Quick answer
Aim for autumn (October–early December) for the most reliable mix of warm days, lower humidity, and reduced typhoon risk. Spring (March–April) is the next best window, though it brings more rain. Avoid the peak of summer if you're heat-sensitive, and know that Lunar New Year (dates vary, typically late January to mid-February) closes many small businesses for several days.
Month by month
| December – February (Winter) | Mild but often grey and drizzly, 15–20°C. Rarely cold by most standards, but the damp chill and lack of indoor heating in many buildings can feel colder than the number suggests. Pack layers and a light waterproof jacket. |
|---|---|
| March – April (Spring) | Warming up, 18–25°C, with the season's rains starting to pick up (the "plum rain" season runs into May). Good balance of comfort and fewer crowds outside of Lunar New Year. |
| May – June (Early Summer) | Hot and increasingly humid, 24–30°C, with the plum rain season bringing extended wet spells into June. |
| July – September (Summer / Typhoon Season) | Hot and very humid, regularly 30–35°C, with the highest typhoon risk of the year. Typhoons don't hit every week, but this is the season to watch forecasts closely and build some flexibility into your plans. |
| October – November (Autumn) | The best window for most travelers — 22–28°C, lower humidity, and typhoon risk tapering off through October. Popular, so book accommodation a bit further ahead. |
If you're visiting in summer, plan your outdoor sightseeing (temples, Elephant Mountain, Maokong) for early morning or late afternoon, and save air-conditioned indoor stops — museums, malls, the Taipei 101 observatory — for the hottest part of the midday.
Typhoon season, honestly
Typhoon season runs roughly July through September, peaking in August. Direct hits on Taipei that disrupt travel plans are not an everyday occurrence, but they do happen most years. If a typhoon warning is issued while you're there, expect the MRT, buses, schools and many businesses to close for a "typhoon day" until it passes — usually just one to two days. Travel insurance that covers weather disruption is worth having if you're visiting during this window. See our full typhoon season guide for how to plan around it.
Lunar New Year
Dates shift each year (based on the lunar calendar, typically falling between late January and mid-February). It's a major family holiday in Taiwan: many independent restaurants and small shops close for several days, transportation gets busier as people travel to see family, and some attractions have adjusted hours. Major sights, hotels and chain restaurants generally stay open, but if you're building a trip around specific small eateries, double-check they'll be open.