Best time to visit Taiwan

February weather in the north is similar to January, with temperatures around 15°C in Taipei, with some sunshine beginning to push through by the second half of the month. The southern cities are noticeably warmer, and cherry blossoms begin to bud here. Dihua Street in Taipei transforms in the weeks running up to Lunar New Year. Stalls spill out over busy streets, with ancient herbs, preserved meats, temple icons, incense and more local New Year's supplies.

Things to consider

Timing around Lunar New Year requires a little strategic thinking. The holiday itself means incredibly crowded transport and shuttered restaurants, with many family-run spots closed entirely. Trains and flights book up fast in both directions, so if you’re ending your trip in the lead up to Lunar New Year be sure to plan accordingly.

Festivals, events & activities

The Lantern Festival falls on the 15th day of the lunar year, which is often in February. The Pingxi sky lantern release in New Taipei is the most famous version: visitors write wishes on paper lanterns and release them into the night sky above the old coal-mining valley.

March is one of Taiwan's best months. Temperatures are comfortable island-wide – around 16 – 22°C in Taipei, and warmer in the south. The spring wildflower season is well underway. Cherry blossoms move up through the mountains through the month, with Alishan typically peaking around late-March to mid-April. Yangmingshan National Park on Taipei's doorstep puts on its own spectacular flower show, with cherry, calla lily and azalea all blooming in overlapping waves. The air is still clear, the crowds haven't fully arrived, and the hiking conditions are close to ideal.

Things to consider

Alishan's cherry blossoms draw serious numbers, meaning accommodation books up weeks in advance. The Alishan Forest Railway, which winds up through the mountains to the summit station, is a beautiful way to arrive, but be sure to book ahead. If Alishan feels too packaged, Wuling Farm in Taichung County offers equally impressive blossoms in a more open setting.

Festivals, events & activities

The Shan Tseng Chi Flower Festival in Beitou is a quieter, local celebration of early spring blooms – the perfect excuse to combine flower viewing with a visit to the hot spring district.

April is one of the very best months to visit Taiwan. The weather is reliably warm but not yet hot (around 20 – 25°C in Taipei), skies are clear more often than not, and the sense of the island shaking off winter and opening up is palpable. The Spring Tea harvest runs from March through May, which means Maokong – accessible by gondola from the city – is at its most atmospheric, with fresh leaves being picked and the tea farms looking their most verdant.

Things to consider

Rain is possible all year-round in Taiwan, and April is no exception, so it’s worth keeping a light waterproof layer in your bag.

Festivals, events & activities

The Spring Tea harvest and accompanying tea culture is one of April's real draws. The Maokong Gondola from Taipei's Zhinan Temple station glides over tea-terraced hillsides to the Maokong plateau, where a string of tea houses serve fresh-picked oolongs. It's an easy half-day from the city and one of those highlight-worthy experiences that feels authentic yet special.

May carries the warmth of late spring – temperatures in Taipei climb to around 25 – 27°C, and the islands are at their most inviting before summer crowds arrive. The Penghu archipelago in particular is beautiful: crystal-clear water, basalt coastlines and a pace of life that feels a world away from the busy mainland. Kaohsiung and the south remain pleasantly dry and warm, and this is a fine month to explore the tangled streets of Tainan's old city on foot or by bicycle before the heat becomes too much.

Things to consider
The plum rains (Taiwan’s rainy season) typically arrive in May and run into June, bringing intense, unpredictable downpours – particularly in the north and mountains. This doesn't mean constant rain, but hiking-heavy itineraries benefit from some indoor back-up plans. The upside: the countryside turns a very vivid shade of green and the waterfalls around Wulai and Hualien are at full force.

Festivals, events & activities
May is a great month to explore Taiwan's night market culture. Taipei's Shilin and Raohe Street markets, Taichung's Fengjia and Kaohsiung's Liuhe are all in full swing, and the slightly cooler evenings of late spring make for a more relaxed energy than the high summer heat.

There’s one bright, colourful reason to visit Taiwan in June: the Dragon Boat Festival. These thrilling races on the Keelung River and at Dajia Riverside Park in Taipei are not to be missed, the thrum of drums reverberating through the summer crowds creating a festive atmosphere. Before the festival weekend, the tail end of the plum rains (Taiwan’s rainy season) lingers, but the heat and humidity of July haven't fully arrived yet, making June the last month where evenings in the city are properly comfortable.

Things to consider

The Dragon Boat Festival long weekend creates congestion on rail services and popular routes, so if you want to base yourself in Taipei for the races, book accommodation and any day trips early. Street food stalls selling zòngzi (sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves) start appearing weeks in advance, so don’t miss them.

Festivals, events & activities

Dragon Boat Festival has roots stretching back over 2,000 years, with the races re-enacting a beloved local legend that gives the whole occasion a surprisingly moving undercurrent beneath the festive noise and spectacle.

July is hot, humid and full of energy. Temperatures sit between 28 – 33°C across the island, and the summer holiday season means night markets, coastal resorts and mountain trails are all busy. On clear days, and there are plenty, the views from Taipei 101's observation deck stretch across the basin to the surrounding mountains in a way that makes the queues worth it. The east coast and offshore islands come into their own: Kenting at the southern tip, the surf beaches of Dulan in Taitung and the dramatic Pacific-facing cliffs of the east coast highway.

