55 Best Rainy Day Activities What to Do on a Rainy Day With Friends

It can be easy to stay curled up under your covers and scroll down the TikTok abyss on a yucky rainy morning. Being a useless (but adorable) blob and appreciating how cozy you are when it's pouring outside is actually one of life's greatest joys, if you ask me. But it gets old after a while. It really does. (And that's coming from me, a nearly pro-level lounger.) There are just so many better ways to seize the day! (Unless you're feeling a wee bit burnt out and need 24 hours in bed to just do nothing. No judgment whatsoever—you can carpe that diem tomorrow, baby!)

If a day of fun out of the sun is what you’re after, then you’ve come to the right place, because I’ve got endless options just waiting for your perusal. Looking for an excuse to whip out those chic new wine glasses? Gotchu. Feeling like you wanna flex your creative muscles? Gotchu even more. Still want to be comfy in your sweats but maybe feel like you were actually productive? Oh, it's possible. I'm here for you and all of your needs. There will be no boredom on my watch, baby.

The best part? Almost all of the activities below can be done with your besties by your side. Because great things are extra great when you have a lovely squad to share them with, right? Right. With that, grab your friends, grab your perfect self, and maybe grab a drink or two (why not!), because today's about to be capital-F Fun. Rain, rain, go away...or don't. We can entertain ourselves, thank you very much.

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Perfect your skincare routine.

If you just slap sh*t on your face without any rhyme or reason, maybe take this time to really give your visage the attention it deserves. That could mean making an appointment with a derm, or just reading our guide to building a better routine, with instructions on the order in which you should be applying your products.

Brew up a Starbucks dupe.

You actually *don’t* need to pay $8 for a caffeinated beverage, babe. But you *do* need to invest in a frother. Do a lil research on how to replicate your favorite Starbucks drink and spend the rainy day getting the tools and ingredients you need to dooooop it up. Yes, you can make cold foam. I promise.

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Start a podcast.

Now, let me start this off by saying that not everyone should have a podcast. But, if it’s an idea that’s been bouncing around in your head for quite some time, go ahead and give it a try. Maybe you’ll be the next Alex Cooper?

Visit an animal shelter.

If you think your heart can handle it, venture on down to your local shelter—just call first to make sure they’re accepting visitors. Many appreciate volunteers (now’s the time to sign up!), and you may just find your new best friend.

Give yourself an extravagant mani.

If you’ve got time to kill and nails so bare you can’t bear it, put on your artist hat (beret?) and paint 10 little masterpieces. Fun nail stickers and press-ons absolutely count if you’ve got a shaky hand.

Break out the board games.

A good, classic board game will never not be fun…as long as you’re with fun people. Looking for the next great party game to get your hands on? We made a list of the very best.

Do a big (virtual) grocery haul.

It’s 2024, so you don’t actually have to go to the grocery store anymore to get the things you need. Load up an app like Shipt or Instacart and stock your fridge and cabinets the modern way—with a few clicks and delivery straight to your front door. Might as well meal prep while you’re at it!

Maybe? Start? Investing?

It's time to put your money where your mouth is. Commit to an afternoon of learning about the best ways to invest depending on your age and financial status. We love the tips from Her First 100K—AKA Tori Dunlap—on TikTok!

Babysit or pet sit for a loved one.

If you've got time to spare, consider loaning it to someone in your life who could use a little more in their day—like a parent. Give a loved one the afternoon off by offering to babysit either a real bb or a fur bb. Not only will you be surrounded by cuteness for a few hours, but your offer can feel life-changing for a mom and/or dad.

Write a good old-fashioned love letter.

Grab a pen and paper and start waxing poetic about your favorite person or thing. If you don’t have a partner, you can always write about a friend or your true soulmate (ahem, yourself).

Mess around and dye your hair.

Been thinking about dyeing your hair a new color for a while now? Or maybe just adding a fun streak or some subtle highlights? Go ahead, be spontaneous. If you hate it, you can always dye it back.

DIY a hair mask.

Always want to do a hair mask, but never feel like you’ve got the time? A rainy day is prime time to give your scalp the TLC it deserves. Lucky for you, we have a whole article full of DIY masks for all hair types.

