Best Time to Visit Kaohsiung

December to April: the easy months

This is the stretch to pick if you want comfortable days. Winter here is mild, with highs of 25°C in December and January and cool-ish evenings that never get properly cold. Rain is light, and you'll get plenty of dry afternoons for walking.

It's ideal for the things Kaohsiung does best. You can cycle the waterfront past the Pier-2 Art Center, wander the Lotus Pond and its temple towers, or take the ferry to Cijin Island for seafood and a beach walk. Travelling with kids? The Dream Mall and the Metropolitan Park are easy, flat outings.

Lunar New Year usually lands in late January or February. Many local shops close for a few days, and families travel, so trains and the high-speed rail fill up. The Lantern Festival follows about two weeks later. Kaohsiung's Lantern Festival has often been held at the Love River or Lotus Pond area, though the site changes from year to year.

May to September: hot, wet and sticky

May brings a sharp change. Rain jumps to 170 mm on 18 days, and from June the humidity sits above 80%. August is the wettest month at 432 mm, with rain on 25 days. Nights stay warm at 27°C from June to August, so you won't get a cool break.

Rain often comes as heavy bursts, not all-day drizzle. Typhoon season also runs through this period, and a storm can close transport and shut attractions for a day or two. If you're booked in summer, keep your plans loose and have indoor options ready, like the National Museum of Taiwan Fine Arts' Kaohsiung neighbours, the Museum of Fine Arts, or the Kaohsiung Museum of History.

The upside is fewer foreign visitors and lower hotel demand. Taiwanese school holidays in July and August do bring domestic crowds to beaches and resorts, though. Cijin and Sizihwan get busy on dry weekends.

October and November: the shoulder window

October is a so-so month. It's still warm, with highs of 30°C, and 104 mm of rain on 13 days. Showers are patchier than in summer, so it can suit you if you're flexible.

November is the better bet. Rain drops to 59 mm, the air feels less heavy, and it's rated Excellent. It's a good month for Foguang Shan monastery in nearby Dashu, and for sunset at Sizihwan before the winter crowds arrive.

If you want a single pick, go in February or March. You'll get dry days, mild evenings and the Lantern Festival buzz.