Things to do in Barcelona on a rainy Monday

March 3, 2013 11:34 AM

I'm in Barcelona with a friend. We've spent two pleasant days wandering around and seeing the sights, and we'd be happy to keep doing that, but tomorrow the weather is forecast to be wet. No problem, we'll go to some museums! But tomorrow is Monday, and most of the museums are shut... What can we do instead?

So far, we've seen La Pedrera, La Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló and Parc Guell. We'd quite like a break from Gaudi at this point! We know that the aquarium, cathedral and contemporary art museum are open tomorrow, but we're drawing a bit of a blank beyond those. And we can't spend the whole day drinking cava...

In case it matters, neither of us speaks Spanish or Catalan.

posted by ManyLeggedCreature to travel & transportation around Barcelona, Spain (12 answers total)

Take a day trip by train to Girona - it is a lively interesting place and easy to wander round through the old town, by the river and perhaps round the old walls. If you want a specific attraction there I would say the Film Museum.
posted by rongorongo at 11:46 AM on March 3

Take a tour of the interior of the Catalan Concert Hall? It's modernisme architecture, but not Gaudi and is actually quite different. It's maybe 10min from the cathedral.
posted by matildatakesovertheworld at 11:57 AM on March 3

When I was living in Barcelona and had insomnia (chronically, frustratingly), I used to go watch foreign films at the later-night movie theaters, (I preferred the original-language ones, subtitled in Spanish). Honestly I can't remember which theaters I went to, but I almost certainly found them via the local press...I suppose it's sort of a "waste" versus going out and doing something, but I found them comforting. YMMV.
posted by BundleOfHers at 12:20 PM on March 3

I quite enjoyed the Museu de la Xocolata (Museum of Chocolate), which I believe is open Mondays...
posted by lgandme0717 at 12:40 PM on March 3 [2 favorites]

I was going to suggest a day trip to Figueres to visit the Dali Theatre-Museum, but it's closed tomorrow:(

Another option to consider is a trip out to Montserrat, assuming the weather is better out there. The monks make exquisite chocolate.

And speaking of chocolate, I second lgandme0717's suggestion of the Museu de la Xocolata.
posted by nickthetourist at 12:42 PM on March 3 [2 favorites]

We enjoyed the Juan Miro Foundation, its proper name is the Centre for the Study of Contemporary Art, but it is dfiferent from the contemporary art museum. Its worthwhile to get the recorded guide.
posted by biffa at 1:02 PM on March 3 [1 favorite]

I rather enjoyed my visit to Santa Maria del Mar.
posted by MidsizeBlowfish at 1:41 PM on March 3 [1 favorite]

Nthing the Palau de la Musica, which has tours on the half hour. Look, there's a show tomorrow at 7pm!
posted by mahorn at 1:48 PM on March 3

I personally really enjoyed the Contemporary Art Museum, but that's totally my jam so I was probably going to like it no matter what. The Palau de la Musica was an interesting tour, and they're open tomorrow - I recommend that if you're in the neighborhood. I was hoping to add the CosmoCaixa Science Museum, but it looks like that's closed Mondays.
posted by antonymous at 2:26 PM on March 3

Have you visited one of the covered markets? I stumbled into Mercat de Sant Antoni one rainy afternoon and it was the highlight of my trip.
posted by JoeZydeco at 2:39 PM on March 3 [1 favorite]

The magical Palau de la Musica is unreal on the inside. I used to live on that tiny street (San Pere mes Alt) and it took me awhile to discover this low-profile gem. I couldn't believe what it was like inside. There's a performance tomorrow at 7pm, and it's in the center of town, but it feels pleasantly hidden. There are many little spots for eating and drinking nearby, and the Borne neighborhood is right next to it.
posted by thegreatfleecircus at 6:33 PM on March 3

Thanks, all! The rain actually mostly held off, but it was cold and gloomy anyway, so we broke up our wandering through the streets with a couple of covered markets, the church of Santa Maria del Mar, and the chocolate museum. Timed things badly for the Palau de la Musica, but tomorrow is another day...
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 9:54 AM on March 4 [1 favorite]