May in Taipei means plum rain. The méiyǔ jì (梅雨季) season typically arrives during the second or third week of the month, bringing around 248mm of rainfall across roughly 18 days. Average highs sit near 29°C (84°F), lows around 22°C (71°F), and humidity tends to hover at 82%. That is the kind of sticky air that fogs your glasses the moment you step off the MRT at Longshan Temple station.
To be fair, the rain rarely falls in all-day sheets. Most days start clear enough for a morning walk through Dadaocheng or a hike up Elephant Mountain before the clouds stack up around 2pm. You might string together 3 or 4 dry days, then hit a solid week of gray. The unpredictability is the real challenge, not the volume.
There is a genuine upside to visiting during the wet shoulder season. Crowds thin out at Yangmingshan National Park, the hydrangeas bloom across the mountain slopes from mid-May onward, and hotel rates drop well below the October and November peak. If you are comfortable carrying an umbrella and reshuffling plans on short notice, Taipei in May still works. If you need reliable sunshine for outdoor photography or day trips to Fulong Beach, November is your month.
Why visit in May
- Hydrangea season at Yangmingshan National Park peaks from mid-May through June. The flower fields along the Zhuzihu area draw fewer crowds than the spring calla lily season in March and April.
- Hotel rates run 15-25% below the October and November peak. Midweek stays in Zhongshan or Daan drop further, and availability at popular guesthouses in Beitou improves noticeably.
- Early lychee and mango season begins at fruit stands across the city. Vendors along Yongkang Street and in Dongmen Market start stocking Irwin mangoes by late May.
- Firefly watching peaks in the hills surrounding Taipei. Spots near Pingxi and the lower trails of Yangmingshan light up after dark through the first half of the month.
Worth knowing
- 248mm of rainfall across 18 rainy days makes May the second-wettest month after October's 261mm. Outdoor itineraries need daily backup plans.
- Humidity at 82% makes the 29°C highs feel closer to 34°C. The combination wears you down faster than the temperature alone suggests.
- Mountain trails at Yangmingshan and Maokong become slippery and fog-obscured on rainy days, limiting hiking to lower-elevation routes or paved paths.
- COMPUTEX Taipei, held at Nangang Exhibition Center in late May, drives hotel rates up 20-30% in the Nangang and Xinyi districts for roughly a week.
Best for
Think twice if
May marks Taipei's transition into the plum rain season (méiyǔ jì). The subtropical basin traps warm, moist air from the south, producing frequent afternoon downpours that can dump 30-50mm in a single hour. Mornings tend to be warm and overcast, with rain building through the afternoon. Temperatures are comfortable by Taipei summer standards, sitting well below the July and August peaks of 33°C (91°F). The rain usually arrives as sharp bursts with breaks between, not the all-day drizzle of January and February.
Seasonal caution
- Plum rain season delivers concentrated downpours that can flood underpasses and low-lying streets near the Keelung River within 30 minutes. Avoid riverside paths during heavy rainfall.
- Mountain trails at Yangmingshan and Maokong develop slick conditions on wet volcanic rock and clay. Falls and twisted ankles spike during May and June. Stick to paved paths on rainy days.
- Taipei sits at the northern edge of early typhoon season. May typhoons hitting northern Taiwan are rare, roughly 1 in 10 years, but travel insurance covering weather disruptions is worth the 500-800 TWD premium.
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 |
Best things to do in May
Hydrangea viewing at Zhuzihu, Yangmingshan
natureThe hydrangea fields along Zhuzihu (竹子湖) road in Yangmingshan National Park bloom from mid-May through June. Several farms open their fields for paid entry, typically 100-150 TWD per person. The flower-lined paths wind through misty volcanic hillside that feels distinctly unlike the city 30 minutes below.
Hydrangea blooms peak from mid-May through mid-June. Early May catches the first flowers. Late May hits full color across the fields.Booking tipWeekday mornings draw the smallest crowds. The farms closest to the bus stop fill up first on weekends. Take bus S8 from Beitou MRT station.
Firefly watching in Pingxi and Qingtiangang
natureThe hills surrounding Taipei host firefly populations that peak in late April through mid-May. The trails near Pingxi, about 40 minutes by train from Taipei Main Station via the Pingxi Line, and the Qingtiangang grassland area of Yangmingshan both offer organized evening viewing walks after dusk.
Firefly mating season peaks in the first two weeks of May. By June, the populations drop sharply in most lowland areas.Booking tipGuided walks fill up on weekends. Check local hiking groups or the Yangmingshan National Park visitor center for scheduled evening walks.
Rainy-afternoon tea at Maokong
food and drinkMaokong (貓空) sits in the hills above Taipei Zoo in Wenshan district, accessible by the Maokong Gondola from Taipei Zoo MRT station. The tea houses up here serve locally grown Tieguanyin and Baozhong tea, typically 200-400 TWD per pot. On rainy May afternoons, mist settles into the valleys and the tea plantations disappear into cloud. Drinking oolong in a hillside tea house while rain drums on the roof is one of those Taipei experiences that actually delivers.
