Discover the best time of year, based on historical climate, temperature, and precipitation.
The best weather in Tamsui is from January, March, November. — some variation climate
⛈Hot & rainy
| Score | 72 | 72 | 75 | 71 | 46 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 39 | 69 | 75 | 68 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Climate | Mild | Mild | Humid | Rainy | Rainy | Hot & rainy | Hot & rainy | Hot & rainy | Hot & rainy | Rainy | Pleasant | Humid |
| Temperature | 14–19°C | 14–19°C | 16–22°C | 19–25°C | 22–28°C | 25–31°C | 26–32°C | 26–32°C | 25–30°C | 22–27°C | 20–24°C | 16–20°C |
| Feels like | 13–18°C | 13–19°C | 15–23°C | 20–28°C | 26–33°C | 30–37°C | 32–39°C | 31–38°C | 29–35°C | 24–29°C | 20–26°C | 15–20°C |
| Precipitation | 76mm 17 days | 85mm 15 days | 116mm 16 days | 154mm 16 days | 262mm 20 days | 288mm 19 days | 173mm 16 days | 235mm 20 days | 216mm 19 days | 167mm 21 days | 75mm 18 days | 91mm 24 days |
| Sunshine | 4.1h ☀︎ 38% | 4.4h ☀︎ 39% | 6.6h ☀︎ 55% | 7.5h ☀︎ 59% | 7.0h ☀︎ 53% | 6.8h ☀︎ 50% | 10.6h ☀︎ 79% | 10.1h ☀︎ 78% | 9.7h ☀︎ 79% | 7.1h ☀︎ 61% | 5.3h ☀︎ 49% | 3.3h ☀︎ 31% |
| Wind | NE · 19 km/h | NE · 18 km/h | NE · 18 km/h | NE · 17 km/h | NE · 16 km/h | SW · 16 km/h | W · 17 km/h | N · 16 km/h | NE · 18 km/h | NE · 22 km/h | NE · 20 km/h | NE · 20 km/h |
| Humidity (%) | 81% | 82% | 82% | 83% | 85% | 84% | 81% | 83% | 83% | 82% | 83% | 82% |
| Day length | 10.8h | 11.3h | 12.0h | 12.8h | 13.4h | 13.7h | 13.5h | 13.0h | 12.3h | 11.6h | 10.9h | 10.6h |
Thousands flock to Tamsui during midsummer when the river mouth turns into a sweltering furnace, completely overlooking the fact that late autumn and early spring deliver the true coastal grace this historic outpost was built for.
Tamsui perches where the Tamsui River finally empties into the open swells of the Taiwan Strait, an old colonial trading gateway that functions today as the northern escape valve for metropolitan life. People come for the wide sky, the salty wind coming off the water, and the fading layers of Spanish, Dutch, and Qing architecture climbing the green hills behind the waterfront. Yet the experience here is dictated entirely by marine air. When the conditions are balanced, the riverfront promenade is one of the most generous evening walks in East Asia; when summer bears down, the combination of stagnant tropical humidity and afternoon downpours turns the entire estuary into an endurance trial.
November is the undisputed high-water mark for walking Tamsui, even if you will share the riverbank with significant weekend throngs. The fierce summer heat collapses into an easy, sea-tempered warmth, with afternoon temperatures hovering around the mid-twenties and rainfall dropping to its cleanest, lightest trickle of the year. The heavy, suffocating ceiling of humidity lifts, leaving clear lines of sight across the water to the dark silhouette of Guanyin Mountain.
This is the month to trace the uphill paths between Fort San Domingo and the Little White House without drenching your clothes. The brick ramparts and whitewashed colonial balconies capture a steady, dry breeze from the strait, making long hours on foot genuinely pleasurable. The waterfront path running from the ferry piers toward Tamsui Old Street is bustling, but the movement feels celebratory rather than exhausting.
By December, the atmosphere shifts noticeably. The northeastern monsoon takes firm hold of the coast, bringing overcast skies, frequent low-level drizzle, and a brisk bite that feels sharper than the thermometer suggests. While crowd numbers dip slightly from November's peak, the town takes on a greyer, more introspective mood, where hot roasted treats along the alleys become necessities rather than casual snacks.
January and February remain subdued and cool along the waterfront. Temperatures rarely climb past nineteen degrees, and the wind blowing in off the Taiwan Strait carries a pervasive chill that drives most day-trippers indoors by dusk. Rain falls frequently, but it arrives as a gentle, ambient mist rather than a disruptive storm, leaving the stone courtyards of Hobe Fort quiet and atmospheric beneath heavy slate clouds. For travelers who prefer solitary exploration and moody coastal scenery over sunset gatherings, late winter offers rare elbow room.
March marks an extraordinary revival. Sunlight returns in earnest, tripling the bright hours of midwinter while keeping temperatures in an idyllic low-twenties pocket. The air feels crisp and revitalizing, and the crowds have not yet swelled to summer proportions. It is perhaps the most comfortable window of the entire calendar to rent a bicycle and trace the riverside trail toward Fisherman's Wharf.
April pushes further into warmth, touching twenty-five degrees in the afternoons. While moisture builds steadily on the horizon and occasional showers begin to gather weight, the days remain predominantly bright and open. Spring here is short, vibrant, and remarkably forgiving before the onset of the subtropical monsoon.
The paradox of Tamsui is that visitor numbers surge to near-record heights between June and August, precisely when the climate is at its most punishing. Summer along the river mouth is not a breezy beach holiday; it is a heavy, relentless greenhouse. Apparent temperatures routinely push near forty degrees, and the maritime moisture traps heat against the hillside alleys, turning any ascent toward the historic quarter into a grueling climb.
Afternoons from May through September are defined by intense tropical downpours. These are not passing mists; rain falls in sharp, torrential sheets that overwhelm umbrellas and clear the boardwalks within minutes. In June, the combination of peak heat, maximum rainfall volume, and dense domestic crowds creates an atmosphere of sheer logistical strain.
July and August do offer exceptionally long daylight hours, and the sunsets viewed from the deck of Lover's Bridge can be undeniably cinematic once the thunderheads clear. But the cost is extreme physical discomfort during the day. Locals adapt by staying indoors until the sun dips behind the horizon, only venturing onto Tamsui Old Street after dark when the concrete begins to release its heat. September brings a minor retreat in visitor numbers, but the ambient warmth and storm risk remain stubbornly elevated.
October acts as the reset button for the northern coast. The punishing, rain-heavy squalls of late summer break apart, replaced by cooler northern winds and a noticeable drop in humidity. While afternoon temperatures still reach comfortable highs in the upper twenties, the air ceases to cling, and outdoor walking becomes restorative once again.
Visitor counts drop to their lowest baseline since spring, creating an unhurried, generous window. You can lean against the riverside railings near the ferry slips without jostling for space, watching the fishing boats navigate the outgoing tide as the afternoon light turns honey-colored against the water. If you want the beauty of the estuary without the November density or the July glare, October delivers the quiet transition.