The best time to visit Taiwan is October to December and March to April: dry, mild and outside the typhoon season. July to September is the riskiest window, since about 80% of typhoons that hit Taiwan arrive then. May and June bring the plum rains. Avoid the 2027 Lunar New Year week, 4–10 February, unless you want the festivities.
Typhoon season, by the numbers
Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration counted 382 typhoons that hit Taiwan between 1911 and 2025. Almost all of them arrived between June and October:
| Month | Typhoons that hit Taiwan, 1911–2025 |
|---|---|
| April | 1 |
| May | 9 |
| June | 25 |
| July | 99 |
| August | 109 |
| September | 93 |
| October | 33 |
| November | 13 |
| December | 1 |
What this means for your trip
- A typhoon can stop ferries, close mountain roads such as Highway 8 into Taroko Gorge, and cancel trains for a day or two. If you travel from July to September, keep the plan flexible and leave a spare day.
- October still sees some typhoons (33 in the record), but far fewer than August.
- November to April is almost typhoon-free.
Plum rain season (May–June)
The CWA describes May and June as Taiwan’s plum rain (梅雨) season, when stationary fronts bring days of heavy rain. It supplies about 30% of the island’s annual rainfall. It is still a good time to travel if you are flexible, but outdoor days in the mountains are less reliable.
Holidays and festivals in 2027
- Lunar New Year: a 7-day break from 4 to 10 February 2027 (New Year’s Eve is 5 February). Expect full trains and hotels; many family restaurants close for some days.
- Taiwan Lantern Festival 2027 will be held in Houlong, Miaoli County, near the HSR Miaoli station. Exact dates are announced by the organisers.
- Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival: the 2027 dates have not been announced. In 2026 it was held on 27 February in Pingxi and 3 March in Shifen.
Season by season
- Autumn (October–December): our favourite. Dry, clear and comfortable, with good sunrises at Alishan.
- Winter (January–February): cool and damp in the north, mild and sunny in the south. Ideal for hot springs in Beitou and Jiaoxi.
- Spring (March–April): cherry blossom at Alishan from around March to early April. Busy at weekends.
- Summer (May–September): hot and humid, plum rains then typhoons. The best time for dolphins off Yilan (April–September) and beaches in Kenting.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to visit Taiwan?
October and November are the most reliable: dry, mild and past the peak of the typhoon season. March and April are also good.
When is typhoon season in Taiwan?
Mainly July to September. Of the 382 typhoons that hit Taiwan between 1911 and 2025, 301 arrived in those three months, according to the Central Weather Administration.
When is Lunar New Year in Taiwan in 2027?
The official holiday runs for 7 days, from 4 to 10 February 2027.
Is it worth visiting Taiwan in the rainy season?
Yes, with flexibility. In the May–June plum rains we keep museum, tea and food days ready to swap with mountain days when a front passes.
Where is the 2027 Taiwan Lantern Festival?
In Houlong, Miaoli County, near the high-speed rail Miaoli station.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked on 20 October 2026 against these sources, mostly official Taiwanese government and news sites in Chinese. Hours, prices and road access change; we confirm them again before every trip.
- Central Weather Administration, 颱風百問 (Typhoon FAQ), Sept 2026 edition (PDF)
- Central Weather Administration: 梅雨季 (plum rain season)
- ETtoday, 21 May 2026: 2027 government holiday calendar (2027年行事曆)
- UDN: 2027 calendar, 7-day Lunar New Year break (2027年行事曆出爐)
- CNA, 17 Mar 2026: 2027 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Miaoli (中央社)
- Taiwan Tourism Administration: 2026 New Taipei Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival (交通部觀光署)
- Northeast & Yilan Coast NSA: whale and dolphin tours
- Alishan Forest Railway: Zhushan line
