Taipei is intensely hot, particularly in summer, due to its location in a natural basin that traps heat, high humidity, the urban heat island effect, and surrounding mountains that block wind circulation. The city's concrete infrastructure absorbs heat, creating severe, suffocating, and often unbearable temperatures, especially from June to September.
Much of Greater Taipei is contained within a basin that traps anthropogenic heat such as vehicle exhaust, restricts air circulation and exaggerates nighttime temperatures. Several districts in and around the capital show a severe urban heat island effect due to exceptional population and construction densities.
🌞 Weather: Summer in Taiwan can get pretty hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from 25°C to 33°C (77°F to 91°F), but it often feels warmer with the humidity. July and August are peak summer months, and they can be sweltering in the cities.
Taiwan's climate is subtropical, except for the very southern part of the island, which is tropical. Summers are long and hot, lasting from April or May to September or October. The winters are short and mild, although snow does fall in the mountains and occasionally at lower elevations in the north.
The hot season lasts for 3.3 months, from June 8 to September 16, with an average daily high temperature above 87°F. The hottest month of the year in Taipei is July, with an average high of 92°F and low of 80°F.
We advise: Exercise normal safety precautions in Taiwan. Typhoons occur during the wet season from May to November, causing heavy rain, flooding and strong winds and can disrupt essential services and transport.
Kenting is one of the places with the most beach culture in Taiwan. Kenting has several sand beaches, ideal for swimming and sunbathing, easily accessible from the town. Besides beaches, Kenting also boasts of a natural park that is well worth visiting.
Safe, Clean & Welcoming – A Big Reason Americans Love Traveling to Taiwan. Safety is the #1 factor for American travelers—and Taiwan ranks among the safest countries in Asia. For American travelers, safety, cleanliness, and comfort are non-negotiable—and Taiwan consistently exceeds expectations.
Taiwan's absolute humidity ranges from 0.59 to 0.79 of an inch and is generally much higher in summer than in winter. Taipei has average humidity of 0.85 in July and 0.42 in February. Taipei's relative humidity averages 82 per cent annually. The relative humidity decreases from north to south.
Yes, you can absolutely wear red in Taiwan; it's a very auspicious color symbolizing good fortune, happiness, and celebration, used extensively in festivals, weddings, and temples, though you should avoid writing someone's name in red ink as it's considered bad luck and a sign of death. Red clothing is common and welcomed, especially during festive times, and generally, you can wear whatever you like, with few restrictions.Â
For example, from 1985 to 2019, the average height of males and females in Taiwan increased from 169.2 cm to 173.5 cm and from 158.3 cm to 160.7 cm, respectively; those for males and females in the United Kingdom increased from 176.4 cm to 178.2 cm and from 162.7 cm to 163.9 cm, respectively5,6,7,8,9,10.
Taiwan is a rich, high-income, technologically advanced economy, ranking high globally in GDP per capita and known for its "Taiwan Miracle" of rapid development, strong tech sector (especially semiconductors), and universal healthcare. Despite this wealth, some locals perceive less prosperity due to high property costs and a gap between the thriving tech sector and lower wages in other industries, creating a contrast between national wealth and individual financial feel.Â
Taiwan participates in the Olympics as "Chinese Taipei" due to political pressure from mainland China, which claims Taiwan as its territory, forcing a compromise where Taiwan competes under a neutral name, flag, and anthem to avoid being excluded entirely from international sporting events. This stems from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognizing the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1971 and subsequent agreements like the 1981 Nagoya Resolution, which allows Taiwan's Olympic Committee to exist under specific conditions.Â
Taiwan's mountainous areas were the first to feel the effects, with temperatures down to the freezing point and rare snowfall. While the highest elevations of the country have at least some snow each winter, some places saw their first snow in several years on Friday.
Putting an arm around someone's shoulder, winking, and pointing with your index finger are all considered rude gestures. You may point with an open hand. Palms facing outward and in front of the face moving back and forth means “no”. Nervous movements, such as tapping your foot, are considered rude.
A Brookings Institution report that looked at surveys conducted in Taiwan between February and April finds that 40.5% of respondents said they held a negative view of the United States, up from 24.2% in July 2024.
Can you brush your teeth with tap water in Taiwan?
For safety, it is advisable to rely on bottled water or to thoroughly boil tap water before consumption. Tap water is considered safe for brushing the teeth.
Travel. Heroin, morphine, opium, cocaine, coca leaves, poppy, poppy seeds, amphetamine, marijuana, marijuana seeds, marijuana derivatives containing over 10 ppm of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), derived products of the said materials, etc. are prohibited.
Two weeks is a good amount of time if you want to do a full circle around Taiwan. You won't be able to hit every stop along the way (unless you are willing to rush and change hotels/locations almost every night). But you can at least cover most of the main ones.