The May plum rain creates misty conditions that make the gondola ride and hilltop tea houses atmospheric in a way clear-sky months cannot replicate.Booking tipThe gondola closes during thunderstorms and high winds. Check the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation website on rainy days before heading out.
Beitou hot springs on rainy evenings
wellnessBeitou (北投) sits on a geothermal valley 30 minutes north of central Taipei by MRT. The public Millennium Hot Spring (千禧湯) charges 40 TWD for outdoor sulfur pools. Private room springs at hotels along Zhongshan Road in Beitou run from 800-2,000 TWD per hour. Soaking in hot mineral water while rain falls around you is one of the better ways to spend a wet May evening.
Rainy evenings in May make outdoor hot spring bathing more comfortable than the dry, hot months of July and August when air temperatures already exceed 33°C.Booking tipWeekend evenings at Millennium Hot Spring draw long lines. Go Tuesday or Wednesday after 7pm. Private bath hotels accept walk-ins on weekday evenings.
Night market crawl at Shilin and Raohe
food and drinkTaipei's two most well-known night markets operate under covered sections that keep you dry during evening rain. Shilin Night Market (士林夜市) near Jiantan MRT station has the wider food variety. Raohe Night Market (饒河夜市) near Songshan MRT station runs along a single 600-meter covered lane, making it easier to navigate. The pepper buns (胡椒餅) at Raohe's entrance have had a queue every night since the 1990s.
Covered night markets become the default evening activity during plum rain season. Vendors stock seasonal fruit drinks and cold desserts that peak in availability from May onward.Booking tipArrive between 6pm and 7pm to beat the main crowd. The busiest stretch runs from 8pm to 10pm.
Underground shopping at Zhongshan Metro Mall
shoppingThe underground corridor connecting Taipei Main Station to Zhongshan MRT station stretches roughly 800 meters and holds shops, cafes, and bookstores. It connects to the Taipei City Mall (站前地下街) running in the perpendicular direction. On heavy rain days, you can spend 2-3 hours browsing without stepping outside.
The 18 rainy days in May make this underground network genuinely useful rather than a novelty. It connects two major transit hubs entirely below ground.National Palace Museum deep visit
cultureThe National Palace Museum (國立故宮博物院) in Shilin holds nearly 700,000 Chinese artifacts spanning 8,000 years. Most visitors spend 2 hours and leave. May's rainy afternoons are the right excuse to spend 4-5 hours working through the jade, ceramics, and calligraphy galleries. Adult admission costs 350 TWD.
Rainy days reduce overall visitor numbers by roughly a third compared to the dry October and November season, and the weather gives you reason to linger indoors.Booking tipWednesday and Thursday afternoons see the lightest crowds. The museum offers free admission after 4:30pm on Saturdays, but expect larger crowds.
Early morning hike at Elephant Mountain (象山)
hikingElephant Mountain (象山步道) is the closest proper hiking trail to central Taipei, with the trailhead a 10-minute walk from Xiangshan MRT station. The climb takes 20-30 minutes and rewards you with a direct view of Taipei 101 and the Xinyi skyline. In May, the reliable morning dry window before afternoon rain makes early starts productive.
May mornings tend to be clear before the afternoon plum rain builds. Starting at 6am gives you the view, the exercise, and a return to the MRT before the humidity peaks.What to eat in May
In season: fruit
Irwin Mango (愛文芒果)
The first Irwin mangoes from Tainan and Pingtung reach Taipei's fruit vendors in late May. They are still early-season at this point, so expect to pay around 150-200 TWD per jin (600g) at Dongmen Market. The fruit is sweet but has not yet hit the deep, syrupy intensity of the July peak.
Green Plum (青梅)
May is literally plum season, the reason the rain is called méiyǔ (plum rain). Green plums appear at traditional markets like Nanmen Market for home pickling into méijiǔ (plum wine) and suānméi (sour plum) drinks. You will find fresh plum beverages at tea shops across Dadaocheng and along Yongkang Street.
Lychee (荔枝)
Early-season lychee from Kaohsiung and Taichung appears at fruit stalls by the last week of May. The Hei Ye (黑葉) variety typically arrives first, with the prized Jade Purse (玉荷包) following in June.
On menus now
Zongzi (粽子)
Rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves start appearing at vendors across Taipei from mid-May as the Dragon Boat Festival approaches. The northern Taipei style (北部粽) is stir-fried before steaming, giving it a firmer texture than the southern boiled version. Shops along Dihua Street and vendors near Nanmen Market carry traditional varieties.
