If you’re planning to visit Taipei during Chinese New Year, you’ve probably heard that many things will be closed and that it’s not the best time of the year to visit.
While it’s true that Taipei can feel a bit like a ghost town at this time, there will be more places open and things to do than you might imagine. What’s more, it’s a great time to see cherry blossoms!
In this article, I’m going to cover exactly which days places will be open or closed this Chinese New year, and on which days, including popular attractions, night markets, restaurants, department stores, and convenience stores.
Chinese New Year 2026 Holiday Dates
In 2026, Chinese New Year Day is on Tuesday, February 17. Everyone will be off work from Saturday, February 14 to Sunday, February 22, which is nine days off.
This year is a little interesting in that people will have several days off before the actual LNY date. This means the rush to leave Taipei (and other big cities) won’t be so crazy, as it will be spread out over several days. The city will empty and shut down gradually, not abruptly.
Here’s a table of the days of the holiday and what to expect for each of them.
| Date | Comments |
| Friday, Feb. 13 | Still a working day and everything will be open. Some people will start to leave the city, especially in the evening. Trains will sell out, especially in the evening. |
| Saturday, Feb. 14 | First day of the official holiday. People will be leaving the city all day, so trains will be sold out, but most things will still be open in the city. |
| Sunday, Feb 15 | Like yesterday. |
| Monday, Feb. 16 | Lunar New Year’s Eve. Taipei will be dead and almost everything closed. Almost all locals are staying in with their extended families now, so it’s actually a decent day to travel around the country. |
| Tuesday, Feb. 17 | Lunar New Year’s Day. Taipei still dead, but some attractions will open (see below). Temples will be busy as locals (any ones still in the city) go to pray. Visit Longshan Temple for festivities. Dragon and lion dances at Grand Hyatt Hotel. Also not a bad day to travel around as locals are still mostly staying in with their family. |
| Wednesday, Feb. 18 | New Year’s Day 2. On this day, locals should go to visit their maternal families, so highways and trains could be busy again, but not so crazy. Lion dancing at CKS Memorial Hall at 4 PM. |
| Thursday, Feb. 19 to Sunday, Feb 22 | Local families traveling around en masse, so everywhere around the country will be extremely busy, hotels full, trains hard to get, highways clogged, especially going back to Taipei and big cities on the last day. LNY performance on Feb 19, 3 PM in Ximending. |
Best Days to Travel
Based on the information in the above table, I suggest that you avoid trying to travel out from the city from Feb. 13 to 16 unless have you have. On those days, highways will be traffic jams and train tickets will be sold out. Stick to the city (I’ll introduce places below) or short day trips from the city by bus or local train.
Popular destinations like Sun Moon Lake and Alishan may actually be OK to visit from February 13 to 18, because most locals are going to their relatives’ houses, not usually going sightseeing (yet). February 16 to 17 are especially good days to travel because most locals are staying at home with family.
February 19 to 21 will be an incredibly busy long weekend around the country, as local families go traveling around and then rush to get back to the cities.
If you have to drive between cities on Lunar New Year, there may be some traffic restrictions, for example only certain highway on/off ramps can be used. The government has published some English information about it here and here (PDF download).
When Will Attractions Be Open/Closed?
Now let’s get down to some specific places and cover when they will be open or closed during the Lunar New Year Holiday.
For any attractions that I don’t mention below, it’s best to check their holiday hours on their website, GoogleMaps, or contact them directly to ask.
Also read my guide to famous attractions across Taiwan which are currently closed for renovations.
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Taipei 101
Like most department stores in Taipei, Taipei 101 Shopping Center (including Taipei 101 Observatory!) will usually remains open every day of Chinese New Year.
On New Year’s Eve (Feb. 16 in 2026), the Taipei 101 Shipping Center hours are usually reduced to 11 AM to 6 PM (instead of the usual 11 AM to 9:30 PM). The Taipei 101 Observatory hours will be reduced to 10 AM to 6 PM (instead of the usual 10 AM to 9 PM).
