What to Wear in Taipei

Two factors shape every Taipei packing list regardless of the month: you will walk far more than you expect across MRT stations, night markets and mountain stairways, and passing showers can wet the city's tiled arcade pavements in any season. Dress in neat, comfortable layers and prioritise footwear with genuine grip.

Footwear, rain protection and seasonal layers

• Water-resistant walking trainers with grippy rubber soles: Taipei's covered shopfront arcades (qilou) are often paved with smooth ceramic tiles that turn slick when wet, and both the Xiangshan (Elephant Mountain) hiking trail and the steep stone staircases of Jiufen involve hundreds of granite steps. Leave smooth-soled shoes and flimsy flip-flops behind in favour of cushioned trainers with good tread.
• A compact folding umbrella or light hooded rain shell year-round: whether it is a brief summer afternoon cloudburst or a misty winter breeze off the northern coast in Jiufen and Shifen, locals always keep a small umbrella and a packable windproof shell in their daypack.
• May to September (hot and humid): pack moisture-wicking T-shirts, airy linen shirts, shorts or light trousers, sunglasses, a sun hat and a thin cardigan for strongly air-conditioned MRT carriages and museums, plus mosquito repellent for early-evening walks in lush parks like Da'an or Xiangshan.
• December to March (cool and damp): bring jeans or long trousers, long-sleeved tops, a mid-weight fleece or wool jumper and a light down or waterproof jacket for 14°C evenings.

Temples, Beitou hot springs and local style

Everyday style in Taipei is relaxed, modern smart-casual. Unlike Southeast Asian temples, Taiwanese Buddhist and Taoist shrines such as Longshan Temple and Dalongdong Bao'an Temple do not enforce strict knee-and-shoulder checkpoints at the gate, though neat, respectful casual clothing is always appropriate. If you plan to soak in the public hot-spring baths in Beitou, pack a swimsuit and small towel (note that traditional public gender-segregated nude baths require no swimwear, whereas mixed-gender outdoor spa pools require both a swimsuit and a swimming cap). Check seasonal weather before you pack.