The 12 Rainiest Cities in the World Where You’ll Feel Like You’re Living in a Watercolor Painting

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If you don’t like rainy weather, chances are these cities won’t be your ideal destination. From tropical monsoons to coastal fog, you’ll always need an umbrella in the rainiest cities in the world.

Rain is a good thing for growing food and making sure everybody has enough water to drink. However, in some locations around the world, it almost rains too much.

Budget Direct released a new report that lists cities with the most rainy days per year based on the average annual data from climate-data.org. Keep reading to learn more about the 12 rainiest cities in the world.

Buenaventura, Colombia

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Buenaventura is Colombia’s main port city on the Pacific Coast. It has a tropical rainforest climate and gets over 1 mm of rain 258 days a year, making it the rainiest city in the world.

The city sits just 3° north of the equator. Huge tropical rainstorms form over the city, fueled by the moist tropical air of Buenaventura Bay. Almost every day, commuters in Buenaventura endure huge downfalls and thunderstorms, making getting around a hassle.

The city is under three hours away from Colombia’s third-largest city, Cali, which was built high in the Andes Mountains. Unlike nearby Buenaventura, it only gets around 160 to 170 rainy days per year and has much cooler weather because of its elevation.

Manizales, Colombia

Manizales is a city in central Colombia that experiences around 257 days of rain per year. The city is one of Colombia’s hubs for coffee growing and is slowly becoming a tourism hotspot.

Because of its high elevation, it has a subtropical highland climate. Locals and visitors can enjoy springtime-like temperatures throughout the year.

That said, it rains a lot throughout the year and you’ll have to have a good pair of rain boots and rainjackets to be comfortable here. Because of this, the city and its surrounding countryside have dense vegetation and host an abundance of plant and animal life found nowhere else on the planet.

Quito, Ecuador

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Quito is Ecuador’s capital city, and it is one of the rainiest cities on earth. It has an average of 253 annual rainy days and a pronounced wet season.

The city lies in the Andes Mountains, at an elevation of 2,850 meters. This keeps it cool throughout the year, making a heavy jacket necessary, especially during rainy evenings and mornings.

Rain clouds frequently form over the mountains surrounding the city. Even during the dry season from June to September, you can expect at least some rain. During the wet season from October to May, you’ll need to bring an umbrella everywhere you go.

Timika, Indonesia

Timika is a city of almost 150,000 people on the island of Papua. It gets over 244 days of rain per year, making it one of the rainiest cities on the planet.

The remote city sits next to the 4877-meter Puncak Jaya mountain. This massive peak traps huge thunderstorms at its base, producing some of the wettest rainforests in the world.

Because of the frequent thunderstorms, it’s often hard to fly into the city. Once you’re there, you can expect heavy rainfall almost daily. If you forget your rain gear in this city, you may be in trouble.

Douala, Cameroon

Douala is Cameroon’s largest city and a major economic hub. It’s also one of the rainiest urban spaces in the world, with over 243 days of rain per year.

The city sits near the equator and experiences a tropical rainforest climate. Intense thunderstorms soak the city almost daily, making getting around challenging, especially on the motorbikes that are common in the city.

During the dry season in December and January, you can enjoy several days of sunshine, although with temperatures soaring past 30° C. Once the monsoons start from May to October, you’ll be dealing with over 600 mm of rain per month.

Gangtok, India

Gangtok is the capital and largest city of Sikkim State, at the base of the Himalayan Mountains. It has around 230 rainy days per year, making it one of the wettest cities in the world.

From October to March, it enjoys relative dryness and plenty of sunny days. This is when many climbers and hikers visit to take advantage of the clear skies.

After March, the weather turns for the worse, with six months of torrential monsoons that barely stop. On average, over 600 mm of rain falls during June and July, making it hard to get around.

Roxas City, Phillipines

Roxas City is the bustling capital of the province of Capiz, in the center of the Philippine archipelago. It has a humid tropical rainforest climate and over 228 days of rain annually.

The city enjoys relatively dry weather from February to April. However, once the storms of May arrive, the monsoons never let up, making getting around the city extremely difficult.

During the summer and fall, the city occasionally experiences intense tropical storms and typhoons that wreak havoc on the surrounding region. High winds and intense rainstorms flood the streets. If you don’t like getting wet, this may not be your ideal destination.

Thimphu, Bhutan

Thimphu is Bhutan’s beautiful capital city and the heart of the country’s economy. It’s also one of the rainiest cities in the world, with around 226 days of rain per year.

The city sits at around 2,500 meters, close to the high peaks of the Himalayan Mountains. It has a dry season during the winter that brings cold temperatures and occasional snow to the city. However, in the summer months, rainstorms form, covering the city in dense clouds and constant rain.

If you visit during the cold winter, you can enjoy the sights and nature without having to worry about rain. However, in the spring, summer, and fall, make sure to have your rain gear ready to go at a moment’s notice.

Dujiangyan, China

Dukiangyan is a city in Sichuan Province, just a short drive from Chengdu. In addition to its tourist attractions, the city is known for being one of the rainiest cities in the world.

It experiences over 225 rainy days per year. Winters are dry with very little rain, but as soon as spring arrives, the monsoons carry weeks of heavy rainfall that soaks the city and its surroundings.

During the monsoon season, several rivers often flood, leading to transportation issues that authorities often scramble to fix. For the hundreds of thousands of people who commute via motorbike in the city and nearby Chengdu, the season is a nightmare.

Manaus, Brazil

Manaus experiences an average of around 211 days of rain annually, making the inland city one of the rainiest urban destinations in the world. The city is located on the banks of the mighty Amazon River and has an intense tropical rainforest climate.

The city experiences an intense monsoon from December to May. During this time, huge storms form over the city and pour relentlessly. River levels rise, and some parts of the city experience flooding on occasion.

Although it’s rainy for most of the year, the city is a hub for tourists looking to experience the Amazon rainforest. If you time your visit right, you can miss the rain and catch a tour boat through one of the most crucial ecosystems on the planet.

Sandakan, Malaysia

The city of Sandakan is a thriving port city on the remote corner of Eastern Borneo Island. It receives a whopping 231 days of rain per year.

Like many cities on the list, Sandakan has a tropical rainforest climate with an intense monsoon season. From August to March, it experiences heavy rain and thunderstorms that make traveling and commuting difficult.

Because of its high annual rainfall, the city stays lush and green throughout the year. It’s one of Malaysia’s hotspots for wildlife and diverse plantlife. If you don’t mind the rain and love nature, this remote city may be worth visiting.

Singapore

Singapore is a tropical nation on the tip of the humid Malay Peninsula. Its climate is tropical rainforest, and it receives over 206 days of rain per year.

From November to January, the city experiences intense rain storms that move over the tropical waters and unleash on the city. Fortunately for locals, it has a modern subway and public transportation system, air-conditioned malls, and plenty of indoor attractions to enjoy during the time.

After the summer monsoon ends, you can still count on plenty of rainy days. For locals, the rain is often better than dealing with the unbearably hot equatorial sun.