December in Taipei is one of the year's driest months, with about 62mm of rainfall over roughly 13 days. That's the single most practical thing to know. After the October downpours (261mm) and the sticky 33°C summers, December settles into a cool, overcast rhythm. Daytime highs tend to sit around 20°C (69°F), dropping to about 15°C (59°F) after dark. Not cold by Seoul or Tokyo standards, but enough that you'll want a proper jacket, especially when the wind picks up along the Tamsui River after sunset.
The city takes on a transitional mood this month. Christmas decorations go up across the Xinyi District, strung around the base of Taipei 101 and along the department stores on Songgao Road. Taiwan doesn't observe Christmas as a religious holiday, but the commercial side has taken hold over the past 15 years or so. The real energy builds toward December 31, when Taipei 101's countdown fireworks draw tens of thousands of spectators to the streets around Xinyi and up Elephant Mountain for the panoramic view. Hotel rates near Taipei 101 tend to climb 30-50% during the final week of the month.
To be fair, December's gray skies and persistent dampness won't suit everyone. Humidity still hovers at about 80%, and the overcast days can feel heavier than 20°C might suggest. But the trade-off is real. Crowds thin out compared to the Lunar New Year rush that typically hits in late January or February, night market queues at Shilin and Raohe move noticeably faster, and accommodation rates through most of December stay near the annual average. For visitors who prefer mild weather and shorter lines over beach days, December is a solid window to explore Taipei.
Why visit in December
- December averages 62mm of rain, making it the second-driest month after January (50mm). You'll get more dry walking days than in any month from March through October.
- Temperatures between 15-20°C (59-69°F) make outdoor sightseeing comfortable for hours. The Yangmingshan trails and Elephant Mountain hike are far more pleasant than in the 33°C summer months.
- The Taipei 101 New Year's Eve fireworks on December 31 remain one of East Asia's most photographed countdown events, visible from dozens of vantage points across the city.
- Night markets like Shilin and Raohe Street see shorter queues than during Lunar New Year or the October-November peak, with wait times at popular stalls often 10-15 minutes shorter.
- Cool weather makes December peak season for Beitou's hot springs, about 30 minutes by MRT from Taipei Main Station. The contrast between the cold air and 40°C spring water is at its best.
Worth knowing
- The northeast monsoon (dongbei jifeng) brings persistent overcast skies through most of December. Expect gray days and occasional drizzle, which can make the city feel gloomier than the mild temperatures suggest.
- Humidity stays at about 80% despite the cooler air, and the damp chill tends to feel colder than 15°C reads on paper. Indoor heating is uncommon in older buildings and budget hotels.
- The final week of December sees a noticeable price spike, with hotels in the Xinyi area often charging 30-50% above their November rates for New Year's Eve proximity.
- Daylight hours are the shortest of the year. Sunset comes around 5:10 PM in early December, which cuts outdoor sightseeing time compared to the 18-hour summer days.
Best for
Think twice if
December brings Taipei's coolest weather outside of January. The northeast monsoon pushes overcast skies and occasional light rain across the basin, though total rainfall is modest at 62mm. Mornings tend to start gray and cool around 15°C (59°F). Afternoons usually warm to about 20°C (69°F), though cold fronts from mainland China can temporarily drop nighttime readings to 10-12°C (50-54°F) a few times during the month. The dampness makes the cool air feel sharper than the numbers suggest. Sunny breaks do happen, typically 2-3 days in a row between frontal passages, and those days feel genuinely pleasant for walking the city.
Seasonal caution
- Occasional cold fronts (han liu) from mainland China can drop temperatures to 10-12°C (50-54°F) for 2-3 days at a time, arriving with stronger winds and difficult to predict more than 4-5 days in advance. Pack at least one warm mid-layer for these spells.
