Best Time to Visit Taipei

Winter and early spring: cool, grey and damp

From November to March, Taipei is mild but gloomy. Days are cloudy and drizzly, with only about two hours of sun a day. January and February are the coolest, with highs of 18–19°C. It's jacket weather, not coat weather. Rain falls on about half the days, but it's often light, so you can still wander Dihua Street or the National Palace Museum.

This is the best stretch for hot springs. Beitou, reached by a short MRT ride, is lovely when the air is cool and steamy. Lunar New Year, in late January or February, is the big event. Many small shops close for a few days, but the Dihua Street market is lively beforehand. The Lantern Festival follows about two weeks later, with a big light display and sky lanterns released at Pingxi.

Spring to summer: the rain and the heat

April brings warmth, and by May the plum rains arrive. Expect rain on 22 days in May and 24 in June, with June also the wettest month at 289 mm. August is close behind. Both June and August share 24 rainy days. It's hot and sticky, with lows of 25–26°C by night. Hiking up Elephant Mountain feels like a sauna.

July is a little drier and sunnier, with the most sun of any month. It's still hot, at 31°C. The Dragon Boat Festival falls in June in most years, with races on the Keelung River. Summer is also school-holiday time, so Taiwanese families travel and domestic spots get busier. Typhoons can hit from July to September, so keep your plans flexible.

Autumn: the in-between months

September is still hot and wet, but October is the turning point. Highs drop to 26°C, and there are 15 rainy days, the fewest of the year. That makes it a good month for the Yangmingshan trails and the Maokong gondola, a cable car with tea houses at the top. Our score still rates October Poor, mostly for humidity and clouds. Don't let that put you off if you like warm weather.

Mid-Autumn Festival, usually in September or early October, means moon cakes and barbecues on the pavement. Night markets such as Shilin and Raohe are good in any season, but they're most pleasant in November. The air is cooler, and the crowds are lighter than in summer. If you want comfort and fewer people, November is your best bet.