Home Blog Shared House GuideThe Taiwan Weather Reality: A Foreigner's travel preparedness guide to Taiwan's weather
One of the most surprising things about moving to Taiwan is how drastically the weather changes, not just season-to-season, but from the north to the south of the island. Firstly ,good news: Taiwan's weather is pretty stable. It doesn't get too cold or snow or vice versa get insanely hot so all year around you can wear mostly the same clothes. However, on the other hand, there were still changes when I first moved to Taipei. I remember hearing my friend state that Taipei weather is unpredictable and on a day to day basis the weather feels totally different. Forget the four neat seasons you might be used to—Taiwan operates on its own unique climate clock!
Taiwan is split between a subtropical climate in the North (like Taipei) and a tropical climate in the South (like Kaohsiung). The one constant across the entire island is humidity.
High humidity means:
In summer, 32*C feels like 40*C.
In winter, $15*C feels like it is freezing into your bones.
This is the season of greatest surprise for foreigners. As mentioned above, Taiwan has a high humidity especially in the city center which means the weather feels a lot more moist and this causes the weather to feel a lot harsher than is stated on your weather app. In winter in Taipei it doesn’t snow and the weather drops below 20*C for a few months . On occasion it can get >10*C but not for long stretches of time and this is due to cold fronts that come in from overseas. So on these days pay attention to Taiwan weather apps or Taiwan news (check other blog for must have apps in Taiwan ).
A. Christmas and Winter in Taipei (The North)
Weather Reality Cool, Damp, and Windy
Average Temperature (Taipei) High: $18*C / Low: $13*C
The foreigner Experience "It feels much colder than it looks." The persistent cloud cover and high humidity mean the air is heavy and cold. Buildings lack central heating, so the chill gets inside and never leaves.
What to Wear: Layers, but most importantly: a windproof, waterproof jacket. You need to block the damp chill. Locals wear thick jackets, scarves, socks , and even wool hats indoors!
House preparedness As mentioned above Buildings lack central heating why? because Taiwan does not get snow they never really needed to design houses with central heating and that is fine ,Even during night if doesn’t get so cold that you life is endangered but on occasions if the temperature is >10*C you should sleep with a comforter for extra warmth . they are not that expensive. Taiwan Share House provides each bed with comforters
Weather Reality Mild, Sunny, and Dry
Average Temperature (Kaohsiung) High: $22*C / Low: $15*C
The foreigner Experience "It's the best time of year." Outside of Taipei i have only ever lived in Kaohsiung but since Taipei is the northernmost city in Taiwan it experiences more subtropical climate than all other areas in Taiwan thus being a bit more colder than regions that are in high altitudes (ie) Jade mountain, La La mountain ,Nantou etc. The South is much drier and clearer in winter. You can often get away with just a sweater and light jacket during the day.
📢 The Foreigner Perspective
Your feeling of "cold" is relative to where you come from! If you're from a tropical place like the Philippines or Thailand, $15*C will feel like a deep freeze, and you will need the thickest jacket you own. If you are from Canada, America or Northern Europe like Germany , Finland, Belgium , England or from a region that has a low climate because of altitude, 15*C will feel like a mild autumn, but the dampness will still surprise you.
This is the season of sweat. Summer in Taiwan is long, hot, and highly humid.
Vibe: Sweltering heat, intense sunshine, and frequent afternoon thunderstorms (the best way to cool things down).
Typhoon Season: The main typhoon risk runs from July to September. You should expect 3-4 major typhoons each year. You'll learn to follow the Central Weather Administration app closely, and you'll get a free, mandatory day off if the city declares a typhoon holiday! Besides this except some swings in Taipei weather during the daytime. Sometimes it will we sunny the whole day and then next it just turns into a shower storm so always walk with your umbrella in Taipei.Taipei weather is often called humid and in the summer you would feel it.
The foreigner Experience in Taiwan summer weather." Since it feels a lot hotter than it is because of the humidity many people tend to hide during the midday sun. Especially if you are coming from a much cooler part of the globe like the global north Europe , Finland, Denmark,Germany, Northern America .Many of the foreigners i know tend to travel at this point to escape the heat. Taipei activities and events also are organized later at night when it is much cooler to be outside.
Survival Tip: Stick to the night markets (they are cooler), and maximize your time in air-conditioned places like the MRT, malls, and libraries. Wear lighter thin clothes that can protect you from the hot sun and also allow cool ear to pass through.
Autumn is the consensus best time to be in Taiwan. The weather is stable, dry, and ideal for exploration.
Vibe: Perfect! The humidity drops, the skies are clear, and temperatures are beautifully managed. This is the best time for hiking, cycling, and island travel (like Penghu or Kinmen).
Temperature: Comfortable highs around 25*C–$28*C in the day, cooling off nicely at night.
The Must-Do: Plan your big outdoor adventures—from hiking Elephant Mountain to climbing high peaks—during this two-month window.
To truly survive and enjoy Taiwan's climate, you need two things:
A Good Umbrella/Rain Gear and some level of water proof shoes: Essential year-round.
Layers in Winter: Don't trust the thermometer reading in Taipei; trust how the damp chill feels.
Taiwan’s weather is unique, but it’s part of the adventure.
Ready to pack your bags? We have a complete guide to all the essentials you need, from waterproof jackets to the best apps for checking the typhoon forecast!
Stay with us Taiwan share house and learn all the tips to survive in Taiwan
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