What I Packed: Taipei in June (and What I Wouldn't Take Next Time)
If you’re planning a trip to Taipei in the summertime, specifically June, you’re in for vibrant night markets, steaming bowls of braised pork rice, and countless cups of bubble tea — but you’ll also be greeted by Taiwan’s summer heat, high humidity, and frequent rain showers.
June is part of Taipei’s plum rain season (梅雨季), which means packing smart is key to enjoying your trip comfortably. Here’s what I wore in Taiwan in summer, as well as practical outfit ideas for everything from night markets to day trips, and what I wouldn’t pack again.
Standing in front of Taipei 101 on my unexpected hike of Elephant Mountain
June in Taipei means average temperatures of 25°C–32°C (77°F–90°F) , humidity hovering around 70–90%, and frequent afternoon showers thanks to the plum rain season. UV levels are high, so sunscreen and sun protection are a must.
I never saw 77 while I was there, it was definitely hovering around 90 for the majority of my trip, however, the humidity was pretty high the entire time. I popped into a thrift store for a minute and came out to find a rain storm had passed - the humidity didn’t pass with it, unfortunately.
Taiwan Summer Clothing Essentials
This outfit is always a winner - lightweight romper, black that won’t show how sweaty I am, and classic Nike’s for all day walking.
Lightweight, Breathable Fabrics
Humidity in Taipei makes anything heavy uncomfortable. Pack moisture-wicking tops, linen shirts, and cotton dresses in light colors.
Comfortable Bottoms
Choose linen shorts, breathable skirts, or light pants for sightseeing and night markets. You’ll walk a lot, so light-weight bottoms that don’t rub and don’t stick to you will be preferable. Athletic-style joggers or quick-dry pants are great for day trips outside the city and hiking.
Rain-ready Gear
Bring a compact umbrella, light rain jacket, and waterproof shoes to handle sudden showers.
Walking-Friendly Shoes
Taipei is best explored on foot (or bike!). Wear sneakers, sandals with grip, or quick-dry shoes. I’m a firm believe that YOU know what are comfortable walking shoes for yourself - so pack those. For me, these Shoopen ballet flats that I own in 6 colors are 20,000+ step shoes. They work for me, they might not work for everyone.
Sun Protection
A wide-brim hat or baseball cap, UV-blocking sunglasses, and reef-safe sunscreen are must-haves. A small pack of sunscreen that fits in your bag is also great for reapplying when you’re out exploring. This sun stick is my go to this summer - my kids use it, you can reapply over makeup and it feels like cashmere on my skin. It also fits in my tiny purses which is another win.
Outfit Ideas
Favorite black Nike’s for a 30,000 step day in Taipei
Day Hike: Linen shorts, sleeveless blouse, comfy shoes, crossbody bag. This outfit is something I’ll usually throw on in the morning to go grab coffee and scope out a new area while traveling and essentially that’s what I did here - except that I kept walking. I did not anticipate hiking this day but I somehow found myself at the Elephant Mountain Trailhead. This outfit worked but my button down was so wet that it was completely sheer by the time I was done and I couldn’t wear it again this trip. In fact, I couldn’t wear any of these pieces again - my shorts were so stiff from salty sweat I couldn’t even wear them again without washing. If you plan on hiking multiple times, pack multiple outfits or plan on doing laundry.
T-back tank - Zara; Button down shirt and shorts - thrifted; ballet flats - Shoopen Korea; bag - vintage Chanel
Day Trip to Jiufen: Light layers + walking shoes. These are my favorite ballet flats, I wear them A LOT. This tank top has an open back so adding this long sleeve top didn’t add any weight but it did keep my arms protected from the sun.
Dress - thrifted; wait bag - Gucci; sandals - H&M
Night Market Stroll: Breezy dress + slip on shoes. This dress is a favorite of mine. It’s a quick dry material, doesn’t wrinkle and it has this amazing open tie back design (that I never get a picture of). I loved this outfit and I’ve repeated it several times this summer. I wore this on my night food tour and having a waist bag was ideal because it allowed me to be hands free as we moved through the market and ate while standing.
From the room to the pool: An easy throw on cover up + sandals (You will not catch me wearing a robe around a hotel.) Each of these dresses is super lightweight so they’d work for a dinner as well.