Street food peaks
Aiyu Jelly (愛玉冰)
This wobbly, lemon-soaked jelly becomes the go-to street refreshment as temperatures climb past 28°C. Every night market stall and shaved ice shop in Shilin and Raohe starts featuring it from May onward. A bowl typically runs 40-60 TWD.
In markets
Bamboo Shoots (綠竹筍)
Late spring bamboo shoots from the hills around Yangmingshan and Guanyin Mountain hit peak sweetness in May. Look for cold bamboo shoot salad (涼筍沙拉) at restaurants in Beitou, where the shoots arrive chilled with mayonnaise or sesame dressing.
Regular events in May
COMPUTEX Taipei
One of the world's largest computer and technology trade shows, held at Nangang Exhibition Center. Draws over 40,000 international visitors and significantly affects hotel availability in the Nangang and Xinyi districts.
Late May to early June, typically the last week of MayBaosheng Cultural Festival (保生文化祭)Free
A folk arts and temple festival centered on Dalongdong Baoan Temple (大龍峒保安宮) in Datong district. Features traditional puppet shows, lion dances, and temple ceremonies that run from spring into early summer.
Events run through April and May, with performances on weekendsMother's Day dining events
Taiwan celebrates Mother's Day on the second Sunday of May with an intensity that catches most Western visitors off guard. Restaurants across Daan, Zhongshan, and Xinyi book out 2-3 weeks in advance. Department stores in the Xinyi district run promotional sales throughout the first two weeks of May.
Second Sunday of May, with surrounding week of promotionsYangmingshan Hydrangea Season (繡球花季)
Farms along Zhuzihu road in Yangmingshan National Park open their hydrangea fields to visitors. Some farms host small photography workshops and tea-pairing events among the flowers. Entry fees are typically 100-150 TWD per person.
Mid-May through June, peak bloom in late MayBest places this May
Zhuzihu, Yangmingshan National Park (竹子湖)
natureThe volcanic valley where calla lily season ends and hydrangea season begins in May. The farms along Zhuzihu Road charge 100-150 TWD entry and let you walk through flower-lined paths. The elevation keeps temperatures 3-4°C cooler than downtown Taipei. On misty days, the fields disappear into cloud, which sounds like it would ruin the experience but seems to enhance it.
BeitouDadaocheng and Dihua Street (大稻埕, 迪化街)
neighborhoodTaipei's oldest commercial district along Dihua Street still operates traditional dried goods shops, tea merchants, and fabric stores in Baroque-era buildings. May's plum season means the dried plum and preserved fruit vendors are at peak stock. The Yongle Market (永樂市場) on the same block sells fabric and houses a food court upstairs.
DatongBeitou Hot Spring Valley (北投溫泉谷)
wellnessSulfurous steam rising from Beitou's thermal valley mixes with May's rain mist for a surreal atmosphere. The Beitou Hot Spring Museum, housed in a 1913 Japanese-era bathhouse, is free to enter and worth 30-45 minutes. The green sulfur spring at Millennium Hot Spring (千禧湯) costs 40 TWD and stays open until 10pm.
BeitouHuashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914文化創意產業園區)
cultureA former wine factory in Zhongzheng district converted into galleries, indie theaters, and design shops. The covered walkways and indoor exhibition spaces make it a reliable rainy-day destination. It sits a 5-minute walk from Zhongxiao Xinsheng MRT station.
ZhongzhengSongshan Cultural and Creative Park (松山文創園區)
cultureA former tobacco factory in Xinyi district, now home to rotating art and design exhibitions. The Taiwan Design Museum occupies part of the complex. The park's covered courtyards and indoor spaces work well on rainy afternoons, and it sits next to the Eslite Spectrum Songyan bookstore.
XinyiXimending (西門町)
neighborhoodTaipei's youth culture and entertainment district is largely pedestrianized and lined with covered arcades. The movie theaters along Wuchang Street and the Red House (西門紅樓) creative market keep you dry. Ximending is one of the few districts where rainy weather barely changes the foot traffic pattern.
WanhuaTamsui Old Street and Waterfront (淡水老街)
neighborhoodThe old port town at the end of the Red MRT line feels different in May's gray weather than the golden-hour tourist photos suggest. The covered old street still serves its famous iron eggs (鐵蛋) and agei (阿給). Fort San Domingo and the surrounding consular residences are worth 90 minutes. On clear mornings, the views across the Tamsui River toward Guanyin Mountain are wide and quiet.
Tamsui
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Insider tips
The Taipei Metro app shows real-time weather radar overlaid on the MRT map. Locals check it before deciding whether to walk or wait out a burst at the station. The afternoon storms typically pass within 40-60 minutes.
Every 7-Eleven and FamilyMart sells clear plastic umbrellas for about 100 TWD. Locals treat them as disposable rain gear. Buy one when it pours, leave it at your hotel, repeat. Do not invest in an expensive umbrella you will lose on the MRT.
