Lunar New Year 2027: February 4–10, seven days off
Lunar New Year's Day in 2027 falls on Saturday, February 6. According to the official 2027 government calendar approved by Taiwan's Executive Yuan, the Spring Festival holiday runs from Thursday, February 4 to Wednesday, February 10 — seven days. New Year's Eve is Friday, February 5, and because the first two days of the new year fall on a weekend, the make-up days are February 9 and 10.
Lunar New Year is when Taiwanese families head home, gather and visit temples. For travelers it cuts both ways: cities are calmer and full of festive atmosphere, but some shops close and highways and popular sights see the heaviest traffic of the year. Knowing this in advance makes the holiday very enjoyable.
What's open and what's closed?
- New Year's Eve evening through days 1–2: many small eateries, family restaurants and traditional markets close or shorten their hours.
- Convenience stores, hypermarkets and department stores: mostly open, though individual chains (some hypermarkets close on New Year's Day) vary by year.
- Night markets: during Lunar New Year 2026, many Taipei night markets announced they would stay open — still, check that year's notices.
- Museums and galleries: often close for a few days around New Year's Eve and Day, with different schedules for each venue.
The simple rule: check holiday opening hours for any restaurant or sight you plan to visit, especially on New Year's Eve and Day.
Temple visits: the most authentic Taiwanese New Year
Visiting temples during the first days of the year — praying, drawing fortune sticks, lighting lamps for the year — is the most atmospheric part of a Taiwanese New Year. Taipei's Longshan Temple and Xingtian Temple, and major temples further south such as Lukang Mazu Temple, are where the crowds concentrate, and the morning of New Year's Day is usually the busiest.
A few tips:
- To avoid the crowds, go from day 3 onward or early in the morning;
- Parking near big temples is scarce, and traffic control or detours are common during the holiday;
- Dress neatly, and check temple signs before taking photos.
To pair temple visits with an old street, see our Lukang old town day tour. The Lantern Festival right after is also worth it: the 2027 Taiwan Lantern Festival will be held in Miaoli, tentatively opening on February 20 (Lantern Festival day) — see our Taiwan Lantern Festival charter guide.
Highway and sightseeing traffic: when is it worst?
Lunar New Year is the busiest holiday of the year on the roads. During Lunar New Year 2026, southbound traffic peaked from day 1 to day 3 and northbound from day 3 to day 5, and the Freeway Bureau imposed high-occupancy-vehicle controls and ramp closures on some sections and hours. The 2027 measures will be announced by the Freeway Bureau before the holiday.
In practice, cross-county drives can take much longer than usual and parking at hotspots like Jiufen, Sun Moon Lake or Kenting is hard. Scheduling long drives before the holiday starts or in off-peak windows later on makes life much easier.
Why a charter works especially well at Lunar New Year
- No fighting for tickets: HSR and train tickets sell out almost instantly; one vehicle carries the whole family;
- Easy with grandparents, kids and luggage: door-to-door for family visits and temple stops;
- Drivers know the traffic and alternative roads: departure times and routes are adjusted to the day's conditions;
- Flexible plans: if a shop is closed or a sight shuts for the holiday, you simply move to the next stop.
Charter pricing: no Lunar New Year surcharge
- Full-day charter: from NT$6,500 (about 8–9 hours, one vehicle with driver)
- Overtime: NT$600 per hour
- Overnight multi-day trips: plus driver lodging NT$1,000 per night
- Vehicles: KIA Carnival KA4 (8-seater) or Mercedes-Benz Vito V250d, 3–5 years old
- Lunar New Year, New Year's Eve and Christmas are the same price — no holiday surcharge
With holiday traffic, longer routes may exceed 8–9 hours and include overtime; the exact price depends on your route. For airport transfers, use the instant online quote on our site.
Vehicles are limited over Lunar New Year, so book as early as you can. Send us your dates, group size, hotel and wish list, and we'll reply within 2 hours with a custom quote. Still planning your winter trip? Start with our Taiwan winter travel guide.