Skye HsiaoTaiwan has a subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild, rainy winters. Within the island itself, the southern part stays relatively dry throughout the year while the capital city where I live in, Taipei, tends to be more wet, with frequent drizzles. Happy nature, not-so-happy travellers!
Image credit: Luke Ma
Therefore, whether you’re planning to visit in winter or summer, it’s best to have a backup plan in the pocket for rainy days. To help you out, here’s a list of things that Taiwanese locals like to do on a rainy day.
Read an intriguing crime novel at Eslite Bookstore
Image credit: Chia Ying Yang
Believe it or not, Taipei has a 24-hour bookstore for night owls who want to stay up all night reading. Located in the bustling East District, the Dunnan branch of the Eslite Bookstore is a book lover’s paradise. It comprises several floors, each filled with shelves and shelves of books in both Chinese and English. Eslite is also known for selling all kinds of artsy products, from handmade notebooks to trendy laptop cases.
That’s not even the best part! Most books are unwrapped and free to read. Should you come across a wrapped book that you want to read, just head over to the counter and the staff will gladly help you out.
Shop ‘til you drop at an underground metro mall
Taipei has quite a few underground metro malls to pick from, my two favourites being Taipei City Mall at Taipei Main Train Station and East Metro Mall at Zhongxiao Fuxing Station. They are found between stations and are specifically designed to stay untouched by bad weather such as heavy rain and typhoons. Other than the usual clothing and shoe stores, you can also experience a 15-minutes back massage, a game of Mahjong, or even a fortune-telling session!
Sweat off a few calories at a sport centre
Image credit: Bevis Chen
Rainy days are the perfect occasion for an indoor workout. Taipei is home to 12 city sport centres, each offering a variety of activities to keep you sweaty the whole day. For instance, Y17 Gyms is popular for its indoor rock-climbing, Zhongzheng Sports Centre for its archery, and Taroko Sports for its baseball batting centre and bowling lanes.
Relax at a hot spring resort in Xinbeitou
Image credit: familyfriends754
If you’re visiting Taipei in winter, soaking in a hot spring is indisputably THE best thing to do on a rainy day – or any day, in fact. Hop on the MRT Red Line and get off at Xinbeitou Station. From there, you can either go to the Millennium Public Hot Spring for a mere US$2, or choose from one of the dozens of indoor bathhouses on the main hill. While you’re there, don’t forget to walk past the Beitou Public Library, it’s our very first green library and the architecture is absolutely stunning!
Admire blooming orchids at Jianguo Weekend Flower Market
Image credit: Morgan Calliope
This huge flower market can make for a wonderful escape from the dreadful Taipei rain. Located under the Jian Guo Overpass near Da’an Park, the Jianguo Weekend Flower Market holds a huge range of flowers, mini cactuses, orchids and tropical plants ready for people to bring home. Just take note that it’s only open on weekends, as the name suggests. On top of that, you can also visit the Jade & Artist Market right across the street.
6. Spend a whole day at ATT4FUN
Image credit: Chia Ying Yang
If you’re looking for a lazy rainy day, head over to ATT4FUN in Xinyi District. I’ve got it all planned out for you: start off with some shopping at big brand stores such as H&M, Pull&Bear, and Bershka. Then, watch one of the latest movies at Vieshow Cinema, the biggest (and fanciest) cinema chain in Taiwan. After that, enjoy a lavish hot pot dinner at Hai Di Lao Hotpot, a Chinese restaurant that has recently opened over 100 branches around the world. To end the day, dance the night away at Elektro, a huge nightclub famed for its impressive list of guest DJs and crazy EDM music.
Enjoy your rainy day in Taipei
With this list, you can be sure that the fun does not stop just because the ground is wet.
