Montserrat Day Trip From Barcelona: Complete Guide + Tips

Are you visiting Barcelona and interested in taking a day trip to Montserrat? You’ve come to the right guide!

As someone who lives in Barcelona, I’ve been to Montserrat more than once and am here to give you all the details to make the most of your visit.

In this complete Montserrat day trip guide, I’ll cover everything from how to get there, what to see and do, as well as tips to make your visit smooth and hassle-free.

So whether you’re looking for a stress-free tour or want to go on your own, read on to discover all the must-know information about visiting Montserrat from Barcelona.

A Montserrat day trip from Barcelona is definitely worth it! This mountain range and Benedictine monastery complex offers a totally unique experience you won’t find anywhere else in the world.

Located less than an hour from Barcelona, it’s such a beautiful place and one of the most famous monuments in Spain.

The easiest way to visit is by booking a guided tour, which handles transportation and logistics, though you can also get there by train on your own.

Highlights include the famous Black Madonna statue, the monastery’s history, and the incredible views of jagged mountains all around.

Even if you’re not religious, the scenic cable car, funicular rides, art museum, and local market make Montserrat a memorable excursion.

Montserrat is a Benedictine monastery built into a mountain range by the same name and located about 35 miles (54 km) northwest of Barcelona.

It takes about an hour to get there by car, or about 2 hours by public transportation, making it a popular day trip destination for tourists visiting the city.

The site is also home to the Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey, which houses the famous Black Madonna statue and is an important religious pilgrimage site in Catalonia.

By far, the easiest way to get to Montserrat is by taking a guided tour with transportation included. This is personally what I did and I thought it was well worth it!

I personally went on this tour, which is a small-group half-day tour that includes round-trip transportation with hotel pickup.

Plus, you get the added benefit of having a dedicated tour guide who can answer any questions and provide historical background throughout the day.

Our guide was great–he was super friendly and knowledgable and definitely enhanced the overall experience.

There are many different Montserrat guided tours available and some include lunch and wine tasting in the nearby Penedès region.

Tip: When choosing your Montserrat tour, make sure to check the included transportation. I noticed a lot of the tours offered transportation from Barcelona but you had to meet the tour guide at a meeting point rather than getting picked up from your hotel.

If you prefer to go to Montserrat on your own, it’s possible to get there by public transport. Just keep in mind it will probably take about 2 hours each way.

And before you head out, you’ll want to decide if you want to take the cable car or the rack railway to get to the top of the Montserrat mountain.

They have different stops on the train so you’ll want to make your decision before you go.

What’s the difference between a cable car and the rack railway? A cable car is more like a hanging gondola, while the rack railway is a cogwheel train that winds up the mountain at an incline. If you’re not afraid of heights, I’d recommend the cable car because you’ll get panoramic views and it’s a little more exciting than the rack railway. You can also try both if you want to go up on one and down on the other.

To take the cable car up to Montserrat, plug Funicular Aeri de Montserrat into Google Maps.

You’ll want to take the R5 train from the “Barcelona Plaça-Espanya” train station towards Manresa-Baixador.

Note this is an FGC train in Zone 4 so it won’t be covered by your regular metro card. You can purchase your tickets once you get to the station, and there are even combination tickets available that include both the train ticket and the cable car.

Train tickets cost around 6.35€ each way and there are 1-2 trains that depart every hour. You can check current schedules online here. Origen is “Barcelona Plaça-Espanya” and destination is “Aeri de Montserrat”.

🎟️ Additionally, you can also buy a Trans Montserrat card, which is an all-inclusive pass that includes your train tickets, cable car tickets, Sant Joan and Santa Cova funicular tickets, basilica tickets, and entrance to the audiovisual exhibit.

Get off the train at the Aeri de Montserrat station and follow signs for the cable car.

One-way tickets for the cable car cost around 8.15€ per person and round-trip tickets cost around 11.65€.

You can purchase them once you get there or buy them online in advance here. The cable cars run every 15 minutes or so.

To get to Monserrat using the rack railway, you’ll want to plug Monistrol de Montserrat into Google Maps.

You’ll take the same R5 train towards Manresa-Baixador but get off at the Monistrol de Montserrat station, which is one stop further than Aeri de Montserrat.

Note this is an FGC train in Zone 4 so it won’t be covered by your regular metro card. You can purchase your tickets once you get to the station, and there are even combination tickets available that include both the train ticket and the rack railway tickets.

Train tickets cost around 6.35€ each way and there are 1-2 trains that depart every hour. You can check current schedules online here. Origen is “Barcelona Plaça-Espanya” and destination is “Monistrol de Montserrat”.

🎟️ Additionally, you can also buy a Trans Montserrat card, which is an all-inclusive pass that includes your train tickets, rack railway tickets, Sant Joan and Santa Cova funicular tickets, basilica tickets, and entrance to the audiovisual exhibit.

From the Monistrol de Montserrat station, it’s a short walk to the nearby rack railway that takes you up to the monastery complex.

One-way tickets for the rack railway cost around 8.70€ per person and round-trip tickets cost around 14.50€. You can purchase them once you get there or buy them online in advance here.

If you have a rental car, you can also drive to Montserrat. Navigate to “Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey” and it’s about an hour’s drive from central Barcelona without traffic.

The road up the mountain is well-paved but it can be a bit windy so you’ll want to drive carefully and maybe pack some Dramamine if you get motion sickness.

Once you arrive, there is paid parking available at the monastery complex. There’s an underground parking lot closer to the entrance that’s more expensive, or an outdoor lot a little further away that’s cheaper.

Parking is limited so you’ll want to arrive early to get a spot. If you arrive midday, there might be a line of cars waiting for spots to open up.

