Taiwan Activities Through the Year
Taiwan’s calendar shapes a trip more than its map does. The same night market, mountain railway or lake ferry feels different depending on the month, and one season in particular can cancel plans at short notice. Work out when you are going first, then pick the activities that suit it.
July to October: typhoon months
Typhoon season runs from July to October. The Central Weather Administration at cwa.gov.tw issues land and sea warnings, and local governments can declare a typhoon day that closes schools, offices, scenic mountain parks and railways. Treat these months as the time for indoor and city days, and keep a spare day before any flight home.
Good fits for a wet or windy day are the National Palace Museum, where adult entry is NT$350 and concessions are about NT$150, and the Taipei 101 observatory, which is priced in tiers starting at NT$600 for the standard 88th, 89th and 91st floors. The ticket entrance is currently in the office tower. Browsing a night market costs nothing until you buy food. If you want a guided option that can be rebooked, compare Taipei tours on GetYourGuide and read the cancellation terms.
July and August also bring the Taiwan International Balloon Festival to the Luye Highlands in Taitung, with dawn and sunset launches over the East Rift Valley.
November to January: soaking and rail rides
Cooler months suit hot water. The public Millennium Hot Spring in Beitou charges NT$40 to NT$60 for its outdoor mineral pools, and swimwear is required. Private rooms with a stone or cedar tub for two run roughly NT$500 to NT$900 for 60 to 90 minutes in Beitou or Wulai, so confirm the price when you book.
This is also a comfortable stretch for climbing. The Elephant Mountain trail above Taipei is about 600 stone steps and ends in a view of Taipei 101. The Alishan Forest Railway from Chiayi costs NT$600 for the full run, and reservations are made on the official site at afrch.forest.gov.tw . Sun Moon Lake has a paved bikeway of about 30 km, with boats at about NT$100 per pier hop or NT$300 for the full circuit.
February and March: lantern season
The Lantern Festival falls in February or March, depending on the lunar calendar. At Shifen on the Pingxi line, a single-colour paper lantern costs NT$200 and a multicolour one NT$250 to NT$350, and you paint your own wishes on it. In Tainan, the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival sees locals in full helmets and fireproof jackets standing in front of racks of rockets. Spectators should dress the same way, with long sleeves, a helmet and closed shoes.
April to June: pilgrimage and the east coast
Spring is when the Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage sets out, a nine-day, 340 km walk from Taichung to Chiayi. It follows the lunar calendar, so the start date moves each year. The east coast is also easier to plan before the typhoon months. Taroko National Park is partly open, with areas such as Taroko Terrace, Tianxiang, Dacingshui, Chongde and Dali-Datong accessible. Check live trail and Highway 8 status at taroko.gov.tw before you book a Hualien night.
Every month
The free online arrival card is submitted at twac.immigration.gov.tw , and the window opens 7 days before landing. Prices are in New Taiwan Dollars (NT$). On the MRT, eating or drinking, including water, is fined NT$1,500 to NT$7,500, so finish your drink before the gates. Taiwan High Speed Rail runs only down the west coast, and Hualien and Taitung are reached by Taiwan Railways trains.
Verdict: if you can choose, travel from November to March for the widest choice of activities, and book mountain and east-coast legs early in the trip so a typhoon day has room to slide. For day-by-day ideas, see the 3-day itinerary and the multi-day routes .