Planning a trip to Philadelphia? It might help to know that rain or other precipitation falls about a third of the year. With wet summers and snowy winters, no matter what season you arrive in, you may want to prepare for some damp weather. Luckily, there are plenty of indoor things to do in Philadelphia, from interactive museums to children’s play spaces.
If you’re heading to the City of Brotherly Love and seeing some rain in the forecast, this list of the best things to do in Philadelphia when it rains can help you out. Even if you’re dealing with a few rainy days in Philly, this list can allow you to get the most out of your trip!
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15 Fun Rainy-Day Activities in Philadelphia
1. Spend the Day Playing at Queen & Rook
One of the best things to do on a rainy day in Philadelphia is to play games indoors with a good group of friends, and Queen & Rook is the best place to do it. This award-winning board game cafe features a full restaurant, a full bar, and a collection of more than 1,300 new and vintage board games, offering plenty of opportunities for a day of indoor fun.
2. Play Around Libertee Grounds
For another space that’s an adult-focused playground, head over to Libertee Grounds, one of the best indoor activities in Philadelphia.
Enjoy local craft beer and specialty cocktails alongside incredible Asian-American cuisine while you play around a nine-hole golf course that celebrates all things Philly! Beyond mini golf, you can also play more games like Giant Jenga, darts, and shuffleboard.
3. See Masterpieces at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is one of the best art museums in the country, and visiting it is one of the best things to do in Philadelphia when it rains. The museum is home to a vast collection of over 240,000 objects, including significant pieces of American, European, and Asian art.
With new exhibitions arriving all the time, you could easily enjoy spending every rainy day in Philadelphia at this beloved museum.
4. Challenge A Friend to Table Tennis at PingPod
If you’re looking for indoor Philadelphia activities that you can do alone or with a friend, head to PingPod, a massive table tennis facility. Enjoy sips and snacks while you play ping-pong against a friend or one of PingPod’s robots. Up your skills while you hide out from a gloomy day.
5. Test Your Aim at Callowhill Academy
You might not think of archery when you think of things to do when it’s raining, but Callowhill Academy is an indoor archery range that lets you work on your aim even when it’s pouring outside. Take a base course, and then you’re free to enjoy the open range. Kids as young as 11 are allowed to participate.
6. Go Back in Time at the Academy of Natural Sciences
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is one of the best and oldest natural history museums in the US, and it offers one of the best rainy-day activities in Philadelphia. Though the Dinosaur Hall is likely what the museum is most famous for, there’s plenty more to do here, from learning about the skin we’re in to digging for fossils.
7. Learn American History at the National Constitution Center
When you’re visiting a place with so much history, it only makes sense that one of the best things to do, rain or shine, is to study it all. The National Constitution Center is the first and only museum dedicated to the Constitution, with live theater, rare artifacts, and interactive exhibits helping to bring its history to life.
8. Visit the Museum of the American Revolution
For more American history, head over to the Museum of the American Revolution, where you can check out interactive exhibits, special exhibitions, and daily movie showings to learn more about the American Revolution. For even more hands-on learning, the museum offers classes, workshops, and live history demonstrations.
9. Take the Little Ones to Kids at Play
If you’re looking for kid-friendly indoor activities in Philadelphia, Kids at Play is sure to keep you busy throughout a rainy day. This indoor sensory playground has something for toddlers all the way up to 12 years old. From ziplines to archery to arts and crafts, your little ones are bound to enjoy spending the day playing and exploring.
10. Get Interactive at the Please Touch Museum
When you visit museums, you likely tell your little ones to look but not touch. But that’s not the case at the Please Touch Museum. Spending some time at this interactive children’s museum is one of the best things to do on a rainy day in Philadelphia and it focuses on learning through play.
Primarily for kids seven years or younger, this museum has two floors packed with interactive exhibits, from art studios to gardens to a historic carousel. For even more fun, the children’s museum also features daily workshops and activities.
11. Dine At Reading Terminal Market
For an indoor place to head for some special treats, the Reading Terminal Market offers one of the top indoor Philadelphia activities. This famous indoor market has been serving Philly since 1893. Today, you can find more than 70 vendors, from tea shops to bakeries to stores selling handcrafted goods from all around the world.
Reading Terminal Market also puts up different exhibits throughout the year that are fun to check out, like Gingerbread Lane, a display of miniature gingerbread houses that arrives with the holiday season.
12. Become a Builder at LEGOLAND Discovery Center
If you’ve got a little architect in your midst, head to the Plymouth Meeting Mall to play and create at LEGOLAND Discovery Center. Play around the LEGO Playground, see your favorite characters pop out of the screen at the 4D Theater, take a ride on the Imagination Express, build your own LEGO masterpieces, and check out a mini version of Philly made from over 1.5 million little bricks.
13. Learn at the Franklin Institute
The Franklin Institute is one of the most famous science museums in the US and a great option when it’s gloomy outside. Check out immersive exhibits, marvel at live science demonstrations, explore the night sky at Fels Planetarium, and observe the daytime with the Holt & Miller Observatory.
14. Explore the Independence Seaport Museum
If you’re looking for something fun and educational to do during those rainy days in Philadelphia, head to the Independence Seaport Museum. Explore Philly’s maritime history as you venture through interactive exhibits to learn about everything from pirates to what’s living in the Delaware River Watershed. You’ll also see historic vessels up close and learn about the roles they played throughout time.
15. Visit the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Holding the distinction of being the first art museum and school in the US, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is one of the top indoor Philadelphia activities if you’re an art lover. From historic works of all forms of art to pieces made by more contemporary artists, this museum showcases stories from all walks of life. You’ll also see work made by both current students and faculty members.
There you have it! The 15 best things to do in Philadelphia in the rain. What are your favorite indoor activities in Philadelphia? Let us know in the comments!
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