A Day Trip From Barcelona to Montserrat
One of the greatest things about visiting Barcelona is how well-connected it is to other parts of Spain. And with the public transportation system being so phenomenal, it’s easy enough to plan a trip to many parts of the country. One option is the perfect day trip from Barcelona to Montserrat, Spain. Visiting Montserrat is one of the most popular day trips from Barcelona. In this guide, you’ll see why it’s worth putting aside a day to see this beautiful mountain range. You’ll find the top things to do in Montserrat during your time here. This guide will also explain how you can get there, and everything else you need to know before you go!
Montserrat in Catalan means saw or serrated mountain and provides a very distinctive sawtooth-like appearance. It is part of Catalonia and is roughly about 60 km from Barcelona making it very accessible. The Montserrat mountain range is beautiful and the views of the Spanish countryside from up top are simply spectacular. It is a place of pilgrimage and is also popular for hiking. It’s a true combination of nature, religion, and history that come together to provide a rich cultural experience.
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How to get to Montserrat from Barcelona
Here are a few ways of how to get to Montserrat. You have several options; train, bus, car, or tour.
Driving From Barcelona To Montserrat
There are plenty of ways to get from Barcelona to Montserrat. If you have a car, driving is the easiest and quickest way to get there. You can drive most of the way up the mountain close to where the monastery is. The monastery is about a 10-to-20-minute uphill walk from the parking area. (Wear comfortable shoes on this day). Be sure to arrive early in the morning so you can secure a car park easily once you get to the top. The parking area is free for the first 30 minutes or so, and then after that, there is a flat charge for the rest of the day.
Alternatively, you can park at Monistrol de Montserrat, which is at the foot of the mountain. You can then take either the Montserrat rack railway to the top or the Aeri de Montserrat cable car. Read more here.
Taking The Train To Montserrat From Barcelona
The journey by train from Barcelona to Montserrat is reasonably straightforward. You can take the R5 train from Plaça d’Espanya station. It takes roughly an hour to get to the base of the mountain from where you can take a cable car or rack railway to the top. For the cable car, you will get off at Aeri de Montserrat station, and for the rack railway, you will get off at Monistrol de Montserrat station.
The cable car to Montserrat runs every few minutes depending on the number of people, however, they can get quite crowded. The total cost for the train and cable car is approximately €25.00 for a roundtrip. You can purchase combined tickets from Barcelona to Montserrat at Plaça d’Espanya station from the automated machines.
Trains leave as early as 8.36 am from Plaça d’Espanya station while the last return train from Montserrat leaves at 18.41 pm. Check the cable car and rack railway schedule to make sure you don’t miss the last train from Montserrat to Barcelona. Get updated prices and check cable car times here.
Note: When buying tickets at Plaça d’Espanya station, you need to specify whether you want tickets for Aeri de Montserrat cable car or the Cremallera de Montserrat rack railway. The type of transport will define the train station you get off at.
Bus from Barcelona to Montserrat
An economical way to get to Montserrat from Barcelona is to take a bus. There is a bus that departs once a day from Estación de Autobuses de Barcelona/Sants (about 10 mins from Plaça d’Espanya). It has only one departure time on the way back and the journey takes about 90 minutes. Probably one of the most affordable options at just over €5 to get from Barcelona to Montserrat. Get more details here.
Other Ways To Get From Barcelona To Montserrat
- If you are into the outdoors and love a good walk, you could park at the foot of the mountain and hike to the top. It’s roughly about 5 km. In addition, you can also book a guided hike tour.
- Take an organized tour from Barcelona to Montserrat. Plenty of tours can take you to the beautiful saw-tooth mountain. Apart from transportation, some of them include a guided tour, food, wine tasting, and museum entry. Choose a tour depending on your interests and budget. If you aren’t on a budget, this can be an easy option as everything is organized for you. The duration will depend on what you choose to include in your tour.
If you’re wondering which of these options is the best one, it depends. The car park is the most convenient and one of the cheapest options as you only have to pay to park your car. In saying that at peak times the car park can get busy and it could prove difficult to find a spot close to the Monastery. The train or cable car is a unique experience but of course, costs a bit more than parking your car for the day. Whichever option you choose, a day trip from Barcelona to Montserrat is most definitely worthwhile. Alternatively, if you want an easy option of getting to Montserrat and back, then you can book a Montserrat Monastery half-day experience tour from Barcelona. For a more elaborate option, there are tours that include a winery visit with a farmhouse lunch.
Getting Around Montserrat
The top of the rack railway, cable car, and car park are at the same level as the monastery and the restaurant. Once you get here it’s easy enough to get around on foot. Here you will also find the Sant Joan Funicular and the Santa Cova funiculars that take you to other parts of the mountain.
