Visiting Taipei & Taiwan in March 2024

Cherry blossoms in the foreground with a circular temple in the background

The month of March is a pleasant time to visit Taiwan. Everyone is back to work after the Lunar New Year holiday and there are no national holidays in Taiwan in March to disrupt your travel plans.

March is a transitional month between winter and spring in Taiwan. Lingering chilly weather and a moderate amount of drizzling rain in Taipei and other parts of Northern Taiwan mean that temperatures are still suitable for visiting these hot springs.

In Southern Taiwanese cities such as Tainan and Kaohsiung, things are already starting to heat up, and even Taipei is usually starting to feel pretty warm by the end of March.

Certain types of cherry blossom, tulips, azaleas, and calla lilies bloom in March. For cherry blossoms, note that they started a little early in 2024, so they may also finish earlier than usual this year.

Due to the mild weather and lack of major events & tourist crowds, March is ideal for long days of walking, rural exploration, and experiencing everyday life in Taiwan.

See how March compares to other months of the year in my guide to the best season to visit Taiwan, or find answers to these frequently-asked-questions about Taiwan.

Taiwan travel planning group

Taipei in March: Best Things to Do

Start planning your trip with my detailed Taipei guide.

Mild weather is perfect for doing some city explorations on foot. Dive back into Taipei’s history by following my walking tour of Dadaocheng neighborhood, or see what kind of weird & colorful surprises you can find in Ximending. Consider joining one of these free walking tours in Taipei.

Also try some of these great day trips from Taipei, including Jiufen , Shifen Old Street, and Shifen Waterfall. You can see these and more on this popular day tour from Taipei.

For flower viewing, after February, March is one of the best months to see cherry blossoms in Taipei. The most gorgeous display is at Wuji Tianyuan Temple in Tamsui, one of the most beautiful temples in Taiwan. The temple’s second round of blooming (different types of cherry blossoms there bloom at different times; the first round blooms in February) usually takes place in mid-March.

It is also usually possible to still see some cherry blossoms in Yangmingshan National Park in Taipei and New Taipei City at the beginning of March. The best spot to see them is Yangmingshan Flower Clock. In 2024, since they started very early, it’s best to check the current status (filter the most recent reviews on GoogleMaps) to see if they are still blooming before you go.

Both places are crowded when the flowers are blooming.

Seeing cherry blossoms is one of the best March events in Taipei
Cherry blossoms at Tianyuan Temple in Danshui District, New Taipei City

Besides cherry blossoms, another pretty flower than blooms in March is the azalea, the official flower of Taipei City. The flowers can be seen in Da’An Forest Park, the largest park in Taipei, and a series of events related to the flower will take place for the whole month of March.

The end of March is also when calla lilies start to bloom at Zhuzihu in Yangmingshan National Park, which is yet another natural spectacle to behold. Last but not least, a tulip show usually takes places at Chiang Kai-shek Residence Park as well as a rose show at Xinsheng Park (Yuanshan MRT).

A sea of white calla lilies with misty mountains behind
Calla lilies in Yangmingshan National Park

Guanyin, the Buddhist goddess of mercy, celebrates her birthday on the 19th day of the second month of the lunar calendar (March 28, 2024). A celebration of the event takes place at Mengjia Lungshan Temple (the most famous temple in Taipei) and other temple’s throughout the country. If you can’t make it on that day, try to visit Longshan Temple any day at 6:00 or 8:00 A.M. for the morning chanting ceremony.

In 2024, the Festival of Lights at Treasure Hill Artists Village in Gongguan will start on March 23 and run until May 5. The best time to visit and see the lit-up art displays is late afternoon and early evening on weekends.

Stage 1 of the Tour de Taiwan, the largest cycling event in Taiwan, usually takes place in early March. Keep an eye on the official website for details. The 2024 event will be from March 10 to 14.

Hot springs are one of the best things to do in Taipei in March
Got the chills? Head to Beitou Hot Spring!

If the weather turns sour, head indoors at the National Palace Museum (closed Mondays), Museum of Contemporary Art, or the lesser-known Museum of World Religions.

Hot spring lovers can indulge at Beitou Thermal Valley (also closed Mondays) or by making a day trip from Taipei to the hot spring villages of Jiaoxi or Wulai.

For loads of other ideas, see my list of 50 things to do in Taipei and how to plan your Taipei itinerary.

Taiwan in March: Best Places to Visit

A red and white Alishan Forest Railway train drives under some blooming cherry blossom trees, with a path and wooden railing on the left side
An Alishan Forest Railway train drives under cherry blossoms

With warm but not overbearing temperatures in central and southern Taiwan, March is a great time to explore cities such as Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung, and some days may be even be hot enough to start thinking about beaches in Taiwan.

If you want to see cherry blossoms around Taiwan in March, you will need to go to higher elevations in Taiwan. One of the best spots that has cherry blossoms in March is Alishan Sakura Trail in the village of Shizhuo, which is on the way to Alishan.

The cherry blossoms at Alishan usually start blooming in late March and into early April. However, in 2024, the blossoms have come early all over Taiwan. They have been sighted around Shizhuo as early as February. At Alishan, expect the blossoms to arrive and probably finish before the end of March this year.

