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Temple rooftop overlooking mountains and coastline

Taiwan travel guide

Cities, mountains and coastline packed into one compact island

Best: Jun, Jul

Photo: Arnie Chou / Pexels

Capital
Taipei
Language
Chinese
Currency
New Taiwan dollar (TWD)
Time zone
UTC+08:00
Plugs
Type A, B · 110 V
Driving
On the right
Emergency
112

Why visit Taiwan

Taiwan suits travellers who want city life, temple culture and hiking trails within a short train ride of each other. Taipei anchors the north, while coastal cities like Tainan and Taitung City give a slower, warmer feel further south. June and July are the best months to visit, but expect heat and humidity at that time, so pack light clothes and plan indoor breaks during the hottest hours.

  • Taipei as a travel base

    Taipei, the capital, has 2,442,991 residents, making it a compact hub for exploring the rest of Taiwan. It's inland, so weather patterns differ from the coastal cities nearby.

  • Coastal and inland contrasts

    Taiwan mixes coastal cities like New Taipei City (4,046,037 people) and Tainan (1,874,686 people) with inland centers such as Taichung (3,033,885 people). This gives travelers a choice between harbor towns and inland urban life within a small 36,193 km2 country.

  • Best weather window in June and July

    June and July are marked as the best months to visit Taiwan, likely offering the most stable conditions for travel across the island's cities and coastline.

  • A densely populated, compact destination

    With 23,224,721 people living in just 36,193 km2, Taiwan packs significant urban and cultural variety into a small footprint, easy to cross by road given its right-hand driving system.

  • Smaller coastal towns like Taitung City

    Taitung City, a coastal town of 102,810 people, offers a quieter alternative to Taiwan's bigger cities, useful for travelers wanting a slower-paced coastal stop.

Is Taiwan right for you?

Great for

  • Travellers who like warm, sunny days: July has the most sun at 10.2 hours a day
  • City-break travellers, since Taipei, Taichung and New Taipei City offer different sizes and coastal options
  • Visitors who don't mind rain and want the official best months of June and July despite the showers
  • Travellers wanting cooler, drier sightseeing weather from November to February, when rain drops to 54-75mm a month
  • Photographers or hikers who want dry spells, since January and February average only 8-9 rain days

Less ideal for

  • Travellers who dislike rain, since August brings 458mm of rain over 27.1 rain days, the wettest month
  • Sun-seekers chasing high heat, as even the warmest month (July) only averages a 19.5C high
  • Beach holidaymakers wanting hot swimming weather, since highs stay under 20C all year
  • Trips planned around clear skies in late summer, when sun hours drop to 8.7 in August while rain peaks

Taiwan right now: November

6.0/10
Avg high
16°C
Avg low
7°C
Rain days
14

Averages for Taiwan.

Weather by month

This climate data for Taiwan shows June and July as the best months, with warm highs around 18-20°C, long sunshine hours near 10 a day, and solid scores of 7 out of 10. August and July bring the toughest weather, with heavy rain of 458mm and 393mm and up to 27 rainy days, while January through March stay cooler and drier but score lower overall.

Average highs and lows in Taiwan by month January: high 11°C, low 3°C , 8 rain days . February: high 12°C, low 4°C , 9 rain days . March: high 13°C, low 6°C , 15 rain days . April: high 16°C, low 8°C , 18 rain days . May: high 18°C, low 10°C , 24 rain days . June: high 19°C, low 11°C , 24 rain days . July: high 20°C, low 11°C , 25 rain days . August: high 19°C, low 11°C , 27 rain days . September: high 19°C, low 10°C , 23 rain days . October: high 17°C, low 9°C , 19 rain days . November: high 16°C, low 7°C , 14 rain days . December: high 13°C, low 5°C , 10 rain days . 11°C 3°C JAN 8d 12°C 4°C FEB 9d 13°C 6°C MAR 15d 16°C 8°C APR 18d 18°C 10°C MAY 24d 19°C 11°C JUN 24d 20°C 11°C JUL 25d 19°C 11°C AUG 27d 19°C 10°C SEP 23d 17°C 9°C OCT 19d 16°C 7°C NOV 14d 13°C 5°C DEC 10d
Best months Other months (low–high) Nd = rain days

Taiwan (country average) · averages 2015–2024

Best time to visit Taiwan: month-by-month weather →

Sample itineraries

7 days

Cities and Coasts of Western Taiwan

  1. Day 1–2

    Taipei

    Start in the capital. Walk through its old neighborhoods, visit night markets, and ride up to viewpoints overlooking the city before heading south.

