What to do in Taipei on a rainy day

These are the stops that hold up when it rains all day: a museum, a tower, a hot spring and a couple of covered markets. Each one is reachable by MRT, so you rarely walk more than a few minutes in the open. Prices are 2026 estimates; check current opening days before you go, since some museums close on Mondays.

Museum and observatory tickets are the biggest single cost of a rainy day; everything else is small change. Public hot spring baths in Beitou are the cheapest indoor option in the city, while private rooms cost more and usually need a booking on weekends. Night markets are pay-per-stall, so a full dinner runs NT$150–300 per person.

Opening days shift with public holidays, and a few sights close on Mondays. Confirm the day before you travel, especially for the Palace Museum and Songshan Cultural Park.

The MRT is the simplest way to move between indoor stops, and stations are covered, so you stay dry between trains. Taipei Main Station connects the MRT, the airport MRT and the high-speed rail, which makes it a good place to start a wet day. Buses fill the gaps to the Palace Museum and Maokong, but you may wait in the rain at the stop.

Taxis and ride-hailing are cheap for short hops and worth it when the rain is heavy. Fares start around NT$70–85 and a cross-town ride is usually under NT$300. Keep small notes for taxis; not all take cards.

Rain in Taipei is often light and constant rather than heavy, so a compact umbrella beats a rain jacket you will sweat in. Convenience stores sell umbrellas cheaply if you forget one. Museums and malls run strong air conditioning, so a light layer helps.

Build the day around one anchor and one backup. If the rain eases, walk a covered market street or a mall-connected block rather than crossing the city. If it pours, stay on the MRT line you are already on and add a second indoor stop nearby.

Weekday mornings are the quietest time at the big sights. Weekends and public holidays bring school groups and tour buses, and the Palace Museum can feel crowded by 11:00.

Taipei is wettest from May to September, when afternoon thunderstorms are common, and can drizzle for days in the cooler months. October to December and March to April are the driest and most comfortable windows, which also makes them the busiest. If your trip falls in the wet season, plan indoor anchors for the afternoon and keep outdoor sights for the morning.

Typhoon season overlaps the summer months. On typhoon days, museums and malls may close and the MRT can run reduced service, so follow local announcements and stay indoors.

The picks cluster along two MRT lines: the red line covers Beitou, Shilin and Taipei 101, while the blue line links Ximen, Taipei Main Station and the City Hall area. That means you can plan a wet day without long walks between stops.

Coordinates below are approximate city-centre points for orientation, not exact entrances.