My 2018 trip to Taiwan—my first comprehensive exploration of the country, but my second visit overall—did not go according to plan. I’m not talking about my planning, of course; that was rock-solid.
No, I’m talking about the weather. While I anticipated some rain, I don’t exaggerate when I say that this particular trip saw days on end of torrential rain, with wind so strong it literally snapped several of the umbrellas I purchased. A few days into the trip, in fact, I nearly pulled the plug and flew back to Bangkok (where I was living at the time).
Obviously, I ended up getting over the trauma of this trip, but it’s still one I think back to often. And it’s going to be the frame for my answer to the question that drove you to this website: Why is Taiwan so rainy?
Why Does it Rain So Much in Taiwan?
In some sense, the scientific explanation for Taiwan rain is surprisingly simple. During the winter time, monsoon rains from continental Asia travel eastward across Taiwan, and in particular the northern reaches of the island near Taipei. In the summer, meanwhile, the country is directly in the path of typhoons and tropical storms that form in the Western Pacific.
The convergence of these weather patterns directly over Taiwan, and the island’s small size more broadly, means that it’s almost always raining somewhere in Taiwan—and, very often, raining everywhere in Taiwan. This obviously seems less apocalyptic when you live there, as I did for nearly two years, but it’s unfortunately pretty easy for travelers to strike out on the weather front.
Ways to Avoid Rain in Taiwan
Come in the right season
Now obviously, as I’ve already stated, there is no substantial “dry season” in Taiwan, as a whole. Still, given that there are two monsoons that affect the country at different times of year, timing your trip to avoid the ones with the greatest chance of impacting your destination of choice makes for a great insurance policy.
Go north (or south)
The short answer as to how is that if you come to the north in the summer, or the south in the winter, you vastly tip the scales in your favor, though obviously there’s some nuance to this. You won’t avoid rainy weather in Taiwan everywhere you go, but you can guarantee yourself at least a few days in sun.
Lean into the indoors
One reason local Taiwanese don’t get bent out of shape by the rain? They spend a lot of their lives indoors. From shopping malls like Taipei 101, to cultural institutions like the National Palace Museum, to various temples, aquariums and restaurants, it’s easy to enjoy your trip to Taiwan without being outside at all.
Practice your night photography
As far as I’m concerned, rain in Taiwan makes for absolutely atrocious photography, at least as far as many landscapes and pictures of landmarks are concerned. The best way to avoid a grey sky? Wait for it to turn black. Night photography isn’t weather-dependent—unless, of course, it’s absolute pouring.
Set realistic expectations beforehand
Another reason Taiwanese are almost never upset about the rainy weather that plagues their country? They’ve made peace with it. If you can accept in advance that you’ll be dealing with a certain number of rainy days on your trip (as I recently did before going to Lanyu), you’ll be less bothered when they do, and more thankful for the sun.
Will Rainy Weather Ruin Your Trip to Taiwan?
Bad weather luck isn’t uncommon for travelers to Taiwan. But having lived in the country , I can safely say my 2018 trip was uncommonly unlucky. Never during the entire time I lived in Taiwan did I experience such heavy rain for as sustained a period I did (and in as many places as I did) back then. Just as Taiwan’s propensity for rain is the result of an unfortunate confluence, so too were the perpetual gray skies than hung over that trip.
On the other hand, a big part of how bad weather in Taiwan can impact your trip is mental. In some sense, I think it’s best to prepare yourself for the likelihood of rain, clouds and wind every day, so that you can be pleasantly surprised if you see sunshine or blue skies. The alternative is spending your entire trip shocked and flat-footed, and leaving the country feeling relieved.
Other FAQ About Rainy Weather in Taiwan
Is Taiwan always cloudy?
Taiwan’s capital Taipei is one of the rainiest cities in the world, with rain falling there nearly two out of every three days of the year. Given what a huge proportion of Taiwan’s population lives in and around Taipei, it can feel like it’s always cloudy in Taiwan. However, blue skies and sun are common, especially during the winter in the southern part of the island.
Does it rain a lot in Taipei?
Taipei has about 220 rainy days per year, making it one of the rainiest cities in the world. By comparison, New York sees about 120 days of rain per year, Paris sees 110 and even famously rainy London only sees about 105. As a general rule, you should expect that rain will fall at some point almost every day you’re in Taipei.
How long is the rainy season in Taiwan?
Taiwan has two rainy seasons: The winter one, which originates on the Asian continent and primarily affects Taipei and environs, and the tropical one, which moves westward from the Pacific and affects the entire island. Unfortunately, one of these patterns usually tends to begin right as the other is ending; it’s arguably, therefore, that it’s always the rainy season in Taiwan.
The Bottom Line
Why is Taiwan so rainy? The technical answer is that it sits at the convergence of the several monsoons, which overlap and inundate at least part of the island basically year-round. If there’s not an actual typhoon hitting from the east, then there’s tropical rain heading in from Vietnam, Thailand or China in the west. Indeed, “why” is not really the most important question—you can’t change the weather, after all. What you can do is adopt a Taiwan travel strategy that’s as weather-proof as possible. A great way to to do this? Hire me to plan your trip to Taiwan. Come rain or shine, the destinations and experiences I curate for you will prove utterly unforgettable.