Year-round climate
Averages from the last 5 years.
| Month | Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 19 | 13 | 50 |
| Feb | 20 | 14 | 89 |
| Mar | 23 | 16 | 113 |
| Apr | 26 | 19 | 117 |
| May | 29 | 22 | 248 |
| Jun | 32 | 25 | 221 |
| Jul | 33 | 26 | 176 |
| Aug | 33 | 26 | 166 |
| Sep | 32 | 25 | 206 |
| Oct | 28 | 23 | 261 |
| Nov | 25 | 19 | 81 |
| Dec | 20 | 15 | 62 |
Headline events
Taipei 101 New Year's Eve Fireworks Countdown
December 31, fireworks begin at midnight
The annual countdown fireworks launched from Taipei 101 typically last about 300 seconds and are visible across much of the city. The event draws an estimated 1 million spectators to the Xinyi area and surrounding hills. Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan) and the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall grounds fill up hours before midnight. The MRT extends service to about 2:00 AM to handle the post-midnight crowds.
Best things to do in December
Beitou hot springs soaking
relaxationBeitou sits in a volcanic valley about 30 minutes by MRT from Taipei Main Station. The public thermal pools at Millennium Hot Spring use naturally heated sulfur water that runs around 40°C. Private spring rooms are available at dozens of hotels and bathhouses along Guangming Road. The sulfuric smell hits you as soon as you exit Xinbeitou Station.
December's average lows of 15°C make the contrast between cool air and 40°C spring water at its most satisfying. The cooler months are traditional hot spring season in Taiwan.Booking tipWeekday mornings see the lightest crowds at the public pools. Private rooms at the more popular bathhouses fill up on weekends, so consider a Thursday or Friday visit.
Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan) sunset hike
hikingA 20-minute climb from the Xiangshan MRT station (Red Line) leads to a series of rock platforms overlooking Taipei 101 and the Xinyi skyline. The trail is paved with stone steps, about 600 meters total. The final platform fits maybe 30-40 people comfortably.
December's 5:10 PM sunset means you can finish a workday or afternoon of sightseeing and still catch golden hour without a late hike. The cooler 20°C temperatures also make the steep climb far less sweaty than summer.Booking tipArrive at least 45 minutes before sunset for a good position on the main platform. On December 31, expect the trail to be packed from early afternoon onward.
Yangmingshan National Park hiking
hikingYangmingshan sits on the northern edge of Taipei, reachable by bus from Jiantan MRT in about 40 minutes. The park covers volcanic terrain with trails ranging from the paved, flat Erziping Trail to the steeper Qixingshan Peak trail (1,120 meters elevation). Steam vents at Xiaoyoukeng release sulfurous gas visible from the roadside.
December temperatures on Yangmingshan run 5-8°C cooler than central Taipei, making the 2-3 hour hikes comfortable rather than exhausting. The lower humidity also improves visibility on clear days. Occasional frost appears at the higher elevations.Shilin Night Market evening walk
foodShilin Night Market sprawls across several blocks near Jiantan MRT station. The underground food court and the open-air lanes above it hold hundreds of stalls selling oyster omelets, stinky tofu, pepper buns, and grilled squid. The noise of sizzling oil and vendors calling out mixes with pop music from the game stalls.
The 15-18°C evening temperatures in December make browsing the crowded, narrow market lanes far more comfortable than during the 33°C summer months. Queue times at popular stalls like the pepper bun stand near the main entrance tend to be noticeably shorter than during Lunar New Year.Raohe Street Night Market
foodA single straight lane running about 600 meters alongside the Ciyou Temple at Songshan Station. Raohe is more compact and walkable than Shilin, with a higher concentration of food per meter. The black pepper bun stall at the entrance gate has had a line since 1997. Fuzhou pepper cakes, medicinal herbal pork ribs soup, and grilled squid are staples.
December crowds are moderate compared to the Lunar New Year surge. The compact layout means you can walk the full market in about 90 minutes at a comfortable pace, sampling as you go without overheating.Dongzhi Festival (Winter Solstice) celebration
culturalDongzhi falls around December 21-22 and marks the shortest day of the year. In Taipei, the celebration is more domestic than public. Families eat tangyuan together, and you'll see shops and market stalls selling both savory and sweet versions. Some temples, particularly Longshan Temple in Wanhua, hold small seasonal ceremonies.
