and snap photos with the old warehouse murals
- Big lawn energy burn: Pier-2 has a large open lawn where the 2-year-old and the 9-year-old can run around and blow bubbles while the parents sit back and sip coffee
- 17:30 Take the Orange Line of the MRT to Formosa Boulevard Station (just one stop) to admire the "Dome of Light" designed by international artist Narcissus Quagliata
Dinner: Sit-down meal near Formosa Boulevard → Liuhe Night Market street food
- 18:00 Sit-down dinner near Formosa Boulevard Station (air-conditioned, kids can take their time eating)
- 19:00 Walk to Liuhe Night Market (about 5 minutes), officially kick off street-food mode
- 20:30 Take the MRT back to Yanchengpu Station (one stop) and return to the hotel to rest
Tip: Liuhe Night Market has plenty of stalls with food suitable for kids, but keep an eye on portion sizes of greasy items like seafood and grilled goodies. If the kids get cranky late at night, just hit 2-3 stalls before heading back.
Day 2 (July 31, Friday) | Cijin Beach + Bike + Love River Night
Today's theme: Ferry ride, beach and bike, seafood lunch, Love River night view.
Cijin is a must-visit on any Kaohsiung family trip—take a boat across, rent a four-wheeled family bike to cruise the coastal park, check out the Rainbow Church, visit the Shell Museum, and let the kids play in the sand and splash in the waves. By the time you're back in the city in the afternoon it's just the right time to freshen up and rest a bit, then head to Love River for dinner and night views. Perfect timing.
Morning itinerary: Cijin beach and bike ride
- 09:00 Depart from the hotel, take a taxi or walk to Gushan Ferry Terminal and take the boat to Cijin
- 09:30 Rent a four-wheeled family bike (one bike fits 2 adults and 2 kids just right)
- Key activities: Coastal Park stroll, Rainbow Church photo op, Shell Museum visit, sand play and waves on the beach (the 2-year-old's favorite part of the whole trip)
Lunch + Old Street shopping
- 12:30 Seafood restaurant lunch on Cijin (recommended: mullet roe, grilled seafood, stir-fried ice)
- 14:00 Walk Cijin Old Street, grab snacks and souvenirs (the local favorites—grilled small squid, peanut candy, and tributes candy—are top souvenir picks)
- 16:00 Take the boat back to the city, return to the hotel to freshen up and rest
Dinner: Love River-side restaurant + Love River night view
- 18:00 Dinner at a Love River-side restaurant (pick one along the river—comfortable seating, fantastic view)
- 19:00 Stroll along Love River, enjoy the night view, walk to the Kaohsiung Music Center to see the light show
- 20:30 Return to the hotel to rest
Tip: Love River's nighttime lighting and the reflection of the Music Center's architecture are gorgeous. Adults can take photos, kids can sit on the stone steps by the river eating ice cream—this is Kaohsiung's most iconic night view spot.
Love River dinner recommendations (family-friendly)
| Restaurant | Specialty | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Bao Yi Tea House | Taiwanese-style light meals—healthy, with rice and noodles, quiet setting | Beside Love River, about 5-minute walk |
| Manniu Slow Cow | Beef dishes, burgers, risotto, kids' meals available | Near Love River, about 8-minute walk |
| 7-11 / FamilyMart | If the kids are too tired, grab stuff to take back to the hotel | Right downstairs from the hotel |
Day 3 (August 1, Saturday) | E-Da World Full Day
Today's theme: Full day at E-Da Theme Park, Outlet, and Ferris wheel.
Today is the highlight of the whole trip—an entire day at E-Da Theme Park. The park is mainly divided into three zones: the indoor "Trojan Castle" family zone (indoor, air-conditioned), plus "Greek Sanctuary" and "Acropolis." When the kids get tired in the afternoon, you can head next door to the Outlet, ride the free Ferris wheel, and do some shopping.
