November in Taipei is the month the rain finally lets up. After October's punishing 261mm of rainfall, the city dries out to a manageable 81mm across roughly 11 rainy days, and temperatures settle into a comfortable 19-25°C (67-77°F) range. The oppressive summer humidity starts to loosen its grip, though at 80% you'll still notice it on your skin. This is shoulder season in the best sense. The typhoon threat has largely passed, the summer crowds from Japan and Korea have thinned, and hotel rates sit below peak without dropping to true budget territory. The northeast monsoon (東北季風) does bring overcast skies, particularly along the northern coast toward Keelung, and you might get stretches of 3-4 grey days in a row. That said, when the sun breaks through, the light is golden and the air carries a crispness that the summer months never offer. The Golden Horse Film Festival (金馬影展) draws cinema crowds to theaters across Zhongshan and Ximending in mid-to-late November, giving the city an arts-week energy. Beitou's hot spring district shifts from tourist curiosity to genuine comfort as evening temperatures drop toward 19°C. To be fair, November won't give you the postcard-blue skies of a Taipei October afternoon, but it trades those for walkable temperatures and far fewer umbrella-destroying downpours.
Why visit in November
- Rainfall drops from October's 261mm to 81mm, making outdoor exploration far more practical than the preceding 5 months
- Daytime temperatures of 24-25°C (77°F) are ideal for walking the city's hills and temple stairs without the heat exhaustion risk of summer
- The Golden Horse Film Festival brings world-class East Asian cinema to Taipei's theaters in mid-to-late November, with affordable ticket prices across most screenings
- Hot spring season in Beitou feels genuinely therapeutic rather than performative once evening temperatures hit 19°C
- Shoulder-season hotel pricing sits 15-25% below the December-February peak without sacrificing comfortable weather
Worth knowing
- The northeast monsoon (東北季風) pushes persistent cloud cover and drizzle across the city, sometimes for 3-4 consecutive days
- Northern coastal areas like Jiufen and Keelung catch heavier, wind-driven rain that can cancel cliff-path walks entirely
- Daylight hours shorten noticeably, with sunset around 5:15pm limiting late-afternoon photography at outdoor spots like Elephant Mountain
- Humidity still sits at 80%, which combined with overcast skies can make laundry-drying in guesthouses a 2-day affair
Best for
Think twice if
November marks Taipei's transition from wet subtropical summer to the cooler, drier northeast monsoon season. Expect mostly overcast skies with intermittent drizzle rather than the dramatic thunderstorms of summer. Mornings tend to start grey and cool around 19°C (67°F), warming to a comfortable 24-25°C (77°F) by early afternoon. The rain, when it comes, is typically light and persistent rather than torrential. You might get 2-3 genuinely sunny days per week, concentrated in the first half of the month before the monsoon pattern fully establishes itself.
Seasonal caution
- The northeast monsoon can bring sudden temperature drops of 5-8°C overnight when cold fronts push down from mainland China, occasionally sending lows toward 14-15°C for 1-2 days
- Coastal areas north of the city (Yehliu, Jiufen, Keelung) receive significantly more rainfall and wind than central Taipei during monsoon surges
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
Golden Horse Film Festival (金馬影展)
Mid-November through late November (festival runs approximately 2 weeks, awards ceremony on final Saturday)
East Asia's most prestigious Chinese-language film awards and accompanying 2-week festival screening 150+ films across Taipei's cinemas. The Oscar equivalent for Mandarin cinema, drawing directors, actors, and press from across the region. Screenings happen at Taipei Zhongshan Hall (中山堂) and multiple Vie Show Cinemas locations.
Best things to do in November
Beitou hot spring soaking
wellnessThe sulfur-scented public and private hot springs of Beitou district sit at the terminus of the MRT Red Line. Public outdoor pools at Beitou Hot Spring Park offer affordable entry, while private rooms at ryokan-style hotels along Wenquan Road (溫泉路) provide a more intimate soak. The smell of sulfur hangs in the cool November air as steam rises off the green-tinted water.