Dongzhi only occurs in December. It's a window into everyday Taiwanese family traditions that most tourists miss, since there's no parade or large public event to draw attention.Maokong Gondola and tea tasting
culturalThe Maokong Gondola runs from Taipei Zoo Station (Brown Line) up to the Maokong tea-growing area in about 30 minutes. The glass-bottom "Crystal Cabin" cars offer views over the tea terraces and the city below. At the top, a cluster of teahouses serves Tieguanyin and Wenshan Baozhong, both grown on the surrounding hillsides. The smell of roasting tea leaves drifts across the hilltop.
December's cool, clear-ish afternoons make the hillside teahouses more appealing than in summer's heat. Sipping hot Tieguanyin at a terrace overlooking the city when it's 16-18°C up at Maokong is one of those simple seasonal pleasures.Booking tipThe gondola closes for maintenance on Mondays. Tuesday through Thursday sees the shortest queues for the Crystal Cabin cars.
Taipei Christmas market at Banqiao Station
seasonalThe New Taipei City Christmas Market typically sets up at Banqiao Station's public plaza from mid-December through early January. Vendors sell mulled wine, European-style baked goods, and handmade crafts. A large decorated tree anchors the plaza, and the adjacent Banqiao Bus Station underpass fills with additional pop-up stalls.
The market runs only during the December holiday season. It's one of the larger Christmas markets in the Taipei metro area and draws families from across New Taipei City on weekend evenings.What to eat in December
In season: fruit
Strawberries from Dahu, Miaoli
Taiwan's domestic strawberry season runs from about November through March, and December is when the first full-harvest berries arrive at Taipei's fruit markets. Dahu Township in Miaoli County, about 2 hours south, supplies most of what you'll see at Binjiang Market and Dongmen Market. They tend to be smaller and softer than imported varieties, with a more fragrant sweetness.
On menus now
Ginger duck soup (jiang mu ya)
A rich sesame-oil-based broth with duck, ginger, and rice wine that Taiwanese eat as a winter tonic. Shops specializing in this soup appear on side streets across Wanhua and Zhongshan starting in November, and December is peak season. The aroma of sesame oil and ginger fills entire blocks around these one-dish restaurants.
Mutton hot pot (yang rou lu)
Taiwanese-style mutton hot pot stalls fire up for the cool season, concentrated around Zhongshan and Songshan districts. The broth is typically infused with Chinese herbs and rice wine, and the thin-sliced mutton cooks in seconds. December's 15-20°C evenings make this a natural after-work meal.
Street food peaks
Oden (guandong zhu)
Convenience stores and street-side carts across Taipei keep simmering pots of oden running through the winter months. Tofu, daikon, fish cakes, and boiled eggs sit in a light soy-based dashi broth. You'll find them at nearly every 7-Eleven and Family Mart, and they become a common late-night snack when the temperature drops below 18°C.
Festival food
Tangyuan (glutinous rice balls)
Eaten during the Dongzhi Festival, which usually falls around December 21-22. Families gather to roll and boil these soft, chewy rice balls filled with black sesame paste or crushed peanuts. Street vendors and dessert shops across Taipei sell them throughout the second half of December, often in a warm, sweet ginger broth.
Regular events in December
Dongzhi Festival (Winter Solstice)Free
Taiwan's winter solstice observance, centered on eating tangyuan with family. Temples hold small ceremonies, and markets sell fresh glutinous rice balls throughout the week.
Around December 21-22Taipei Christmas events at Xinyi DistrictFree
Department stores along Songgao Road and around Taipei 101 set up Christmas light installations and small performance stages from early December. The displays stay up through early January.
Early December through early JanuaryChristmasland in New Taipei CityFree
A large-scale Christmas-themed light installation at Banqiao Citizens' Square, running from late November into early January. The event draws families to see the illuminated displays, themed zones, and weekend performances. It has run annually since 2011.
