March is when Taipei shakes off its damp, grey winter and starts to feel like spring. Daytime temperatures reach about 23°C (74°F), while nights drop to around 16°C (60°F), comfortable enough for full days of walking in Da'an or Zhongshan without the punishing humidity of summer. The real draw this month is Yangmingshan National Park, about 40 minutes north of the city center by bus. Cherry blossoms and azaleas cover the mountain's slopes from late February through early April, and the park runs extra shuttle buses from Jiantan MRT station on weekends to manage the crowds.
The trade-off is rain. March averages about 113mm across 11 rainy days, and humidity sits near 79%. You won't hit the monsoon-level downpours of May and June's plum rain season, but you might get 2 or 3 consecutive overcast days that blank out mountain views entirely. Yangmingshan in fog has a certain mood to it, but it's not what you came for with a camera. The rain tends to come in short afternoon bursts on the better days, though the occasional all-day drizzle is part of the deal.
To be fair, March occupies a comfortable middle ground on Taipei's calendar. It's warmer and more scenic than the January-February stretch, when cold fronts from mainland China can push temperatures below 10°C (50°F). But it lacks the crisp, dry clarity of October and November, which locals and repeat visitors generally consider the city's 2 best months. If autumn is off the table, March delivers Yangmingshan in bloom and hotel rates that sit 15-25% below the January-February peak.
Why visit in March
- Cherry blossoms and azaleas peak on Yangmingshan from late February through March, with free park entry and well-marked trails starting from the Yangmingshan Bus Terminal.
- Temperatures between 16-23°C (60-74°F) are ideal for all-day walking, temple visits, and night market browsing without the June-September heat that makes outdoor sightseeing exhausting.
- Shoulder season hotel rates run roughly 15-25% below the Chinese New Year peak in January-February, with availability at properties that sell out months ahead during peak.
- Beitou's hot springs feel earned in March's cool, damp air. The contrast between 15°C evenings and 40°C spring water is more satisfying than soaking in July's 33°C heat.
- The late-March start of calla lily season at Zhuzihu gives you a preview of the fields before the April-May peak crowds arrive.
Worth knowing
- Rain is unpredictable. 113mm spread across 11 days might mean short afternoon showers or 3 consecutive days of flat grey drizzle that keeps Yangmingshan socked in cloud.
- Humidity at 79% makes 16°C mornings feel clammier than the number suggests, and laundry in your hotel room may take 2 days to dry.
- Yangmingshan's cherry blossom trails get congested on weekends, with 30-40 minute waits for the shuttle bus at Jiantan MRT by mid-morning on Saturdays.
- March falls between major festivals. If the Lantern Festival lands in February that year and Tomb Sweeping Day is not until April, the month can feel like a gap between highlights.
Best for
Think twice if
March in Taipei feels like early spring with a damp edge. Mornings start cool at about 16°C (60°F), sometimes dropping to 13-14°C on cold front days. Afternoons warm to around 23°C (74°F) under sun, though overcast days might stay near 19-20°C. The humidity rarely drops below 75%, which gives the air a persistent moistness you'll notice on your skin and in your clothes. Rain comes in two forms. On better days, short afternoon showers last 20-30 minutes and pass quickly. On worse stretches, a stationary front can park over northern Taiwan for 2-3 days of steady light rain. The 113mm monthly total is moderate by Taipei standards, well below May's 248mm average, but enough to keep an umbrella in your bag at all times.
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
Yangmingshan Flower Festival (陽明山花季)
Mid-February through late March
Taipei's biggest annual flower event blankets Yangmingshan National Park in cherry blossoms, azaleas, and camellias from mid-February through late March. The park's Flower Clock area and the path between Yangmingshan Park and Qingtiangang become corridors of pink and white, drawing over a million visitors across the 6-week run. Free park entry. Extra shuttle buses run from Jiantan MRT on weekends.
Best things to do in March
Yangmingshan Cherry Blossom and Azalea Walks
natureThe trails between Yangmingshan Park and the Flower Clock area fill with Yoshino cherry and Taiwan cherry blossoms through the first 3 weeks of March. The Qingtiangang circular trail, about 2.4km, passes through open grassland above the tree line with views back toward Taipei Basin on clear days. Azaleas take over as the cherries fade toward month's end.