Evening temperatures dropping to 19°C make the contrast between cool air and 40°C spring water genuinely therapeutic rather than uncomfortably hotBooking tipWeekday mornings before 10am have the shortest queues at public pools
Yangmingshan National Park autumn hiking
natureThe volcanic trails of Yangmingshan sit 20 minutes by bus from Jiantan MRT station. The Qingtiangang (擎天崗) grassland trail runs flat for 2km with views over the Taipei Basin, while the Xiaoyoukeng (小油坑) fumarole trail offers sulfur vents steaming against the November sky. Silver grass (芒草) blooms white across the mountain ridges.
November's 19-25°C range eliminates the dangerous summer heat on exposed trails, and the silver grass (芒草) reaches peak bloom across the mountain's upper ridgesBooking tipBus S15 from Jiantan runs every 15-20 minutes on weekdays
Golden Horse Film Festival screenings
cultureTwo weeks of East Asian cinema across multiple Taipei venues, with 150+ films ranging from blockbuster premieres to experimental shorts. Taipei Zhongshan Hall (中山堂) in Zhongzheng hosts the gala screenings, while commercial cinemas in Ximending and Xinyi handle the general program. Q&A sessions with directors follow many screenings.
The festival runs exclusively in November, with the awards ceremony and highest-profile screenings concentrated in the final weekBooking tipTickets sell out within hours of going on sale. Set a reminder for the release date, typically announced in early October on the official website
Dadaocheng heritage walking
cultureThe 19th-century trading district along Dihua Street in Datong comes alive in November's walkable weather. Baroque-facade shophouses sell dried goods, traditional medicine, and fabric. The smell of dried shiitake mushrooms and Chinese herbs drifts from open storefronts. Xiahai City God Temple (霞海城隍廟), built in 1856, sits mid-block.
Comfortable 24°C afternoons make the 2-3km walking route through narrow lanes pleasant rather than sweaty, and the Taipei Tea Festival often overlaps in early NovemberElephant Mountain (象山) sunset hike
natureThe 20-minute climb up stone stairs from Xiangshan MRT station rewards with an unobstructed view of Taipei 101 and the Xinyi skyline. November's earlier sunset at 5:15pm means you can catch golden hour without a late climb. The trail is well-lit for descent.
November's lower humidity improves visibility dramatically compared to summer's haze, and the 5:15pm sunset means you finish the round trip before dinnerNight market eating through Shilin and Raohe
foodShilin Night Market (士林夜市) near Jiantan MRT and Raohe Street Night Market (饒河街觀光夜市) near Songshan MRT both shift their stall offerings in November. Hot soup stations, pepper buns (胡椒餅), and grilled corn replace the shaved ice and cold drinks of summer. The charcoal smoke mixes with the damp November air.
November's cooler evenings make standing in night market crowds comfortable rather than suffocating, and the seasonal menu shift brings warming dishes like hot pot and grilled meats to the stallsMaokong Gondola tea tasting
foodThe 4km cable car from Taipei Zoo MRT to Maokong's tea plantations at 300m elevation takes 20 minutes. Tea houses along the mountain roads serve Tieguanyin and Wenshan Baozhong teas with valley views. November's cooler temperatures at elevation bring out the floral notes in fresh autumn-harvest leaves.
The autumn tea harvest finishes in late October, making November the first month to taste the new season's Wenshan Baozhong at the sourceBooking tipCrystal cabin gondolas (glass floor) have separate, longer queues. Standard cabins move faster.
What to eat in November
In season: fruit
Tangerines from Miaoli (椪柑)
Peak harvest month for Taiwanese ponkan tangerines. Sweet, easy to peel, and sold by the bag at traditional markets like Nanmen Market. The skins have that slightly rough texture and intense citrus smell that fills your bag on the MRT ride home.
On menus now
Ginger duck hot pot (薑母鴨)
Taiwanese rice wine-based broth with tender duck pieces and old ginger root. Stalls along Linjiang Street Night Market in Da'an start firing up their clay pots as November temperatures drop. The broth warms from the inside on drizzly evenings.