To get to the Basilica you can either walk up the slope or take a flight of stairs as this is a level above the main monastery area.
Best Time To Visit Montserrat
There’s no specific time as such to visit Montserrat. It can be visited any time of the year. Keep in mind because its location is higher than the surrounding areas, the temperature and weather may fluctuate from that of the normal Mediterranean climate. It usually tends to be cooler at higher altitudes.
Montserrat Day Trip: Best Things To Do At Montserrat
Now that we’ve covered all the ways to get to Montserrat, let’s look at some of the best things to do in Montserrat on your day trip from Barcelona.
1. Visit The Abbey And The Basilica
Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey dates back to the 9th century and is still active today housing around 80 Benedictine monks. Here you’ll find the Benedictine monastery and the Basilica of the Virgin of Montserrat. As an active monastery, many parts remain closed. However, you can visit the Basilica and the museum.
The main attraction is the Basilica which includes the statue of the Virgin of Montserrat. People from all over the world come to see the Black Madona. Legend has it that the statue of the Virgin Mary and child was found on the Montserrat mountain and has healing powers.
Regardless of your religious beliefs, visiting this Abbey will be one of the most memorable experiences of the day and considered one of the best things to do in Montserrat.
TIP: Lines can be long to enter the monastery and see Black Madona. Arrive early to avoid the long lines.
2. Visit The Montserrat Museum
You’ll find the Montserrat Museum located across the plaza from the Basilica. It displays an incredible collection of paintings by artists such as Picasso and Dali. There is also a collection that focuses on the history of Abbey and Montserrat. A visit to the museum is a must as it is one of the top places to visit in Montserrat.
3. Listen To The Montserrat Boys Choir
L’Esconia Montserrat, the Boys Choir, is famous for its world-renowned performance. The choir is made up of 50 boys who come from all over Spain. They live and study at Montserrat during their time in the choir. The choir performs here on a daily basis, usually around 1.00 pm and 6.45 pm. Click here to learn more about the Boys Choir.
4. Explore Some Hiking Trails
The hiking trails are known to be one of the top attractions in Montserrat. Once you arrive at the Montserrat monastery, make your way to the information center and grab a map with a list of trails. There are plenty of trails ranging from just over 2 km to over 7 km. You can pick a trail based on the length and level of difficulty. This is one of the best things to do in Montserrat for free.
5. Ride The Cable Car Or Rack Railway
If you drive to the top of the mountain, you may still want to take a ride on the cable car or the rack railway to experience the views. Alternatively, you can ride up the mountain and walk back down.
6. Visit Saint Michael’s Cross
The hike to Saint Michael’s Cross starts near Santa Cova funicular station. It is well signposted. The walk is uphill and takes about 20 minutes. Once you get to the top, you’ll get some spectacular views across the Abbey.
7. Ride The Funiculars Of Santa Cova And Santa Joan
The Santa Cova funicular actually brings you a bit back down the mountain and drops you off at a path leading to the Santa Cova Cave. It is at this Cave that the shepherds saw the image of the Virgin Mary.
The Santa Joan funicular takes you to the top of the mountain where there are many trails and climbing routes. On a clear day, you can get beautiful views of Catalonia. Tickets for these funiculars can be bought on-site. This is one of the fun things to do in Montserrat especially if you are traveling with kids.
8. Visit The Local Market Stalls
The main plaza has several local stalls where you’ll find some regional specialties including cheese, pastries, and honey. Take your time to stroll through and grab some treats for later in the day.
How Long Do You Need To Visit Montserrat
A visit to Montserrat can take a good part of the day. It takes about an hour and a half each way. You can visit the attractions in a few hours. If you are looking to get on some hiking trails expect to spend the full day here.
Have More Time To Explore Montserrat
If you have time for more than just a day trip from Barcelona to Montserrat, you can explore some of the fine vineyards in the region and do some wine tasting.
I highly recommend making a day trip to Montserrat. It’s one of the best day trips from Barcelona and provides a unique experience. Let me know in the comments below if you end up going to Montserrat and what you get up to.
Happy Travels!
A Day Trip From Barcelona to Montserrat: Things To Do In Montserrat
- Visit the Abbey and Basilica
- Visit the Museum
- Listen to the Montserrat Boys Choir
- Explore some hiking trails
- Ride the cable car or rack railway
- Visit Saint Michael’s Cross
- Ride the funiculars of Santa Cova and Santa Joan
- Visit the local market stalls
Note: The information here is updated the best we can at the time of writing this article. Please check attractions, activities, and transport before your trip as things tend to change from time to time.