On New Year’s Day (Feb. 17), both will go back to normal opening hours.
It’s best to double check, as these times may vary slightly each year. Book your observatory tickets here, read about the thrilling Skyline 460 experience, and read my guide to visiting Taipei 101.
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
CKS Memorial Hall is fine to visit any day of the year. The large square has public access, so you can always enter it to admire the two classical Chinese buildings (National Theater and National Concert Hall), blue and white memorial building, Liberty Arch (photo above), and ponds there.
In early to mid-February, it’s even possible to see cherry blossoms and plum blossoms around the ponds.
As for the changing of the guards ceremony, it usually takes place every day, every hour on the hour from 9 AM to 5PM in the square just in front of the hall.
However, they usually don’t do it on NYE (Feb. 16) and NYD (Feb. 17) The museum inside will also usually takes a break on these two days.
See my guide to CKS Memorial Hall for more information about visiting.
National Palace Museum
National Palace Museum usually usually closes for one day on Lunar New Year’s Eve (Feb. 16) but opens to the public as normal from New Year’s Day (Feb. 17).
While the museum usually closes every Monday, if the Monday is a national holiday (for example a long weekend), then it remains open. But this year, Monday, Feb. 16 is New Year’s Eve, so it will close.
Taipei Children’s Amusement Park
Similar to the previous entry, Taipei Children’s Amusement Park will be closed on New Year’s Eve (Feb. 16) and open with normal hours on other days of the holiday.
Expect normal crowds – while many families will be outside of Taipei for the holidays, some of them do still stay in Taipei and are looking for things to do. You can buy tickets online here.
Maokong Gondola and Taipei Zoo
Almost exactly like the previous two entries, Maokong Gondola and Taipei Zoo will usually close for one day on Lunar New Year’s Eve and remain open as normal on other days.
During normal weeks, Maokong Gondola closes every Monday but Taipei Zoo is open every day.
Beitou Hot Spring
February weather tends to be cold and sometimes wet in Taipei (see a Taipei monthly temperature a rain chart here). Soaking in thermal hot springs is the best antidote!
Most of the hot spring spas in Beitou Hot Spring area are run by hotels, which means they are open every day of the year. I recommend Spring City Resort – save money by buying your tickets online first.
Beitou Public Hot Spring was closed for most of 2025 for renovations. It may or may not be open yet by LNY 2026. If it is, it usually closed for two days (LNY eve and LNY day).
As for other attractions in Beitou, the number of days they close for varies. For example, Beitou Hot Spring Museum and Beitou Public Library usually close NYE, NYD, and the next two days, while Thermal Valley usually closes NYE and NYD only.
Also keep in mind that most attractions in Beitou close every Monday during normal weeks.
Other Things to Do During CNY in Taipei
Besides the above-mentioned attractions which will be open most days, there are many (mostly free!) things to do in Taipei during Chinese New Year.
Watch Lion & Dragon Dancing
On New Year’s Day, you can see dragon and lion dancing at a few locations in Taipei. The best one is at Grand Hyatt Hotel (book rooms here) near Taipei 101. This usually takes places at 11 AM on Chinese New Year Day (February 17 in 2026) and is free for the public.
It starts with firecrackers and dragon dancing in front of the hotel, then moves into the lobby for the lion dancing (above photo). This is an excellent activity for kids, and the lions usually throw candies around.
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall will also have an event with lion dancing from 4-5 PM on February 18.
In 2026, there will also be lion dancing and a LNY Craft Market at Ximending Red House a 3 PM on February 19. Other LNY festivities will take place there from Feb 18-22.
Dayeh Takashimaya Department Store in Shilin also usually has a lion dancing event on the same day. It usually starts at 10:30 AM on the first floor. Watch their Facebook page for announcements. As of Feb 12 this year, I haven’t seen any announcement yet.
