Season guide · Taipei · Taiwan
Taipei in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Taiwan Junior, CC BY 3.0
Quick answer
Mild but grey and damp, with frequent drizzle; perfect for hot springs, and festive around Lunar New Year. Expect highs up to 21°C (70°F) and lows around 13°C (55°F), with about 41 rainy days across December–February. December is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 13°C (55°F) to 21°C (70°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 41
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19°C (66°F) | 13°C (55°F) | 14 | 10.7 h | 3/5 |
| February | 19°C (66°F) | 14°C (57°F) | 14 | 11.3 h | 4/5 |
| December | 21°C (70°F) | 15°C (59°F) | 13 | 10.6 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 20°C (68°F) against a yearly 27°C (81°F), and 41 of the year's roughly 159 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Lunar New Year — Dihua Street New Year market in the weeks before; some shops close for several days (late January or February)
- February: Lantern Festival — lantern displays in Taipei and the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival (15th day of the lunar year, February or early March)
- February: Cherry blossom on Yangmingshan (usually February to March)
- December: New Year's Eve fireworks from Taipei 101 (31 December)
Good choices for winter
Viewpoint · Xinyi
Taipei 101 Observatory
Go on a clear afternoon and stay through sunset; check visibility before buying tickets, as low cloud often hides the view.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Rainy day
- Kids
- After dark
Museum · Shilin
National Palace Museum
One of the world's largest collections of Chinese art, much of it from the former imperial collection in Beijing, including bronzes, ceramics, jade carvings, painting and calligraphy.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Experience · Beitou
Beitou hot springs
Bring swimwear for the public bath (it is mixed and requires costumes), or book a private hotel bath for a more relaxing soak.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Nature
- History
- Rainy day
Neighbourhood · Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng)
Huashan 1914 Creative Park
A former wine and sake factory from the Japanese era, turned into a creative park of exhibitions, concerts, pop-up shops, design stores and cafés in brick warehouses and on lawns.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Shopping
- Rainy day
Museum · Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng)
National Taiwan Museum
Combine it with a walk through 228 Peace Memorial Park and the memorial to the 1947 incident.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Architecture
Day trips in winter
- Tamsui (About 40 minutes by MRT) — A riverside town at the mouth of the Tamsui River with an Old Street of snacks, Fort San Domingo, built by the Spanish and later used as the British consulate, and sunset views across to Guanyin Mountain.
- Wulai (About 1 hour by MRT and bus) — A mountain village of the Indigenous Atayal people on a clear river, with hot springs, a small museum, Atayal food and a tall waterfall reached by a short scenic train or walk.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Taipei?
Yes: December is among the best months. Mild but grey and damp, with frequent drizzle; perfect for hot springs, and festive around Lunar New Year.
+What is the weather like in Taipei in winter?
Highs of up to 21°C (70°F) and lows around 13°C (55°F), with about 41 rainy days over the season.