- Rainy Day Things To Do in Philadelphia - September 23, 2026
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Philadelphia is a great city, and one of the best things about it is that there’s plenty to do, no matter the weather. While rain can definitely throw a wrench in your plans, that doesn’t mean your whole day is spoiled. You may not be walking the Schuylkill River Trail or browsing outdoor markets, but there are still so many options. In fact, the hardest part may not be coming up with ideas, but narrowing them down.
The main question is what type of day you want to have; you can figure out the best choice from there.
Play Classic Arcade Games at Barcade
If you’re looking for an activity when it’s raining, consider playing classic arcade games and grabbing a drink at Barcade. Barcade is a bar full of classic arcade cabinets and pinball machines, and Philly actually has two locations: Fishtown and Center City.
The Center City location has two floors and is a convenient choice if you’re already near downtown. There are countless other spots nearby as well, including restaurants, bars, cafes, bowling, and more. The Fishtown location has more of a neighborhood feel, with plenty of bars and restaurants within a block or two. Both have a full bar with beer, cocktails, and zero-proof options, plus food and snacks. You can stay for an hour or stay all night.
To play the games, you need tokens, which cost 25 cents each. Whether you’re planning a date or just hanging with friends – or even trying to find something to do by yourself on a rainy day – Barcade is a solid option. There’s no timed entry, and no real planning ahead. Both locations are currently open 2 PM-2 AM Monday through Thursday and 12 PM-2 AM Friday through Sunday, so it covers everything from a rainy afternoon to a late night.
Part of what makes it work so well on a rainy day is that it gives everyone something to do. Sitting at a regular bar for four hours while you wait for the weather to clear is fine, but Barcade is much more of an activity. It’s also social without requiring constant conversation, which can make it a low-pressure date spot as well.
If you’re looking for a specific game, check the game list for each Barcade location before you go. The games rotate, but you’ll likely find some of your favorite classics no matter which location you choose.
Explore Otherworld Philadelphia
If you want something a little more visually interesting than a bar but you’re either not really into museums or just aren’t in the mood, Otherworld Philadelphia is a good middle ground. It’s a large walk-through interactive art experience filled with mixed-reality elements, secret passages, and surreal rooms. Instead of looking at art hanging on a wall, you’re basically wandering around inside of it.
It works well for any kind of outing, whether you’re on a date, hanging with your friends, or looking for somewhere to take your family. It’s not the right choice if you’re just looking for somewhere to sit and grab a drink to wait out the rain; it’s much more interactive than that.
It’s also an awesome place to take photos. Almost every room is designed in a way that looks great on camera, with bright colors, strange lighting, and backdrops you’re not going to find anywhere else in the city. If anyone in your group is into photography or just wants something new for their feed, plan on the visit taking a little longer than expected. Between the exploring and the photo stops, it’s easy to spend a couple of hours there.
This option takes a bit more planning since tickets are timed, so buying online in advance is a good idea, and they currently start around $29.99. Hours right now are 11 AM-8 PM on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday (they’re closed Tuesdays), 11 AM-10 PM on Friday, 10 AM-10 PM on Saturday, and 10 AM-7 PM on Sunday.
Because of the timed tickets, this one works better when you know the rain is coming a day or two ahead of time, though you may be able to find same-day tickets pretty quickly, especially on a weekday or in the afternoon.
Spend a Few Hours at Queen & Rook Game Cafe
If you like the idea of playing games instead of sightseeing, but board games are more your speed than pinball, Queen & Rook Game Cafe may be the spot for you. They have a huge library of board games – like hundreds of them. If there’s a game you want to try and you don’t know how to play it, the staff (they call them Gamekeepers) can help you pick one and explain the rules.
It’s also a full restaurant and bar, so you can order food and drinks while you play, and they’ve added a retro arcade. This includes classics from the ’80s and ’90s, as well as pinball, Dance Dance Revolution, and air hockey. This gives you a lot of different options if you get bored of one thing and want to try something else.
For board games, you pay $7 per person for a 2.5-hour reservation window. The arcade is priced separately and costs $15 for adults for the first hour, and $10 for kids under 13 for the first hour, with a discount for subsequent hours spent in the arcade.
The arcade is only open Wednesday to Sunday, so if retro games are a big part of your plan and it happens to be raining on a Monday or Tuesday, you might want to rethink this spot.
