October in Taipei marks the arrival of the northeast monsoon, which typically settles in during the second half of the month. Around 153mm of rain falls across roughly 13 wet days, putting October in the middle of Taipei's rainfall calendar, well behind the June meiyu peak and September's typhoon-driven totals. The good news is that summer's oppressive 33°C (91°F) peaks have finally broken. Daytime highs average 27.5°C (82°F), and mornings sit near 22°C (72°F), which feels like a genuine relief after four months of heat that could pin you indoors by noon.
The character of the rain shifts in October, too. Summer storms in Taipei tend to be violent but brief. October rain leans toward grey, persistent drizzle that can hang over the Taipei Basin for 2 or 3 days straight. You'll want indoor options built into every day's plan. The National Palace Museum in Shilin, the covered lanes of Dadaocheng, and Taipei's night markets at Raohe Street and Shilin all operate rain or shine. Beitou's hot springs actually improve in wet weather. Steam rises off the outdoor pools while rain taps the surface around you.
The silvergrass fields on Yangmingshan start turning white around mid-month, drawing hikers to Qingtiangang on dry days. Hotel prices hold near their annual average, and international tourist crowds are thinner than in the March-May and late-autumn windows that experienced travelers tend to target. October in Taipei is workable if you plan around the rain, but this isn't the optimal month.
Why visit in October
- Temperatures drop to a comfortable 27.5°C (82°F) from summer's 33°C (91°F), making walks through Da'an Forest Park and along the Tamsui riverfront pleasant again.
- Double Ten National Day on October 10 features free fireworks and military flyovers at the Presidential Office Building, with viewing from Ketagalan Boulevard and 228 Peace Memorial Park.
- Silvergrass season begins on Yangmingshan, with the Qingtiangang and Xiaoyoukeng trails covered in white miscanthus plumes from mid-October onward.
- Hotel rates in Zhongshan and Da'an districts sit 10-15% below annual averages, roughly 30-40% cheaper than spring peak pricing.
Worth knowing
- October's roughly 153mm of rainfall across 13 rainy days brings multi-day stretches of grey drizzle under the northeast monsoon, particularly in the second half of the month.
- Humidity holds near 77%, and the combination of warm air and persistent damp makes clothes and gear feel perpetually clammy. Quick-dry fabrics are a real necessity.
- Typhoon season extends through October. Late-season typhoons are less frequent than August or September, but Typhoon Krathon disrupted transit across Taiwan in early October 2024.
- The northeast monsoon can reduce visibility on mountain trails, sometimes closing Yangmingshan's higher-elevation routes for days at a time.
Best for
Think twice if
October sits at the transition between summer heat and autumn cool. Daytime highs average 27.5°C (82°F), with overnight lows around 22.3°C (72°F). The roughly 153mm of rainfall across 13 days puts October behind June's meiyu deluge and September's typhoon-driven totals, but the rain feels more persistent. Early October can still feel summery, with brief heavy downpours that clear in 30 minutes. By late October, the northeast monsoon settles in and brings longer periods of grey drizzle and noticeably cooler mornings. Humidity holds around 77%, making the air feel heavier than the thermometer suggests.
Seasonal caution
- Typhoon season extends through October. Late-season typhoons are less common than in August or September but still hit Taiwan. Typhoon Krathon disrupted island-wide transit in early October 2024. Monitor the Central Weather Administration (中央氣象署) daily if traveling in the first half of the month.
- The northeast monsoon can bring sustained multi-day rainfall with localized flooding in low-lying areas near the Keelung River basin. Avoid camping or hiking near riverbanks during heavy rain advisories.
- Mountain trail closures on Yangmingshan are common in late October when monsoon winds exceed safety thresholds. Check the national park's trail status before making the trip.
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
Double Ten National Day (雙十國慶)
October 10 (celebrations and closures typically October 9-11)
Taiwan's National Day celebration features a military and civilian parade along Ketagalan Boulevard, fighter jet flyovers above the Presidential Office Building, and an evening fireworks display visible across central Taipei. Government buildings in Zhongzheng district are illuminated for about a week. The atmosphere tends to be festive but orderly, closer to a national pride event than a street party. Many businesses close October 10, and the surrounding weekend fills hotels with domestic travelers.
Best things to do in October
Yangmingshan silvergrass trails
natureThe Qingtiangang Grassland and Xiaoyoukeng trails on Yangmingshan fill with white miscanthus plumes from mid-October. The silvergrass grows to head height along 2-3km stretches of the trail, and on a clear day the Taipei Basin spreads out below. The grass ripples in the wind like a pale ocean.
Silvergrass season peaks from mid-October through November. The plumes are at their whitest before autumn winds strip them.Booking tipGo on a weekday if possible. The Qingtiangang parking lot fills by 9am on October weekends. Bus S15 from Jiantan MRT runs every 15-20 minutes.
