Design your own perfect itinerary with this bundle of tickets, audio guides, & maps.
Design your own perfect itinerary with this bundle of tickets, audio guides, & maps.
Inclusions
Travel stress-free with hourly trains and convenient roundtrip access!
Travel stress-free with hourly trains and convenient roundtrip access!
Inclusions
Say goodbye to planning stress with this thoughtfully organized tour!
Say goodbye to planning stress with this thoughtfully organized tour!
Inclusions
66 kms
64 mins
1
Montserrat Monastery
7 hours
3 activities
Free Admission
Dating back to the 11th century, Montserrat Monastery perches atop distinctive rock formations, attracting visitors to its revered Black Madonna statue. With a millennium of history, the monastery showcases artistic treasures by El Greco and Caravaggio, while the Escolania de Montserrat, Europe's oldest boys' choir, captivates audiences with centuries-old melodies.
1. Rack-railway ride
Included in price
The rack-railway is one of the highest in Europe, ascending over 1,000 meters. The ride not only provides stunning panoramic views of the mountains but also gives you a taste of local history, as it has been in operation since the early 20th century.
For the best experience, sit on the left side of the train to catch the most stunning views of the Montserrat peaks.
2. Vineyard visit
Included in price
Discover a charming boutique winery set within a 10th-century castle, proudly maintained by the same family for 36 generations. Here, you’ll immerse yourself in local Catalan and Spanish traditions, starting with a guided tour of the estate, where history and picturesque vineyards intertwine.
3. Authentic Catalan lunch
Lunch
Select the lunch option that suits you best: a spread of traditional tapas or a 3-course meal made with fresh regional ingredients. Pair it with local wines for a true Catalan experience.
4. Wine tasting
Included in price
Sip on 3 distinct wines, locally produced from indigenous grape varieties unique to the region as you learn about the origin and characteristics of valley wines.
2
History, nature, spirituality, gastronomy, and wines—this Montserrat tour blends it all!
History, nature, spirituality, gastronomy, and wines—this Montserrat tour blends it all!
Inclusions
Book comfy transfers from Barcelona and get the freedom to explore your day as you wish!
Book comfy transfers from Barcelona and get the freedom to explore your day as you wish!
Inclusions
Exclusions
The best part? Montserrat Monastery is super close to Barcelona, like an easy day trip distance. You can travel there by train, funicular, or even cable car, or if you opt for a day trip, transportation is taken care of. So you can spend the morning exploring the bustling city and then chill on a mountaintop monastery by the afternoon!
Visit the Coves del Salnitre, an impressive limestone cave system near Collbató. This site features fascinating geological formations and archaeological significance, as neolithic tools have been discovered here. Guided tours are required, and reservations should be made in advance. The caves are open from Wednesday to Sunday.
For adventure seekers, Montserrat is renowned for its rock climbing opportunities. The unique geological features of the mountains, particularly around Sant Jeroni, provide excellent routes for both beginners and experts. Guided climbing tours are available for those looking to explore this thrilling activity safely.
Combine your visit to Montserrat with a wine-tasting tour at nearby family-owned vineyards. This experience often includes a walking tour of a boutique winery and a meal at a local restaurant, allowing you to enjoy the region's culinary delights while supporting local agritourism.
For an unforgettable perspective of Montserrat, consider taking a helicopter or hot air balloon ride. These options provide breathtaking aerial views of attractions like Sant Jeroni and Montserrat museum, as well as the unique landscape, and are a thrilling way to experience the area.
Experience local culture by visiting a farmers market in Montserrat, where you can find fresh produce, cheeses, and honey from local farmers. This is a great way to taste the region's offerings and support the community.
While many tourists hike popular trails, consider venturing onto lesser-known paths. Guided hikes can take you through beautiful landscapes, allowing you to learn about the local flora and fauna while avoiding the crowds
Not satisfied with the options? Click here for more transportation options from Barcelona to Montserrat to ensure a hassle-free journey!
Entering the Montserrat Monastery can be a bit tricky. Entry to the basilica and the famous Black Madonna statue is often timed, with limited tickets available. However, if you book a guided tour, you'll bypass the lines and get direct access to the monastery, ensuring a smooth and efficient visit.
Well, you'll need at least half a day. The travel time alone is about 3 hours (1.5 hours each way), and you should budget at least an hour for your visit to the Montserrat Monastery. If you want to explore a bit more around the area and walk to St. Michael's Cross, add another half hour to an hour to your trip.
And if you're thinking of taking one of the funiculars and doing more hiking, plan for a full day for your visit.
Detailed breakdown of how to spend your time visiting Montserrat Monastery!
Spring and fall provide the best climate for exploring Montserrat comfortably, with mild temperatures and clear skies.