Cherry blossoms peak in the first 2-3 weeks of March before the petals drop. By April, the show has shifted entirely to calla lilies and hydrangeas.Booking tipGo on a weekday morning to avoid the weekend shuttle bus queues at Jiantan MRT. The first buses leave around 5:30 AM.
Beitou Hot Springs
wellnessBeitou sits at the southern edge of Yangmingshan, about 30 minutes from Taipei Main Station on the red MRT line. The neighborhood's sulfur-fed hot springs range from the free public footbath at Beitou Park to private resort pools. Millennium Hot Spring is the most popular public outdoor pool, with 3 temperature zones fed by the nearby Thermal Valley's acid-sulfate springs.
March evenings at 15-16°C make the temperature contrast with the 40°C spring water more dramatic and comfortable than summer soaking in 33°C heat.Booking tipMillennium Hot Spring gets crowded after 3 PM on weekends. Arrive before noon for a quieter soak.
Maokong Gondola and Tea Tasting
cultureThe Maokong Gondola runs 4.03km from Taipei Zoo station to the tea plantations on Maokong mountain. On clear March days, the crystal-floor cabins offer views over Taipei 101 and the Xindian River valley. At the top, tea houses serve Tieguanyin and Wenshan Baozhong teas grown on the surrounding slopes. The air smells of roasted tea leaves and damp earth after rain.
Spring's cooler temperatures and occasional breaks of sunshine make the gondola ride more pleasant than summer, when the cabins can feel stifling above 35°C.Booking tipThe gondola closes on Mondays for maintenance. Check the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation website for weather-related closures on rainy or windy days.
Dadaocheng Heritage Walk
cultureDihua Street in Dadaocheng is Taipei's oldest commercial district, running about 800 meters through Baroque and Southern Fujian-style shophouses built between the 1850s and 1920s. The shops sell dried goods, Chinese medicine, tea, and fabric. The smell of dried mushrooms, star anise, and camphor wood fills the covered arcades. The Xiahai City God Temple, founded in 1856, anchors the southern end.
March's mild temperatures make the full walk from Dadaocheng Wharf to Xiahai Temple comfortable. In summer, the sheltered arcades trap heat above 36°C.Hiking the Elephant Mountain (象山) Trail
natureThe Xiangshan trail starts 10 minutes from Xiangshan MRT station (Red Line, Exit 2) and climbs about 183 meters over a well-maintained stone path. The main viewpoint, a series of large rock platforms, faces north toward Taipei 101 and the Xinyi skyline. The climb takes about 20-25 minutes at a moderate pace.
March's 23°C highs and lower humidity make the exposed stone steps less punishing than the July-August climb, when temperatures at the viewpoint regularly pass 35°C.Cycling the Riverside Bike Paths
outdoorTaipei's riverside cycling network runs over 112km along the Keelung, Tamsui, and Xindian rivers. The stretch from Guandu Nature Park to Tamsui Fisherman's Wharf, about 8km, follows the Tamsui River estuary through wetlands where egrets and black-faced spoonbills feed during the spring migration. YouBike stations sit every 300-500 meters along the routes.
March's dry spells between rain are ideal cycling weather at 20-23°C. The spring bird migration through the Guandu wetlands peaks in March and April.Night Market Circuit
foodShilin Night Market, Taipei's largest, spreads across several blocks near Jiantan MRT. Raohe Street Night Market, at 600 meters long, is more walkable and anchored by Ciyou Temple at its eastern end. Ningxia Night Market on Ningxia Road, about 400 meters, specializes in traditional Taiwanese dishes. The sensory overload is the same in every season, but March's temperatures mean you can eat without dripping sweat into your oyster omelette.
March evenings at 16-18°C are comfortable for extended browsing. Summer night markets in July-August still hit 30°C after dark.What to eat in March
In season: fruit
Strawberries (草莓)
March is the tail end of Taiwan's strawberry season. Neihu Strawberry Farms, a 20-minute MRT ride from central Taipei, let you pick your own by the basket. The berries tend to be smaller and more intensely sweet than the early-season December harvest. Miaoli's Dahu township, about 2 hours south by train, has larger commercial farms if you want a day trip.
On menus now
Taro Ball Soup (芋圓)
Not strictly seasonal, but the cool, damp March weather makes the warm taro ball soup at Jiufen's Ah Gan Yi teahouse taste better than it does in August. The chewy taro and sweet potato balls sit in a hot ginger or red bean broth. Jiufen is about 40 minutes east of Taipei by bus from Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT.
