Weather and the Best Time to Visit Taiwan
Weather
Taipei, like the northern half of Taiwan, is in a subtropical climate zone. The southern half of Taiwan is in the tropical zone.
The differences between the two zones are not large; most of the island is warm all
year round, with very hot summers and moderate temperatures in winter. But what is important
in Taiwan is not just the temperature, but the typhoon season which usually lasts
from July to September, and therefore these are months best avoided for visiting
Taiwan. During this period it is also very hot and humid, and in addition there are high chances
of heavy rains even when there is no typhoon.
Basically, the further
south you go in Taiwan the temperatures rise, and the higher you go in the mountains
the temperatures drop, of course. It is important to remember that Taiwan is not a large island,
mostly mountainous (especially in its eastern part).
The closer you are
to the coasts, the more breeze there is. Taipei is a rainy city compared to most
of the country, and it rains even more there than in London.
In spring from March
to May, it is warm and pleasant in Taiwan. In Taipei, the maximum temperature
in these months ranges between 22-29 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature
in these months ranges between 16-22 degrees.
In summer from June to
September, it is hot and humid with lightning storms and typhoons. High temperatures
are above 30 degrees and lows are 25-27.
In autumn lasting from October to
November, it is slightly cooler than in summer and much less rainy. High temperatures
are 25-27 and lows are 18-22.
In winter from December to February
it is generally dry but cooler: 18-21 for highs and 14-16 degrees for lows.
Kaohsiung, the large port city in the south of the country,
is rainy only from the end of May to September (much less than Taipei). Between
October and April, the chance of precipitation is extremely low and temperatures
are more stable: average maximum temperatures are 30-32 degrees from May
to October and 24-28 degrees, and average minimum temperatures are 25-26
degrees in summer and 15-20 in winter.
♦ Recommended tours within Taipei - for purchase from Viator:
Recommended Hotels in Taipei
Home Hotel
A modern 5-star hotel in a perfect location near
Taipei 101 Tower in an upscale shopping and entertainment area. The hotel features
a restaurant, bar, and fitness room. Free internet and parking.
W Taipei
A luxury 5-star hotel also located near Taipei 101 Tower.
All stylish guest rooms offer floor-to-ceiling windows with
stunning views of Taipei 101, the surrounding mountains, and Taipei
City. The hotel features a beautiful swimming pool, a large fitness center, and a spa. The hotel has
a popular and high-quality restaurant, bar, parking, and free internet.
AMBA Taipei Ximending
A quality 4-star hotel in a
central location in the Ximending district, known as the "Times Square" of Taipei.
A modern hotel surrounded by bustling pedestrian malls with plenty of young people,
restaurants, cafes, shops, cinemas, and more. Free internet,
free washing and drying machines, large and comfortable beds, and a restaurant.
CityInn Hotel Plus - Ximending
Branch
A 3-star hotel
in the Ximending district, very popular with young people. The hotel features modern
accommodation units with colorful designs and unique artwork.
Free internet. The hotel also has family rooms suitable
for families of 4-5 people.
When is the Best Time to Visit Taiwan
In general, it can be said that the best time to travel in Taiwan is
from October to April when the weather is more successful, less rainy,
and temperatures are pleasant. Temperatures and rainfall increase
in summer in the months of June
to September along with the typhoon season which lasts from June to September.
More specifically, the most successful time to visit Taiwan is
in October-November because these are relatively dry months with comfortable temperatures
for travel both in cities and in nature. In terms of tourist traffic, they
are considered less busy months and therefore cheaper for accommodations and flights,
and nature parks and tourist sites will be less crowded.
Also, March-April are recommended months for traveling in Taiwan.
In this season temperatures are pleasant and it is not as hot and wet
as in summer. In April, spring blooms also begin in the parks, reaching their peak
in May. The only downside
is that April is considered an exceptionally busy tourist season from China,
but luckily due to tense political relations between Taiwan and China,
the volume of tourists from China has decreased significantly recently.
Additional successful
times to travel are during the period of the famous Lantern Festival in Taiwan,
which falls on the 15th of the
first month in the Chinese lunar calendar. This is the first time in the year when
the moon is full. During this holiday, streets are decorated with colored illuminated lanterns
and shades. Every year a main location is chosen where the festival will take place.
In 2020, for example, the festival dates are February 8-23
in the city of Taichung.
Another lantern festival starting at the same
time as the aforementioned festival is the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival, where
a huge number of lantern-shaped shades are released into the sky simultaneously,
with a flame lit in their center that creates hot air inside them and causes them
to rise into the sky. Residents customarily write their wishes on these lanterns
before releasing them into the sky. The main place where the event
takes place is in the town of Shifen in northern Taiwan.
For cherry blossom enthusiasts, it's worth knowing that the bloom is spectacular not only
in Japan; in Taiwan too you can see the blooming of cherry trees in many places,
which occurs between the months of January and early April,
depending on the location and the climate prevailing in each area. In the Taipei area for example,
the timing is from mid-January to March.
The time of year most recommended to visit and vacation on the southern beaches in the Kenting area is around spring and autumn: March to May and October to November.
♦ Recommended tours from Taipei to attractions outside the city:
Taipei Flower Market:
Holidays and Events
Note that during holidays and festivals it is more crowded at tourist sites and
prices soar, and sometimes there are no vacancies, so it is important to book
accommodation and tours far enough in advance or avoid visiting
during holidays.
• Chinese New Year falls in February and sometimes at the end
of January. In the coming year: January 24-31, 2020.
• The
Lantern Festival falls in the middle of the first Chinese month.
In 2020, the focus of the festival is in the city of Taichung between February 8-23.
• Peace Memorial Day falls
mostly on February 28 and sometimes on March 1.
• April 4 or 5
(in 2020 on April 4) – Tomb Sweeping Day – also called
Qingming Festival. Also called Tomb Sweeping Day,
when family members go to cemeteries to show respect
to their deceased relatives. During this holiday there is heavy traffic on the roads. This is
also Children's Day.
• On the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, the
Dragon Boat Festival takes place. The upcoming date is June 25, 2020.
• The Moon Festival, also called the Mid-Autumn Festival,
falls sometimes at the end of September or early October. The upcoming one is on October 1, 2020.
• The
National Day of the Republic of China (as Taiwan is called) is October 10, marked in honor of
the date October 10, 1911, the day the revolution began in China against the Qing dynasty.
Taiwan Map