Maokong tea houses are half-empty on rainy May weekday afternoons. The mist turns the tea plantations into something like a scroll painting. Order a pot of local Tieguanyin (鐵觀音) for 200-400 TWD and sit for as long as you like. Nobody rushes you.
The Zhongshan Metro Mall underground corridor between Taipei Main Station and Zhongshan MRT runs about 800 meters with air conditioning, coffee shops, and bookstalls. Locals use it as a 15-minute rain bypass. You can extend the route by connecting to Q Square mall on the Taipei Main Station end.
If you are visiting Yangmingshan for hydrangeas, take the S8 bus from Beitou MRT station instead of driving. Parking at Zhuzihu fills before 10am on weekends in May, and the narrow mountain road turns chaotic in rain.
Avoid these mistakes
- Scheduling a full-day Yangmingshan hike without checking the morning forecast. Mountain trails above 500 meters fog over by early afternoon in May, and the volcanic rock paths become dangerously slick. Plan mountain activities for mornings and move indoor options to the afternoon.
- Booking hotels in Nangang or Xinyi during the last week of May without checking COMPUTEX dates. The trade show fills surrounding hotels and pushes rates 20-30% higher. Stay in Zhongshan, Daan, or Beitou during that week instead.
- Packing only shorts and t-shirts for a tropical destination. The aggressive air conditioning in Taipei's MRT, malls, and museums will leave you shivering in damp clothes after a rain soak. At least one long-sleeve layer belongs in your daypack at all times.
- Trusting a clear morning sky. May mornings in Taipei frequently start bright and cloud over by 1-2pm. Locals never leave without an umbrella in their bag during méiyǔ season. Neither should you.
Practical tips for May
Book accommodation at least 2 weeks ahead if your trip overlaps with the final week of May, when COMPUTEX Taipei fills hotels in Nangang and Xinyi. For the rest of the month, 3-5 days ahead is typically fine. An EasyCard (悠遊卡) from any MRT station costs a 100 TWD refundable deposit and works on buses, trains, convenience stores, and most taxis. The Taipei Metro runs from 6am to midnight, and the covered stations make it the most practical transit option in rain. The National Palace Museum stays open until 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Dress code is casual everywhere except a handful of high-end restaurants in Xinyi. Tipping is not expected or customary in Taiwan. If you plan to visit Yangmingshan, check the national park website that morning for trail closure alerts, as landslide risk triggers closures during heavy rain. Convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Hi-Life) appear on nearly every block and serve as rain shelters, ATMs, restrooms, and snack stops. They stay open 24 hours.
FAQ
Is May a good time to visit Taipei?
May is a fair but not ideal time. The plum rain season (méiyǔ jì) brings 248mm of rainfall across roughly 18 days, and humidity holds steady around 82%. Temperatures are comfortable at 29°C (84°F) highs and 22°C (71°F) lows, well below the July and August peaks. You can still have a good trip if you build flexibility into your itinerary and lean toward indoor attractions on rainy afternoons. The strongest months for Taipei are November and December, when rainfall drops to 60-80mm and temperatures sit in the comfortable low 20s Celsius.
What is the weather like in Taipei in May?
Warm, humid, and wet. Average highs reach 28.8°C (84°F) with lows around 21.7°C (71°F). Expect 248mm of rain, mostly falling in afternoon bursts that last 30-90 minutes rather than all-day drizzle. Humidity averages 82%. Mornings are often clear or partly cloudy, with clouds building through midday. The rain pattern is unpredictable on a day-to-day basis, but the afternoon concentration is consistent enough to plan around.
Is Taipei crowded in May?
Medium crowds overall. The plum rain keeps casual tourists away, so popular spots like Taipei 101, Shilin Night Market, and Jiufen see noticeably fewer visitors than the October and November peak. The exception is the final week of May, when COMPUTEX Taipei brings over 40,000 tech industry visitors and fills hotels in the Nangang and Xinyi areas.
Does it rain every day in Taipei in May?
Not every day, but close. Historical data shows roughly 18 out of 31 days with measurable rainfall. The rain rarely lasts all day. A typical May pattern is a clear or overcast morning followed by a heavy shower between 2pm and 5pm that clears by evening. You might get stretches of 3-4 dry days, then several consecutive wet days. The Taipei Metro app has a weather radar overlay that is genuinely useful for timing outdoor activities between showers.
What should I wear in Taipei in May?
Light, breathable clothing in moisture-wicking fabric. Cotton gets uncomfortable fast at 82% humidity. Waterproof shoes or sandals with textured soles matter because Taipei's tile sidewalks become slippery in rain. Always carry a light layer for air-conditioned interiors, which are cooled to 22-24°C and feel cold when you are damp from rain and sweat. A compact rain jacket tends to be more versatile than an umbrella for getting around the city.
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