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When is the best time to visit Taiwan?

Travel advisory

The information on this page is based on historical averages and may not reflect current conditions. Please check with local authorities for the latest travel advice.

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The best time to visit Taiwan is from February to April and October to December. Falling on either side of the sweltering summer and typhoon season, these two periods let you make the most of the warm, subtropical climate and some of Taiwan’s top events.

With the weather on your side, Taiwan’s great outdoors are well worth exploring during these months. Go sakura spotting at Yangmingshan from February, see the mesmerising fireflies at Dongshi Forest Garden in April or admire the beautiful autumnal colours at Alishan later in the year. Whenever and wherever you embark on your outdoor adventure, the hot springs at Beitou and Wulai are the perfect place to recover. Back in the cities, the comfortable climate makes it prime time to explore top attractions like Shilin Night Market and Elephant Mountain, and join in with the infectious atmosphere during the Lantern Festival and Taiwan Pride.

Monthly weather and travel tips for Taiwan

January is the coldest month in Taiwan with an average temperature of around 17°C for the month. While this might not sound particularly wintery, a jacket is still a good idea though, as the humidity in the northern regions like Taipei can make it feel a fair few degrees colder. It’s drier and slightly warmer to the south of the country, but you’ll feel a much more noticeable difference if you venture higher up into the mountains – like Hehuanshan and Xueshan – where there’s even a chance of snow.

January tends to be fairly quiet in terms of events, unless Chinese New Year happens to fall in this month. The festival follows the lunar calendar, meaning it can take place anytime from 21 January to 20 February, so it’s best to check ahead to see if the big crowds and even bigger celebrations will be here during your trip.

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February in Taiwan is generally mild, with average temperatures in the late teens. You’ll get cooler and wetter weather up north in Taipei, while southern and eastern cities like Kaohsiung and Taitung bolster the average temperatures up with dry, sunny days.

The crowds in February hinge on the timings of Chinese New Year. This festival follows the lunar calendar, so it can fall in either January or February – but there’s a bigger chance it’s the latter. If you’re in Taiwan during Chinese New Year, expect busy transport links, lively tourist spots and an uplifting atmosphere as locals travel to their hometowns and go on trips with family. Chinese New Year is capped off in Taiwan with the Lantern Festival, when families gather in cities like Pingxi to release floating lanterns into the sky. Check ahead to see if the Lantern Festival will take place during your visit – it’s usually in February, but can occasionally take place in March too.

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A comfortable spring feel awaits if you’re visiting Taiwan in March. Places like Taipei and Taoyuan stay prone to wet weather, but the rain paired with the rising temperatures help Tung blossoms and other flowers spring into life.

Another flower you can see in Taiwan in March is the cherry blossom. These light pink flowers can actually be in bloom here as early as January, but the warmer weather makes March a popular time to see them – and a less crowded alternative to sakura season in Japan. If the start of spring has given you a taste for the great outdoors, continue your adventures hiking Yushan National Park’s mountain trails, exploring the breathtaking Taroko Gorge or unwinding in the Beitou Hot Springs.

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April in Taiwan sees the sun come out more and average temperatures rise above the 20°C mark. It’s prime time to climb up Taipei’s Elephant Mountain, but be mindful of rainfall increasing both here and all over Taiwan as you near the end of the month.

April marks the start of the yearly Penghu Fireworks Festival – two months of fireworks displays every few days over on the Penghu archipelago. If you fancy a different kind of light show, head into Taiwan’s wilderness to catch the peak of firefly season. Places like Yangmingshan National Park and Taichung’s Dongshi Forest Garden are home to swarms of fireflies, which light up the evening with a magical bright green glow. To take in more of Taiwan’s natural sights, venture north to Zhuzihu to see the beautiful white calla lilies come into bloom.

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Expect heat, humidity and rain if you’re visiting Taiwan in May. This month signals the start of East Asia’s plum rain season, a two-month period of rainfall across Taiwan and some of its neighbouring countries. The season – so called for coinciding with plums ripening here – brings rain in short but heavy thundershowers, usually in the afternoon. An umbrella and a thin rain jacket are essentials at this time of year.