Brown dress - Jaju Korea; Rainbow bag - Taipei markets; Striped dress - thrifted; Brown bag - vintage Chanel; Sandals - H&M
Dinner Outfits: Flowy dress + slip-on shoes, light cardigan for indoor AC. I LOVE taking myself out to dinner when I travel alone and I will always dress for it. This green wrap dress flows really nicely when I walk, so I get a nice breeze, plus it’s long enough to keep my legs warm if a restaurant is too cold. I’d wear this green dress during the day in Taipei, if needed. I walked into Zara on my last day and found out that the sale had started already so I snagged this denim dress and Miu Miu look alike slip on tennis shoes. I love the way this denim dress feels on, but I wouldn’t recommend this for walking around in the heat during the day.
because I’m not one to enjoy chafing my thighs, you’ll almost always find me wearing smoothing (not compression) bike shorts under any dress or skirt, like these bike shorts. They were still comfortable enough to wear in the heat, and they made walking long distances around Taipei’s night markets much more enjoyable.
Travel Comfort Hacks for Taipei in June
This tennis dress was a great choice for biking and this UV-hoodie that I picked up in Taiwan was a great topper. I got a nice breeze while biking and it kept all except my hands shaded from the sun.
1. Bike Shorts Under Dresses
Prevent thigh chafing with smoothing bike shorts (not compression) that are still breathable in Taiwan’s summer heat.
2. Always Pack an Extra Top
Humidity is no joke, and once your body finally cools off, you’re going to want to change clothes. If you’re not heading back to your hotel before dinner, having a shirt handy for a quick change keeps you feeling fresh and ready for the evening. Plan to pack several tops that can mix and match with different bottoms so you can create multiple outfits during your stay in Taipei.
3. Quick-Dry Fabrics are Your Friend
Linen, cotton blends, and moisture-wicking fabrics handle sweat and surprise showers.
4. Foldable Rain Jacket > Umbrella
Hands-free exploring, plus no worries about forgetting your umbrella somewhere.
5. Small, packable reusable bag
Whether you’re picking up extra water bottles from 7-Eleven or need a place to stash the umbrella you had to purchase during sudden showers, having a lightweight bag on hand makes exploring Taipei hassle-free and eco-friendly.
Outfits That Didn’t Work
Not every outfit survived Taipei’s intense summer humidity. For me, stiff shorts soaked in salty sweat became completely impossible to rewear without washing.
An outfit that didn’t work for the summer heat in Taipei
Admittedly, by the time this day rolled around, I already knew I wasn’t in the mood for this outfit, but I was packing minimally and this was what I had. Here’s why it didn’t work for Taipei in June: the romper ties at the neck, and that bothered me all day. Every time I needed to use the bathroom, I had to take off my crossbody purse, take off my sweater, I had to untie and retie the romper, which got really annoying fast. The sweater was there for color and in case I wanted more sun protection. I also planned to wear it with my red jellies but my feet needed tennis shoes this day, which just added to me not being in the mood for it. Overall, I wouldn’t pack this style romper for a day of walking.
I take these Nike’s on nearly every trip. I’ve owned this style for nearly 10 years, and they’re the pair I reach for whenever my feet need extra comfort. Simple, classic, and insanely comfy, I usually buy a new black pair almost every year. If you’re searching for budget-friendly, comfortable travel shoes that can handle lots of walking without sacrificing style, I highly recommend these Nikes.
Pants in Taipei in June? Don’t make this mistake like I did.
Traveling to Taipei, I wore a pair of breezy track pants, thinking they’d be perfect for the humid weather. However, the walk from the train station to my hotel proved otherwise — pants were an immediate no. When the day came to wear these, although the fabric was breezy, it became itchy once my legs heated up, making the outfit uncomfortable pretty fast.I only wore the pants for half a day — I spent the other half by the pool — but I packed them away immediately. When it comes to Taipei in June, breathable shorts, skirts, or lightweight pants that won’t irritate your skin are the way to go.
Learning what not to wear is just as important as packing the right pieces — so stick with lightweight, breathable, and quick-dry fabrics to enjoy your trip fully.
Standing in front of The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei
Do you enjoy this style of blog post? If so, let me know in the comments! I love sharing honest travel tips and packing advice to make your trips easier and more fun.
Be sure to check out my other Taiwan travel blogs for even more insider tips, including:
