This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting our small business.
The best time to visit Dali is the dry season, which runs from November to April, and the sweetest stretch is March to May, when daytime highs sit around 18°C to 22°C (64°F to 72°F) and rainfall is still low. Avoid July and August if you can, when the monsoon delivers 284mm and 274mm of rain and humidity sits at 85%. Here are the month ranges by weather, price and crowds, with the Dali weather by month numbers behind them and the full Dali travel guide for the city overview.
Best Time to Visit Dali for Weather
March, April and May are the most comfortable months. March averages 12.7°C (55°F) with 35mm of rain, April averages 15.5°C (60°F) with 41mm, and May reaches 17.4°C (63°F) but starts the monsoon with 103mm. October and November are the best autumn option: October averages 14.7°C (58°F) with 106mm, while November drops to 11.2°C (52°F) and just 29mm of rain. December through February are dry and clear with highs of 13°C to 15.6°C (55°F to 60°F), fine for sightseeing if you pack a fleece for nights near 3°C (37°F).
Best Time to Visit Dali for Lower Prices
Hotel prices in Dali peak in July, August and the first week of October, when domestic tourists take summer and National Day holidays. The cheapest stretch is the wet-season weekdays in June and September, plus late November and early December before Christmas, when a double room in the old town can drop by 30 to 50 percent. Our where to stay in Dali guide lists hotels at each price point so you can see what a discount buys.
Best Time to Visit Dali for Fewer Crowds
The old town, the Three Pagodas and Erhai Lake are busiest during Chinese New Year (late January or February), the May Day holiday (1 to 5 May), the summer school break in July and August, and National Day (1 to 7 October). The quietest weeks are mid-November to mid-December and late February to mid-March, outside the events and festivals in Dali dates, when you can walk Renmin Road without a queue and visit the sights in things to do in Dali at your own pace.
Best Time to Visit Dali: Month by Month
January and February are dry and cool, good for photography with clear lake views, but Chinese New Year fills hotels. March and April bring the Third Month Fair and clear skies. May and June warm up before the rain peaks, with the Butterfly Feast in May. July and August are the wettest months, best avoided unless you are locked into summer dates. September is still wet but empties out after school starts. October is clear after mid-month and busy at the start. November and December are dry, cheap and quiet. Match these months to the best neighborhoods in Dali to build your base, and check Dali travel tips and FAQ for what to pack each season.
