Visiting Montserrat is one of the most popular day trips from Barcelona. It’s easy to get to and gives you an opportunity to see the Spanish countryside. The views from the monastery are breathtaking, well worth a day of your time while you are in Barcelona.
What is Montserrat?
Montserrat is a rocky mountain range in Catalonia, Spain. “Montserrat” translates to “saw mountain” in Catalan, owing to this mountain range’s jagged, sawtooth appearance.
Sitting atop the mountain range is Santa Maria de Montserrat, a Benedictine monastery. Located inside of the monastery is a statue of the of the Virgin of Montserrat, one of the few black madonnas of Europe. This is Catalonia’s most important religious retreat, as many people make an overnight hike to watch the sunrise from the peak of Montserrat.
The view from Montserrat | Montserrat Day Trip from Barcelona
Why You Should Take a Day Trip to Montserrat
For some people, a visit to Montserrat is a religious pilgrimage. For others, it’s a visit to a unique mountain range offering views over Catalonia.
Be whisked to the top by a scenic cable car ride, take short hikes through the mountain peaks, and take a funicular higher up onto the mountain for even better views.
Those who enjoy hiking can walk to Sant Jeroni, the highest peak of Montserrat.
Montserrat Monastery
How to Get to Montserrat
Getting from Barcelona to Montserrat is quick and easy. You have numerous options…train, bus, rental car, or tour. But first, here is a map of Barcelona and Montserrat. There are two different train stations that you can use to get to Montserrat and it will help to see them on a map.
How to Use This Map: Click the tab in the top left corner of the map to see a list of the points of interest and to turn layers on/off. Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest.
To take this map with you, click the star next to the title of the map which adds it to your Google account. Next, within your Google Maps app, select ‘Saved’ and then select ‘Maps’. This map title will now appear in your list.
Train and Cable Car
This is the quickest and most scenic option. From Plaça Espanya in Barcelona, take the R5 line to Aeri de Montserrat. The journey by train takes approximately one hour and costs €6.15 one way (€12.30 for a round trip ticket).
From Aeri de Montserrat, take the cable car to the top. This costs €9.30 one way, €14 for a return ticket. The cable car typically runs every 15 minutes but can run as frequently as every 5 minutes depending on number of passengers. It closes from early January through late February for maintenance.
Riding the train and cable car round trip costs €26.30. Combined tickets can be purchased at the Plaça Espanya station in Barcelona.
Get updated prices and check the cable car timetable here.
Train and Rack Railway
This option is slightly longer than taking the cable car, since you go ride the train from Barcelona one station farther than Aeri de Montserrat. From Plaça Espanya in Barcelona, take the R5 line to Monistrol de Montserrat. The journey by train takes approximately one hour and five minutes and costs €6.15 one way (€12.30 round trip).
Change to the rack railway, a green railway that runs to the top of the mountain. This costs €8.70 one-way or €14.50 for a return ticket (these are high season prices, which includes the summer months, some holidays, and some weekends).
The train and railway round trip starts at €26.30. Combined tickets can be purchased at Plaça Espanya.
For updated timetables and ticket prices, click here.
Important Note: It is the same price to take the cable car or the rack railway to Montserrat. When you purchase your round trip ticket from the Plaça Espanya station in Barcelona, make sure you specify whether you plan to take the cable car or the rack railway. These tickets are not interchangeable.
Trans Montserrat Ticket
This is a combination ticket that includes round trip transportation from Barcelona, a round trip ride on either the cable car or the rack railway, two round trip funicular rides on Montserrat, and two metro rides. Prices start at €46.45. Tickets can be purchased on the Barcelona Tourism website.
ToT Ticket
The ToT Ticket is a combination ticket that includes your round trip transportation from Barcelona, lunch, and free admission into the Montserrat Monastery Museum. Ride the train from Barcelona and take your pick between riding the cable car or the rack railway to the monastery. While at Montserrat, you get unlimited rides on the Sant Joan funicular, admission into the Montserrat Museum, and one meal at the self-service restaurant. To return to Barcelona, take the cable car or the rack railway, and then ride the train back to Barcelona.
Tickets can be purchased from the Barcelona Tourism website. Ticket prices start at €69.90 per person with children under 4 being free. The last time we checked, the GetYourGuide tickets are slightly more expensive but they offer a more favorable, and easier, cancellation and refund process.
Once you purchase the ticket online, from either source, you will receive a voucher that will need to be exchanged for the actual Tot Montserrat Card. This can be done at the Tourist Information Office located in Plaça Catalunya.
Train and Hiking
This is the healthiest and most cost effective way to the monastery.
From Plaça Espanya, take the R5 line to Monistrol de Montserrat. From the train station, walk through the town of Monistrol to trails winding their way up the mountain. It takes about an hour and a half to do this hike, the views are wonderful, and there is something special about arriving at the monastery on your own two feet. We hiked to Montserrat and have a detailed guide on how to do this hike.
Looking up at Montserrat from the Drecera dels Tres Quarts (GR 96) | Montserrat Day Trip from Barcelona
Take a Tour that Includes Your Transportation to Montserrat
You can also visit Montserrat on a day trip from Barcelona by tour. This takes out the hassle of arranging your transportation and you can visit the monastery with an experienced guide. Some tours also include a visit to a winery.
Tours of Monserrat
By Bus
This is a less popular option, since most people make the journey by train. Buses leave the Estacio Sants train station for Montserrat. For more information, click here.
Private Transportation
This is the most expensive option. Taxis and private drivers can be hired to get to Montserrat.
