The short answer: come in October or November if you can, with December and March to April close behind. That's when Tainan is warm, dry and easy to walk. Summer is hot and wet, and winter is mild enough that it never really feels like winter. There is no bad time to come, though. There's just a right way to do each season.
The numbers below are Tainan's official monthly averages for 1991 to 2020, from Taiwan's Central Weather Administration. Everything else comes from what we've learned living here.
Tainan's weather, month by month
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rain | Rainy days | Days over 30°C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 23°C / 73°F | 15°C / 58°F | 21 mm | 4 | 0 |
| Feb | 24°C / 75°F | 15°C / 60°F | 22 mm | 4 | 1 |
| Mar | 27°C / 80°F | 18°C / 64°F | 30 mm | 4 | 4 |
| Apr | 29°C / 85°F | 22°C / 71°F | 70 mm | 6 | 15 |
| May | 31°C / 89°F | 25°C / 76°F | 166 mm | 9 | 25 |
| Jun | 32°C / 90°F | 26°C / 79°F | 370 mm | 12 | 26 |
| Jul | 33°C / 91°F | 27°C / 80°F | 375 mm | 13 | 29 |
| Aug | 33°C / 91°F | 26°C / 79°F | 466 mm | 16 | 28 |
| Sep | 32°C / 90°F | 26°C / 78°F | 170 mm | 8 | 28 |
| Oct | 31°C / 87°F | 23°C / 74°F | 31 mm | 3 | 24 |
| Nov | 28°C / 83°F | 20°C / 68°F | 24 mm | 2 | 6 |
| Dec | 24°C / 76°F | 16°C / 62°F | 16 mm | 3 | 0 |
Rainy days are days with any measurable rain. Humidity sits around 74 to 78% all year, so even the mild months feel softer and warmer than the thermometer says.
Autumn (October to November): the best time
The heat eases, the rain stops, and the city is at its most walkable. October still reaches about 31°C (87°F) in the afternoon, but it averages under three rainy days, and November cools to about 28°C (83°F). This is the season for long days on foot in the old town.
- Coffee harvest. Roughly October to November, the cherries ripen on Dongshan's coffee road in the hills. → Dongshan coffee
- Hot spring season starts. Guanziling's mud springs are best from October to March. → Guanziling day trip
- The spoonbills arrive. Black-faced spoonbills winter on the Qigu coast from roughly October to March. → Qigu salt coast
Winter (December to February): mild and dry
Tainan's winter is gentle: afternoons around 23 to 24°C (73 to 75°F), cool mornings and evenings around 15°C (59°F), and very little rain. Bring a light layer for the evening and you're set. It's also the season for the city's biggest holiday, which changes how the city works for a few days.
- Lunar New Year. In 2027, Lunar New Year's Eve is Friday, February 5, and New Year's Day is Saturday, February 6. Some sights close on the eve (Qigu Salt Mountain does), and many family-run food shops take time off around the holiday, so check before you go.
- Yanshui Beehive Fireworks. Held on the 14th and 15th days of the first lunar month in Yanshui District, in the north of Tainan, where fireworks are fired into the crowd rather than the sky. By the lunar calendar that falls on February 19 and 20, 2027. Confirm the dates with the city before you plan around it.
- Mullet roe season. In winter, look for mullet roe (烏魚子) at the coastal fish market. → Xingda fish market
Spring (March to April): warm and mostly dry
Spring warms quickly, from about 27°C (80°F) in March to 29°C (85°F) in April, and the rain stays light until May. It's the other sweet spot, and the advice we give most often is "spring or autumn if you can".
- Wisteria in the hills. In spring, Ruili's slopes bloom purple, an easy add-on to the coffee day trip in Chiayi. → Chiayi coffee day trip
- Mazu's birthday. The 23rd day of the third lunar month, April 29 in 2027, is a big day at the city's Mazu temples. → Tainan temples
Summer (May to September): hot, wet, and still worth it
From May to September the high is above 30°C (86°F) on most days, and the nights stay warm. May and June bring the plum rain season, and June to August are the wettest months of the year, with 370 to 466 mm of rain a month. Typhoon season runs through summer into early autumn. In a typical season, Taiwan's weather agency expects three to five typhoons to come near Taiwan.
None of that is a reason to stay away. It just changes the rhythm. Do what the city does: temples and breakfast in the cool early morning, an indoor retreat from the midday heat (a café, Hayashi, a museum), then back out as the light goes for Shennong Street, the markets and dinner. Our itineraries are built that way.
- Typhoon days. When a typhoon comes close, the government can declare a typhoon day, and many sights close (Qigu Salt Mountain does). Keep a day of slack in your plan and follow the Central Weather Administration forecast.
- Mango season. Early summer is mango season. In 2026, the Tainan International Mango Festival ran from June 27 to July 12.
- Lotus season. In 2026, Baihe Lotus Season in Baihe District opened on May 23 and ran to late July.
Festivals and holidays in 2027
Many of these follow the lunar calendar, so the dates move every year. Lunar dates below are from the Hong Kong Observatory's 2027 calendar.
| Date (2027) | What | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, Feb 5 | Lunar New Year's Eve | Some sights and many family-run shops close |
| Sat, Feb 6 | Lunar New Year | The biggest holiday of the year |
| Fri, Feb 19 and Sat, Feb 20 | Yanshui Beehive Fireworks | 14th and 15th of the first lunar month; confirm with the city |
| Sat, Feb 20 | Lantern Festival | 15th of the first lunar month |
| Thu, Apr 29 | Mazu's birthday | 23rd of the third lunar month |
| Wed, Jun 9 | Dragon Boat Festival | 5th of the fifth lunar month |
| Wed, Sep 15 | Mid-Autumn Festival | 15th of the eighth lunar month |
Taiwan's public holidays often create long weekends, so trains and hotels fill up around them. Book ahead if your dates touch one.
So when should you come?
If you can choose: October or November. If you can't, come anyway and work with the season: winter for easy mild days and hot springs, spring for warm walking weather, summer for early mornings, late nights and a slower middle of the day. Then decide how many days you need and pick an itinerary.