Things to consider

Plan outdoor sightseeing for early morning and early evening. The midday heat in July is serious, and an indoor break between roughly 11am and 3pm makes for a much more enjoyable day. Air conditioning is effectively universal in Taiwan's indoor spaces, so museums, covered night markets and temple interiors are all good midday options. Typhoon season begins in July, though most early-season storms pass without major disruption.

Festivals, events & activities

The Hohaiyan Rock Festival in Fulong (usually July) draws large crowds to the Pacific-facing Fulong Beach, giving you a unique chance to catch Taiwan's indie and rock music scene on the coast.

August doubles down on July's energy. The island is in full summer mode: beaches packed, night markets heaving, mountain guesthouses busy with Taiwanese families escaping the city. It's an excellent time to commit fully to beach life – Kenting National Park, the Penghu islands and the east coast beaches around Jialulan are all at their most vivid. Taiwan's shaved ice culture hits its peak this month, so don’t miss your opportunity to taste mountains of milk ice shaved into fine ribbons and topped with fruit, taro or mochi.

Things to consider

Typhoon season is properly in effect from August onwards. This doesn't mean trips are certain to be cancelled, but it does mean monitoring forecasts in the week before travel and building some flexibility into itineraries – particularly for east coast and offshore island plans.

Festivals, events & activities

Hungry Ghost Festival often spans July and August. It's a real local festival rather than a tourist event – look out for elaborate roadside offerings and incense smoke rising above temple forecourts.

September is underrated. The summer crowds thin out as local schools return and international visitor numbers dip, yet temperatures remain warm (around 26 – 30°C) and the island is still very much in outdoor-friendly mode. It's one of the lower visitor months of the year which means shorter queues at major sights and better availability at popular restaurants.

Things to consider
Typhoon season continues into September. A flexible approach to east coast and island itineraries is sensible, and travel insurance covering typhoon disruption is worth having. Confucius's birthday on 28 September is a public holiday, celebrated with impressive early-morning ceremonies at Taipei's Confucius Temple. There will be court music, students dancing, and the temple will distribute “wisdom cakes” to students who are studying for tests. It’s worth setting an alarm for if you're in the city, but be prepared for it to be busy with locals.

Festivals, events & activities
Mid-Autumn Festival is a full moon celebration built around family, mooncakes and, in Taiwan, outdoor barbecuing. The tradition of communal street barbecues feels rather different from the more formal Chinese version of the holiday. Try as many mooncake varieties as possible: red bean, pineapple and egg yolk are all mandatory.

October is a strong contender for one of our favourite months to visit Taiwan. The typhoon season winds down, the summer humidity finally relents, and temperatures settle into an extremely comfortable range of around 22 – 27°C in Taipei – slightly warmer in the south. The light quality in October is exceptional: clear skies, low haze and a golden afternoon quality that makes mountain views from Taipei's surrounding peaks look almost incredible. Elephant Mountain, a short hike from the eastern edge of the city, shows off sunset views over Taipei 101 and the basin below at their very best.

Things to consider

Typhoons can still arrive in October. 2024 saw Typhoon Krathon hit in early October, so sensible precautions apply. National Day (10 October) is a public holiday with parades and ceremonies in Taipei, meaning accommodation fills around this date. The Presidential Office Boulevard parade is worth watching if you're in town.

Festivals, events & activities

The autumn hiking season properly opens in October, with trails around Taipei and the east coast in near-perfect condition. The Taroko Gorge trails are particularly good – the marble canyon walls, suspension bridges and river paths feel at their best in October's clear, cool air.

November is the beginning of Taiwan's winter – which at its most extreme means you might need a jumper. Taipei and the north cool to around 17 – 22°C , and while grey skies begin to make more appearances, the month is still largely dry and comfortable. The butterfly migration in the Maolin National Scenic Area near Kaohsiung is one of Taiwan's more extraordinary natural events: millions of purple crow butterflies gather in the valley's warm thermal columns, turning the trees a deep, shifting violet.

Things to consider
Yangmingshan National Park near Taipei offers a rare chance to see autumn colour in Taiwan – the volcanic crater landscape takes on reds and golds from mid-November, and the hiking trails are quiet. Pack a waterproof layer for mountain hikes in the north.

Festivals, events & activities

The butterfly migration at Maolin peaks in November and runs into February. Purple crow butterflies overwinter here in huge numbers that are hard to comprehend, and some individual trees are so densely covered in roosting butterflies that the branches themselves appear to be moving. The Maolin National Scenic Area has viewpoints and guided trail options for watching the migration.

December has a particular energy in Taiwan. The first half of the month is still surprisingly warm – the south holds onto temperatures in the mid-20s°C . As locals who consider anything below 20°C chilly will be happy to point out, international visitors frequently find December balmy by comparison. The big draw is New Year's Eve: Taipei's fireworks display from Taipei 101 is one of the most spectacular in Asia.

Things to consider

New Year's Eve accommodation in Taipei is in very short supply by October. If the 101 fireworks are on the itinerary, book as early as possible. Hotels within viewing distance of the tower command significant premiums. The fireworks are visible from public areas including the hillsides around Elephant Mountain and Taipei City Hall forecourt, giving options for different budgets.

Festivals, events & activities

New Year's Eve at Taipei 101 is a spectacle: a five-minute show launched simultaneously from multiple floors of the tower, set to music, with an atmosphere building from mid-evening. If the crowds feel like too much, Sun Moon Lake sees its own quieter New Year's celebrations for a more reflective way to end the year.