12 Awesome Things to do on a Rainy Day in Taipei

Taipei sometimes feels like a humid tropical rainforest. For those who have spent time in Taiwan, you know the feeling of those humid wet days. Those random Typhoons, huge rainstorms, days upon days of rain, and gloominess. When the first drop of rain hits the streets you can see thousands of people pull out their umbrellas. It’s almost as if they are expecting a typhoon. The good thing is a rainy day in Taipei doesn’t have to ruin your fun. The beauty of Taipei is that it has so much going on indoors and outdoors. These 12 awesome things to do on a rainy day in Taipei should give you some great ideas of what to do on those wet humid days.

Zhongxiao Fuxing Shopping District

Zhongxiao Fuxing is a popular shopping and business district in the heart of Taipei. The area is known for its great restaurants, shops, and the famous department store Sogo. Here you will find all the shops you need and plenty of restaurants to satisfy your rainy-day binge eating! Some cool boutique-type stores can be found on the side streets if that’s more your thing. Zhongxiao Fuxing is the place to shop on a rainy day in Taipei.

Din Tai Fung

Din Tai Fung is an award-winning Michelin Star Chinese restaurant. The restaurant is a franchise and you will find a few Din Tai Fung restaurants in different locations around the city. A rainy day in Taipei brings out those cravings for hot dumplings and those tasty Chinese dishes. Din Tai Fung is well-known for its delicious Xiaolongbao although they serve many types of Chinese dishes. Most dishes here are considered street food but are prepared to the highest standard. The menu is large with reasonable prices so if you want to try a variety of Chinese food then Din Tai Fung is one of the best restaurants for it. Din Tai Fung is the perfect way to spend a few hours feasting on a rainy day in Taipei.

Taipei 101 Mall

Taipei 101 mall is full of luxury shops, a great food court, and an international supermarket. The mall caters to luxury items so if you enjoy high-fashion clothing then this is the right place for you. You will find all the top designer brands here and it is by far the best place in Taipei to buy luxury goods.

*The luxury shopping mall of Taipei 101*

The food court on the lower ground floor is a nice place to eat, with some reasonable food prices to go with it. There is also a Din Tai Fung restaurant here albeit it is one of the busier locations. I particularly like the international supermarket here as they sell a wide range of items, many of which are difficult to find in Taiwan. Overall the 101 mall is a great place to shop and eat on a rainy day in Taipei and is a great indoor activity.

Att 4 Fun

Att 4 Fun is just outside the Taipei 101 mall in the Xinyi District. The entertainment complex is known for its cool bars, restaurants, and clubs. You can also find a cinema and a really fun arcade here. Att 4 Fun is one of the most fashionable spots in Taipei and many locals and tourists like to visit here. With most of these entertainment venues being indoors this makes it another fun option to hang out on a rainy day in Taipei.

Taipei Camera Street

Since a rainy day can present difficult times to photograph outdoors you might want to use your rainy day in Taipei as an excuse to go camera shopping. You will find this photographer’s dream in the Beimen shopping area between Bo’Ai Road and Hankou Street. The Ximen MRT or Beimen MRT Stations are the closest to the Camera Street.

The stores here cater to any kind of photographer, from amateurs to professionals and anything in between. Taipei’s Camera Street is the best place to buy camera bags, tripods, lens filters, and any other photography-related goods you can think of. All the latest camera bodies and lenses are available here too, along with older film cameras. I have personally bought tripods and camera bags here and found the prices to be way cheaper than in Europe. The Taipei Camera Street gets a thumbs-up from this photographer and is a fun place to visit on a rainy day in Taipei.

Guanghua Electronics District

If you are interested in electronics, then this district is a paradise. The Guanghua Electronics district is a combination of electronics malls and a load of electronic shops on the streets surrounding the malls. You can find any type of electronic you want in this area, from computers to game consoles or small gadgets.

