Rainy Day Itineraries In Taipei

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In this post, you will find 3 itinerary suggestions for a rainy day in Taipei.

On average, Taipei sees around 165 to 190 rainy days a year, with spring and late summer being the wettest seasons.

But please don’t let the rain dampen your travel plans. Taipei is full of indoor attractions, shopping areas, cozy cafés, and fun experiences you can enjoy comfortably without getting soaked.

Itinerary 1

The National Palace Museum

Start your day at the National Palace Museum, home to the world’s largest collections of Chinese art and historical artifacts. They were brought over from Beijing during the Chinese Civil War in the 1940s.

The museum is located in Shilin District. Since there is no MRT station nearby, you can take the MRT Red Line to Shilin Station (士林站 R16), then take a cab to the museum (it’ll take about 10 minutes, for about NT$100).

The museum is huge, and you can easily spend several hours exploring its collections. There are three “must-see” artifacts to look out for: the Jadeite Cabbage (翠玉白菜), the Meat-Shaped Stone (肉形石), and the Mao Gong Ding (毛公鼎).

Just keep in mind that you might not be able to see all three during your visit, since they often go on “business trips” because they are loaned out to exhibitions in other countries.

I have an in-depth article about the National Palace Museum, if you’d like to learn more.

At the end of your visit to the museum, you can choose to have lunch on-site, where there are three different dining options available. Or, if you prefer, you can head to your next stop—a shrimp-fishing venue—and enjoy a meal there instead.

Shrimp-Fishing

After spending a couple of hours in the National Palace Museum, it’s time for some local fun nearby!

There are actually quite a few shrimp-fishing venues in the area, and they are just a short cab ride from the museum.

I’ve listed venues that have an on-site restaurant where they will cook your catch, and you can order additional dishes and drinks to turn it into a satisfying meal. You can check out their reviews and photos, then choose the one that looks the most appealing to you.

If you’d like to learn more about shrimp fishing, I have a separate blog post where I share my personal experience and tips.

Xinyi Shopping District

After shrimp-fishing, head to the Xinyi Shopping District. Take a cab or Uber to the nearest MRT station (Shilin 士林站 R16), then take the Redline to Taipei 101 station (R02).

This area is known for its dense cluster of shopping malls and department stores. You will find everything from luxury labels and global fashion brands to stylish cafés, food courts, and family-friendly restaurants.

One of the best things about the Xinyi Shopping District is the skybridge system that connects all the malls and department stores together. You can move easily from one building to another without worrying about the rain, making it a perfect area to explore on a wet day.

The video below shows what it is like to walk on the skybridge system:


I have a stand-alone post about how to explore the Xinyi Shopping District, if you are interested in learning more.

Alternative To Night Market

There are countless dinner options in the Xinyi Shopping District, with something for every budget.

On a rainy evening, the food courts are an alternative to the night market. The one inside Taipei 101 is the best in the area, with a wide variety of local dishes and international options, all in a clean and comfortable setting.

Attend A Baseball Game

If you are a baseball fan and there is a game scheduled in Taipei Dome （Google Maps), a fully indoor stadium, don’t miss the opportunity to attend the game and take in the local culture and energy!

Taiwan’s professional baseball league currently has six teams. Some of the most popular teams include the Rakuten Monkeys (樂天桃猿), CTBC Brothers (中信兄弟), and Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions (統一7-ELEVEn獅). Their games are known for enthusiastic crowds, coordinated cheers, drumbeats, and an energy that keeps going from start to finish.

You can visit the league’s official website to check the schedule and access individual team websites for ticket information.

Itinerary 2

Nanmen Market (南門市場)

Start your day by heading to Nanmen Market, one of the oldest and most well-known traditional markets in Taipei.

The market (Google Maps) is located right next to the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall MRT station (Red Line or Green Line). Just take Exit 2 and walk straight into the building.

If you are curious about how the locals shop, what types of food they eat, and how much things cost, Nanmen Market is a great place to get a glimpse of everyday life in Taipei. You’ll see what people buy for groceries, from fresh produce and meats to traditional snacks and pantry staples.

You might picture a wet market as dirty and chaotic, but Nanmen Market will definitely change your mind. After a major renovation in 2023, it is now fully indoors, clean, bright, and well-organized.

There are 3 main floors of the Nanmen Market: B1 is where you’ll find fresh produce, meat, and seafood. The first floor focuses on dried goods, traditional snacks, and ready-to-eat items. The second floor has a food court and a few clothing and accessory shops.

As you browse the market, you’ll see lots of vendors selling ready-to-eat items.

A popular one is Yi Chang Yu Fang (億長御坊), which offers prepared dishes like stuffed chili peppers, braised bamboo shoots, and lion’s head meatballs. Another well-known vendor is Nan Yuan (南園), famous for its zongzi (粽子, sticky rice dumplings), especially around festival time.