If you’ve already been caught in a downpour though, save yourself the trouble of drying off and head to one of Taiwan’s hot springs. The natural thermal waters in areas like Beitou and Wulai are popular places to unwind and de-stress. If you’re happy to brave the afternoon showers, Taiwan’s national parks are well worth a visit too. The rocky landscape at Taroko National Park, beaches and mountains at Kenting and diverse flora at Yangmingshan National Park all make for great photos – but keep that umbrella handy to keep you and your camera dry.

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June in Taiwan is nearing the peak of summer, so expect soaring temperatures, heavy rainfall and a generally humid, tropical climate. The plum rain season is in full swing, with short but heavy afternoon thundershowers, particularly down south in Kaohsiung. The heat and the rain ease off in the evening for cooler, more comfortable weather – perfect for exploring Taipei’s street food-fueled night markets.

A highlight on the cultural events calendar in Taiwan is the Dragon Boat Festival. The date can vary as it follows the lunar calendar, but more often than not it falls in June. Crowds congregate by rivers in Taipei, Miaoli and Lukang to watch rowers race in intricately painted boats, and eat ‘zongzi’ – pyramid-shaped sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves. If the June heat is getting a little too hot to handle, cool off in blissfully air-conditioned shops in the famous Taipei 101 tower, or in malls and restaurants dotted all over the capital.

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July is the hottest month in Taiwan, with temperatures averaging in the high twenties across the country – and humidity making it feel more like 35°C. July is also part of the typhoon season here, so you’ll need to keep a close eye on the weather forecasts during your visit. If the coast is clear and you’re not put off by the heat, you’ll find plenty to do.

Taitung Balloon Festival sees an array of colourful hot-air balloons take to the skies, while Fulong Beach is transformed into an outdoor art gallery of sorts, thanks to incredible works at the International Sand Sculpture Festival. For an air-conditioned break from the outdoors, head inside to the National Palace Museum or the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, then keep cool with an ice-cold bubble tea in the very country that invented it.

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The heat shows no signs of stopping in Taiwan in August, experiencing the same tropical temperatures and afternoon downpours seen in July. Typhoon season continues into August too, so be sure to check weather forecasts often to see how it might affect your travels.

The season tends to only bring a couple of typhoons to Taiwan over the few-month period, so for the most part you should be free to head out and explore all that the country has to offer. Weather permitting, Taroko Gorge is a popular August activity thanks to its cooler climate, or you can soak up some sun, sights and the sea breeze at the beaches in Kenting National Park. Over in the eastern county of Hualien, mountains covered in seasonal bright orange daylily flowers make for a beautiful, no-filter-necessary photo.

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After a sweltering summer, Taiwan in September is a little bit more comfortable when it comes to weather. The temperature drops – just slightly down south, and more so in Taipei and other northern regions – and some of the August rains ease off too. September is still part of the typhoon season, but the beaches down south remain popular in the sunny weather.

The temperatures might not seem all that autumnal, but one of Taiwan’s festivals at this time of year should act as a seasonal reminder. The Mid-Autumn Festival – also known as the Moon Festival is a chance to gorge on mooncakes and join locals for riverside barbecues in Taipei. As a lunar calendar festival, the date can vary, but it’s usually in September. Other events worth noting include the Taipei Arts Festival and the Sun Moon Lake International Swimming Carnival – a swim across the country’s largest lake attracting tens of thousands of participants.

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Warm and mostly dry weather make October one of the best months to visit Taiwan. With mercury at an average of 24°C and some cooling winds coming in, it’s a great time to head up into the mountains and see the bright autumnal-coloured woodlands. A popular place to do this is Alishan, where – if you’re up early enough – you can also watch the sun rise above a ‘sea of clouds’ floating around the lower parts of the mountain.

There’s plenty worth getting out of bed for in the big cities too. Taiwan Pride is East Asia’s biggest LGBTQ+ celebration, with lively parades and colour-clad crowds taking to the streets of Taipei. It’s party time in Taichung too – the annual jazz festival attracts a host of top Taiwanese and international talent for over a week of music-filled festivities each October.

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By Taiwan standards, November is a cool and comfortable month in which to visit the country. Average temperatures are just above 20°C, and you should get some sun in the Taichung and Kaohsiung regions. Taipei tends to be a little grey with some rain, but a light jacket should be more than enough to keep you warm here.