Late November through early JanuaryBest places this December
Beitou Hot Spring Valley
relaxationThe volcanic hot spring area north of central Taipei, accessible via MRT Red Line to Xinbeitou. Public baths, private spring hotels, and the Beitou Hot Spring Museum (a restored 1913 Japanese-era public bathhouse) cluster within walking distance of the station. The green sulfur springs here run naturally at 40-60°C.
BeitouElephant Mountain (Xiangshan)
hikingThe closest and most accessible of the Four Beasts Mountains, with a trailhead directly at Xiangshan MRT station. The 20-minute climb ends at rock platforms with a direct view of Taipei 101. Especially popular at sunset and on New Year's Eve.
XinyiLongshan Temple
culturalBuilt in 1738, Longshan Temple in Wanhua is one of Taipei's oldest and most active places of worship. Incense smoke fills the courtyard as worshippers pray at the multiple altars. The temple holds small ceremonies around Dongzhi and other traditional calendar dates in December.
WanhuaDadaocheng and Dihua Street
shoppingTaipei's oldest commercial district along Dihua Street in Datong. Tea shops, dried goods merchants, and traditional Chinese medicine stores occupy restored Baroque and Southern Fujian-style shophouses. In December, vendors begin stocking for the Lunar New Year market that opens in January, so the selection of dried fruits, nuts, and preserved goods is at its widest.
DatongMaokong tea district
foodThe hilltop tea-growing area above Taipei Zoo, reached by the Maokong Gondola. Teahouses serve locally grown Tieguanyin and Baozhong teas with views across the Taipei basin. Cool December afternoons make the open-air terrace seating comfortable.
WenshanNational Palace Museum
culturalHouses over 696,000 artifacts spanning 8,000 years of Chinese history and art, including the jade cabbage and meat-shaped stone. December's overcast days make this a natural all-indoor activity. The museum sits in Shilin District, reachable by bus from Shilin MRT.
ShilinJiufen, New Taipei City
day_tripThe hillside town about 90 minutes east of Taipei by bus from Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT. Narrow lanes lined with tea shops and food stalls cascade down the mountainside overlooking the Pacific. December's cooler temperatures and thinner weekday crowds make the steep stone stairways less grueling than in summer. Worth noting that weekend afternoons still get quite packed.
Ruifang District
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Insider tips
The MRT runs extended hours on December 31 until about 2:00 AM for the Taipei 101 fireworks. The Red Line (Xinyi Line) to Taipei 101/World Trade Center Station gets extremely congested after midnight, so consider walking to Xiangshan or Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall stations instead.
For the best New Year's Eve fireworks view without the Xinyi crowds, head to the rooftop of the Eslite Spectrum building in Songshan or the hillside parks around Fuzhoushan. These spots fill up too, but nothing like Elephant Mountain.
Beitou's hot springs are at their best on weekday mornings when the public pools are quiet. Weekend afternoons, particularly at the Millennium Hot Spring, can feel crowded with families.
Taipei's EasyCard works on the MRT, buses, YouBike stations, and most convenience stores. Load one at any MRT station. It saves time over buying individual tickets, especially if you're riding the metro 4-5 times per day.
Dadaocheng's Dihua Street starts stocking heavily for the Lunar New Year market in late December. If you visit the last week of the month, you'll get a preview of the dried goods, snacks, and decorations before the January crowds arrive.
Jiufen is best visited on a weekday morning in December. The bus from Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT takes about 90 minutes, and arriving before 10:00 AM means you'll have the narrow Old Street lanes mostly to yourself before the afternoon tour groups arrive.
Avoid these mistakes
- Underestimating the damp cold. Visitors from tropical climates often pack for 20°C as if it were warm, but 80% humidity and persistent overcast skies make December Taipei feel colder than the thermometer reads. A proper jacket, not a hoodie, is the right call.
