7 things to do on a rainy day in Barcelona

See a movie

Settling into a dark theatre is a great way to spend a rainy day! If your Spanish isn’t up to snuff, fear not! There are a few theatres around Barcelona that show films in their version original (VO) with Spanish subtitles. If you’re an English speaker, you’ll have no problem finding something to suit your taste. Usually Wednesdays are the days when you can get tickets at a reduced price. Check out Yelmo Icaria (large cinema in an almost empty shopping mall), Cine Verdi (which shows a multitude of independent films) or Renoir Floridablanca.

Go to a café

Might as well bring along an easy read and get cozy. There are plenty of coffee shops all around the city! Some of our favourites? Cosmo Café, Nappuccino, La Teteria. We’re also big fans of La Central on Mallorca. It’s actually a large bookshop, but they have a beautiful café with large windows on the second floor that looks onto a terrace.

Visit a Museum

Sounds cliche right? But actually, Barcelona has a lot of museums to choose from. You’ll be lucky if it’s the first Sunday of the month when most of the museums offer free entrance. So, where can you go? There are the obvious ones like the two Gaudi houses – La Pedrera and Casa Batlló – or the Picasso Museum. There is also the Cosmocaixa, which is a large interactive science museum and the MACBA (Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art) Whether you’re interested in history, art, design, archeology, even chocolate, there is a museum in Barcelona for everyone.

Go shopping

Better to shop when it’s raining than when it’s sunny, right? There are a few shopping malls around Barcelona with most major brands and shops. Check out Diagonal Mar, L’Illa Diagonal, and La Maquinista, which has a beautiful open concept space. If big shops aren’t really your thing, you can check out the boutiques in El Born or the Gothic Quarter.

Bar hop around Born

Born is one of the hippest neighbourhoods in Barna, with plenty of boutiques, cafés and bars. You can spend the day jumping from one place to another as everything is close by and you won’t get stuck walking in the rain. You can start with a vermouth, have a tapa here and another there. Next thing you know, you’ll have forgotten about the dreary weather.

Go bowling

When you think of Spain, bowling doesn’t really seem like a popular sport; and it isn’t. However, that doesn’t mean that bowling alleys don’t exist here! Playing a game is relatively inexpensive and most places that have bowling usually have an arcade in the same complex. Check out Bowling Pedralbes in the Zona Universitaria, Newpark Bowling in La Maquinista Shopping Centre (also a great place to wander around if it’s raining), or Ilusiona Gran Via 2.

Go for a walk

Obviously not if it’s a torrential downpour or anything! If it’s just drizzling and you’re feeling brave, this is the perfect time to grab an umbrella and go for a stroll. All the popular spots that are riddled with tourists will be much quieter. La Rambla, Passeig de Gracia, even the popular Gotico and Born neighbourhoods will be calmer. It’s a great time to wander the small streets and boutiques of the Gothic Quarter. When you’re ready for a break, you can always duck into a cozy café.