Despite the favourable weather conditions, it’s one of the quieter months in terms of tourists. Use this opportunity to explore some of the major attractions like Elephant Mountain, Jiufen Old Street or the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas. If you’re in Taipei in November, grab yourself a seat for screenings at the prestigious Golden Horse Film Festival, and be sure to save time to fill up on street food at Shilin Night Market.

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With average temperatures in the mid-to-late teens, December is one of the coldest months in Taiwan. It’s the driest too, particularly in southern cities like Kaohsiung and Tainan. The days in Taipei can look a little gloomy, but Christmas lights and the Taipei 101 New Year’s Eve Fireworks brighten up the capital later in the month.

You’ll find plenty to do in the lead up to the end of year festivities in December. The mild winter weather makes a soak in Beitou’s and Wulai’s hot springs an appealing prospect. Or, if you’re in the south of Taiwan, the Art Kaohsiung fair showcases contemporary works from up-and-coming local talent. December also sees Taipei Marathon runners put through their paces in the capital – cheer them along or sign up and take part yourself for a great way to explore the city.

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Weather and temperature in Taiwan

You’ll get the best weather in Taiwan from February to April and October to December. The summer brings soaring temperatures, short but heavy thundershowers and occasional typhoons – so these months either side of them make for much more pleasant conditions. A raincoat is still a good idea if you’re in northern regions like Taipei from February to April, while the days should be a little drier from October to December. Southern and central cities like Kaohsiung and Taichung tend to be dry for most of the spring and autumn, with temperatures hovering in the twenties, and even some December sunshine.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Taipei High 19°C 20°C 22°C 26°C 29°C 32°C 34°C 33°C 31°C 27°C 25°C 20°C
Low 14°C 14°C 16°C 19°C 23°C 26°C 27°C 26°C 25°C 22°C 19°C 15°C

Weather data provided by Forecast.io

Cost of stay in Taiwan

Want to travel smart? Here, you can check out the average cost of accommodation per night in Taiwan.

    0 44 88 132 176
  • HK$ 717 Jan
  • HK$ 847 Feb
  • HK$ 774 Mar
  • HK$ 775 Apr
  • HK$ 683 May
  • HK$ 725 Jun
  • HK$ 719 Jul
  • HK$ 718 Aug
  • HK$ 682 Sept
  • HK$ 730 Oct
  • HK$ 760 Nov
  • HK$ 937 Dec
    0 44 88 132 176
  • HK$ 420 Jan
  • HK$ 568 Feb
  • HK$ 508 Mar
  • HK$ 542 Apr
  • HK$ 456 May
  • HK$ 507 Jun
  • HK$ 484 Jul
  • HK$ 497 Aug
  • HK$ 458 Sept
  • HK$ 486 Oct
  • HK$ 524 Nov
  • HK$ 668 Dec
    0 44 88 132 176
  • HK$ 244 Jan
  • HK$ 283 Feb
  • HK$ 266 Mar
  • HK$ 273 Apr
  • HK$ 254 May
  • HK$ 253 Jun
  • HK$ 255 Jul
  • HK$ 244 Aug
  • HK$ 245 Sept
  • HK$ 252 Oct
  • HK$ 258 Nov
  • HK$ 308 Dec
    0 44 88 132 176
  • HK$ 1,010 Jan
  • HK$ 1,413 Feb
  • HK$ 1,077 Mar
  • HK$ 1,245 Apr
  • HK$ 1,104 May
  • HK$ 1,302 Jun
  • HK$ 1,310 Jul
  • HK$ 1,298 Aug
  • HK$ 1,355 Sept
  • HK$ 1,404 Oct
  • HK$ 1,407 Nov
  • HK$ 1,378 Dec
    0 44 88 132 176
  • HK$ 625 Jan
  • HK$ 761 Feb
  • HK$ 622 Mar
  • HK$ 716 Apr
  • HK$ 646 May
  • HK$ 687 Jun
  • HK$ 712 Jul
  • HK$ 695 Aug
  • HK$ 648 Sept
  • HK$ 641 Oct
  • HK$ 649 Nov
  • HK$ 726 Dec

The best places to visit in Taiwan

Check out some of the most popular cities, places to visit and things to do in Taiwan!

What other travellers say about their holiday in Taiwan

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