Eat Your Way Through Reading Terminal Market
If your rainy day is really just about eating well, Reading Terminal Market is the obvious answer. It’s fully indoors, packed with food vendors, and it’s one of those places that feels distinctly Philadelphia, which also makes it a great pick if you’re showing visitors around and the weather ruined your original plans. The biggest advantage is that nobody in your group has to agree on anything when it comes to food options because there are so many choices all in one place.
It’s not just meals, either. You can pick up coffee, fresh produce, chocolates, and other things to take home, so even if you’re not hungry, there’s still plenty to browse.
The main limitation is that it’s more of a meal than a whole day. Once you’ve eaten and done a lap or two, you’re not going to stay occupied for hours the way you would at an arcade or a game cafe. The easy fix is to pair it with something else. For example, go to Reading Terminal Market earlier in the day, and then walk over to Barcade in Center City for a few hours.
The market is currently open 8 AM-6 PM daily, though individual merchant hours can vary, so check ahead if there’s a specific vendor you’re set on.
Spend the Afternoon at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Sometimes a rainy day is the perfect excuse for the classic museum day, and in Philly, that generally means the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It’s one of the biggest museums in the country, with more than 200 galleries. It’s the kind of place where you can easily spend all day.
If you enjoy looking at art, or you’ve lived here for years and still haven’t been, this is an easy way to fill several hours while staying completely dry. It’s a good option for first-time visitors, and it works for families too, since kids 18 and under get in free. There are also cafe and food options on site, so you don’t have to head back out into the rain the second you get hungry.
That said, it’s worth being honest with yourself about what kind of day you want. Some people love slowly wandering galleries while it pours outside; others get restless after an hour of looking at things.
General hours currently run 10 AM-5 PM on operating days, with later hours on Fridays, but double-check before you go since museum schedules change.
See a Movie, Comedy Show, or Live Performance
Sometimes the answer to a rainy day is as simple as going to see a movie. Instead of sitting on your couch, you can head to the theater, grab a snack, and watch something you haven’t seen before. Movie theaters have also gotten a lot more comfortable than they used to be. Many spots in and around Philly now have big reclining seats and reserved seating, and some even serve food and drinks right to your seat.
AMC Fashion District 8 is a good choice if you’re in or near Center City, and it has the big recliners. The Philadelphia Film Center on Chestnut Street is a good pick if you want to see something a little more obscure.
If you’re looking for something with a little more energy, Philly always has comedy shows, theater, and live music going on. Helium Comedy Club and Punch Line Philly regularly have touring comedians and local shows, and the Walnut Street Theatre is a classic option for a full theater night. Venues like World Cafe Live, Union Transfer, and The Fillmore usually have live music worth checking out as well.
The main drawback is flexibility. Unlike Barcade or Reading Terminal Market, where you can show up whenever you feel like it, movies and shows tie you to a start time. Showtimes change, popular shows sell out, and on a rainy day, plenty of other people will have the same idea as you. It’s worth taking a quick look at what’s playing and grabbing tickets before you head out.
How To Plan a Rainy Day in Philadelphia
A little bit of planning goes a long way when the weather’s bad, and having some practical tips can make the day much easier.
- Check hours the same day you’re going, especially on Mondays and Tuesdays, when a lot of attractions are closed or running limited schedules.
- Reserve timed attractions like Otherworld in advance, since rainy days bring out the crowds.
- Take SEPTA where you can so you’re not spending half the day moving the car and looking for parking, which can be frustrating enough without the rain.
- Group nearby activities together, like Reading Terminal Market and Barcade Center City, so you’re not trekking across the city between stops.
- Have one flexible backup option in case something’s sold out or packed.
- If you’re bringing kids, check age restrictions before heading to game bars and cafes; Barcade is normally 21+, with designated Family Days as the main exception at some locations.
None of this needs to be complicated. Even just checking hours and grabbing tickets ahead of time can make the whole day a lot easier.
Final Thoughts on Rainy Day Activities in Philadelphia
Rain doesn’t have to mean canceling your plans or defaulting to dinner and heading home early. Philadelphia has plenty of indoor options no matter what kind of day you’re in the mood for, whether that’s dropping tokens into pinball machines at Barcade, wandering through Otherworld, settling in with a board game at Queen & Rook, or eating your way through Reading Terminal Market. The forecast might change your original plans, but in a city with this much going on, it shouldn’t ruin them.