Remember how you were gonna learn to knit? Do it.

It’s really not that hard, I promise! Grab a kit (like this one from We Are Knitters) and commit to cranking out a scarf before winter begins.

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Grab some dough and make a pizza (or three).

There’s no day that isn’t made better with pizza. (I still get an adrenaline rush when I think about pizza days in elementary school.) But pizza is even better when it’s homemade. Grab a bag of dough from the closest store—or make it from scratch if you really don’t wanna leave your house—and go all out with sauce, cheese, and all your favorite toppings. Highly recommend making a few pies so you have leftovers for days.

*Actually* schedule those appointments you’ve been putting off.

Honestly, I’m hoping that if I write this down, I might convince myself to do it too. Make a date with your doc, gyno, dentist, and hairdresser, and put them on your cal while the rain is coming down. Then check, check, check those to-dos off your list.

Reorganize a room in your house.

It’s crazy what a little ~restructuring~ can do to make a space feel brand new. Try moving your bed, couch, or dining table and see how it feels—if you hate it you can always rethink your room again and again.

Master a good mocktail.

Whether you’re doing a dry month or are just sober curious, it’s always a good idea to learn how to make a tasty mocktail. First step? Snag an alternative for your favorite alcohol—we love CleanCo’s spiritless tequilas, gins, and vodkas.

CleanCo Gin Alternative

Put together a book bucket list.

If you don’t already have one going, start a list of must-read books. This way, you’ll a) remember what memoir you’ve been meaning to curl up with when you inevitably find yourself ready to go into debt at your local bookstore, and b) be inspired to pick up a book instead of the remote on your next night off.

Get that inbox to zero.

Okay, okay—this isn’t the most fun idea, but it sure is satisfying. Read, delete, and unsubscribe until you’re down to zero emails in your inbox. Then pop the champagne.

Get snap happy with a Polaroid.

There’s just something about an instant camera that feeds the soul, amirite? Plus, everything looks better when it’s on film, I don’t know why. Get the gang together and just start snapping. Chances are the printed-out pics will make whatever you’re doing look hella chic (that built-in filter, thoooo).

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Play makeup artist.

Channel your inner Makeup By Mario and give your friend's face a full beat, then have them return the favor. (You can also tackle hair if you're feeling inspired.) Once you're both feeling like walking, talking fire emojis, stage a photo shoot and take some shots for the 'gram.

Host an old-school sleepover.

Was there anything more exhilarating as a kid than having a sleepover on the horizon? Bring back that thrill by inviting over a group of friends for junk food, comfy PJs, reality TV marathons, and endless games of Never Have I Ever. I don't think I've ever actually participated in a non-ironic pillow fight, but if that's your thing, add it to the list.

Create a ~mood~ playlist on Spotify or Apple Music.

Since the weather is already #moody, it's the perfect time to absorb all of that and put it into a *drumroll* moody playlist. Perhaps even a rainy-day playlist for the occasion? Future you will thank you! Here are a couple of songs to get you started.

Master your fave TikTok dances.

If you're going to spend the entire day on TikTok anyways (same), you might as well get creative with it. Choose a trending dance or two that you've always wanted to learn and, well, actually do it. Obviously film and post it for the chance to go viral.

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Start a blog...

Even if you have zero intention of ever sharing the link with the rest of the world, it's always fun to live out your best Carrie Bradshaw fantasies. Sites like Wix or Squarespace are incredible blogging platforms and are super easy to navigate through and design. Now all that's left to do is find your Mr. Big, I guess? (Although #TeamAiden.)

...or a YouTube channel.

Not much of a writer? Maybe vlogging is your thing! Whether you want to use it as a platform to film "Day In My Life" videos or share tutorials of your fave beauty hacks, grab your camera and get to it!

Try out new cocktail recipes.

Cocktails are always fun, no matter the weather. Try out some new recipes and pretend you're at the most expensive bar in Paris. Espresso martini, anyone?

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Head over to your local greenhouse or plant store.

New plants = instant serotonin. Also, shopping = instant serotonin. I guess what I'm saying is that this is *the* superior rainy-day activity?

