About fifty kilometers from Barcelona, a surreal mountain range rises above the Catalan landscape. This bizarre rock formation has been a magnet for pilgrims and hikers for centuries and is definitely worth a day trip from Barcelona. Montserrat, standing at 1,236 meters, is one of the highest mountains you can visit near Barcelona and offers stunning views.
Table of Contents
- What is Montserrat?
- Tickets and tours Montserrat
- Practical information
- FAQ’s – frequently asked questions about visiting Montserrat
- How do you get to Montserrat from Barcelona?
- Visiting Montserrat: sights, highlights & hiking
- Food and drinks at Montserrat
- Hotels near Montserrat
- Facsinating facts about Montserrat
What is Montserrat?
The Montserrat mountain range, about two hours by public transport from Barcelona, is a stunning location for hiking. However, it draws most of its visitors due to the Montserrat Monastery situated here, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors can see the Black Madonna, attend a performance by the famous boys’ choir, and visit the Montserrat Museum.
For those who are more adventurous, there are various hiking trails starting from the monastery, ranging from easy to very challenging. In this article, I have highlighted the most popular hike.
Montserrat literally means “sawed mountain,” a name inspired by the mountain’s jagged, finger-like peaks that resemble the teeth of a saw. These unique formations are likely the result of centuries of erosion of limestone rocks. The famous Catalan poet Jacinto Verdaguer once described it as “the work of angels with a saw.”
Tickets and tours Montserrat
There are various tickets available for a day trip to Montserrat from Barcelona. You can visit the site independently or choose a guided tour.
Our experience visiting Montserrat
We’ve visited Montserrat many times and in many ways. With the Tot Montserrat ticket you can take the cable car up, a true adventure, and the rack railway down. This is our favorite option if you go with children that are not too small. If you decide to go on an organized bus tour you don’t have the cable car option, but you will still enjoy the mountain views. The advantage of an organized bus tour is that it includes a guide who can tell you everything about Montserrat.
Tickets
Tot Montserrat (stay as long as you want, including public transport)
This ticket includes everything you need for a fantastic day in Montserrat. The package offers:
- Round-trip transportation from Barcelona to Montserrat by metro or train.
- A ride to the top of Montserrat via the Cremallera rack railway or Aeri cable car.
- Stunning views from the summit, along with access to the monastery and museum.
- An option to take the Sant Joan Funicular for those who want to go even higher up the mountain.
- A meal at Montserrat’s self-service restaurant or café.
Price: from €68.25.
Note that this is NOT a guided tour. You will have to take the public transport by yourself. It’s quite easy though. Trains leave every half hour in Barcelona from Plaça d’Espanya and are easy to find once you’re there.
Cable Car – Funicular
If you only want to take the cable car up and down from the train station, you can purchase your tickets through the button below for €8.95 (single ticket) and €13 (return ticket).
This option is for those who take the car or buy their train tickets separately, for example directly at the train station.
Monastery
Since May 2023, it has also become necessary to purchase a ticket to visit the monastery. This ticket includes access to the atrium, the basilica, and the Sanctuary of the Virgin. This measure was introduced to enhance the visitor experience, preserve the prayer environment, and contribute to the maintenance of the site.
Separate tickets are available for each area. Entrance to the basilica costs €8, access to the Sanctuary of the Virgin is €8, and tickets for the boys’ choir are also €11. If you buy your tickets online you’ll get a discount. Additionally, a comprehensive guided tour is available, which includes an audio guide in all cases, priced between €18 and €23.
Guided and organized bus tours to Monserrat from Barcelona
There are also various tours available that allow you to visit Montserrat as part of an organized excursion. These tours typically include bus transportation.
Montserrat Guided Tour & Return Bus Transfer
You can also chose to visit Montserrat with an organised bus tour. Your adventure begins at a bar in the heart of Barcelona, where you’ll meet your guide. After a brief and informative bus ride, you’ll arrive at Montserrat.
Take a guided tour of the monastery and delve into its fascinating past. Afterwards, enjoy some free time to hike the scenic trails, savor an all-you-can-eat lunch with panoramic views, or visit the museum to learn more about this iconic landmark.
After a few hours of exploration, you’ll board the bus and return to Barcelona, arriving just in time to enjoy the rest of your evening in the city.
Price: €42.00
Please note: Tickets for the Basilica, Throne Room, and Choir are not included in the tour. We highly recommend purchasing them in advance, as they tend to sell out quickly!
Practical information
| Montserrat | Tickets, opening hours & public transportation |
|---|---|
| Tickets | A ticket to the museum costs €8. Students, pensioners and groups (min. 20 people) €6.50. Children 8 to 16 years €4. Children under 8: free. |
| Address | Montserrat |
| Public transportation / metro | Train: Montserrat Aeri or Monistrol (R4). |
| Opening hours | The monastery Open every day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Holy Virgin/Black Mardonna You can visit the space of the holy virgin between 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. and from noon to 5:45 p.m. Museum Monday-Friday: 10 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. (in winter, until 5:45 p.m.). Saturday-Sunday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
FAQ – Frequently asked questions about visiting Monserrat
The best times to visit Montserrat are during the spring (April to June) and fall (September to October) for mild weather and fewer crowds. Summer can be quite busy, while winter is less crowded but can be cold.
