Rainy days are brutal with kids. The park's out. Everyone's cranky. You've already watched Frozen twice. Here's your cheat sheet of solid, weather-proof indoor activities — from soft play zones and museums to chocolate tasting and trampoline parks. No umbrellas required.
For Creative (and Calm) Play
Pottery People – Get Your Hands in the Clay
A calm, hands-on alternative to the usual chaos. Pottery People runs short, kid-friendly clay sessions where children can squish, shape, and paint their own masterpieces. It's surprisingly zen, even for toddlers. You can usually drop in, but booking ahead helps.
For Curious Little Minds
Shanghai Natural History Museum – Big Bones, Bugs, and Dinos
Still one of the best family-friendly museums in town. The dinosaur skeletons are the main draw, but there's enough interactive and animal-focused stuff to keep younger kids entertained. Pro tip: bring snacks and pace yourself — it's big.
Shanghai Children's Museum – Interactive and Just Their Size
More low-key and hands-on than the Natural History Museum, this one's tailored for smaller kids. Think: basic science experiments, water play areas, buttons to press. A good pick for younger school-age kids or rainy Sunday mornings.
Shanghai Urban Planning Center – Big Models, Big Questions
For older kids who like maps, cities, or just pressing buttons. The scale model of Shanghai is still impressive, and there are enough interactive displays to turn it into a "look but don't touch" kind of adventure.
Zotter Chocolate Theatre – Yes, It's All About Chocolate
A fully immersive experience where you walk through the bean-to-bar chocolate-making process — then sample the goods at the end. Funny, educational, and sugar-fueled. It's best for kids 5+ who won't melt down at the sight of too much chocolate. You can get your tickets here.
For Animal Lovers
Changfeng Aquarium – Sharks, Rays, and Bubble Tanks
A solid indoor aquarium with a decent variety of marine life. It's not world-class, but the tunnel walkway and feeding shows hold attention. Especially good for younger kids who just want to point at fish for an hour. Get your tickets here.
For the Sensory Seeker
Paradox Museum – Optical Illusions & "How Is That Even Real?"
A hall of mirrors for the TikTok generation. Paradox Museum is full of trick rooms, illusion walls, and visual weirdness. Great for slightly older kids — and honestly pretty fun for grown-ups too. Bring a phone; they'll want photos. Note: the museum is currently closed for upgrades, and a reopening date hasn't been announced yet.
For Running, Jumping, and General Energy Burn
Mini Mars – Soft Play That Doesn't Suck
A go-to chain for soft play, with multiple clean, well-run locations across the city. Ball pits, climbing structures, slides, and role-play corners. It's designed for toddlers and preschoolers — and doesn't feel like a germ trap, which is saying something.
Peppa Pig World of Play – Fully Themed for the Littlest Fans
This one's for the hardcore Peppa crowd. Fully themed rooms based on the show's sets, plus soft climbing zones and character meet-and-greets. Pricey, but if your kid's in their Peppa phase, it's a no-brainer. Buy tickets here.
Legoland Discovery Center – Blocks, Rides, and Builds
More than just bricks: there are small rides, LEGO building zones, and themed rooms to explore. A rare place that entertains both young kids and parents without screens. Grab your tickets here.
Jump 360 – Trampolines for Days
Huge indoor trampoline parks that let kids bounce until they drop. It's noisy and full-on, but if you've got a high-energy kid bouncing off the walls at home, this is where they should actually be doing that.
Adventure Zone – Climbing, Sliding, Screaming (in a good way)
Located inside the Kerry Hotel Pudong, this indoor jungle gym is open to the public for a fee. It's a bit more polished than your average mall play area, with slides, obstacle courses, and a viewing area for parents who just want to sit down.
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Check our full Kids & Family directory for more things to do here.
