December is when Taiwan cools down, the summer typhoon season is long gone and the cities fill up with Christmas lights before the big New Year’s Eve countdown. It is also a month where the weather depends a lot on where you are, so a trip to Taipei feels very different from a trip to Kaohsiung or Kenting. This guide covers the weather, what to pack, the events worth planning around in December 2026 and where to go.

Taiwan in December is mild rather than cold. Taipei averages about 21°C in the day and 16°C at night, with drizzle on roughly 13 days of the month, while Kaohsiung in the south is warmer (around 25°C) and mostly dry. The highlights are New Taipei Christmasland (13 November to 27 December 2026), the Taipei 101 New Year’s Eve fireworks, late maple leaves in the mountains, hot springs, and the start of strawberry season. Pack layers and a light rain jacket, and book New Year’s Eve stays early.

1. Taiwan weather in December: north vs south

The northeast monsoon is the main thing to know. It brings cooler air and frequent light rain to the north and east coast, while the south sits in a rain shadow and stays sunny. Here is how the two main cities compare, using the Central Weather Administration’s 1991-2020 averages:

Averages hide the cold fronts, though. When a strong cold air mass arrives, Taipei can stay around 17-18°C all day, nights drop into the low teens, and the high mountains can get ice or snow. That happened on 1-2 January 2026, for example. These spells usually last a few days, so check the forecast the week before you fly.

2. What to wear in Taiwan in December

Most homes and many small restaurants in Taiwan have no central heating, so 15°C with damp air feels colder than the number suggests. Think layers rather than one heavy coat:

• Base layers – T-shirts or long sleeves for the city, which is still warm when the sun is out.
• A sweater or fleece – for evenings, air-conditioned malls and the MRT.
• A light waterproof jacket – more useful in Taipei than an umbrella on windy days.
• A warm jacket, hat and gloves – only if you are heading up to Alishan, Hehuanshan or other high areas, where it gets close to freezing at night.
• Shoes that cope with wet streets – Taipei’s tiled arcades get slippery in the rain.
• Shorts and sandals – worth packing if you are going to Kaohsiung or Kenting.

3. Christmas in Taiwan: New Taipei Christmasland 2026

Christmas is not a public holiday in Taiwan, and 25 December is a normal working day. That said, the country goes all in on the decorations, and the biggest show is New Taipei Christmasland in Banqiao, a short ride from Taipei Main Station by high speed rail, Taiwan Railway or the MRT Blue Line (Banqiao Station).

• Dates – 13 November to 27 December 2026 (45 days).
• Lights – on every evening from 17:30 to 23:00.
• Main areas – New Taipei City Plaza, Banqiao Station front square, Wanping Park and Fuzhong Plaza, plus smaller light zones in Tamsui, Zhonghe, Yingge, Sanchong, Xinzhuang, Xindian and Wugu this year.
• Theme – the 2026 edition teams up with Kanahei’s Small Animals, with a giant hot air balloon tree and a light projection show on the city government building.
• Extras – Christmas concerts on 12 and 13 December, plus weekly events like a German Christmas market, a style market and a Christmas run.

Weekday evenings are much calmer than weekends. If you want photos without a wall of people, go right after the lights come on.

4. New Year’s Eve at Taipei 101

The Taipei 101 fireworks are the biggest night of the year in Taiwan. For the 2025-26 countdown, the show lasted six minutes and tens of thousands of people packed the plaza outside Taipei City Hall, with more watching from around Xinyi. The 2026-27 line-up and transport plans are usually announced in December, so check Taipei City’s announcements closer to the date.

• Book your room early – hotels in Xinyi and along the MRT Red Line fill up fast for 31 December.
• Pick your spot by afternoon – the City Hall concert area and Elephant Mountain trail both get crowded hours before midnight.
• Plan your way back – expect huge lines at Taipei 101 and City Hall stations, so walking a few stations away often saves time.
• Have a backup if it rains – northern Taiwan is often wet at the end of December, so bring a rain jacket instead of an umbrella in the crowds.

New Year’s Day (1 January) is a public holiday, so expect busy trains and attractions that day. If you have more time in the city, our first-timer’s guide to things to do in Taipei covers Elephant Mountain and other spots.

