Waking up to rain on your holiday can be pretty darn disappointing… but it doesn’t mean you have to be stuck staring wistfully out of your hotel window, waiting for it stop.
To prove that every cloud has a silver lining, we’ve compiled a list of some of the rainiest cities around the world and all the things you can do to weather the storm.
Cologne, Germany
The gargantuan Cologne Cathedral.
With an average of over 200 days of rain a year, if you’re visiting Cologne, chances are you’ll encounter more than a little drizzle.
Worry not. From March through November, come rain or shine (and if it isn’t too windy), the cable car will be running and it’s a great ride for a bird’s eye view of the cityscape and the river coursing below.
And once you’ve seen the famed Cathedral from above, you’ll want to get up close and personal with the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe – gloomy weather only makes it all the more dramatic.
To lighten things up, head for the Chocolate Museum to learn about all things cocoa (there’s a free chocolate fountain!), or tour the historic Fragrance Museum, where Italian perfumer Johann Maria Farina originally invented the world-famous Eau de Cologne.
Drop by the Museum of Applied Arts to walk through the history of design, materials and taste with their collection of everyday-use objects from the Middle Ages to the present day, and end your evening with a concert at hip Studio 672, in the city’s creative and multi-cultural Stadtgarden.
Portland, Oregon, USA
Portland’s popular Cinema 21. © Jason Lander
Seattle gets all the rep but Portland doesn’t follow far behind when it comes to rainy American cities. Luckily, Portlanders know the drill and they’re more than prepared to take the parade indoors.
A good place to start is Powell’s City of Books, open 365 days a year. At 6,300 m2 and taking up an entire city block, it proudly advertises itself as the largest (new & used) independent bookstore in the world.
Besides the thousands of books to browse, there are author readings, story time and a handsomely decorated room full of obscure rare books. Don’t worry about getting lost – the rooms are color-coded and the shop offers a detailed map of the premises!
At the beautiful wooden skating rink in the Oaks Amusement Park you can roller skate around to your heart’s content – or sign up for a lesson in jam skating, freestyle slalom or roller derby.
Head for Distillery Row to learn about craft distillation and get a taste (or 2 or 3!) of locally-crafted spirits or catch a movie at one of the much-loved ‘theatre pubs’ that serve up cozy meals and booze to take with you into the comfy auditoriums. Bagdad Theatre is best for new releases, Cinema 21 is all 20s décor and art-housey screenings and the Laurelhurst knows how to pick its revivals.
Hong Kong
Afternoon tea at the Peninsula Hotel. © ironypoisoning
If anything, a rainy day in buzzing and bustling Hong Kong is the perfect excuse to slow down and enjoy all the wacky indoor activities the city has to offer.
From trampoline and freejumping parks to bouldering, room escape games, virtual racing centers and board game cafés, there’s enough to keep you entertained for an entire rainy week and then some.
For lower key adventures, explore the recently revitalized PMQ, a creative hub home to the studios and shops of 100+ artists, designers and entrepreneurs, or visit the Hong Kong History Museum for a peek into the city’s cultural heritage.
Whatever you do, do sit down to afternoon tea. The wildly popular tradition, left over from the British colonial period, is a grand over-the-top affair at any one of Hong Kong’s uber-elegant luxury hotels.
Rotterdam, Netherlands
The eccentric ceiling of the Markthal in Rotterdam.
Europe’s largest port and the second largest city in the Netherlands, Rotterdam more than makes up for frequent grey skies with its riverside vistas, seafaring tradition and restless cultural life.
Start your rainy day with a visit to the gargantuan Markthal indoor food market, where dozens of stalls of fresh produce and delicious bites are set under a positively psychedelic tiled ceiling painted in bold colors with larger-than-life fruit, vegetables and even a bug or two.
Once you’ve had all the stroopwafels you can stomach, head over the river (the water taxis are great fun) to the Netherlands Photo Museum and wander through 175 years of Rotterdam in pictures to uncover the cityscape before it was totally blitzed during WWII.
Just down the road you’ll find the architecturally unique Hotel New York, once the offices of the Holland America Lines, responsible for transporting thousands of immigrants from the Netherlands to the New World. Their restaurant, with a fantastic view of the harbor, does seafood like a charm.
A live jam session at the Jazzcafé Dizzy is just the way to heat things up at the end of a soggy day.
Vancouver, Canada
The Bloedel Conservatory in Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth Park. © karen_neoh
Its average annual rainfall may not be the most inviting statistic, but Vancouver also has the mildest climate in the country – and plenty to do when the skies begin to rumble.
Head for the temperature-controlled environment of the Bloedel Conservatory and watch brightly-hued macaws, African parrots and finches soar above the abundant tropical rainforest flora.
The 10,000 + art works of the Vancouver Art Gallery’s permanent collection will keep you going for hours, not to mention impeccably curated exhibitions, public talks and special events to boot.
Take a spin on the ice at a sheltered rink or join a volleyball match at the city’s indoor beach!
For a trip through the urban and natural wonders of British Columbia without leaving your seat, try out FlyOver Canada’s flight simulation ride – a 4D immersive experience that’ll have you feeling the wind in your hair and the mist on your face as you skim waves and mountaintops in a montage of Western Canada’s most beautiful sights.
Edinburgh, Scotland
Rows and rows of Scotch. © matt512
If you’re booking a holiday to Edinburgh, you’re probably already counting on a little rain.
For a drier spell in the Scottish capital, head underground to explore the city’s buried history – a network of alleyways and closes that were once above ground – or warm your bones at the Scottish Whisky Experience where a barrel ride (corny yes, but fun) takes you through the history and process of whisky making. Yes, they’ll give you a sip of Scotch at the end of it.
The Museum of Childhood takes you back in time to the childhoods of different eras through a fascinating range of toys, games and other memorabilia. If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, here’s a tip, all of Scotland’s national museums are free!
Oh, and there’s Edinburgh Castle, of course.
Oahu, Hawaii, USA
Honolulu’s Iolani Palace.
Okay, so Hawaii is literally the wettest place on Earth. But the average temperature on Oahu is between 21-29°C year-round so it barely counts.
If you’ve never gone swimming in the rain, that’s the first thing you should try. It’s warm, it’s beautiful and since you’re getting wet anyway…
If that’s not for you, why not try your hand at playing the ukulele or get some expert tips on hula dancing? Many resorts offer their own lessons but Honolulu’s Royal Hawaiian Center offers these (and more) daily and free of charge.
The partially-covered Waikiki Aquarium is a fun visit if you’re travelling with kids, and the Iolani Palace – the only royal palace in the entire United States! – makes for an interesting cultural outing.
Shangri La, the eccentric estate of the late heiress and socialite Doris Duke, houses an impressive Islamic art collection coupled with stunning views off Black Point.