This is an EXTREMELY busy time to visit Alishan, and all the hotels sell out weeks or months in advance. I strongly recommend you book your Shizhuo or Alishan bus tickets online to guarantee a seat. The bus times are here. Find more info in my Alishan guide.

A black and purple butterfly on a yellow flower
Butterflies at Maolin

March is the last month that you can see flocks of Taiwanese Purple Crow butterflies at Maolin National Scenic Area in Kaohsiung and Pingtung.

March is also the tail end of the strawberry growing season in Dahu; if you visit Dahu to pick strawberries you can combine it with a trip to nearby Tai’an Hot Spring.

Kenting, the beachy national park at the southern tip of Taiwan, can already be quite hot in March. It won’t be busy, yet, so it’s a great time to visit. There will be a wave of tourists coming for the Taiwan Music Festival on the 4-day long weekend at the beginning of April. Head there in March to beat the crowds!

In Taitung on the east coast, people surf year-round in Dulan but waves may still be pretty choppy and the water a little chilly in March. Taroko Gorge and Yilan County can still be a little cool and windy at this time, but are still fine to visit.

Dolphin and whale tours in Hualien will be running, but only when it’s not too windy and if they can find enough passengers. It’s better to wait until closer to summer for better chance of spotting anything.

If the chills get to you, head directly to Jiaoxi Hot Spring or Wulai Hot Spring.

Taroko Gorge, one of the best places to visit in Taiwan in March
Taroko Gorge in beautiful Hualien is stunning no matter what the weather is like.

Sun Moon Lake, which sits at an elevation of 748 meters in Nantou county, can be a few degrees cooler than the major cities. In March, Yaesakuras, a very pink kind of cherry blossom, may still be blooming in early March around the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway (cable car).

But, generally speaking, February is the best month to see cherry blossoms at Sun Moon Lake. Tickets for the Ropeway are included on several of the Sun Moon Lake passes.

March is not a great time to visit the offshore islands of Taiwan, such as Penghu, Green Island, and Orchid Island. They can still be a little cold and windy, and transportation options may be limited.

A small underground music festival called Eden Hill Festival usually takes place in a remote location in Nantou County in March. Watch their Facebook page for upcoming events.

For other ideas on what to do in Taiwan, see my favorite things to do in Taiwan and how to plan your Taiwan itinerary.

Taipei Weather in March

In Taipei in March, winter weather can seem to drag on. Taipei’s winters are dominated by gray, overcast skies. The chilliest it can get is around 10°C (50°F), with the average low being 15°C (59°F) and the average high being 22°C (72°F).

March in Taipei has the most number of days of rain of the year (16 days, 180mm), but rain at this time tends to be not much more than a drizzle, so overall it actually isn’t considered a very rainy month. See here for my recommended things to do on rainy days in Taipei.

If you are coming from the tropics, you may find the weather in Taipei in March quite cold. And for those who come from really cold countries like I do, you may laugh at these numbers, but it’s important to note that, coupled with the high humidity, 10°C can really chill you to the bones, especially when it rains. Few places have interior heating, so apartments or hotels can feel like they are damp and cool as outside.

With some luck, you can also have warm, clear, sunny days in Taipei in March.

What to wear in Taipei in March

It’s important to bring layers. Personally I find a good thermal shirt under a hoodie is more than enough for slightly chilly March nights, and on nicer March days I’m already wearing a T-shirt and shorts, although most locals are still sporting jackets.

The chilliest days will be when it rains, so remember to bring appropriate rain gear, or buy an umbrella/poncho from any 7-Eleven if/when you need it.

Find out where to stay in my Taipei hotels guide and Taipei hostels guide.

Taiwan Weather in March

The weather in Taiwan in March in the high mountains is still very cold, such as here at Alishan, waiting for the sunrise
Make sure to dress warm if you’re getting up early for the sunrise at Alishan!

As soon as you journey south from Taipei, you are less likely to encounter rain in March. For example, Tainan in the south receives only 5 days of rain (40mm) in March. The south of Taiwan is also about 5 degrees warmer than Taipei in March (average low 18°C/64°F, average high 26°C/79°F). This means that most major cities in Taiwan besides Taipei are already experiencing T-shirt weather in March.

Taroko Gorge is only slightly warmer than Taipei, but with higher winds on the east coast of Taiwan, it can feel just as cold.

Similarly, Sun Moon Lake in Nantou can still be chilly due to its higher elevation (748 meters above sea level), while Alishan and Qingjing Farm may be close to freezing.

What to wear in Taiwan in March

Toss a few long sleeves and a light jacket into your luggage, but chances are you won’t be using them much in the daytime in the south of Taiwan. Unless of course you are heading to the mountains, in which case winter clothing is still a must.

It’s always a good idea to bring rain gear in Taiwan, but if you forget, you can always pick up an umbrella or poncho at any 7-Eleven.

Conclusion: Is March a good time to visit Taiwan?

In my opinion, there’s no bad time to visit Taiwan. March is a good choice for those who love hot springs, flower viewing, and exploring cities in mild weather, but want to skip the Lunar New Year crowds and lower temperatures of January and February.

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