Updated: 2026-07-02 | For real-time information, always refer to official announcements.<\/p>\n
The Lunar New Year is the season when Taiwan's warmth and hospitality are at their richest\u2014and also the easiest time to hit a snag. Pick the right time and place, and it can actually be more fun than usual.<\/em><\/p>\n Many people visiting Taiwan for the first time during the Spring Festival are taken aback: on the first day of the New Year, an entire old street is left with just you and a few stray cats, long-distance tickets are snapped up before you even arrive in Taiwan, and the snack shop you'd set your heart on has pulled down its shutters for a week. But as long as you get a handle on a few things\u2014which days shops are open, how to handle transportation, and which customs not to cross\u2014the Lunar New Year can actually be one of the times you experience Taiwan's warmest hospitality most fully. This article compiles the key points you most need to know about the 2026 (Year 115 of the Republic) New Year period.<\/p>\n First, let's look at the dates. 2026 is the Bingwu Year of the Horse in the lunar calendar. According to the calendar announced by the Directorate-General of Personnel Administration of the Executive Yuan, the Spring Festival holiday runs from Saturday, February 14 to Sunday, February 22<\/strong>, a total of 9 days, making it the longest holiday of the year. Among these, Monday, February 16 is Lunar New Year's Eve<\/strong>, when families reunite for the New Year's Eve dinner, and many shops close early in the evening;Tuesday, February 17 is the first day of the Lunar New Year<\/strong>, the quietest day across all of Taiwan, when many shops, markets, and snack stalls are closed;the second and third days starting Wednesday, February 18<\/strong>see the atmosphere begin to warm up again, with tourist attractions and temples at their most crowded. A practical word for foreign travelers: don't cram your entire itinerary into the first day of the New Year. If you want to browse markets, eat street food, and soak up the lively atmosphere, scheduling those for the second day onward will go much more smoothly. Conversely, if you want to avoid the crowds and take photos of quiet alleys, the first day is actually a rare good opportunity. Holiday and makeup workday dates are still subject to the Executive Yuan's official announcements.<\/p>\n Whether shops are open is one of the most anxiety-inducing things about the Lunar New Year, but you can actually break it down into three rhythms.Convenience stores are open almost year-round<\/strong>\u20147-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Hi-Life all operate as usual throughout the Spring Festival, making them your most reliable resupply stations. Buying water, hot food, topping up your EasyCard, paying bills, and withdrawing cash all rely on them. Chain fast-food outlets (McDonald's, etc.) mostly stay open too, though they close early on Lunar New Year's Eve.Large hypermarkets and supermarkets<\/strong>(Costco, Carrefour, PX Mart, etc.) commonly follow this rhythm: open until 5 or 6 p.m. on Lunar New Year's Eve, mostly closed or with shortened hours on the first day, and back to normal from the second day. Traditional markets and many independent snack shops, however, may stay closed until the third, fifth, or even sixth day of the New Year.Tourist-oriented shops, on the other hand, stay fully open<\/strong>\u2014\u2014the more a place is an old street, night market, tourist-attraction area, or chain restaurant, the more likely it is to operate normally over the New Year, or even work overtime. If you want a big holiday feast, we recommend picking a chain restaurant that has posted its business hours and booking ahead. Because every shop's announcements differ from year to year, please refer to each shop's official announcement or the on-site notice for exact opening hours and closing days; the safest bet is to check on Google Maps or by phone before you head out. To find shops that are open, you can first refer to ourTaiwan Food Guide<\/a>and then cross-check.<\/p>\n The Lunar New Year is Taiwan's peak travel period for people moving \"north and south.\" What really needs advance planning is the long-distance intercity travel; getting around within the city is actually relatively easy. Taiwan High Speed Rail's 2026 Lunar New Year peak-service period runs from February 13 to February 23<\/strong>, with about 395 extra train services added and early-bird discounts offered during off-peak hours; tickets go on sale from the early hours of January 16<\/strong>. Taiwan Railway's Lunar New Year tickets open for booking around mid-January<\/strong>(the East Coast Line and West Coast Line have different on-sale dates). Popular time slots sell out quickly once booking opens, so be sure to note the on-sale date and grab tickets right on time; and if you can't get one, don't give up, as seats released from unpaid bookings often become available. For the actual peak-service dates, extra services, and on-sale times, please refer to the official announcements from Taiwan High Speed Rail and Taiwan Railway. In contrast, the Taipei Metro and the urban transit systems in Taichung and Kaohsiung run as usual during the Lunar New Year, and even add extra services based on crowds; EasyCard and iPASS work as normal, and while city bus frequencies may be slightly reduced, the impact is minimal\u2014\u2014in other words, you hardly need to worry about transport while sightseeing in the city; what you should plan ahead for are those few long-distance intercity trips. For more on transport planning, check out ourTransport Guide<\/a>\u3002<\/p>\n You don't actually need to memorize a huge list of customs and taboos; grasp a few key points and you'll be able to enjoy yourself with ease and without being rude. On the first day of the New Year, many Taiwanese go \"chun-you\" (spring outings)\u2014\u2014heading to temples early in the morning to pray for good fortune, which is also the activity that best captures the festive spirit. Xingtian Temple, Longshan Temple, and Mazu temples around the country are busy with worshippers during the New Year, and foreign travelers are equally welcome to come in and visit. Just remember to dress neatly, follow the flow of the crowd, and check whether there are any \"no photography\" signs before taking pictures, and you'll come across as respectful. Red envelopes (lucky money) are mostly given from elders to younger family members or exchanged among relatives and friends; the amount is customarily an even number, avoiding \"4\" (which sounds like \"death\"). Ordinary travelers usually don't need to give red envelopes, but if you're invited to a Taiwanese friend's home for the New Year's Eve dinner, bringing a small gift feels more natural and is more welcome than a red envelope. There are also a few small taboos: traditionally, on the first day you avoid sweeping the floor, washing your hair, and saying unlucky words (such as \"die,\" \"break,\" or \"gone\"), for fear of sweeping away good luck\u2014\u2014you don't have to follow these strictly, but when you're a guest in someone's home, going along with the host and avoiding saying anything that dampens the mood is the best manners. These are folk beliefs, and every family is stricter or more relaxed about them, so just take them lightly.<\/p>\n One last thing that's easy to overlook but crucial: get your internet sorted out first. During the New Year, crowds are everywhere, and you'll need to check on the fly whether shops are open, scramble for train tickets, and hail rides, so a stable internet connection matters more than anything. Rather than looking for an open store to buy a SIM card once you arrive, it's better to have an eSIM ready before you set off, so you can get online the moment you land. To compare plans, check out our eSIM & Internet<\/a>category.<\/p>\n Get online the moment you land in Taiwan with a Holafly eSIM<\/a><\/p>\nTransport: intercity tickets require a scramble, but getting around the city is barely affected<\/h4>\n