Visiting Taipei & Taiwan in March 2023

The month of March is a pleasantly low-key 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 in Taiwan 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 a little, and even Taipei is usually starting to feel warmer by the end of March.

Certain types of cherry blossom, tulips (until mid-March), azaleas (beginning mid-month), and calla lilies (beginning late month) bloom in March, making it one of the best months of the year for flower viewing.

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, more general information about traveling in Taiwan, and the most common questions & answers about Taiwan.

Taipei Weather in March

Also read: The Best Season to Visit Taipei

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. Taipei is the rainiest big city in Taiwan.

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 or search for the best hotels deals in Taiwan here.

Taiwan Weather in March

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 can still be chilly due to its higher elevation (748 meters above sea level), while Alishan and Cingjing 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.

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Taipei in March: Best Things to Do

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

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 places for 7-10 days sometime in March.

It is also possible to see cherry blossoms in Yangmingshan National Park in Taipei and New Taipei City. The best spot to see them is Yangmingshan Flower Clock.

To check the current blooming situations for Tianyuan Temple and Yangmingshan, I recommend checking the most recent reviews/pictures on GoogleMaps and Instagram (search the tag 天元宮 for Tianyuan Temple ands 陽明山花鐘 for Yangmingshan Flowert Clock, then click “recent” to see the most recently posted pics).

Both places are VERY crowded when the flowers are blooming.

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 take place in the park from mid-March to early April. The end of March is also when calla lilies start to bloom 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 in Shilin from late February to mid-March.

Guanyin, the Buddhist goddess of mercy, celebrates her birthday on the 19th day of the second month of the lunar calendar (March 10, 2022). A celebration of the event takes place at Longshan Temple (the most famous temple in Taipei) and other temple’s throughout the country. If you can’t make it for that, visit Longshan Temple any day at 6:00 or 8:00 A.M. for the morning chanting ceremony.

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.

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

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 the beach.

If you want to see cherry blossoms in March around Taiwan, 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. Learn all about visiting this village in my Alishan guide. The cherry blossoms at Alishan usually start blooming in late March and into early April. This is an EXTREMELY busy time to visit Alishan, and all the hotels sell out weeks or months in advance.

March is the last month that you can see flocks of Taiwanese Purple Crow butterflies at Maolin National Scenic Area in Kaohsiung and Pingtung. It 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 on the southern tip of Taiwan, is surely warming up by March and preparing for the wave of tourists that will come for the Spring Scream music festival in 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 be a little cold like Taipei at this time, but are still fine to visit. If the chills get to you, head directly to Jiaoxi Hot Spring, Wulai Hot Spring, or off-the-beaten-track Wenshan Hot Spring.

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

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

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.

Also read:

• Visiting Taiwan in January
• Visiting Taiwan in February
• Visiting Taiwan in April
• Visiting Taiwan in May
• Visiting Taiwan in June
• Visiting Taiwan in July
• Visiting Taiwan in August
• Visiting Taiwan in September
• Visiting Taiwan in October
• Visiting Taiwan in November
• Visiting Taiwan in December