Best Things to Do at Montserrat
Enjoy the View
From the mountain top, the views are stunning!
View from Montserrat
The Benedictine Abbey and the Basilica
The Black Virgin of Montserrat (also called Our Lady of Montserrat and La Moreneta) is located inside of the basilica. It is said that the statue of the Virgin Mary and her infant son have healing powers. The Benedictine Abbey dates back to the 9th century and legend has it that this was once was home to the Holy Grail.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: To see Our Lady of Montserrat, purchase a timed ticket in advance. Visits are made in 15 minute intervals during the morning and afternoon. You can purchase a ticket to visit just the Basilica and Our Lady of Montserrat (€18) or a ticket that also includes the Museum of Montserrat and/or the Boys Choir. For all of your options and pricing, visit the official website.
The Famous Boys Choir at Montserrat
L’Esconia Montserrat, the Boys Choir, is famous for their world-renowned performance. The first performances date back to 1223. There are now 50 boys in the choir, and they perform here on a daily basis, and around the world.
There are two daily performances that are typically held in the afternoon. They perform in the Basilica of Montserrat. You can learn more about the Boys Choir on the official website and purchase tickets online in advance here.
Montserrat Museum
In 1811 and 1812, the monastery was attacked and burned down twice by Napolean’s troops. All of the artifact and historical treasures were lost in this attack. After a long restoration process, the monastery reopened in the mid-19th century.
In the early 1900’s, this museum opened. It contains artifacts from Egypt, Cyprus, and Mesopotamia, as well as artwork by Catalan artists and French Impressionists such as Renoir, Monet, and Degas.
Since it does not contain any historical artifacts from the monastery, a visit to this museum may not be worth it for most people.
Hours: 10 am to 5:45 pm, longer hours on weekends and in the summer months
Cost: €8
Website: museudemontserrat.com
Santa Cova Chapel
The Holy Cave of Montserrat once housed the Virgin of Montserrat. Three hundred years ago a chapel was built at this spot.
From the monastery, take the Santa Cova funicular down to the walking trail. Follow a winding, paved trail along the mountain cliffs to the chapel. The views from the chapel are stunning. Allow an hour for the entire walk.
Santa Cova Chapel | Montserrat day trip from Barcelona
If you look closely, you can see the trail to the Santa Cova Chapel snaking its way along the mountainside.
Santa Cova funicular | Montserrat day trip from Barcelona
Sant Miquel’s Cross
This is another beautiful walk. This walk takes you to a higher point than the Santa Cova Chapel, for more stunning views of the valley and an awesome view back to the monastery.
Finding the trailhead can be a little tricky. Here are the GPS coordinates for the start of the trail: 41.592064, 1.835830.
A view of Sant Miquel’s Cross | Montserrat day trip from Barcelona
Tim at Sant Miquel’s Cross
The view back to the monastery
Funicular de Sant Joan
This funicular takes you to a very high observation point. From here, you can start the hike to Sant Jeroni.
Sant Jeroni
Sant Jeroni is the highest peak on Montserrat. For the best views while at Montserrat, consider doing this 3 hour return hike. This hike gives you the best views over Catalonia.
We did not hike to Sant Jeroni, but I wish we did. Tim was racing Ironman Barcelona in just a few days so we didn’t want to hike too much. Here is a post that does a good job explaining the hike, if you are interested.
Stairway to Heaven
The Stairway to Heaven is a stack of nine large concrete blocks arranged in a helical pattern. At one time, this was a popular object to climb. People would travel to Montserrat just to take a photo on top of the Stairway to Heaven. Now a fence surrounds it, both for safety reasons and because it is a work of art. Its intention was never to be a jungle gym.
Stairway to Heaven
Numerous people visit Montserrat just to see the Stairway to Heaven. In our opinion, this is an overrated attraction. There are much better things to see while in Montserrat, such as the Monastery, the views from the various viewpoints, and the Santa Cova Chapel. During our visit, the Stairway of Heaven was protected behind a hastily erected construction fence. It was hardly worth the visit.
If you have plans to visit Montserrat for the sole reason of climbing the Stairway to Heaven, you should know that it is illegal to do so.
The Stairway to Heaven is located just east of the Mirador Restaurant. On Google Maps, the Stairway to Heaven is called Escala de l’enteniment (click here to see the location on Google Maps). Come take look if you are curious but don’t expect to climb it.
How Much Time Do You Need to Visit Montserrat?
A Montserrat day trip from Barcelona takes a good part of a day. Travel time takes about 1.5 hours one way (roughly one hour for the train and 30 minutes for the cable car or rack railway). Once on Montserrat, you can visit the main sites and viewpoints in just a few hours. This adds up to 6 hours (3 hours transportation time + 3 hours at Montserrat). Expect to spend all day here if you want to hike the trails and/or sit down to lunch or dinner.
Where to Eat
Restaurant Hostal Abat Cisernos. This is the most expensive option but has a wonderful setting in a 16th century building.
Cafeteria. There is a cafeteria that offers a lunch buffet. There is a wide variety of food, all of it is mediocre and nothing special.
Bring your own picnic. The best option may be to assemble a picnic lunch at Boqueria Mercado before making the journey out to Montserrat.
Another view of Montserrat | Montserrat day trip from Barcelona
Montserrat Day Trip Tours from Barcelona
Here are several highly rated tours from Barcelona that include your transportation. Several of these tours also include a visit to a winery or farmhouse for a local meal.
Tours of Montserrat
If you have any questions about how to plan your Montserrat day trip from Barcelona, let us know in the comment section below.
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