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Voykit

When to go · Taiwan

Taiwan in May

Mixed month. Plum rains start late in the month; firefly season in the hills.

Key facts

Verdict
Mixed
Crowds
Medium
Taiwan
Prices
Medium
Taiwan

Verdict

MixedVoykit month rating for Taiwan

Plum rains start late in the month; firefly season in the hills.

Is another month better than May?

May is rated mixed. These months rate higher:

Weather in May

  • North and Taipei · Taipei, Keelung, Jiufen, Yilanrainy

    Humid subtropical: the winter north-east monsoon brings grey drizzle to Keelung, Jiufen and Yilan Oct–Mar; plum rains May–Jun; 35 °C (95 °F) afternoons Jul–Aug.

  • West and south · Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Kentingrainy

    Dry, sunny winters (the best time for the south); wet, hot summers with afternoon storms. Air quality dips on still winter days.

  • East coast · Hualien, Taroko, Taitung, East Rift Valleybest weather

    The coast that typhoons hit first; rockfall closes roads after heavy rain. Winter is cool and often cloudy.

  • Central mountains · Alishan, Hehuan Mountain, Sun Moon Lake, Yushanrainy

    Cool to cold at altitude; frost and occasional snow on Hehuan in winter. Mornings clear, clouds by noon.

  • Outlying islands · Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu, Green Island, Orchid Islandbest weather

    Strong winter winds cancel boats and flights to Penghu and Matsu; summer is the island season. Fog grounds Matsu and Kinmen flights in spring.

  • Central Taiwan: Taichung basin · Taichung, Changhua, Miaolibest weather

    Hot and humid Jul–Aug, 33 °C (91 °F)+; afternoon thunderstorms Jun–Sep.

  • Central Taiwan: Nantou mountains · Sun Moon Lake, Puli, Cingjingbest weather

    5–8 °C (9–14 °F) cooler than the basin; Cingjing at 1,700 m gets cold nights in winter.

  • Eastern Taiwan: East coast (Yilan to Taitung) · Pacific-facing strip between the mountains and the seabest weather

    Yilan is one of the wettest parts of Taiwan year-round; the south end (Taitung) is drier. Typhoons July–September can close roads and cancel trains.

  • Matsu: Matsu islands · Nangan, Beigan, Dongyinbest weather

    Blue Tears runs from early April to at least July, best on light southerly wind. Fog is common March–May and can ground flights. Typhoons are possible August–September.

  • Penghu: Penghu main islands · Magong, Huxi, Baisha, Xiyubest weather

    April–September is hot and humid, usually above 30 °C (86 °F), and is the high season. October–February is the windy low season. March–April and September are the sweet spots: warm water, working boats, thinner crowds.

  • Southern Taiwan: Tainan / Kaohsiung · southwest plain and harbourrainy

    Hot and humid May–Sep; typhoons Jul–Sep can shut ferries and flights for a day. Winters are mild and dry.

  • Southern Taiwan: Kenting / Pingtung · southern tiprainy

    Warm year-round; the wet season and typhoons run May–Sep. Best beach months are Mar–Jun and Oct–Nov.

  • Southern Taiwan: Alishan / Chiayi highlands · central mountainsbest weather

    Cooler than the plain; sunrise trips need a pre-dawn start and a jacket.