  2. Day 3

    New Taipei City

    Explore this coastal city surrounding Taipei. Walk along the waterfront and visit nearby fishing harbors and temples.

  3. Day 4–5

    Taichung

    Spend two days in this inland city known for its art spaces and relaxed pace. Wander through its creative parks and local eateries.

  4. Day 6–7

    Tainan

    End the trip in Taiwan's oldest city on the coast. Explore its historic temples, canals, and seafood stalls before departing.

10 days

Taiwan Coast to Coast

  1. Day 1–2

    Taipei

    Begin in the capital, exploring its markets, museums, and surrounding hills. Use it as a base to adjust before heading further afield.

  2. Day 3

    New Taipei City

    Spend a day along this coastal city's shoreline, visiting old ports and seaside trails just outside the capital.

  3. Day 4–5

    Taichung

    Relax in this inland city with a lively creative scene. Visit local parks, galleries, and night markets.

  4. Day 6–7

    Tainan

    Explore this historic coastal city, known for its temples and canals, with time to sample local street food.

  5. Day 8–10

    Taitung City

    Finish the trip on Taiwan's southeastern coast. Enjoy a slower pace in this small coastal city surrounded by mountains and sea.

Food to try in Taiwan

Beef noodle soup

A rich broth with braised beef and wheat noodles. It's considered a national dish and found in small shops and night markets across Taiwan.

Xiaolongbao

Steamed soup dumplings filled with pork and hot broth. Taipei is famous for them, often served fresh in bamboo steamers.

Oyster omelette

A night market staple made with eggs, oysters, and a starchy sauce. It's a common street food snack across the island.

Bubble tea

A cold tea drink mixed with milk and chewy tapioca pearls. It originated in Taiwan and is sold everywhere from shops to street stalls.

Stinky tofu

Fermented tofu with a strong smell, usually deep-fried and served with pickled vegetables. It's a popular night market item, especially after dark.

Gua bao

A steamed bun filled with braised pork belly, pickled mustard greens, and crushed peanuts. It's a common street snack found in markets throughout Taiwan.

Know before you go

  • Plugs and voltage: Taiwan uses plug types A and B, the same flat two-pin and three-pin style as North America. Electricity runs at 110 V, so check your devices before you pack an adapter.
  • Driving side: Traffic in Taiwan drives on the right. Keep this in mind if you rent a car or scooter, and when crossing streets as a pedestian.
  • Emergency number: Dial 112 anywhere in Taiwan for police, fire or medical emergencies. It works from mobile phones even without a local SIM card.
  • Currency: The New Taiwan dollar (TWD) is the official currency. Carry some cash, since smaller shops and night markets may not take cards.
  • Language: Chinese is the main language spoken across Taiwan. Learning a few basic phrases helps outside Taipei, where English is less common.
  • Time zone: Taiwan sits in a single time zone, UTC+8, with no daylight saving changes during the year.
  • Calling code: The country calling code for Taiwan is +886. You will need this when dialling a Taiwanese number from abroad.

Taiwan: frequently asked questions

Is Taiwan good to visit in August?

Yes, August scores 7 out of 10 and counts as a good month. But it's also the wettest, with 458mm of rain over 27.1 rain days and sun down to 8.7 hours a day. Daytime highs reach 18.9°C. Pack for frequent showers even though the overall rating is strong.

What are the best months to visit Taiwan?

June and July are the top-rated months, each scoring 7 out of 10. July brings a high of 19.5°C and the most sun hours of the year at 10.2, though it still has 393mm of rain over 24.8 days. May through September all score 6.8 or higher, so the whole warm season rates well.

Is Taiwan rainy in May?

Yes. May has 279mm of rain spread across 24.1 rain days, one of the wettest starts to the season. Despite this, it still scores 6.8 and counts as a good month, with highs of 17.5°C and 9.2 hours of sun a day.

What is Taiwan's winter weather like?

Winter is cooler and drier. January has a high of 11°C and a low of 2.9°C, with 60mm of rain over 8.2 days. February is similar, at 11.9°C high and 55mm of rain. Both months score around 5 out of 10, rated ok rather than good.

What plug type and voltage does Taiwan use?

Taiwan runs on 110V with plug types A and B, the same flat-pin style used in North America. The calling code is +886, the emergency number is 112, and the currency is the New Taiwan dollar (TWD). Traffic drives on the right.

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