In markets
Calla Lily Picking at Zhuzihu
From late March, the fields at Zhuzihu on Yangmingshan open for visitors to wade into the flooded paddies and pick their own calla lilies. You pay per stem, and it's more experience than grocery run. The cool volcanic soil and spring rains create the white blooms that Taipei associates with the start of the warm season.
Spring Bamboo Shoots (桂竹筍)
March marks the start of spring bamboo shoot season in the hills around Taipei. Restaurants in Beitou and Yangmingshan serve them stir-fried with pork, in soup, or braised. The texture is crunchier and the flavor more delicate than summer moso bamboo. Look for them at traditional Taiwanese restaurants in Beitou, where the shoots often come from farms within a few kilometers of the kitchen.
Regular events in March
Taiwan International Orchid Show
Held in Tainan (about 1 hour 45 minutes south on the HSR), this 9-day exhibition in early March draws orchid growers from across Asia. Taiwan is the world's largest Phalaenopsis exporter, and the show displays over 1,000 varieties.
Early MarchTaipei International Book Exhibition
One of Asia's largest book fairs, typically held at the Taipei World Trade Center in Xinyi, with publishers from over 50 countries. The event usually runs in February but sometimes extends into early March depending on the year. Check dates as they shift annually.
Late February to early March (varies by year)Best places this March
Yangmingshan National Park
natureThe 11,455-hectare national park north of Taipei is the month's main draw. The Flower Clock area, Qingtiangang grassland, and Lengshuikeng hot springs are all connected by well-marked trails. Bus 260 runs from Taipei Main Station to the park entrance.
Beitou/ShilinBeitou Hot Spring District
wellnessA complete neighborhood built around geothermal springs. The Beitou Hot Spring Museum, housed in a 1913 Japanese-era bathhouse, is free to enter. Thermal Valley, a steaming turquoise sulfur lake, sits a 10-minute walk uphill from Xinbeitou MRT.
BeitouZhuzihu Calla Lily Fields
natureThe volcanic soil fields at Zhuzihu on Yangmingshan's northern slope open for calla lily picking from late March. The flooded paddies and white blooms against the green mountain backdrop are a photographer's subject that's hard to find elsewhere in East Asia.
YangmingshanDadaocheng and Dihua Street
cultureTaipei's oldest trading district. The 800-meter stretch of Dihua Street has restored Baroque-style shophouses from the late Qing dynasty. Yongle Market on the northern end sells fabric on the upper floors and cooked food in the basement.
DatongJiufen
cultureThe hillside mining town about 40 minutes east of Taipei by bus from Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT. The narrow lanes of Jishan Street wind past tea houses, taro ball shops, and views over the Pacific. March's mist and cloud give the town the atmosphere it's famous for, though it also means you might not see the ocean.
Ruifang (day trip)Longshan Temple
cultureFounded in 1738 in the Wanhua district, Longshan Temple is Taipei's oldest and most active place of worship. The carved stone dragon columns and bronze incense burners fill the courtyard with sandalwood smoke. The adjacent Bopiliao Historic Block preserves a 200-meter stretch of Qing-era red brick buildings.
WanhuaNational Palace Museum
cultureHouses over 696,000 Chinese imperial artifacts spanning 8,000 years, including the famous jade cabbage and meat-shaped stone. The museum sits in Shilin, about 30 minutes by bus from Shilin MRT. March's lower tourist numbers mean shorter queues at the most popular exhibits.
ShilinGuandu Nature Park
natureA 57-hectare wetland reserve at the confluence of the Keelung and Tamsui rivers. The park's birdwatching hides overlook mudflats where migratory species stop during the spring passage. March brings black-faced spoonbills, egrets, and various sandpipers.
Beitou
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Insider tips
The Yangmingshan shuttle bus from Jiantan MRT gets a 30-40 minute queue by 9 AM on weekends. Take the first bus before 7 AM, or ride the regular 260 bus from Taipei Main Station instead. It's slower but rarely full.
Beitou's public hot springs are significantly less crowded on weekday mornings. The outdoor pools tend to fill by early afternoon on weekends, especially when the weather turns cool and damp.
