Taipei
Best time to visit Taipei: weather, crowds and events by month
Go in October, November, March or April: mild, mostly dry and medium crowds. Skip July and August (35 °C (95 °F) afternoons, typhoon season) and Lunar New Year, when trains sell out and small restaurants close. Choose December–February only if you accept grey drizzle and want the south instead.Go in October, November, March or April: mild, mostly dry and medium crowds. Skip July and August (95 °F (35 °C) afternoons, typhoon season) and Lunar New Year, when trains sell out and small restaurants close. Choose December–February only if you accept grey drizzle and want the south instead.
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- Plan calculated
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GuideTaipei
Key facts
- Best months
- October, November, March, April — mild, mostly dry, medium crowds
- Avoid
- July–August (heat, humidity, typhoons); Lunar New Year for closures and sold-out trains
- Cheapest and quietest
- Late January–early March outside Lunar New Year; also weekdays in May and September
- Wettest stretch
- Plum rains late May–June; winter drizzle in Keelung, Jiufen and Yilan Oct–Mar
- Typical daytime highs
- Jan 19 °C, Apr 26 °C, Jul 35 °C, Oct 27 °C (approximate)
- Typhoon season
- July–September, with late typhoons possible into early October
- Biggest crowd event
- Lunar New Year (dates move each year — check), then New Year's Eve at Taipei 101
- Book ahead for
- Lunar New Year trains and hotels; Taipei 101 area hotels for 31 December
Pick your window
Four windows cover almost every traveller. Match the month to what you actually want to do: hiking and day trips, museum-and-café city days, or a cheap quiet week.
| Window | Weather | Crowds | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct–Nov | 24–28 °C, clear, dry | Medium | Medium | Everything: city, Yangmingshan, day trips |
| Mar–Apr | 18–25 °C, warming, some rain | Medium | Medium | Blossom in the hills, comfortable walking |
| Dec–Feb | 14–20 °C, grey drizzle in the north | Medium (high at Lunar New Year) | Medium (high at Lunar New Year) | Museums, food, hot springs, the sunny south |
| Jun–Sep | 30–35 °C, humid, storms and typhoons | High in Jul–Aug | High | Early mornings, indoor sights, night markets |
What each season is really like
Taipei sits in a humid subtropical basin, so the north-east monsoon decides winter. From October to March, Keelung, Jiufen and Yilan take the drizzle while Taipei itself gets grey, damp days with occasional dry breaks. It is rarely cold — daytime highs sit around 14–20 °C — but it is not the sunny Taiwan of the postcards. Pack a light rain shell rather than an umbrella you will fight with in the wind.
Spring arrives fast. March and April are the sweet spot for most visitors: 18–25 °C, cherry and plum blossom in the hills, and enough dry days to plan a Yangmingshan or Jiufen trip without a backup. Late May brings the plum rains, a humid front that parks over the island for a few weeks and makes afternoon plans unreliable.
Summer is the season to plan around, not to enjoy. July and August push 35 °C with high humidity, afternoon thunderstorms and the start of typhoon season. Sightseeing works if you start at 07:00, retreat indoors at midday and come out again for the night markets. September keeps the typhoon risk and the heat, though crowds thin once school holidays end.
October is the reset: the heat breaks, skies clear and the whole island becomes walkable again. November is the most reliable month of the year for Taipei and for trips beyond it. Late typhoons are still possible in early October, so keep the first days of the month flexible.
What it costs by season
Taipei hotel prices move less than in Tokyo or Seoul, but the peaks are real. Lunar New Year is the single most expensive week of the year, and July–August weekends run high because domestic travel peaks. October–November and March–April sit in the middle. The cheapest weeks are usually late January to early March outside Lunar New Year, and weekdays in May and September.
Flights follow the same pattern: Christmas, Lunar New Year and the July–August school break are the expensive windows, while late spring and late autumn are cheaper. Fares are a 2026 estimate and vary by origin — check your own dates before booking.
| Period | Hotel (mid-range, per night) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lunar New Year week | NT$4,500–8,000 | Book 2–3 months ahead; many small restaurants closed |
| Jul–Aug weekends | NT$3,500–5,500 | Domestic peak; typhoon disruption possible |
| Oct–Nov, Mar–Apr | NT$2,800–4,500 | Best value for the weather you get |
| Late Jan–early Mar (non-holiday) | NT$2,200–3,500 | Quietest and cheapest; expect grey skies |
| May and September weekdays | NT$2,500–4,000 | Rain or heat risk, thin crowds |
2026 estimate, mid-range double room in central Taipei; check live rates before booking.
Practical tips
- Book Lunar New Year trains and hotels two to three months out; high-speed rail seats for the holiday week sell out first.
- In July and August, sightsee before 10:00 and after 16:00, and keep a museum or mall as your midday plan.
- Check the Central Weather Administration forecast and typhoon advisories in the week before you fly; typhoon days close offices, schools and some sights.
- Winter is the time to head south: Tainan and Kaohsiung are dry and sunny while Taipei is grey.
- Carry a compact rain jacket Oct–Mar; Taipei drizzle is light but persistent.
- Buy a stored-value transport card on arrival and top it up — it works on the MRT, buses and most convenience stores.
Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Taipei?
October, November, March and April. Expect 18–28 °C, mostly dry days and medium crowds. November is the most reliable single month. July and August are hot, humid and typhoon-prone; Lunar New Year brings closures and sold-out transport.
When is Taipei least crowded?
Late January to early March outside Lunar New Year, plus weekdays in May and September. Avoid the Lunar New Year week, July–August weekends and New Year's Eve around Taipei 101, when hotels and trains fill first.
What is the weather like in Taipei by month?
Jan–Feb 14–20 °C and grey with drizzle; Mar–Apr 18–25 °C and warming; May–Jun humid with plum rains; Jul–Aug 30–35 °C with afternoon storms and typhoon risk; Sep still hot and storm-prone; Oct–Nov 24–28 °C and clear; Dec cool and damp. Figures are approximate.
Is winter a bad time to visit Taipei?
Not bad, just grey. December to February is mild at 14–20 °C but often drizzly in Taipei, Keelung and Jiufen. It is the best season for the south, and indoor sights, hot springs and night markets work well. Lunar New Year is the exception to book around.
Should I avoid Taipei during typhoon season?
No need to avoid it, but plan for disruption. July–September carries the highest risk, with late typhoons possible into early October. Keep the first days flexible, watch official advisories and expect occasional closed trails or cancelled domestic flights.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialTaiwan Tourism Administration
- officialCentral Weather Administration, Taiwan
- officialTaiwan High Speed Rail
- officialTaoyuan International Airport
- secondaryWikivoyage – Taipei