Three places to go when the weather sucks in Taipei
Eat, browse, and wander in these indoor spaces
Taipei’s weather doesn’t always cooperate. From sweltering summers to typhoons and seemingly endless rain, it can sometimes feel like the forecast is actively working against your plans.
But bad weather doesn’t have to mean spending the whole day at home.
From covered markets and underground shopping streets to museums and bookstores, there are plenty of places where you can stay mostly dry without feeling stuck indoors.
Here are three good options for when the rain, heat, or humidity makes being outside feel like a bad idea.
#1: National Taiwan Museum
An easy escape into Taiwan’s history
Housed in an imposing neoclassical building beside 228 Peace Memorial Park, the National Taiwan Museum is an inexpensive place to duck into when Taipei’s weather turns grim.
The permanent exhibitions focus on Taiwan’s natural and human history, with displays ranging from Indigenous art and the yellow tiger flag of the short-lived Republic of Formosa. It also features jade, Dutch-period history, the island’s topography, and a sizeable collection of taxidermied animals.
There are also exhibitions touching on sustainability and Taiwan’s ecosystems.
Download the museum’s NTM Smart+ app if you want a little more context as you wander.
If you have young kids, it’s also a decent option. When This Is Taipei visited in September 2026, there were plenty of children working their way through the exhibits and interactive displays, and most seemed pretty happily occupied.
The building itself is also worth spending some time appreciating.
It costs just NT$30 to enter and the same ticket also includes entry to the museum’s Natural History Branch directly across the road, making it a good-value stop.
#2: Zhongshan Metro Mall
Books, crafts, shopping, and underground exploring
Zhongshan Metro Mall, which runs underground between Taipei Main, Zhongshan, and Shuanglian MRT stations, is a great place to spend a rainy or too-warm afternoon.
When This Is Taipei visited during the heart of typhoon season in September 2026, we spent most of our time hanging out in the area between Zhongshan and Shuanglian MRT stations.
It feels less like a thoroughfare and more a place where people actually hang out. As well as people perusing the handicraft market, and buying shoes or books, there were also lots of people chilling in the many seating areas dotted about.
If you continue walking towards Shuanglian MRT Station, you will go past an open area filled with mirrors where young people gather to practice street dance.
The highlight of the whole mall, in This Is Taipei's opinion, is Eslite R79, a 270-meter-long underground bookstore.
It features books, stationery, music, children’s items, anime, and cafes, with different sections opening out onto the underground walkway. Eslite describes it as Taiwan’s longest “book street.”
Keep in mind that if the rain stops, you can come back above ground around Zhongshan or Shuanglian MRT stations and continue through Xinzhongshan Linear Park and the surrounding area.
#3: Maji Square
Food, drinks, markets, and nightlife
Sheltered from the elements, MAJI Square is still a good option when the weather is bad. Most of the main complex, which features restaurants, bars, street food options, and a market selling trinkets, is covered.
There are lots of places to eat, whether you want Taiwanese food, British-style fish 'n' chips, or a trip to an Argentinian steak house.
There are lots of places to eat, including a seafood restaurant known for its oysters, while The Three Lions is a good spot to enjoy a drink.
On weekends, there's also a farmers market nearby, and the stage at MAJI often hosts live music and other performances.
If you have young kids with you, there are usually small ride-on cars available to rent around the area too.
There are bars and nightclubs around the complex, and it's a popular spot for young people to drink and dance the night away.
Taipei Fine Arts Museum is also just a short walk away if you want another indoor space to explore.