Beitou hot springs soaking
wellnessBeitou's sulfurous hot springs sit in the valley between Yangmingshan's northern slopes and the Beitou MRT station. The outdoor pools range from lukewarm at 38°C to scalding at 45°C. October's cooler air and drizzle make the contrast between the cold rain on your shoulders and the hot mineral water genuinely therapeutic. The public pools at Millennium Hot Spring in Beitou Park offer the most accessible experience.
October marks the crossover point where air temperature drops below the spring water temperature, making outdoor soaking comfortable for the first time since April.Booking tipMillennium Hot Spring operates on a timed-entry system. Arrive before the first session opens at 5:30am on weekends to avoid the queue.
National Palace Museum deep visit
cultureThe National Palace Museum in Shilin holds nearly 700,000 Chinese artifacts spanning 8,000 years, but displays only about 3,000 at a time on a rotating schedule. October's rainy-day crowds are lighter than the summer tourist surge, and you'll find room to stand in front of the Jadeite Cabbage and Meat-shaped Stone without being pushed along. The climate-controlled galleries feel particularly welcome after walking through monsoon drizzle.
Rainy October days make this an ideal indoor alternative, and visitor numbers drop roughly 20% compared to July-August.Booking tipFree admission on October 10 for Double Ten National Day. The museum stays open until 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
Dadaocheng heritage walk
cultureThe Dadaocheng quarter in Datong district is Taipei's oldest commercial neighborhood, with covered arcades that keep you dry while you walk past baroque-revival shophouses from the 1920s. Dihua Street runs north-south through the center, lined with dried goods merchants, traditional medicine shops, and fabric stores that have operated for 3 or 4 generations. The smell of dried mushrooms and Chinese herbs fills the covered walkways.
The covered arcades make this one of the best walking routes in Taipei during monsoon rain. Shops also begin stocking Lunar New Year dried goods in late October.Booking tipThe Dadaocheng Wharf area hosts occasional weekend markets. Check the Datong District Office website for October dates.
Maokong Gondola and tea houses
food_and_drinkThe Maokong Gondola lifts you from Taipei Zoo Station over the canopy of Wenshan district to the tea-growing hillside at 300m elevation. On a clear October day, the ride takes about 25 minutes each way. At the top, small tea houses serve fresh-roasted Tieguanyin with views down to the Taipei 101 tower. The crystal-bottom cabins give a vertigo-inducing look at the forest below.
The autumn Tieguanyin harvest arrives in October, and the cooler temperatures at elevation make sitting outdoors with a pot of tea comfortable again.Booking tipThe gondola closes in high winds, which are common in late October monsoon conditions. Check the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation website before heading out.
Raohe Street Night Market
food_and_drinkRaohe Street Night Market in Songshan runs for about 600 meters and opens at 5pm nightly. October's cooler evenings bring out the full range of hot-food stalls. The black pepper buns at the entrance gate have a permanent queue, and the grilled medicinal herb ribs halfway down the lane fill the air with a smoky, anise-heavy scent. The market is fully covered, so rain has no effect on the experience.
October's cooler evenings make standing in the steam of food stalls comfortable rather than oppressive, and seasonal items like ginger duck and taro desserts appear.Booking tipArrive by 5:30pm on weekends to beat the main crowd. The market is a 3-minute walk from Songshan MRT station.
Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan) sunset hike
natureThe short, steep trail up Elephant Mountain in Xinyi district takes about 20 minutes and ends at a rock outcrop with a direct view of Taipei 101 and the city skyline. October's lower humidity occasionally clears the haze that blankets the view in summer, and sunset drops to around 5:20pm, making it possible to catch the golden hour without hiking in the dark. Mind you, the stone steps get slippery in rain.
Earlier sunsets (5:20pm vs 6:40pm in July) mean you can catch sunset light on Taipei 101 at a reasonable hour, and reduced humidity occasionally produces clearer visibility.Booking tipArrive at the trailhead near Xiangshan MRT at least 45 minutes before sunset on a dry day. Skip this if it has rained in the last 6 hours.
Huashan 1914 Creative Park
cultureThis converted sake brewery in Zhongzheng district hosts rotating exhibitions, indie film screenings, and design markets across a cluster of renovated warehouse buildings connected by covered walkways. October typically brings 2-3 new exhibition openings aligned with the autumn cultural season. The converted concrete spaces stay cool and dry.
Autumn exhibition season brings fresh installations, and the covered complex provides a solid rainy-day option in central Taipei near Zhongxiao Xinsheng MRT.Booking tipMost exhibitions are free. Ticketed shows are available at the entrance or through ibon machines at any 7-Eleven.