Last but not least, Zhulinshan Guanyin Temple (竹林山觀音寺) in Linkou, New Taipei usually has a LNY carnival for a few days, including lion dancing and many other activities. Here’s a poster for the 2026 event and a daily schedule of events. Performances should be daily from 10AM-12PM and 2-4PM.
Enjoy the Lantern Festival
Although the official date of Lantern Festival doesn’t come till the 15th day of the year (March 3 in 2026), some festivities begin even before Lunar New Year.
Lantern Festival has three major components in Taiwan. The first is beautiful lantern displays in every city across the country. The dates for each city are different – some start before LNY, some around LNY, and some around Lantern Festival.
Most of these displays last for several weeks. See my Lantern Festival Guide for the exact dates in every city. I always update the article with this year’s dates once they are announced (usually around 1-2 months in advance).
Second, every year will host a national event in a different city. In 2026, this will be in Chiayi from March 3 to 15.
Third, the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival, where hundreds of lanterns are released in unison, is usually on two different days around Lantern Festival (one in Pingxi, one in Shifen). In 2026, one of those will likely be on March 3, while the second will likely be on the Saturday before or after.
Because 2026 will be the year of the horse, expect lots of horse lanterns, including a huge one at the national event.
Cherry Blossom Viewing
Cherry blossoms season in Taiwan lasts from late January to early April. No matter when Lunar New Year falls, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to spot cherry blossoms somewhere in or near Taipei.
In mid-February, you will be able to see them at multiple spots in the city.
To find the best spots and their usual blooming times, see my guide to cherry blossom locations in Taipei and around Taiwan.
Go Hiking
For anyone interested in hiking, there are plenty of hiking trails in and around Taipei to enjoy during Chinese New Year (besides the most famous hike in Taipei, Elephant Mountain!)
You’ll want to plan this day by day – February tends to be cold, gray, and sometimes rainy, which isn’t exactly inspiring weather for hiking. But on clear days, it can be fine enough to want to hit the trails.
Visit Temples
Temples are one of the few places that will actually be busy on Lunar New Year Day (Feb. 17 in 2026). That’s because many Taiwanese visit their local temple on NYD to pray for prosperity and good luck in the year to come.
Longshan Temple and other popular ones will be bustling, so it’s a great time to visit them. As for other days of the holiday, temples will maintain normal opening hours.
Riding YouBikes
YouBikes don’t have holiday schedules. These public shared bikes are available around the clock every day of the year.
Before you go, make sure to read my guide to renting YouBikes in Taipei so you can learn about how to rent them with or without a Taiwan SIM card.
Shopping and Dining During LNY
Will you be able to find food during Chinese New Year? Yes, but your options will be more limited. The same thing goes for shopping. Let’s take a closer look.
Department Stores & Other Shops
Most department stores in Taiwan stay open virtually every day of the year. Usually they will have reduced hours on Lunar New Year’s Eve and then open as normal from New Year’s Day.
In fact, to entice shoppers to spend their 紅包 (hong bao or red envelope) money and New Year’s bonuses, many department stores even offer special sales and promotions during Chinese New Year.
However, most regular stores will take one day or a few days’ break for Lunar New Year. This is especially the case for smaller, family-owned businesses, simply because they want to spend some time with their families. It will depend on the shop – some will close for the whole holiday, while some will start to open from Day 2 or 3.
Convenience Stores & Supermarkets
Major convenience store chains in Taiwan like 7-Eleven and FamilyMart never close. Most branches are open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.
This means that, in a worst case scenario, like you can’t find any restaurant that’s open in Taipei, you can always find something to eat or drink at a convenience store.
The same thing goes for major supermarket chains like Carrefour or Wellcome.
Night Markets and Restaurants
All major night markets in Taipei are open every night of the year. These include Shilin, Raohe, Ningxia, Tonghua, Nanjichang, and Huaxi night market.
However, individual vendors in the night markets may choose to take a break for a few days. So if you visit any night market on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day, you can expect it to quieter than usual, with only some of the stalls open.
