Travel & Nomad

Taiwan in December 2026: Weather, Christmasland and Taipei 101

December splits Taiwan: drizzle in Taipei, dry sun in Kaohsiung. Weather by region, Christmasland and the new Christmas holiday, Taipei 101 at midnight, the online arrival card, and how to stay online.

Quick answer: December is mild in Taiwan, but the north and south feel different: Taipei averages 18C with rain on about 13 days, while Kaohsiung averages 21C with rain on fewer than 3. New Taipei Christmasland runs from 13 November to 27 December 2026, 25 December is a public holiday again (Constitution Day), and the year ends with fireworks from Taipei 101 at midnight. Foreign visitors must file the free online Taiwan Arrival Card before landing.

Key takeaways

North is damp, south is dry: Taipei has about 13 rain days in December, Kaohsiung under 3, with similar mild temperatures.
Christmasland runs 13 November to 27 December 2026 in Banqiao, lit nightly from 5:30pm to 11pm.
25 December is a day off again: Constitution Day was restored as a public holiday, and in 2026 it makes a long weekend from Friday 25 to Sunday 27 December.
The arrival card is online only: file the free TWAC within three days before arrival.

You packed for a tropical island, landed in Taipei in a fine cold drizzle, and spent the first evening in Jiufen inside a cloud. December in Taiwan is pleasant, just not where most people expect it: the north is grey and damp, the south is dry and sunny. Here is the weather by region, the December dates already set for 2026, what to file before you fly, and how to pay and stay online.

What is the weather in Taiwan in December?

The winter northeast monsoon pushes cool, moist air onto the north and the northeast coast, while the mountains shelter the southwest. These are the Central Weather Administration's 1991 to 2020 averages.

City	Average high / low	Rain	What it means for you
Taipei	21.0C / 16.0C	97 mm, about 13 rain days	Light jacket and umbrella; Jiufen and Keelung often damper
Kaohsiung	25.3C / 17.9C	19 mm, about 3 rain days	T-shirt days, cool evenings; the dry side of the island

If you want sun, put the south first: Kaohsiung, Tainan and Kenting. If you want hot springs, the north's grey days are the right weather for them, from Beitou in Taipei to Jiaoxi in Yilan.

What is on in Taiwan in December 2026?

New Taipei Christmasland, 13 November to 27 December 2026: the city's light festival around the New Taipei City Government plaza and Banqiao Station, this year themed on the Kanahei characters. Lights run nightly from 5:30pm to 11pm, with a short light show on the hour and half hour. The official site was not live when the dates were published, so check it before you go.
Christmas is a day off again: Constitution Day on 25 December was restored as a public holiday in 2025, the first Christmas off for workers in 25 years. In 2026 it falls on a Friday, so expect busy trains and full hot-spring hotels from 25 to 27 December.
Dongzhi, Tuesday 22 December: the winter solstice, when families eat tangyuan, glutinous rice balls in sweet soup. Dessert shops and night markets sell them all week.
Taipei 101 at midnight, 31 December: the tower's New Year fireworks lasted six minutes last year, set to music by young Taiwanese artists. The 2026 programme was not out when we checked; arrive early wherever you watch, because the MRT near Xinyi fills fast.

What do you need to file before you fly to Taiwan?

Since 1 October 2025, the paper arrival card is gone. Foreign visitors entering visa-free or on a visitor visa must complete the online Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC) at twac.immigration.gov.tw, within three days before arrival. It is free; a site that charges a fee is not the official one. Check your own visa-exempt status with Taiwan's immigration agency before you book.

What should you pack for December in Taiwan?

A light waterproof jacket and a fleece for Taipei, Jiufen and the northeast coast.
Sunscreen and a hat for the south, where December is often clear.
Swimwear for public hot springs, and a small towel; some baths are nude and single-sex, so check before you go.
Shoes that grip on wet stone steps in Jiufen and on mountain trails.

How do you pay and stay online in Taiwan?

Cards work in hotels, department stores and chain restaurants, but night-market stalls, small noodle shops and many temples are cash. An EasyCard from a convenience store covers the MRT, buses and many shop counters. Our guide to sending money to and from Taiwan covers the bigger transfers.

For data, buy and install a travel eSIM at home on Wi-Fi, keep your home SIM on for bank SMS codes, and switch the travel line on after landing. In December that matters when the rain sends you hunting for a bus on the Jiufen hill, or when you need a train seat changed on the Christmas long weekend.

The Fizen Taiwan eSIM runs on Taiwan Mobile, 4G and 5G (catalog checked 25 October 2026). Fixed plans run from 3 GB for 3 days to 50 GB for 30 days and slow to 384 kbps once the data is used. Unlimited plans run from 3 to 30 days with no speed cap stated in the catalog. Most plans cannot be topped up, and more data means a new eSIM, so size it for the whole trip: for a week of maps, transit apps and photos, 10 GB for 7 days works; 10 GB for 15 days costs little more if your plans may stretch.

If a verified fault on Fizen's side stops the eSIM working, you get a free 1-for-1 replacement for the length of the trip, or a refund for the days you could not use, handled by a real person in chat. Changed plans? An unused, not-yet-installed eSIM can usually be taken back; eligibility depends on the plan, check Package details or ask chat.

The honest alternative: Taiwanese carriers sell prepaid tourist SIMs at the arrival halls of Taoyuan Airport, registered with your passport. If you want a local number for a longer stay, that is the better buy. New to the app? New users get US$10 of eSIM credit in the Fizen app's eSIM tab.

With that sorted, December in Taiwan is easy: a hot-spring soak in Beitou on a drizzly afternoon, and a seat on the high-speed train south to the sun booked from the platform.

Frequently asked questions

Is December a good time to visit Taiwan?

Yes. It is mild across the island, with highs around 21C in Taipei and 25C in Kaohsiung. The north is often drizzly, the south mostly dry.

Does it rain in Taipei in December?

Often, but lightly. Taipei averages about 97 mm of rain over 13 days in December, against about 19 mm over 3 days in Kaohsiung.

When is New Taipei Christmasland 2026?

From 13 November to 27 December 2026 in Banqiao, with lights from 5:30pm to 11pm each night.

Is Christmas a holiday in Taiwan?

Yes, again. 25 December, Constitution Day, was restored as a public holiday in 2025. In 2026 it gives a long weekend from 25 to 27 December.

Do I need an arrival card for Taiwan?

Yes. Foreign visitors must file the free online Taiwan Arrival Card within three days before arrival. Paper cards were withdrawn on 1 October 2025.

Land in Taiwan with data ready to switch on

Install the Taiwan eSIM at home on Wi-Fi and turn it on after landing. Taiwan Mobile, 4G and 5G. Pay by card via Stripe (international Visa or Mastercard, Apple Pay, Google Pay), or with USDT on Solana or BNB Chain in the Fizen app.

Get your Taiwan eSIM

Terms and conditions

Information only. This article is information only. It is not an offer or a sale, and it is not travel, legal or financial advice. Weather, event, holiday and entry details come from the sources listed and can change; check official notices before you travel.
For readers in the United States. This is information only, not an offer or sale, and not advice. Fizen products and services are not offered to US Persons.
Data-only product. The eSIM is data only. It does not include a phone number or SMS. Most plans cannot be topped up (more data means a new eSIM), so size it for the whole trip.
Facts and availability. Carrier, plan sizes and speeds were checked in the Fizen catalog on 25 October 2026. The shop page carries current plans and prices. Fizen ships new features regularly, so check the app for what is available today.

Sources

Weather normals, festival and holiday dates, entry rules and eSIM catalog details checked on 25 October 2026.