Get your learning on at a museum.

I'm willing to bet there's at least one museum in your hometown that you totally keep meaning to visit but it just never ends up happening, right? Use your next rainy day to immerse yourself in some art or natural history, dahling.

Have a spa day.

Up to you whether you splurge on an appointment at a bougie spa, or set up your own DIY sitch at home. Either way, a self-care day will leave you feeling all sorts of rejuvenated. Just slap on a hydrating face mask and let the pitter-patter of the rain act as your own personal white noise machine.

Bubble Over Night Hydrating Face Mask

Sign up for a virtual (or in-person!) cooking class.

Doesn't matter if your skills are already Chopped-champion levels of gourmet, or if you barely know how to boil water. Cooking classes are all about making scrumptious food and then eating your concoctions, therefore they are the perfect invention for a rainy day. Airbnb has plenty of online cooking experiences to choose from where you can learn from the best of the best and explore famous food cities.

Finally organize your life.

If you're looking for a free activity to do with your roomie or live-in S.O., consider pulling a Marie Kondo and tackling all of the organizing and cleaning tasks you've had on your list for...forever. You could even make some money off this endeavor if you put together a bag of clothes to donate to ThredUp or TheRealReal. And if you decide to closet-dive with a glass of wine in hand, far be it from me to stop you.

Have a themed movie marathon.

Streaming a movie when the weather is sh*tty is a classic option, so I suggest you kick it up a notch by choosing a theme. Blake Lively's entire canon of work? Streaming it! Every movie Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence have been in together? Hell yes. Only flicks about LA, Paris, or spring break? Into it. The options are endless—you just have to get creative.

Drink and play games at a barcade.

Arcade bars are the best. You can act like a kid and play tons of games with the added bonus of being able to drink (if you're of age, of course). Nothing makes the time pass faster than 18 rounds of skee ball with a brewski in hand.

Throw it back and head to the mall.

Window shopping, people watching, AND food courts!? Truly, there is nothing not to love about hitting the mall. Even if you don't plan on buying anything, you're still in for an entertaining time. Maybe the allure of Claire's will inspire you to get a spontaneous new piercing or two!

Get baked.

The wholesome kind. I'm talking cookies, brownies, cakes, and maybe a loaf of sourdough bread or two. Chocolate chip cookies straight outta the oven are my forever crush. (And yeah, you can definitely freeze 'em for a—wait for it—rainy day.)

See which one of your friends is secretly good at bowling.

Start stretching out your wrists, because you're going to need to perfect that bowling toss of yours. It's important to note that bowling alleys are great spots to order massive amounts of junk food—hot dogs, nachos, wings...all the good stuff.

Hit up a local brewery.

You don't need sunshine to sip on a crisp local beer. Most breweries offer behind-the-scenes tours too, so you can spend an afternoon learning all about how beer is made while you polish off a pint.

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Seek out live music.

Settle on an act that sounds at least a smidge up your alley and order an Uber. Worst case scenario, the band is terrible and you're hanging at a bar with your friends. Order fries for the table and enjoy the fact that you can be in public again post-COVID.

Get artsy at a wine-and-paint night.

Thankfully, you don't actually have to be talented with a paintbrush to sign up for one of these classes. Just follow the step-by-step instructions and try not to spill any wine on your canvas. Once you're done, you can hang your masterpiece in your house—or burn it, depending on how much vino was consumed.

Embrace your inner queen at high tea.

Give the royal fam a run for their money when you spring for a high tea service with your best friend. If you're not sure which yummy spot to pick, look up the fancy hotels in your area and get ready to sip (and spill) some tea. Or just throw one at home and lean into the theme.

Belt it out at karaoke.

Karaoke nights can be so damn cathartic. Kelly Clarkson jams + a heavy pour of tequila = instant therapy.

Solve a puzzle.

As someone with a newfound appreciation for puzzles, trust me when I say that completing a 1,000-piece set is more satisfying than sex.

Puzzle Thing: NY Heart

Plan your dream vacation.