The same thing goes for local restaurants and bars. Most will be closed on NYE and NYD. Then they will gradually start to reopen from Day 2 on. If you plan to eat out, it’s best to choose a restaurant first, then call before you go to find out whether they will be open.
Some international or expat-run bars or restaurants will stay open every day during Lunar New Year to cater to expats in Taiwan. For example, we’ve dined at GB Brewery (Gordon Biersch) and On Tap pub on Lunar New Year’s Day, when almost everything else seemed closed.
Traditional New Year’s Markets
For traditional daytime markets selling items for Lunar New Year, such as Dihua Street and Nanmen Market, it’s best to visit them in the 2 to 3 weeks before Lunar New Year.
That’s when they will be packed with people, decorated with lanterns, and selling all kinds of goods and foods for Chinese New Year. Weekends are especially packed, to the point where it’s not enjoyable. Try to go on weekdays or in the morning on weekends.
Once Lunar New Year’s Eve hits, Dihua Street will turn quiet and everything will close for several days.
Thanks a lot for this writeup, very helpful!
Thank you very much for all the details. Happy to found your blog 🙂
Soooo helpful. Thank you so much! More power on your blog!
Oh no! I’m getting there on the 25th with two little kids… Hopefully we will have things to do… and things to eat other that 7-11, even though they are awesome.
Most restaurants will close from around Jan 28 to 30. But even during those days, you can still find a few.
Will Yangmingshan, particularly the flower location opens for visiting on 27th?
It’s a national park, so it’s open every day of the year.
Thank you so so much !!
Planning to visit this Feb 6, 2025. Thanks for the tips.
Will you be writing an updated article for Lunar New Year 2026? Thanks for all the great information!
You bet! I’ve already updated my article titled “Lunar New Year 2026 in Taiwan: Chinese New Year Travel Guide” on my other website, nickkembel.com. And I’ll update the above one early next week.
Hello, will it be possible to get a taxi or ride share during this time? We planned to go on our way home to the USA and will be there Feb 15-18 and flying out feb 19. It’s our first time to visit Taiwan.
Thank you
Ps what ride shares if any are there ?
Uber is the easiest to use and many local drivers and taxis are on it. There will be fewer available on these days, as many local drivers will be spending the time with their families, but demand will also be a lot lower because so many locals leave the city (and foreign tourists avoid it at this time). But there will still be some drivers and taxis on the roads, so you should have no problem to order them.
Thank you! Very helpful.
Goodness, I am panicking but so excited. We booked a trip right over new year with only 1 month to plan! What was I thinking ?!? Trying to solidify plans and book hotels ASAP. Any recommendations on navigating holiday traffic other than waiting till after NYE/NYD to go south?
If you need to drive south, my biggest tip would be to do it on New Year’s Day (Feb 17) if possible! Day 2 (Feb 18) will also be not bad. That’s when most locals will be staying at home. The few days before that, and the days after until Feb 22, will be rough.
Do you think the weekend before the New Years (either 14 or 15) would be OK for a day trip via group tour or via hired driver/car to Jiufen? Or would it not be worth it because of traffic and things closing? Thanks for the advice — your site is so so so helpful!
It will be fine. I would go for it! Most things will still be open as normal on Feb 14 and 15. The 16th and 17th will be the quietest days. Whether you go by bus/train or by car, either way should be fine.
Thank you for this article! Do you recommend Kaohsiung over Taipei for CNY?
I personally would prefer Taipei because it has more activities like dragon dances on New Year’s Day, more restaurants and attractions which will remain open, and more hikes around the city.
Great information, thanks for this! Will Jiufen or Shifen be affected during CNY? On which days should we avoid visiting?
Just like the big cities, most restaurants, food stalls, teahouses, and shops will be closed on LNY eve and LNY day. After that, things will reopen again, and it will probably be busy as usual for the remainder of the holiday.