Ideas for a rainy day in Barcelona

Take advantage of a rainy day to get inside some of Barcelona's best museums and galleries and take in these top exhibitions going on right now.

You've done the Picasso, the Miró and the MACBA. After these and other giants of contemporary art, what's left in Barcelona's museum bag? Off the beaten track, down cobbled side streets and even smack bang in the middle of touristy areas, you'll find plenty of weird and wonderful little-known gems – all well worth an hour of your time.

Searching for that warm pick-me-up only a perfectly brewed cup of coffee can give? Finding an attractive café with quality products to eat breakfast, have a snack or go for a coffee can be a difficult undertaking. We show you where to go to hit the mark.

What's better than hunkering down in the cinema on a rainy day? If your Spanish or Catalan isn't up to snuff, or if you just prefer seeing films in their original language (whether that's English, French, Japanese or beyond), head to these Barcelona cinemas where you can see movies as they were meant to be seen.

Settle in with a good book from any of these Barcelona bookshops that have sections of tomes in English or are completely dedicated to serving the English-reading community in town, where you can pick up a classic or a bestseller, a brand-new or second-hand novel, guidebook or non-fiction, reading material for kids and more.

We're not condoning getting legless just because the sun's not out, but if you do feel like a break with something a bit stronger than a cup of joe, consult our list of the absolute best bars in Barcelona before wandering around in the elements looking for something suitable.

A nice cup of tea really hits the spot on a wet day. Stop in to any one of these tea rooms for a warm-up and a snack to keep you going.

Nothing beats a spa session, or a really good massage. So we did some exhaustive research into finding Barcelona’s best spas so you can still enjoy a less-than-sunny day in town.

Whether you fancy a drink with your sweetheart or with friends, if you're after a craft beer, a cup of tea or a place where you can tantalise your taste buds with creative cocktails, this group of bars offers all that, plus the bonus of a soft and sumptuous sofa area. Why not flop down and sink into the cushions on the next rainy day?

No one notices you're soaked with rain when you're sweating on the dance floor – whether it's in huge clubs with five different rooms and vibes, a small spot where your best survival technique on the dance floor is a smile, indie, rock, pop or retro music, these spots will keep you going, maybe even until the rain stops.