The Basilica of Montserrat is a must-see on any trip to the monastery.

This beautiful church is one of the main buildings at Montserrat and holds the famous statue of the Black Madonna, also known as “La Moreneta” or the Virgin of Montserrat and the patron saint of Catalonia.

Without giving too much away, the statue is said to have been found by shepherds in a nearby cave and is the reason why they decided to build the Montserrat monastery.

Visiting the basilica costs around 8€ per person, but if you go on a guided tour, it’s typically included.

This allows you to walk around this famous church in Barcelona and see the stunning architecture and side chapel.

The Black Madonna statue is housed inside the church above the altar in a place known as the “Throne of Our Lady”.

It’s pretty high up and is hard to see from the ground floor. If you want to see the statue up close, you can purchase a different type of ticket, which costs around 11€ per person and includes the access to the basilica.

It’s a popular pilgrimage site and you’ll wait in line to touch the statue’s orb for blessings.

If you’re interested in art, the Museum of Montserrat is definitely worth a visit.

It features works from famous artists such as Picasso, Dalí, Miró, and Monet, as well as other art exhibits from different periods.

Tickets for the Montserrat museum cost around 11€ per person and it’s open daily from 10:00AM to 5:45PM.

One unique way to explore Montserrat is by taking a ride on one of the funiculars, which are uphill trains that allow you to further explore the site.

There are two different funiculars at Montserrat: the Sant Joan Funicular and the Santa Cova Funicular.

These are separate from the rack railway mentioned above, although they look similar.

The Sant Joan Funicular goes up to the peak of Montserrat (even higher above the monastery), where you can enjoy panoramic views of the mountains and surrounding area.

I personally did this and it was so worth it! This is where you’ll find the famous view of Montserrat that you’ve likely seen in photos.

It costs around 17€ per person for a round-trip ticket and takes about 8 minutes to get to the top. Once you’re there, you can just enjoy the views or hike along one of the many trails.

On the other hand, the Santa Cova Funicular takes you to the Holy Grotto, which is the cave where the statue is said to have been found.

This funicular isn’t always functioning so I’d recommend waiting until you get there to see if it’s running.

Montserrat is home to an all boys boarding school, which has a famous boys choir known as the Escolania.

They perform Monday-Friday at 1:00PM and tickets cost around 11€ per person.

This is a very prestigious choir and their performances are world renowned.

There are several restaurants and cafes at Montserrat where you can grab a bite to eat or a refreshing drink.

These include sit-down restaurants, cafeterias, and bars with wine and alcohol located within the monastery complex.

There is a quaint outdoor food market at Montserrat, where local vendors sell traditional Catalan products such as dried fruits, cheese, honey, and olive oil.

One of the most popular foods to try is “mató”, which is a soft and creamy ricotta-like cheese topped with honey.

I tried this and it was really delicious! I’d definitely recommend checking out the market before you leave Montserrat.

For adventure seekers and nature lovers, hiking up to the mountain or through Montserrat Natural Park is a must-do activity.

There are several trails around the monastery that offer stunning views of the mountains and surrounding landscape.

If you take the Sant Joan funicular to the top of the mountain, you hike across the top of the mountain to the “Creu de Sant Miquel” or St. Michael’s Cross, which is a large cross and scenic viewpoint.

You can also spot the different “casitas” or little houses that were built for solitude and are scattered around the mountains.

The cost of visiting Montserrat varies depending on how you get there and what activities you choose to do.

As you can see, there are a lot of add-on costs for certain attractions like the funicular rides, the museum, the basilica, and the Throne of Our Lady, etc.

There is no entrance fee for the main site if you simply want to look around but you will need to pay for transportation and the cable car or rack railway if you don’t want to hike to the top.

With the Montserrat guided tour that I went on, I just had to pay for the funicular to the top of the mountain as that was not included.

I’d recommend spending at least half a day at Montserrat to properly explore and enjoy the different attractions.

If you’re interested in hiking or visiting multiple sites, you may want to plan for a whole day experience.

Follow these tips to make the most of your visit to Montserrat:

• Book a guided tour: While it’s possible to visit Montserrat on your own, I’d definitely recommend booking a guided tour. They’re not that expensive and will save you a lot of time getting there. Plus, you’ll learn so much more from a knowledgeable guide.

• Wear comfortable closed-toed shoes: There is a lot of walking and there is some hiking involved on rocky ground if you go to the top of the mountain, so I would recommend wearing comfortable closed-toed shoes.

• Bring a jacket and umbrella: Montserrat is at a higher altitude and will be a bit cooler than Barcelona. If you’re visiting in the fall or winter, I’d bring a jacket or sweater to stay warm. Also, pack a travel umbrella in case of sudden rain storms.

• Pack sun protection: There’s not much shade at Montserrat, especially if you do any hiking, so make sure to wear sunscreen and bring sunglasses or a sun hat, especially if you’re visiting Barcelona in the summer months.

• Get tickets to see the Black Madonna up close: Seeing the Black Madonna up close requires an extra ticket and isn’t included in all guided tours. Tickets can be purchased separately on the Montserrat website.

• Don’t miss the food market: As I mentioned earlier, the food market at Montserrat is a great place to try traditional Catalan foods. Don’t miss out on this unique experience!

Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about visiting Montserrat from Barcelona:

I hope this guide has given you some helpful information for planning your day trip to Montserrat from Barcelona!

It’s such a beautiful and unique destination that offers so much more than just stunning views. Even if you’re not religious, it’s definitely still worth a visit.

I had an amazing experience and would highly recommend the guided tour that I went on–it made the experience so much more enjoyable and informative.

But no matter how you get there or what you choose to do, I’m sure you’ll have an incredible time exploring the beautiful Montserrat monastery!

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