If you want a full meal, head up to the second floor where the food court is located. One of the well-known spots there is Hehuan Knife Cut Noodles (合歡刀削麵), which serves dishes like tomato beef noodle soup.

Zhongshan District

Next, take the MRT to Zhongshan Station on the Red Line.

The area around Zhongshan MRT Station is especially popular with the younger crowd. In addition to department stores and underground shops, the nearby side streets are filled with small boutiques and charming cafés tucked into the alleys.

On a rainy afternoon, you can focus your visit indoors in Eslite Spectrum. It is a multi-level lifestyle complex which combines a large bookstore with a variety of shops, design boutiques, and dining options.

There are 2 places for a relaxing afternoon tea:

  • Flipper’s: Known for its soft and airy Japanese-style soufflé pancakes.
  • Engolili: A stylish café that offers beautifully presented desserts, afternoon tea sets, and drinks.

Foot Massage

Then, it’s time to treat yourself to a foot massage or a full-body massage. There are several well-known places in the area, and 不老松足湯 (Bulaosong – Google Maps) is the one with the best environment and services. It is just a short cab ride away.

Dinner at a Stir-Fry Restaurant (熱炒店)

After the massage, walk a couple of blocks to Gan Dou (港都熱炒, Google Maps）, a stir-fry restaurant.

Going to a stir-fry restaurant, or 熱炒店, is a fun way to experience local dining culture in Taiwan. These places are casual, lively, and meant for sharing.

Some of the must-try dishes include: three-cup chicken (三杯雞), clams with basil (塔香蛤蜊), and deep-fried oysters (酥炸蚵仔). Don’t forget to pair your meal with a cold Taiwan Beer and enjoy the bustling, down-to-earth atmosphere.

Itinerary 3

If the rain isn’t too heavy, or you don’t want the weather to get in the way of your plans, this itinerary is a good fit.

Yongle market (永樂市場）

Start your day by visiting Yongle Market (永樂市場）.

Yongle Market has a long and important history in Taipei. For decades, it was the most well-known place in the city for fabrics and tailoring supplies, attracting merchants and buyers from across Taiwan.

The market was renovated in the 1980s and is now a four-story building.

The first floor is home to the produce market, where you’ll also find a variety of food stalls. Many of them have been around for decades and run by the same families for 2-3 generations:

  • Lin He Fa Oily Rice (林合發油飯）－Google Maps
  • Lao Zhu Zi San Fa Buns (老竹子三發包子) － Google Maps
  • Wan Long Raw Fish (丸隆生魚行）－Google Maps

The second and third floors are filled with fabric shops offering all kinds of materials, from everyday cottons to more traditional or specialty fabrics. On the third floor, there are also tailoring studios, where you can pick out fabric and have it custom-made in the same building.

Dihua Street (迪化街）

After visiting Yongle Market, you can walk along Dihua Street and explore the shops along the street.

One thing that makes Dihua Street easy to explore, even on a rainy day, is the 騎樓 (qílóu). This is a common feature in older Taiwanese buildings where the ground floor is recessed to create a covered walkway.

This type of walkway gives you shelter from the sun or rain while you browse shops along the same block. You’ll only need to open your umbrella when crossing the street.

As you walk on the covered walkway, you’ll pass by many shops selling traditional dried goods (南北貨), with their products often displayed right at the front. I am sure you will discover some unique and intriguing items.

Huashan 1914

When you are ready, just hop on a cab or Uber for a short ride to the Huasha 1914 Cultural & Creative Park.

This place is a cultural and creative space in Taipei.

Once a Japanese-era winery, the space has been transformed into a hub for art, design, and events. You can explore exhibitions, stop by a café for a bite, or browse shops selling creative goods.

The park is made up of several buildings, so you may need to walk briefly in the rain when moving between them.

To make your visit worthwhile, it is helpful to go on their website to check out if any of their current exhibitions interest you. The page is only available in Chinese, but you can usually get a sense of what’s on by looking at the flyer images.

Dinner At Yonshin Breeze (永心鳳茶）

I just can’t stop recommending this restaurant in all my blog posts!

This is the restaurant’s link to Google Maps.

They offer personal set menus featuring local Taiwanese dishes. Each set includes a main dish of your choice, along with a couple of small appetizers, a bowl of soup, and a bowl of rice. There is also a variety of Taiwanese tea drinks to pair with your meal.

Final Thoughts

Taipei gets a lot of rain, but with some careful planning, you can still to have fun without getting wet.

To recap, here are the 3 itineraries:

I hope the three itineraries can help you stay comfortable, enjoy your day, and experience Taipei even when the weather isn’t ideal.

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