Asia

Taiwan in February

Often Chinese New Year and the Lantern Festival. Beautiful, but trains and hotels sell out and many businesses close for days.

TradeoffsCool, highs near 67F (19C), damp in the north

Taroko Gorge, Taiwan — TaiwanPhoto: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0

The straight answer

February is a month of real tradeoffs in Taiwan. Often Chinese New Year and the Lantern Festival. Beautiful, but trains and hotels sell out and many businesses close for days.

Weather: Cool, highs near 67F (19C), damp in the north
Crowds: 4 of 5
Prices: 4 of 5

What February is like in Taiwan

February is cool and damp in the north, with highs near 67F (19C), and it is often the month of Chinese New Year and the Lantern Festival. Cities go quiet as families head home, many family restaurants and small shops close for days, and trains and hotels sell out around the holiday. Prices rise with demand.

It suits travelers who want to experience the holiday and the lanterns and can plan around closures. It is a weak pick for anyone who wants easy logistics or a quiet trip. If you want smooth travel and better weather, March after the holidays, or April, is the smarter choice.

Make the most of February

What is especially good about Taiwan this month.

Chinese New Year

Red decorations, temple visits, and family feasts fill the holiday. It is the biggest event of the year.

Pingxi sky lanterns

Around the Lantern Festival, on the 15th day of the lunar new year, sky lanterns rise over the Pingxi hills above Taipei.

Taiwan Lantern Festival

The national lantern festival moves to a different host city each year, with huge lantern displays.

What to pack for February

A waterproof jacket
Warm layers for cool, damp days
Comfortable shoes for crowded festival streets
A compact umbrella

Our timing tip

Book trains and hotels well ahead if your dates overlap the lunar holidays, and expect many small restaurants to close for several days.

Book Taiwan for February.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Taiwan
Opens a hotel search for Taiwan in February, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for February
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Taiwan
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Taiwan
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Taiwan for February. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in February

Chinese New Year

Late January to mid February, set by the lunar calendar

The biggest travel week of the year. Trains and flights sell out, many restaurants close for days, and cities go quiet as families head home.

Lantern Festival and Pingxi sky lanterns

The 15th day of the lunar new year, usually February or early March

The national Taiwan Lantern Festival moves to a different host city each year, while Pingxi releases sky lanterns in the hills above Taipei.

Things to do in Taiwan

Full guide

National Palace Museum

Go at opening on a weekday and head straight for the jade cabbage and the meat-shaped stone before the tour groups arrive.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Taipei night markets

Raohe is more compact and local than Shilin. Go hungry after 7pm and share everything.

Tickets and tours →

Sun Moon Lake

Cycle the lakeshore path and ride the ropeway. Weekdays in spring and fall are ideal; weekends fill with domestic tourists.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Alishan and the forest railway

Stay overnight for sunrise over the sea of clouds. Blossom season (roughly March to April) is the busiest time on the mountain.

Tickets and tours →

Taroko Gorge

The marble gorge was badly damaged by the April 2024 Hualien earthquake and some trails and road sections remain closed. Check the national park service before you plan around it.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Jiufen and the northeast coast

The hillside teahouse town is magical at dusk and packed on weekends. Combine with the Pingxi line and Shifen Waterfall.

Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Avoid weekends at Jiufen, Sun Moon Lake, and Alishan. On weekdays outside holidays they are completely different places.
Book the high-speed rail and any train home during Chinese New Year, Tomb Sweeping Day, and the Dragon Boat long weekend weeks ahead; tickets vanish.
Do the night markets on a weeknight and arrive when they open. By 9pm on a Saturday Shilin is a shuffle.
When the north is gray from November to March, flip the itinerary: spend more days in Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Kenting, where it is sunny.

Know before you go

Chinese New Year: many family restaurants, market stalls, and small shops close for several days. Major museums and department stores mostly stay open but run holiday hours.
Typhoons close mountain roads, suspend ferries to Green Island, Orchid Island, and Penghu, and can cancel domestic flights, usually for one to three days.
Taroko Gorge: large parts of the park were closed after the April 2024 earthquake and reopening has been gradual. Treat any Taroko plans as subject to change.
The National Palace Museum closes on Mondays; check current hours before you build a Taipei day around it.

Taiwan in February, quick answers

Is February a good time to visit Taiwan?

February is a month of real tradeoffs in Taiwan. Often Chinese New Year and the Lantern Festival. Beautiful, but trains and hotels sell out and many businesses close for days.

What is the weather like in Taiwan in February?

Cool, highs near 67F (19C), damp in the north.

Is Taiwan crowded in February?

Taiwan is busy in February, though mornings and late afternoons stay workable.

What is happening in Taiwan in February?

Chinese New Year (late january to mid february, set by the lunar calendar); Lantern Festival and Pingxi sky lanterns (the 15th day of the lunar new year, usually february or early march).