- Booking hotels in Xinyi for New Year's Eve at the last minute. The final week of December sees rates climb 30-50% for properties near Taipei 101, and popular spots book out weeks ahead. If the fireworks are your reason for visiting, book early or stay in Zhongshan or Da'an and MRT over.
- Only visiting Shilin Night Market. Shilin is the most famous, but Raohe Street Night Market in Songshan and Ningxia Night Market near Zhongshan are often less crowded in December and more focused on food than games and souvenirs.
- Assuming taxis are the best way around. Taipei's MRT system covers most tourist areas efficiently, and YouBike rental stations sit every few blocks in central districts. A taxi from Taipei Main Station to Xinyi costs more than a day of MRT rides.
- Skipping Yangmingshan because of weather concerns. December is actually one of the better months for hiking the park. The trails are less slippery than during the spring rain season, and the cooler air makes the steep climbs manageable. Check the CWA forecast the morning of your visit, and go on a day between frontal passages.
Practical tips for December
December in Taipei calls for a layering strategy rather than heavy winter gear. Mornings start cool around 15°C (59°F), and you might shed a layer by early afternoon on clearer days when it reaches 20°C (69°F). A light waterproof shell is more useful than an umbrella, since the drizzle tends to be intermittent rather than heavy. The MRT is the most efficient way to move between neighborhoods, with trains running from 6:00 AM to midnight (extended to about 2:00 AM on December 31). YouBike stations are everywhere in the central districts, and a ride between adjacent MRT stations typically takes 5-10 minutes by bike. For the Taipei 101 fireworks, claim your viewing spot by early evening if you want a position on Elephant Mountain or near City Hall. The Xinyi area gets cordoned off to vehicle traffic from late afternoon onward, so arrive by MRT. If cold fronts are forecast, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) posts 7-day outlooks that are reasonably accurate for temperature drops, though wind chill specifics are harder to predict. Temple dress codes are relaxed in Taipei, but covering your shoulders is considered respectful at Longshan Temple.
FAQ
Is December a good time to visit Taipei?
December is a solid month for Taipei. It's the second-driest month of the year at about 62mm of rain, and temperatures between 15-20°C (59-69°F) make walking the city comfortable. The main trade-off is overcast skies from the northeast monsoon and shorter daylight hours, with sunset around 5:10 PM. If you're after sunshine and beach weather, it's not the month. But for night markets, hot springs, temples, and hiking, the mild weather and moderate crowds make it one of the better windows.
How cold does Taipei get in December?
Average highs sit around 20°C (69°F) and lows around 15°C (59°F), but occasional cold fronts from mainland China can push nighttime temperatures down to 10-12°C (50-54°F) for 2-3 days at a stretch. The 80% humidity makes the cool air feel sharper than the numbers suggest. A medium jacket and one warm layer for cold-front days is the right preparation.
Where is the best place to watch the Taipei 101 New Year's Eve fireworks?
Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan) offers the classic elevated view, but it fills up by late afternoon on December 31. The Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall grounds and the streets around City Hall MRT provide closer, ground-level perspectives. For a less crowded alternative, the hills around Fuzhoushan or the rooftop areas in Songshan offer clear sightlines. The MRT runs until about 2:00 AM that night, so you don't need to worry about getting back to your hotel.
Do I need to book hotels early for December in Taipei?
For most of December, booking a few weeks out is fine, and rates sit near the annual average. The exception is the final week, December 26-31, when New Year's Eve demand pushes rates up 30-50% at hotels in the Xinyi District with Taipei 101 views. For that week, booking 4-6 weeks ahead is advisable, or consider staying in neighborhoods like Zhongshan or Da'an and taking the MRT to Xinyi for the countdown.
Is it worth visiting Beitou hot springs in December?
December is arguably the best month for Beitou. The hot springs run at about 40°C year-round, but the contrast with 15°C outdoor air makes the experience far more satisfying than soaking in the same water when it's 33°C outside. Beitou is about 30 minutes from Taipei Main Station on the MRT Red Line, making it an easy half-day trip. Weekday mornings see the smallest crowds at the public pools.
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