The main attraction at Montserrat is the Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey. It's still an active monastery with about 80 Benedictine monks. While you won't be able to see all areas due to it being active, you can check out the basilica and the museum. The basilica houses the famous statue of the Virgin of Montserrat, and the museum showcases over 1300 pieces of art by famous painters like Dali, Monet, and Picasso.
Train: The most popular way to reach Montserrat from Barcelona is by train. You can take the R5 line from Plaça Espanya to either Aeri de Montserrat or Monistrol de Montserrat. The journey takes about 1 hour and costs approximately €6.15 one way.
Cable Car/Rack Railway: From Aeri de Montserrat, you can take a cable car to the monastery, which costs about €8.95 one way. Alternatively, from Monistrol de Montserrat, you can take the Cremallera (rack railway) to the monastery, which costs around €12 round trip.
After lunch, you have a few options. You can take a hike to the top of Sant Joan Peak for even more incredible views. Have lunch at one of the restaurants in Montserrat. There are a variety of restaurants to choose from, serving both traditional Catalan cuisine and international fare.
You can either conclude your trip here or explore further.
There are several types of day trips available to Montserrat from Barcelona based on your preference. If you’re an independent traveller, you can explore at your own pace with a skip-the-line ticket. There are numerous guided tours available for you to choose from- some tours have transportation available, while there are others with lunch inclusions and more. Choose the one according to your preferences.
If this is your first time visiting Montserrat with your family, a guided tour will save you time and stress over things like getting around and finding places for meals. You can discover more with the help of your guide! These tours offer bus, train, or cogwheel transportation facilities (to and from Montserrat), and you don’t even have to worry about finding a restaurant nearby as you can choose a tour with an optional lunch. If you like to fly solo, however, choose an entry ticket with the added convenience of skip-the-line access and a multilingual audio guide. Catch the R5 train from Plaça Espanya to Montserrat-Aeri for the cable car or Monistrol de Montserrat for the cremallera (rack railway).
The train is definitely the easiest and most common way to get to Montserrat from Barcelona. While there are bus tours, they can take longer because they typically make stops to pick up passengers at other hotels. The train is a direct shot from Barcelona to Montserrat, and the journey itself is pretty scenic. You'll catch the train from the España station in Barcelona (The ride takes about an hour). It's conveniently located right on the metro line, so easy to get to from anywhere in the city center. Once you arrive at the mountain base, you can either take a cable car or a cremallera (rack railway) up to the top.
For the Rack Train ride, you will need to get off one stop after Aeri de Montserrat (Cable car) called Monistrol. The Rack Train ride will take 15 minutes to the Monastery and is a more comfortable ride than the cable car. However, you won't have as good views as you would from the cable car, which covers the 1,350-metre journey comfortably within 5 minutes). Note: The cable car is not ideal for wheelchairs due to potential steps at arrival stations.
A Montserrat day trip from Barcelona takes a good part of the day, with travel time taking about 1.5 hours one way (roughly one hour for the train and 30 minutes for the rack railway). Once in Montserrat, you can visit the main sites and viewpoints in just a few hours, approximately 3-4. Expect to spend more time here if you want to hike the trails and/or sit down for lunch or dinner.
A day trip to Montserrat from Barcelona is totally doable with young kids. The train ride from Barcelona to Montserrat takes about an hour, and then you can either take a cable car or a cremallera (rack railway) up the mountain. The cable car ride is especially exciting for kids. However, there can be really long queues for the cable car, which might take away a lot of time from your itinerary. Thankfully you can also drive and park relatively close to the monastery (right next to Aeri de Montserrat station. You can park your car there for free).
Besides the monastery, there's a bunch of cool stuff you can do on a Montserrat day trip from Barcelona. Montserrat is a hiker's paradise with trails for all levels. The highest peak is Sant Jeroni, which takes about 2-3 hours to reach. On clear days, you can see most of Catalonia and even spot Mallorca island, but the view of the monastery isn't as great as from St. Michael's cross. You can also visit the Montserrat Museum which houses a collection of Catalan art, including works by El Greco and Picasso.
Comfortable clothing is the way to go here. Having said that, no trip to Montserrat is complete without a visit to the monastery. There is a dress code in place- Shirts or blouses should cover your shoulders. Sleeveless shirts are acceptable as long as the neckline isn’t too deep. Shorts and skirts should at least reach mid-thigh. Avoid ripped jeans or anything too revealing (showing too much skin).
To reach Montserrat monastery, take the FGC train from Plaza España station or drive on the A2 highway towards Lleida, following the signs. Free parking is available near the monastery. Inside, the Black Madonna is enshrined on a gold altar in the chapel. Expect two lines: one for the basilica and a longer one for close access to the Black Madonna for wish-making. Choose wisely, as the Black Madonna line can be lengthy. Alternatively, you can admire the statue from afar at the base of the stairs. You can also view the Black Madonna from a distance at the bottom of the stairs leading up to the statue.
