Taipei Weather in January

January weather

Taipei feels cool, damp and often grey in January. Days reach about 18°C, but rain falls on many days, and the high humidity can make the air feel clammy. December is a little warmer and wetter; February is a little warmer, with similar rainfall.

This weather suits museum visits, temple stops and long meals more than a full day outdoors. Try the National Palace Museum or duck into Longshan Temple between showers. Beitou's hot springs are especially appealing on a chilly, drizzly day. Hiking Elephant Mountain can still work, but wet steps and cloudy views may make it less rewarding.

If you hate crowds, January is usually a calmer choice than the summer months.

Festivals and holidays

Lunar New Year sometimes falls in January, though its date changes each year. If it does, expect busy travel days and closures as many locals visit family. Taipei's night markets may have reduced hours around the holiday, so check the opening details for Ningxia Night Market before heading over.

Outside the holiday period, January is winter in Taipei and part of the city's better-known visiting season, which runs from November to March.

Crowds and local tips

You'll generally find fewer visitors and better-value stays than during summer. Lunar New Year is the main exception: transport and accommodation can get busier, and some shops close.

For a rainy afternoon, take the MRT to Beitou and visit the Beitou Hot Spring Museum before soaking nearby. The museum is in a former public bathhouse, so it gives you a little local history along with a warm indoor stop. If the sky clears, the walk around Thermal Valley is short, but the path can be slick after rain.