Dadaocheng's Dihua Street shops start closing by 6 PM, but the neighborhood's newer cocktail bars and coffee shops in the restored shophouses keep going. The shift from dried-goods commerce to evening drinks happens fast.
Maokong's tea houses are at their quietest on weekday afternoons. You might notice the gondola closes in wind above 10m/s, which happens a few times each March. Check the operations status online before heading out.
The Xinbeitou branch of the MRT red line is a single-stop spur. It's free to transfer at Beitou station, but the small 3-car train fills up fast on weekends. Walk the 10-minute path between the two stations instead.
Jiufen is best visited on a weekday. Weekend crowds pack Jishan Street shoulder-to-shoulder from about 11 AM to 5 PM, and the bus queue at the return stop can stretch past 40 minutes.
Avoid these mistakes
- Visiting Yangmingshan only on weekends. The shuttle bus lines, trail congestion, and parking lots are a different experience from the peaceful weekday version of the same park.
- Packing for summer. March in Taipei is not warm. The 16°C mornings with 79% humidity feel genuinely chilly, and Yangmingshan's ridgeline trails can drop to 10-12°C on cold front days.
- Skipping Beitou because hot springs seem like a summer activity. The opposite is true. March's cool, damp air makes the thermal contrast with the spring water far more satisfying.
- Assuming rain cancels the day. Taipei's March rain often comes in short afternoon bursts. Mornings are frequently dry, and the MRT system, covered arcades, and indoor markets mean you're rarely stuck.
- Planning a single day for Yangmingshan and Beitou together. They're adjacent but each deserves a full visit. The park's trails alone can fill 4-5 hours, and rushing through Beitou's springs, museum, and Thermal Valley leaves you skimming everything.
Practical tips for March
Book Yangmingshan visits for weekdays whenever possible. Weekend shuttle buses from Jiantan MRT can have 30-40 minute waits by mid-morning, and the popular cherry blossom trails near the Flower Clock get congested enough to slow walking. Bring a waterproof phone case or ziplock bag for rain protection on mountain trails. EasyCard, the rechargeable transit card, works on the MRT, buses, YouBike, and at convenience stores. Load it at any MRT station. The Taipei Metro runs from 6 AM to midnight, with trains every 3-7 minutes on main lines. For Yangmingshan, the 260 bus from Taipei Main Station runs approximately every 15-20 minutes and is less crowded than the weekend shuttle. March is a good month for museum visits on rainy days. The National Palace Museum in Shilin, Taipei Fine Arts Museum in Yuanshan, and the Beitou Hot Spring Museum are all within easy MRT reach.
FAQ
Is March a good time to see cherry blossoms in Taipei?
March is the peak month for cherry blossoms on Yangmingshan. Yoshino and Taiwan cherry varieties typically bloom from late February through the third week of March, with azaleas taking over as the cherries fade. The Flower Clock area and the trail toward Qingtiangang have the densest displays. Timing varies by a week or so each year depending on winter temperatures.
How rainy is Taipei in March?
March averages about 113mm of rain across 11 rainy days, which is moderate by Taipei's standards. May and June bring roughly double that amount during plum rain season. March rain tends to come in short afternoon showers on most days, though you might get 2-3 consecutive overcast days when a stationary front settles over northern Taiwan. An umbrella in your bag is non-negotiable.
What should I wear in Taipei in March?
Layers work best. Mornings start around 16°C and afternoons reach 23°C, so you'll want a light long-sleeve layer you can remove. A waterproof jacket is essential for Yangmingshan, where temperatures run 3-5°C below the city and rain can start quickly. The 79% humidity makes cotton uncomfortable, so moisture-wicking fabrics dry faster and feel better for walking.
Is it warm enough to swim at the beaches near Taipei in March?
Typically not. North coast water temperatures near Keelung sit around 20°C (68°F) in March, which most people find too cold for comfortable swimming. Beach season along Taiwan's northern coast doesn't really start until late May or June. Fulong Beach, about 90 minutes east of Taipei, opens its swimming area in late June.
How crowded is Yangmingshan during the flower festival in March?
Weekends get genuinely crowded. The shuttle bus from Jiantan MRT can have 30-40 minute waits by mid-morning on Saturdays and Sundays, and the main trails near the Flower Clock slow to a shuffle. Weekdays are dramatically quieter. If your schedule allows, a Tuesday or Wednesday morning visit feels like a different park entirely.
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