Transport to E-Da World
- 08:30 Depart from the hotel, take the Red Line of the MRT to Zuoying High-Speed Rail Station, then transfer to the "E-Da Bus" direct to E-Da World
- 09:30 Arrive at the park
Park itinerary
- 10:00 – 16:00 Full day at E-Da Theme Park, focusing on the "Trojan Castle" family zone (indoor and air-conditioned, no sunburn worries)
- 12:30 Quick lunch at the park's food court (don't waste play time)
- 16:00 Remember to get your hand stamped when leaving the park—it allows same-day re-entry
- 16:00 – 19:00 Walk over to E-Da Mall next door, free Ferris wheel ride + Outlet shopping
- 18:00 Dinner at a park or Outlet restaurant (comfortable seating, take your time eating)
- 19:30 Take the E-Da Bus back to Zuoying Station, transfer to the MRT back to the hotel
- 20:30 Back at the hotel to rest
Tip: The E-Da World Ferris wheel is one of Kaohsiung's landmark large Ferris wheels. The view toward Gangshan at night is fantastic. The key point is that the ride is free once you spend a certain amount at the Outlet—check with the service desk to confirm.
Day 4 (August 2, Sunday) | SKM Park + Suzuka Circuit + Return Flight
Today's theme: Final sprint, Outlet + indoor park, evening flight home.
Because the flight is a late one at 19:10, today you can play from morning until 3:30 PM and still make it to the airport with time to spare. SKM Park has the Suzuka Circuit Park (outdoor racing, bumper cars) plus the indoor "Star Discovery" climbing area—something fun for both the 9-year-old and the 2-year-old. Adults can take turns hitting the Outlet for last-minute shopping, so the whole morning doesn't go to waste.
Morning: Suzuka Circuit Park at SKM Park
- 09:00 Check out of the hotel, bring all luggage
- 09:15 Take the Red Line of the MRT to Caoya Station (about 15 minutes)
- 09:30 Arrive at SKM Park, store luggage first (lockers or service desk)
- 10:00 – 15:30 Play at Suzuka Circuit Park + indoor "Star Discovery" climbing area; adults take turns at the Outlet for last-minute shopping
- 13:00 Quick lunch at SKM Park's food court
Afternoon: Head to the airport
- 15:30 Pick up luggage, take the Red Line from Caoya Station direct to Kaohsiung International Airport (about 15 minutes)
- 15:45 Arrive at the airport, check in and drop off luggage
- 19:10 CX425 takes off ✈️ (dinner onboard)
Tip: SKM Park's "Star Discovery" is suitable for kids age 3 and up. The 2-year-old can play in the lower areas with an adult. If you didn't get to ride the E-Da Ferris wheel last time, there are different rides here too—the 9-year-old will have a blast.
Trip Overview at a Glance
| Date | Daytime | Dinner |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 (7/30 Thu) | Pier-2 Art Center + Formosa Boulevard Dome of Light | Sit-down meal near Formosa Boulevard → Liuhe Night Market street food |
| Day 2 (7/31 Fri) | Cijin beach + bike + old street | Love River-side restaurant + Love River stroll |
| Day 3 (8/1 Sat) | E-Da Theme Park (full day) + Outlet Ferris wheel | Inside E-Da park / Outlet restaurant |
| Day 4 (8/2 Sun) | SKM Park (Suzuka Circuit + Star Discovery + Outlet) | Dinner onboard the flight |
Closing: The Design Philosophy Behind This Itinerary
The whole 4-day, 3-night rhythm is deliberately designed to avoid the "duck-touring" style of cramming too many sights into one day. Instead, it follows a "one main theme per day" approach:
- Day 1 kicks off with a relaxed city tour after landing (Pier-2 + night market), letting bodies and moods slowly adjust;
- Day 2 is mid-trip beach and bike riding, giving the kids a chance to burn energy;
- Day 3 is the full-day theme park—the highlight of the whole trip—where everyone plays to the fullest;
- Day 4 mixes indoor and outdoor play at SKM Park, with time to fit in last-minute Outlet souvenir shopping, and a late flight home so it never feels rushed.
This itinerary is perfect for families heading to Kaohsiung for 4 days. All transport, ferries, hotels, and park visits are pre-planned—you just show up and buy tickets on the spot.