  • Taipei29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 14 rain days
  • Baisha29 °C (84 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 10 rain days
  • Bali District27 °C (81 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 4 rain days
  • Banqiao27 °C (81 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 12 rain days
  • Beigan22 °C (72 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 9 rain days
  • Beigang30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 6 rain days
  • Beinan31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 8 rain days
  • Beipu27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 9 rain days
  • Caotun27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 7 rain days
  • Changbin31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 9 rain days
  • Changhua County29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 12 rain days
  • Changhua30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 12 rain days
  • Chenggong29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 4 rain days
  • Chiayi County31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 9 rain days
  • Chiayi31 °C (88 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 11 rain days
  • Chishang30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 10 rain days
  • Chupei30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 7 rain days
  • Cimei26 °C (79 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 8 rain days
  • Daren30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 12 rain days
  • Datong Township27 °C (81 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 10 rain days
  • Dawu31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 6 rain days
  • Donghe29 °C (84 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 15 rain days
  • Dongshan27 °C (81 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 8 rain days
  • Dongyin25 °C (77 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 7 rain days
  • Douliu30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 10 rain days
  • Dounan27 °C (81 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days
  • Fulong27 °C (81 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 4 rain days
  • Gongliao27 °C (81 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 4 rain days
  • Green Island28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days
  • Guangfu28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 16 rain days
  • Guanzihling30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 5 rain days
  • Haiduan30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 9 rain days
  • Hsinchu29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 13 rain days
  • Hualien29 °C (84 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 16 rain days
  • Huwei29 °C (84 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 9 rain days
  • Huxi26 °C (79 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 3 rain days
  • Jhushan27 °C (81 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 11 rain days
  • Jiaoxi26 °C (79 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 5 rain days
  • Jibei27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 4 rain days
  • Jiji27 °C (81 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 9 rain days
  • Jinguashi25 °C (77 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 6 rain days
  • Jinshan26 °C (79 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 9 rain days
  • Jiufen28 °C (82 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 15 rain days
  • Keelung27 °C (81 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 16 rain days
  • Kinmen27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 11 rain days
  • Linkou27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 6 rain days
  • Lukang27 °C (81 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days
  • Luodong27 °C (81 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 10 rain days
  • Luzhou District27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 10 rain days
  • Makung28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 7 rain days
  • Miaoli29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 10 rain days
  • Nanao27 °C (81 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 10 rain days
  • Nantou28 °C (82 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 10 rain days
  • Neiwan29 °C (84 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 16 rain days
  • New Taipei27 °C (81 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 9 rain days
  • Pinglin27 °C (81 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 12 rain days
  • Pingtung County30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 6 rain days
  • Pingtung33 °C (91 °F) / 25 °C (77 °F), 12 rain days
  • Pingxi25 °C (77 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 10 rain days
  • Puli29 °C (84 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 16 rain days
  • Ren'ai24 °C (75 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 16 rain days
  • Ruisui27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 10 rain days
  • Sanchong27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 12 rain days
  • Sanxia29 °C (84 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 11 rain days
  • Sanzhi27 °C (81 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 8 rain days
  • Shenkeng27 °C (81 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 10 rain days
  • Shiding27 °C (81 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 10 rain days
  • Shimen27 °C (81 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 9 rain days
  • Shuangxi27 °C (81 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 10 rain days
  • Shuili27 °C (81 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 9 rain days
  • Shulin27 °C (81 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 9 rain days
  • Smangus22 °C (72 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 11 rain days
  • Suao27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 5 rain days
  • Taishan District27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 12 rain days
  • Taitung29 °C (84 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 13 rain days
  • Tamsui29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 14 rain days
  • Taoyuan29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 14 rain days
  • Toucheng28 °C (82 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 16 rain days
  • Toufen27 °C (81 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 10 rain days
  • Tucheng29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 15 rain days
  • Tuku28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 10 rain days
  • Wanli27 °C (81 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 9 rain days
  • Wugu27 °C (81 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 3 rain days
  • Wujie27 °C (81 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 10 rain days
  • Wulai30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 12 rain days
  • Xiluo28 °C (82 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 8 rain days
  • Xindian27 °C (81 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 8 rain days
  • Xinzhuang27 °C (81 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 10 rain days
  • Xizhi27 °C (81 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 9 rain days
  • Yilan28 °C (82 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 17 rain days
  • Yingge27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 11 rain days
  • Yonghe27 °C (81 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 10 rain days
  • Yongjing30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 11 rain days
  • Yuanlin30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 5 rain days
  • Yuanshan27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 9 rain days
  • Yuli28 °C (82 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 16 rain days
  • Zhenxibao23 °C (73 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 16 rain days
  • Zhonghe27 °C (81 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 10 rain days
  • Zhudong29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 9 rain days
  • Zhunan28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 8 rain days
  • Kaohsiung31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 11 rain days
  • Taichung30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 13 rain days
  • Tainan31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 11 rain days

Festivals and holidays

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

  • Labour Day

    1 May

    A national holiday for everyone since 2025 — check.

  • Plum rains

    May to mid June · Taipei

    Wet and humid; carry an umbrella.

Crowds and prices

Crowds · Taiwan
Medium
Prices · Taiwan
Medium

Compare two months

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Taiwan, side by side.

  • Verdict

    May: Mixed

    Apr: Great (better)

  • Crowds

    May: Medium

    Apr: Medium

  • Prices

    May: Medium

    Apr: Medium

  • Festivals listed

    May: 2

    Apr: 3

May: Plum rains start late in the month; firefly season in the hills.

April: Warm and mostly dry; Tomb Sweeping long weekend fills trains.

Taiwan: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.

What to pack

  • A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Where to go in May

Rated best or good this month

  • East coast

    Best weather of the year (Hualien, Taroko, Taitung, East Rift Valley)

  • Outlying islands

    Best weather of the year (Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu, Green Island, Orchid Island)

  • Baisha

    Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct

  • Beigang

    Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov (check)

  • Beinan

    Best months: Oct–May

  • Changbin

    Best months: Oct–May

  • Chenggong

    Best months: Oct–May

  • Chishang

    Best months: Oct–May

  • Cimei

    Best months: May–Jun, Sep

  • Datong Township

    Best months: Mar–May, Sep–Nov

  • Dongshan

    Best months: Mar–May, Sep–Nov

  • Fulong

    Best months: Apr–Oct