Sesame oil chicken soup (麻油雞)
Dark sesame oil, rice wine, sliced ginger, and bone-in chicken. November is when night market stalls and neighborhood shops switch from summer cold noodles to this warming winter soup. You'll smell the toasted sesame oil from half a block away.
Fresh milk fish (虱目魚)
November marks the end of milkfish season before winter prices rise. Congee shops in Wanhua near Longshan Temple serve it belly-first in thick rice porridge for breakfast, the fish fat melting into the broth.
What to drink
Chrysanthemum tea (菊花茶)
Dried chrysanthemum season peaks in November. Tea shops along Dihua Street in Dadaocheng sell both the flowers and fresh brews. Slightly sweet, floral, served hot. Locals drink it to counter the damp autumn chill.
Regular events in November
Taipei Tea FestivalFree
Annual celebration of Taipei's tea culture, typically held at Nangang Exhibition Center or Dadaocheng tea shops. Tastings, workshops, and competitions featuring Wenshan Baozhong and Muzha Tieguanyin from local plantations.
Early November (dates vary yearly)Taipei Marathon
The city's largest running event draws 28,000+ participants along a course from Taipei City Hall through Renai Road and along the Keelung River bike path. Road closures affect traffic in Xinyi and Songshan from early morning.
Third or fourth Sunday of NovemberBest places this November
Beitou Hot Spring District
wellnessSulfur-scented valley of public baths, private ryokans, and the restored 1913 Beitou Hot Spring Museum. The Green Library (北投圖書館) sits among trees at the park entrance. Steam rises visibly from Thermal Valley (地熱谷) on cool November mornings.
BeitouDadaocheng and Dihua Street
heritageTaipei's oldest trading quarter, with Baroque shophouses from the 1920s lining a pedestrianized section of Dihua Street. Dried goods merchants, tea shops, and fabric stores operate from the same buildings their families have occupied for 3-4 generations.
DatongYangmingshan National Park
natureVolcanic park 20 minutes north of the city by bus. November brings silver grass blooms to the upper ridges and comfortable hiking temperatures. Qingtiangang grassland and Xiaoyoukeng fumaroles are the most accessible trails from the visitor center.
Shilin (mountain area)Jiufen Old Street
heritageHillside gold-mining town 40 minutes east by bus from Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT. Narrow lanes lined with tea houses and taro ball shops overlook the Pacific coast. Mind you, November's northeast monsoon hits this exposed ridge harder than central Taipei, so check the forecast before heading out.
Ruifang (New Taipei)Longshan Temple
cultureBuilt in 1738 in Wanhua district, this Fujian-style temple hums with incense smoke and the clatter of fortune-telling moon blocks. The surrounding Guangzhou Street Night Market serves some of Taipei's oldest street food traditions. November evenings bring a comfortable crowd without summer's crush.
WanhuaNational Palace Museum
cultureThe world's largest collection of Chinese imperial artifacts, housed in a hillside building in Shilin. The Jadeite Cabbage and Meat-Shaped Stone are the crowd-pleasers, but the rotating calligraphy and ceramics galleries reward slower visits. A good November rain-day option when the monsoon settles in.
ShilinMaokong tea plantations
foodHillside tea-growing area reached by the Maokong Gondola from Taipei Zoo station. Tea houses serve local Tieguanyin with views across the Taipei Basin. November's fresh autumn harvest brings new-season leaves to the small family operations along the winding mountain roads.
Wenshan
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Insider tips
The northeast monsoon hits the coast and northern mountains far harder than the Taipei Basin itself. If Jiufen is grey and windswept, Da'an and Zhongshan may still be dry, so check district-level forecasts before canceling plans.
Golden Horse Film Festival tickets for popular screenings sell out within hours of release. The festival's LINE account posts the on-sale time a few days before. Less hyped documentaries and shorts often have same-day availability.
Beitou's public hot springs are least crowded on weekday mornings before 10am. Weekend afternoons, particularly on grey November days, draw families and the wait can stretch long.
Maokong Gondola closes during high winds, which happen more frequently in November due to the monsoon. Check the official website or call before making the trip. The tea houses remain open and accessible by bus even when the gondola shuts.
