Rainy day · Taipei · Taiwan
6 things to do in Taipei when it rains
Indoor sights that make a wet day feel planned rather than lost.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Wei-Te Wong, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Start with Taipei 101 Observatory, National Palace Museum and Beitou hot springs. Together the 6 picks below take roughly 12–14 hours across 5 areas; 1 is free. March is usually the wettest month, with about 15 rainy days.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 6
- Free entry
- 1
- Time to see them all
- 12–14 hours
- Areas
- Xinyi, Shilin and Beitou
Taipei on a rainy day
Viewpoint · Xinyi
1.Taipei 101 Observatory
Go on a clear afternoon and stay through sunset; check visibility before buying tickets, as low cloud often hides the view.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Rainy day
- Kids
- After dark
Museum · Shilin
2.National Palace Museum
Arrive at opening or in the late afternoon to avoid tour groups, and use the audio guide; check which highlights are on display before you go.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Experience · Beitou
3.Beitou hot springs
Bring swimwear for the public bath (it is mixed and requires costumes), or book a private hotel bath for a more relaxing soak.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Nature
- History
- Rainy day
Neighbourhood · Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng)
4.Huashan 1914 Creative Park
Check what exhibitions are on before you go; the grounds are free to wander.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Shopping
- Rainy day
Museum · Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng)
5.National Taiwan Museum
Combine it with a walk through 228 Peace Memorial Park and the memorial to the 1947 incident.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Architecture
Gallery · Zhongshan
6.Taipei Fine Arts Museum
Pair it with the temples near Yuanshan MRT or the Expo Park across the road.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Xinyi | Taipei 101 Observatory | 1.5 hours |
| Shilin | National Palace Museum | 3 hours |
| Beitou | Beitou hot springs | Half a day |
| Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng) | Huashan 1914 Creative Park and National Taiwan Museum | 1–2 hours + 1.5 hours |
| Zhongshan | Taipei Fine Arts Museum | 1.5 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 6, 1 free, 4 low cost, 1 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Beitou hot springs; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Xinyi and Shilin): Taipei 101 Observatory → National Palace Museum, at least 5 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Beitou): Beitou hot springs, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng) and Zhongshan): Huashan 1914 Creative Park → National Taiwan Museum → Taipei Fine Arts Museum, at least 4 hours.
The wettest months
- March: highs of 22°C (72°F), about 15 rainy days, moderate crowds. Warming up, with blossom and changeable weather; a good month for hiking and day trips.
- June: highs of 32°C (90°F), about 15 rainy days, moderate crowds. Hot and humid, with plum rains early in the month giving way to afternoon thunderstorms.
- January: highs of 19°C (66°F), about 14 rainy days, moderate crowds. Cool and often grey, with drizzle brought by the north-east monsoon; ideal weather for hot springs.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Taipei Main Station (Zhongzheng) — The city's transport hub, near government buildings and Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
- Xinyi — Taipei 101, glossy department stores, skybridges and the city's club scene
- Zhongshan — Department stores, boutique lanes, cafés and Japanese-style bars
- Beitou — Hot-spring suburb at the foot of Yangmingshan, with spa hotels and steaming valleys
More of Taipei
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Taipei?
Taipei 101 Observatory. The 508-metre tower was the world's tallest building from 2004 to 2010.
+Which of these are free in Taipei?
Huashan 1914 Creative Park.