5. Catch the last maple leaves in the mountains

Taiwan’s autumn colours come late and only at altitude. Many people do not realise you can still see red maples in December, which makes it a nice surprise for a winter trip.

• Fushoushan Farm (Taichung, Lishan area) – one of the earliest spots. The farm says its Japanese-style garden is at its best from mid-November to early December.
• Aowanda Forest Recreation Area (Nantou) – known for its maple trail and popular with locals, usually best in late November and December.
• Taipingshan (Yilan) – higher up, often still colourful in December and into January.

Timing shifts every year with the weather, and these areas are cold and far from the cities, so check the recreation areas’ own pages or social accounts for current leaf reports and any visitor limits before you go.

6. Warm up in a hot spring

December is hot spring season in Taiwan, and you do not need to leave Taipei for one. Beitou is about 30 minutes from downtown by MRT, with Xinbeitou Station right at the entrance of the valley.

• Thermal Valley – a steaming pool where the water reaches 80-100°C. It is for looking, not bathing.
• Beitou Hot Spring Museum – the former public bathhouse, now a heritage building with exhibits on the area’s history.
• Public and private baths – choose between Japanese-style bathhouses, hotel pools and private rooms by the hour. Beitou has white sulfur, green sulfur and iron sulfur water.
• Beitou Stream – only foot soaking is allowed in the stream itself.

If you want a whole hot spring town, Jiaoxi in Yilan is another easy trip from Taipei by train or bus and pairs well with a Taipingshan maple visit.

7. Go strawberry picking

Taiwan’s U-pick strawberry season runs from December to April, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. Dahu Township in Miaoli County is the main growing area and the centre of the picking trend, with farms lining the roads around town. Early December can be the very start of the season, so the second half of the month usually has more fruit. Farms in Taipei’s Neihu district are a closer option if you only have half a day.

8. Head south for sunshine

If grey skies in Taipei get you down, the high speed rail gets you to Kaohsiung (Zuoying) in about two hours. December is one of the best months in the south: dry, sunny and warm enough for T-shirts in the day.

• Kaohsiung – harbour walks, Pier-2 Art Center and night markets without the summer heat.
• Tainan – temples, old streets and food, best explored on foot in cool weather.
• Kenting – beaches and coastal scenery at the southern tip. It is breezy in winter, so it is better for walks and views than swimming.

A simple December route is a few days in Taipei for the lights and city life, then a train south to finish somewhere sunny.

9. Before you go

• Entry – citizens of the US, Australia, EU countries and the UK (British Citizen passports) can visit visa-free for up to 90 days. Check the list for your passport.
• Arrival card – fill in the online immigration arrival card within 7 days before you arrive.
• Busy dates – weekends at Christmasland, 31 December in Taipei and 1 January are the peak days, so book rooms and train seats early.
• Staying longer – if you are thinking of working remotely through winter, see our Taiwan digital nomad guide for visa options and where to base yourself.

FAQ

Is December a good time to visit Taiwan?

Yes. It is outside typhoon season, cooler than summer and full of seasonal events. The trade-off is drizzly, grey days in the north, so mix Taipei with time in the south if you want guaranteed sunshine.

Is it cold in Taiwan in December?

Not by European or North American standards. Taipei averages 16-21°C and Kaohsiung 18-25°C. It feels colder indoors because of the damp air and lack of heating, and the mountains can get close to freezing.

Does it snow in Taiwan in December?

Not in the cities. Snow or ice can appear on the high mountains, such as Hehuanshan, during strong cold fronts, but it is never guaranteed and is more common in January and February. Roads up there can close or require snow chains when it happens.

Is Christmas a holiday in Taiwan?

No. Shops, offices and attractions run as normal on 25 December. You will still find plenty of decorations, Christmas markets and light shows, especially at New Taipei Christmasland.

How early should I book for New Year’s Eve in Taipei?

As early as you can. Rooms near Taipei 101 and along the MRT lines that serve Xinyi are the first to sell out, and prices rise as the date gets closer.

Final thoughts

December is an easy month to enjoy Taiwan if you plan around the weather. Spend your evenings under the Christmas lights in Banqiao, save a night for the Taipei 101 fireworks, and balance the drizzle up north with a hot spring, a day in the mountains or a few sunny days in the south. Pack layers, keep an eye on cold front forecasts and book the busy dates early.