*Electronics shops in the Guanghua area*

Even if you’re not looking to buy much Guanghua is still a cool place to window shop. Taiwan is home to some of the best electronics brands on earth and this area has it on full display. The Guanghua Electronics District is an awesome way to spend a few hours on a rainy day in Taipei.

Beitou Hot Springs

Beitou is a district renowned for its hot springs. The area has both indoor and outdoor hot springs. The indoor hot springs can be found in small hotels and spa houses and are perfect for a rainy day in Taipei city.

The prices of the hot springs can vary drastically and some can be pretty expensive, so make sure you look around and find one that’s most suitable for your budget. A spa day like this has the potential to turn your rainy day into a relaxing and cleansing experience.

Hot Spring Hotels are also available in other areas of the city, so if Beitou is too far for you there might be a hotel nearer. A relaxing visit to one of these hotels can be the perfect way to spend a rainy day in Taipei.

Booking.com

Ximending

Ximending is Taipei’s most famous shopping district, with a huge variety of shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Ximen MRT Station is the closest station and is right next to the shopping district. The area is well known for its bright neon lights and oversized colorful billboards. Here you will find delicious Taiwanese foods, along with small boutique stores and big franchise stores. Ximending does have a bit of everything. However, It is not well known for its nightclub or bar scene, so that award still goes to the previously mentioned Att 4 Fun.

In many respects, Ximending is the most complete area to hang out and shop in Taipei. There is always something cool to do in this area and it never really gets boring even after multiple visits. I must mention that Ximending is a very busy and crowded area so even on a rainy day in Taipei you will see no lack of tourists and locals here.

Eslite Bookstore

Eslite Bookstore is one of Taiwan’s coolest shops. Even if you are not big on reading you should still visit Eslite, especially on a rainy day in Taipei. Many Eslite locations are 24 hours and you can pick up any book you like and spend as long as you want browsing the store or reading books. They offer almost any book you could want in English and of course, there is a ton of Chinese books too. Booklovers could spend hours reading here, and to make it even better Eslite sells great stationery and accessories too. Eslite has become such a popular name in Taipei that they even have their own hotels which are really nice high end hotels. Reading some new books and chilling at an Eslite store is another perfect way to spend a few hours on a rainy day in Taipei, and likely on of the best Taipei indoor activities in the city.

*Eslite hotel and Bookstore at night in Taipei*

Sip Tea in a Teahouse

Taiwan’s tea culture is one of the best in the world, with much of its economy being built on tea exportation. The Island is known for its High Mountain Oolong Tea from Alishan mountain. This is only one of Taiwan’s high-quality teas. There is no shortage of tea houses serving the finest Oolong tea. Spending an afternoon on a wet rainy day in Taipei sipping tea is a very relaxing idea and one that is sure to make that gloomy day a lot more cheerful.

Huashan 1914 Creative Park

Huashan 1914 Creative Park is not a park in the traditional sense. It is actually an entertainment and arts complex surrounded by some small grassy areas. This complex of old warehouse buildings hosts many boutique art stores and indoor exhibitions. It is also home to the Spot cinema which is a cinema with carefully selected international indie films. So if you’re looking to view some art or some indie movies on a rainy day then this is the place to do it.

Visit the National Palace Museum

The National Palace Museum is possibly the best museum in Taipei. The museum boasts over 8000 years of Chinese history. Some of the artifacts and paintings here are extremely rare and are not to be found anywhere else. If you are visiting Taiwan then this is a great way to learn some Chinese history too. You can spend hours browsing their collections and absorbing new information about China’s rich history. If you enjoy classic Chinese paintings, Calligraphy, and ancient antiques then the National Palace Museum is the place to be, especially on a rainy day.

*View of the National Palace Museum in Taipei*

Exploring Taiwan’s outdoor nature is one of the best things to do, however, the Rainy days in Taipei don’t need to spoil your fun. There is plenty to do in the city even on its worse days. I hope these 12 things to do on a rainy day in Taipei can bring some excitement back to your day.