What to eat in October
In season: fruit
Persimmons (柿子)
October marks the peak of persimmon season in northern Taiwan. Vendors at Nanmen Market and Binjiang Market stock both the firm, crunchy shui variety and the soft, jelly-textured Hong persimmon from orchards in nearby Hsinchu county. Worth trying both side by side.
On menus now
Ginger duck (薑母鴨)
This rich, dark sesame-oil-and-ginger broth with bone-in duck pieces appears at roadside stalls across Taipei once temperatures dip below 28°C. The smell of toasted sesame oil and old ginger hits you from half a block away. Wanhua and Sanchong have the densest clusters of dedicated ginger duck shops.
Hot pot (火鍋)
Hot pot season opens in earnest once the monsoon rains arrive. Linsen North Road in Zhongshan has a dense strip of individual-pot shops where the bubbling broth steams up the windows on grey October evenings. Mala (numbing spice) and milky collagen broths are the most popular bases.
What to drink
Autumn Tieguanyin tea (鐵觀音)
The autumn harvest of Tieguanyin from Maokong's hillside plantations tends to produce a more floral, lighter roast than the spring picking. Tea houses along Maokong's Zhangshu Trail serve it fresh from the roaster, and you might catch the warm, toasty scent drifting down the hillside on cool afternoons.
In markets
Taro (芋頭)
October taro from Dajia in Taichung arrives at Taipei's markets at peak starch content, dense and purple-grey. Night market stalls at Raohe and Ningxia pivot to taro balls in sweet soup and taro-stuffed crispy rolls. The texture is somewhere between a chestnut and a baked potato.
Regular events in October
Taiwan Design Expo (occasional)Free
When scheduled in Taipei, this government-backed design exhibition typically runs for 2-3 weeks in October across multiple venues in Songshan or Xinyi districts. Past editions have drawn over 1 million visitors. Check the Taiwan Design Research Institute for annual scheduling.
Mid to late October (not held annually in Taipei)Taipei Overture season opening
The National Theater and Concert Hall at Liberty Square in Zhongzheng typically opens its autumn performance season in October, with visiting orchestras and dance companies from Europe and Asia filling the program through December.
Throughout OctoberBeitou Hot Spring FestivalFree
This neighborhood festival around Beitou's hot spring district runs for a weekend in October or early November, with outdoor foot bath stations, local food stalls, and cultural performances at Beitou Park. It marks the unofficial start of soaking season.
Late October to early NovemberBest places this October
Beitou Hot Spring District
wellnessThe valley between Xinbeitou MRT and the Beitou Hot Spring Museum holds public and private hot spring facilities, from the open-air Millennium Hot Spring to high-end ryokan-style inns. The sulfurous smell of Thermal Valley (Hell Valley) hits you before you see the jade-green water steaming at 80-100°C.
BeitouNational Palace Museum
museumOne of the world's largest collections of Chinese imperial art, housed in a palatial building at the base of Yangmingshan. The collection spans bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy, and jade from the Shang dynasty to the Qing. Rotation means repeat visits always turn up something new.
ShilinDihua Street, Dadaocheng
heritageTaipei's oldest commercial street, with baroque and Fujian-style shophouses from the 1850s-1920s lining a covered arcade. Dried goods merchants, traditional Chinese medicine shops, and newer craft tea rooms sit side by side. The covered walkway keeps you dry in monsoon rain.
DatongQingtiangang Grassland, Yangmingshan
natureA gently rolling plateau at about 750m elevation on Yangmingshan's northern slope, grazed by water buffalo. October blankets the surrounding trails in white silvergrass. The 2.4km loop trail is flat and paved, manageable for most fitness levels.
Beitou (Yangmingshan)Songshan Cultural and Creative Park
cultureA former tobacco factory in Xinyi district converted into exhibition halls, a design library, and artisan workshops. The central courtyard with its reflecting pool and mature banyan trees stays sheltered from wind. The Red Dot Design Museum occupies the east wing.
XinyiMaokong tea district
food_and_drinkThe hillside above Taipei Zoo grows Tieguanyin and Baozhong tea at 250-350m elevation. Small family tea houses serve fresh-roasted leaves on outdoor terraces overlooking the city. The gondola ride up passes over dense forest canopy.
Wenshan228 Peace Memorial Park
parkA 7-hectare park in Zhongzheng district with mature banyan trees, a lotus pond, and the Taipei 228 Memorial Museum documenting the 1947 incident. In October, the reduced heat makes midday walks under the canopy comfortable. The park sits between the Presidential Office Building and NTU Hospital MRT.
Zhongzheng
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Insider tips
The northeast monsoon creates a microclimate split in October. Taipei Basin gets the drizzle, but the south coast of Keelung and the north tip of Taiwan get hit much harder. If your plan includes a day trip to Jiufen or Keelung, check the CWA forecast for those towns separately, as they can get twice the rainfall Taipei proper sees.
