When to Go to Taipei: Best Time of Year to Visit
Interested in visiting Taipei but not sure when to go? The most important factor when planning a trip is weather, but you should also take the Taiwanese calendar into consideration before booking. Here’s what you need to know:
Weather
Taipei is located on the north side of the island of Taiwan in a humid subtropical climate zone. That means there aren’t massive temperature swings between seasons — but it doesn’t mean the weather isn’t extreme. Rain and heat are the two conditions you need to watch out for, because both could have a serious impact on your travel plans.
Spring (March – May): not a bad time of year to visit Taipei. Average daily temperatures range from 16 – 22°C in March, 19 – 26°C in April, and 22 – 29°C in May. But warming temperatures also bring wet weather — Taiwan’s plum rain season officially runs from mid-May to mid-June and can begin even earlier. If you’re planning a spring trip to Taipei and have a bit of flexibility, aim for March or April, which have cooler but drier weather.
Summer (June – August): the worst time of the year to visit Taipei. Rainfall is the heaviest, including both the end of plum rain season and the beginning of typhoon season; travel plans could easily be disrupted by the storms that frequently slam Taiwan’s coasts. The sweltering heat is another concern, with average highs around 32 – 34°C, plus unrelenting humidity of around 70% on average, which sends the “feels like” temperature into the 40s. Despite the likelihood of getting soaked by rain or sweat just by stepping outside, summer is still a high season for tourists. Don’t worry too much if it’s your only chance to visit Taipei — although total rainfall is heaviest in this period, only around half the days actually see any significant amount of rain. You might get lucky with beautiful sunny weather and more reasonable temperatures!
Fall (September – November): the best time of the year to visit Taipei. Although September is still hot (around 25 – 31°C) and rainy during the tail end of typhoon season, October begins to cool off slightly, ushering in the most pleasant weather of the year. Average daily temperatures range from 22 – 28°C in October and 19 – 24°C in November. These months are ideal to visit — especially November, which sees some of the least rain of the year. It’s not too hot or too cold, making it a great time to explore the abundant nature in and around the city. We recommend visiting Taipei during the fall season!
Winter (December – February): an okay time of year to visit Taipei. These months are both the driest and the coolest of the year. Total rainfall drops significantly, though there are still around 11 – 14 days of rain per month. Temperatures average around 19 – 20°C during the day and 14°C overnight, but they can fall below 10°C during cold spells. This may not seem bad at all, but it can feel cold when you factor in the bone-chilling humidity (despite less rain, the air stays wet) coupled with the lack of insulation or central heating indoors. It never snows or gets truly cold, but you might need to layer more than expected.
In summary, you should consider both rain and heat when deciding when to visit Taipei:
- Plum rain season: May – June
- Typhoon season: June – October
- Worst heat: June, July, and August
- Hot but bearable: May and September
- Colder than you might expect: December, January, February
Verdict: The best time of year to visit Taipei is late October / early November. It’s not too hot, not too cold, and rains less compared to most other times of year. Late March / early April would be the next best choice for the same reasons!
Calendar
Although weather is the most important factor to consider when planning your trip to Taiwan, you may also want to take the Taiwanese calendar into consideration. Note the dates of these public holidays:
| Holiday: | Dates: | Notes: |
|---|---|---|
| New Years | January 1 | Taipei 101 lights up with an annual fireworks show on New Year's Eve |
| Chinese New Year | 1 week in January or February | Most shops and restaurants close, the city empties out as locals return home for family dinners |
| 228 Peace Memorial Day | February 28 | A public holiday to commemorate the February 28 massacre of 1947 |
| Qingming Festival (Tomb-Sweeping Day) | Around April 4 - 5 | Paying respect to ancestors by visiting graves and burning paper money |
| Labor Day | May 1 | Public holiday for private sector employees |
| Dragon Boat Festival | Usually June, or the end of May | Teams compete in boat races around Taiwan |
| Mid-Autumn Festival | Sometime in mid-September to early October | A harvest moon festival celebrated by eating barbecue and mooncakes |
| ROC National Day (Double Ten or 10-10) | October 10 | Commemorates the founding of the Republic of China |
Most of the above holidays probably wouldn’t impact your trip too much, besides a day or two of business closures. However, we strongly recommend against visiting during Chinese New Year, which occurs in January or February depending on the lunar calendar. You might think it would be an interesting time to visit, but Taipei basically shuts down with businesses closing for the holiday and the city emptying out as people return to their hometowns to have family dinners. Flights are likely more expensive around that time as well. Imagine visiting a western country over Christmas when you don’t celebrate it and you have no dinner to join!
On the other hand, Taipei can be a fun place to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Each year, Taipei 101 lights up with a spectacular fireworks show at midnight on December 31st. Check it out here.
Like we said, the Taiwanese calendar probably won’t have a big impact on your trip either way — but it doesn’t hurt to be aware of what’s going on in the city before you book your flights!