You've spent the past few years talking about how excited you are to travel again, so why not start planning now? Pour yourself a cup of coffee, open up your laptop, and plot out where you want to go, when you can hypothetically take off work, and how you'll make it work within your budget.

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Go ice-skating.

Hitting an indoor rink for some skating time is not only a super cute date idea, but it's also a great way to trick yourself into exercising without even realizing it. You and your boo can chitchat while you glide (or stumble?) around the rink.

Two words: Bar. Trivia.

Flaunt that big ol' brain of yours at trivia night. Better yet, find a spot that hosts themed nights on a topic you already know a whole lot about. (Friends quotes, anyone?)

Get your sweat on.

Going for a run outside is certainly out of the question (unless you enjoy getting poured on) but you can still get your heart pumping at a fun class. Go ahead and treat yourself to one of those celeb-loved studio chains, like Barry's or Body by Simone, or my personal favorite, 305 Fitness. I highly recommend signing up for ClassPass if you wanna try your hand at a bunch of different studios around town without having to pay full price.

Splurge on a solo meal at a fancy restaurant.

I'm sure there's at least one restaurant you can't stop Insta-stalking. Now's the time to walk in and grab a seat at the bar. Eating alone is v chic and mysterious.

Host a video game tournament.

Even if you're not a huuuuge gamer, having a few people over to duke it for the title of ultimate champion is pretty damn fun. Or turn it into a drinking game. Beerio Kart is essentially Mario Kart, but you have to finish your drink before you're allowed to cross the finish line.

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Put it all on black.

Casinos are a good time any day of the week, but they're especially solid when you want to forget what's going on outside. (Yeah, the rumors are true, a lot of casinos don't have any windows.) Not to be annoying, but um, maybe just set some boundaries for yourself so you don't gamble your whole paycheck, okay?

Do a Powerpoint Night

Are you familiar with the viral TikTok trend in which groups of friends share presentations about their niche hyperfixations? It's actually hilarious, and if you need some sideshow topic inspo, check out some potential subjects right over here.

Meditate.

Our lives can feel like Overstimulation Station a lot of the time, so take advantage of a day stuck inside to find your zen. There are a ton of free, guided meditations available on YouTube, and also on apps like Calm and Headspace. Plus, clouds outside with moody raindrops trickling down your windows? That's some ideal calm-down weather.

Do a wine tasting.

Gather a group together, and have each person bring the bottle of their choice. With a lineup of different vinos at your disposal, you guys can pretend to be sommeliers for a night and take notes on each one. You can raise the stakes by offering a prize for the guest who brought the bottle with the overall highest rating.

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Make a vision board.

Just so you know, visually planning out your dream life can be just as motivational as writing it down. Gather some tape/glue, a presentation board, and a few magazines to start collaging images that feature your dream life. You can also do this activity digitally on Canva or Pinterest!

Host a cozy dinner party.

It's simple: You + your crew + a popular dinner recipe + extremely flattering warm light from a few candles. You can even whip up a charcuterie board if you'd like to get extra impressive.

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Rosemary is an Associate Editor on the Emerging Platforms team at Cosmopolitan. When she isn’t covering lifestyle stories or the latest pop culture news on the brand's Snapchat Discover channel, she can be found living her best life at the nearest Harry Styles concert, on the beach making TikToks, or curating the best Spotify playlists (go ahead and see for yourself, here).

Hannah Chubb is the lifestyle editor at Cosmopolitan, covering all things home, travel, food, health, career, and more. She spends pretty much every hour of every day curating the internet for the best new products, trends, and travel destinations. You can typically find her looking for houses she can’t afford on Zillow or Airbnb, planning her next meal before she gets to the restaurant, or taking all of the Justin Bieber classes over and over and over again on Peloton. Follow her on Instagram.

Annabel Iwegbue is an assistant editor at Cosmopolitan where she primarily covers lifestyle and fashion. Before joining Cosmo, she covered entertainment at Harper's Bazaar, The Knockturnal, and Black Film. She's originally from Charleston, South Carolina, and is currently based in Brooklyn, New York. She holds a B.A. in Journalism and Cinema Studies from New York University. You can check out some of Annabel’s work here and also find her on Instagram and Twitter.

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