The Double Ten fireworks on October 10 are visible from multiple vantage points beyond the packed Ketagalan Boulevard. The upper floors of department stores in Zhongzheng and the riverside cycling path along the Tamsui River near Zhongzheng Bridge both offer less crowded views.
Convenience stores in Taiwan (7-Eleven, FamilyMart) sell disposable rain ponchos, phone waterproof pouches, and small towels at the counter. If a sudden downpour catches you without gear, the nearest convenience store is rarely more than a 3-minute walk.
The Maokong Gondola shuts down in winds above a certain threshold, which happens regularly in late October. Check the TRTC website or app before heading to Taipei Zoo Station. The alternative is Bus S10 from the zoo, which runs regardless of wind.
Beitou's Thermal Valley (地熱谷) is free to visit and open daily, but the steam is thickest on cool, rainy October mornings. Arrive before 9am for the most dramatic sulfur clouds rising off the jade-green water.
Avoid these mistakes
- Planning a full outdoor itinerary without rain backup. October can deliver 3-4 consecutive grey days under the monsoon, and visitors who have only booked hiking and cycling find themselves stuck. Build at least 2 indoor alternatives into each day.
- Assuming the MRT will get you to Yangmingshan. There is no MRT stop on the mountain. You need bus S15 from Jiantan Station or a taxi. The bus runs every 15-20 minutes but fills quickly on clear October weekends.
- Packing only summer clothes. While daytime highs still reach 27°C, the rain and wind chill in the second half of October can make it feel closer to 20°C, especially at Yangmingshan's 700m elevation. A layer strategy prevents misery.
- Visiting Jiufen on a rainy October weekend. The narrow Old Street is already packed, and monsoon rain turns the steep hillside steps slippery. The crowds, the rain, and the fog that blocks the ocean view all peak simultaneously. A weekday or a dry forecast improves the experience dramatically.
Practical tips for October
October rain in Taipei tends toward all-day drizzle rather than brief storms, so plan morning activities with indoor fallback options. The EasyCard (悠遊卡) works on the MRT, buses, convenience stores, and many restaurants, and reloading at MRT station kiosks takes about 30 seconds. Keep a portable battery pack charged, as phone GPS and map use drains batteries faster in unfamiliar cities. MRT trains run from 6am to midnight, with 2-4 minute frequency on the Red and Blue lines during peak hours. The Danshui-Xinyi (Red) line connects many of October's best activities in a single route, from Beitou and Shilin in the north through Zhongshan to Xinyi's Elephant Mountain in the south. Most night markets open around 5pm and wind down by midnight, with peak crowds between 7-9pm.
FAQ
Is October a good time to visit Taipei?
October is a workable but not ideal month. The northeast monsoon brings roughly 153mm of rainfall across 13 days, and multi-day drizzle stretches are common in the second half of the month. That said, temperatures drop to a comfortable 27°C range, hotel rates fall 10-15% below average, and crowds are thinner than in spring or November. If you're comfortable with rain contingency plans and enjoy indoor activities like hot springs, museums, and night markets, October has real appeal. For optimal weather, March through May and November tend to be more reliable.
What should I wear in Taipei in October?
Lightweight, quick-drying layers work best. Daytime highs around 27°C mean short sleeves are fine, but air-conditioned MRT cars and late-October evenings call for a light fleece or cardigan. A waterproof rain jacket is more practical than an umbrella on windy monsoon days. Closed-toe shoes with good grip matter on wet temple steps, night market floors, and mountain trails. Skip cotton if you can. It stays damp for hours in the 77% humidity.
Are typhoons still a risk in October?
Yes, though the risk is lower than in August or September. Late-season typhoons still form in the western Pacific and occasionally track toward Taiwan. Typhoon Krathon disrupted transit across the island in early October 2024. Monitor the Central Weather Administration (中央氣象署) daily during the first half of the month. Typhoon days may ground flights, close mountain roads, and suspend rail service for 1-2 days. Travel insurance that covers weather disruption is worth considering for October trips.
Can I still hike Yangmingshan in October?
On dry days, yes. The lower trails like Qingtiangang Grassland (2.4km loop, mostly flat) and the Erziping Trail remain accessible through most of October. Higher-elevation routes near Qixing Peak (1,120m) close more frequently when monsoon winds exceed safety thresholds. Check the Yangmingshan National Park trail status page before heading out. The silvergrass is at its best from mid-October, so timing a clear-weather window for the Qingtiangang area is worth the effort.
Is it worth visiting Beitou hot springs in October?
October might be the single best month for Beitou. The air temperature drops below the spring water temperature for the first time since spring, making outdoor soaking comfortable rather than overheating. Rain adds atmosphere. Steam rises off the pools, the surrounding hills are green and misty, and the crowds are smaller than in the peak winter soaking months of December through February. The public Millennium Hot Spring in Beitou Park is the easiest entry point.
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