November is prime season for hiking clubs on Yangmingshan's trails. The silver grass viewing spots at Qingtiangang get genuinely crowded on clear weekends. Tuesday through Thursday offers empty trails and identical views.
Raohe Night Market's famous pepper buns (福州世祖胡椒餅) have the longest queues around 7pm. Arriving at 5:30pm when the stall opens, or after 9pm, cuts the wait significantly.
Avoid these mistakes
- Packing for one temperature. November mornings at 19°C feel cool enough for a jacket, but by 2pm the 25°C sun on your back makes you regret wearing anything heavy. Layers that compress small solve this.
- Assuming coastal day trips will match central Taipei's weather. Jiufen, Keelung, and Yehliu sit directly in the monsoon path and can be 5-8°C colder with driving rain while the city center stays dry.
- Booking the Golden Horse awards ceremony night without understanding the Mandarin-language broadcast. The ceremony itself is in Mandarin with no subtitles. Festival screenings, however, carry English subtitles on most international selections.
- Visiting Beitou's Thermal Valley (地熱谷) and thinking that's the hot spring experience. It's a viewing-only sulfur pool at near-boiling temperatures. The actual soaking facilities are a 5-minute walk further into the valley.
- Planning outdoor photography without checking sunrise and sunset times. November sunset at 5:15pm catches visitors off guard, particularly at Elephant Mountain where the golden hour light on Taipei 101 only lasts about 20 minutes.
Practical tips for November
Book accommodation in Zhongshan or Da'an districts for central MRT access and walkable neighborhoods. The Red Line connects both areas directly to Beitou hot springs (25 minutes) and Shilin Night Market. November's shoulder-season rates mean availability stays reasonable even for last-minute bookings, though Golden Horse Film Festival week (typically the third week) fills boutique hotels near Ximending faster. Carry an EasyCard (悠遊卡) loaded from any convenience store for MRT, buses, and YouBike rentals. The MRT runs from 6am to midnight, so late returns from Raohe or Shilin night markets are straightforward. For day trips to Jiufen or Yehliu, buses depart from Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT and Keelung Bus Station respectively, but check weather forecasts for the north coast independently of Taipei city center conditions.
FAQ
Is November a good time to visit Taipei's hot springs in Beitou?
November is likely the best month for Beitou. Evening temperatures drop to 19°C, which makes the contrast with the 38-42°C spring water genuinely comfortable rather than overheating. Summer soaking tends to leave you feeling hotter after than before. The sulfur steam rising into cool air also adds atmosphere that's absent in warmer months.
How much rain should I expect in Taipei during November?
November averages about 81mm of rainfall across 11 days, a dramatic drop from October's 261mm. The rain tends to come as light drizzle or intermittent showers rather than summer's torrential bursts. You might get 2-3 clear days per week, particularly in the first half of the month. A packable rain jacket and compact umbrella handle most of what November delivers.
Can I still visit Jiufen and the north coast in November?
You can, but the northeast monsoon hits the coast and mountain ridges significantly harder than central Taipei. Jiufen and Keelung receive more rainfall and stronger winds during monsoon surges. Check district-specific forecasts the morning of your trip. On bad monsoon days, the cliff-path walks may close entirely, but the covered Old Street shops remain open.
What is the Golden Horse Film Festival and is it worth planning around?
The Golden Horse Awards (金馬獎) are the most prestigious Chinese-language film awards in East Asia, often called the Chinese-language Oscars. The accompanying 2-week festival screens 150+ films across Taipei cinemas, many with English subtitles. If you have any interest in East Asian cinema, timing a November trip around the festival adds a concentrated cultural dimension you won't find the other 11 months.
Do I need a winter coat for Taipei in November?
No. Daytime temperatures still reach 24-25°C and rarely drop below 19°C at night. A light fleece or sweater handles the coolest moments, particularly air-conditioned spaces and MRT rides. The exception is cold front days, which push lows toward 14-15°C for 1-2 days at a time, maybe 2-3 times per month. A packable light jacket covers these comfortably.
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