It’s a good idea to buy tickets for popular attractions like the Basilica, Throne Room, and Boys’ Choir in advance as they can sell out quickly, especially during peak tourist seasons.
For hiking wear comfortable walking shoes and dress in layers. The weather can vary, so it’s a good idea to bring a jacket and check the forecast before your visit. When visiting the monastery, it is appreciated if you dress modestly. Access may be denied if you are wearing sleeveless shirts, shorts, short skirts, or flip-flops. Therefore, in extreme heat, it’s a good idea to bring a long-sleeved outfit or a covering scarf with you.
You can reach Montserrat from Barcelona by taking a train from Plaça Espanya to Montserrat-Aeri or Montserrat Cremallera stations. Alternatively, there are guided tours that include transportation. Check out our complete overview of all transportation options.
There are limited accommodation options directly on Montserrat. Many visitors choose to stay in Barcelona and make a day trip to Montserrat. However, there are some nearby hotels and hostels for those who wish to stay overnight.
As of May 2023, there is an entrance fee for the Montserrat Monastery. Tickets are required for access to the Basilica, Sanctuary of the Virgin, and other specific areas.
Yes, Montserrat has dining facilities including a self-service restaurant and a café where you can enjoy a meal with stunning views of the surrounding landscape.
Yes, in general Montserrat is accessible by wheelchair. The easiest way to get there is by car. You can park at the cog railway (cremallera) station, which is specially adapted for people with limited mobility. The parking lot is approximately 400 meters from the monastery.
The funicular trains (Sant Joan Funicular and Santa Cova Funicular) will take you to various parts of the mountain. Both the monastery and the museum are wheelchair accessible. There is a route that does not require climbing stairs, and adapted facilities, such as restrooms, are available along this route.
However, some areas, especially hiking trails, may be challenging for those with mobility issues.
How to get to Montserrat from Barcelona?
There is no metro or regular bus service directly to Montserrat. Here are the different options for reaching the mountain on your own.
1. Traveling to Montserrat by Train
You have two options for reaching Montserrat by train. Note that when purchasing a train ticket, you need to choose one of these options. A round-trip ticket costs approximately €25.
- To reach the monastery, which is situated halfway up the mountain, take the train from Plaça d’Espanya towards Montserrat-Manresa (R5). Get off at the Montserrat Aeri station (the journey takes about an hour), where you will then take the teleférico (the Aeri cable car), which will drop you near the sanctuary. The cable car ride to Montserrat lasts about 5 minutes and is an experience in itself.
- Another option is to get off one station later at Monistrol train station, where you can then take the Funicular Cremallera (rack railway) to the top. The ride takes about twenty minutes. This option allows you to visit various parts of the mountain, including the Santa Cova.
Tickets for public transportation can be purchased at the ticket machines at Plaça d’Espanya, the station where trains to Montserrat depart, or you can buy tickets online in advance.
For more information about the Aeri cable car, you can visit the Aeri cable car’s official website. Here you can check, among other things, the best connections with train schedules. Please note that there are no other facilities at the station where the cable car departs.
2. By car
If you want to drive to Montserrat, take the A2 highway towards Martorell. Then, follow the NII road to the Montserrat junction. You can park your car for free at the Cremallera de Monistrol. Please note that when the rack railway closes (around 7:00 PM), the parking lot also closes.
Visiting Montserrat: sights and highlights
Hiking in the stunning mountains
Montserrat is a great destination for hiking. A day trip to Montserrat is one of our favorite nature outings. There are trails suitable for both experienced climbers and families with children. The stunning views alone make it worthwhile!
A classic and relatively easy hike is the Cim de Sant Jeroni. The starting point is the Montserrat Monastery, where you also return. The highlight—both literally and figuratively—of the hike is the summit of Sant Jeroni, the highest point of the Montserrat mountain range. Don’t forget your camera, as you’ll enjoy some of the most breathtaking views in Catalonia, including the Mediterranean Sea near Barcelona and the Pyrenees!
From the monastery, follow the Cami Antic through the woods to the Sant Jeroni chapel. For the return journey, you can take the Cami Nou, which passes by the unique rock formations. The hike takes about three hours, but you can shorten it by taking the Funicular de Sant Joan for the last part. In this case, you’ll ascend and descend 300 meters; if you hike the entire route, you’ll cover over 500 meters.
For the truly adventurous, you can climb all the way to the top of Montserrat. Keep in mind that it’s a steep ascent, so this is recommended only if you’re in good physical condition!
For the faithful, the Virgen de Montserrat, also known as the Virgin of Montserrat or the Black Madonna, is the primary reason for visiting this pilgrimage site. According to tradition, her statue was discovered in a cave in the 9th century, specifically in the year 880. The story goes that a group of young shepherds were guided to the site by a bright light and singing on a Saturday. Over the following weeks, the phenomenon repeated, and when the Bishop of Manresa organized a visit to the mountain, an image of the Holy Virgin appeared in the cave.
The Bishop was so impressed that he wanted to move the image to his city, but it proved too heavy. The conclusion was that the Black Madonna wished to remain at the place where she was found. A chapel was built around her, and since then, the Santa Cova (Holy Cave) and the chapel have become a pilgrimage site for Catholic pilgrims. In the 11th century, a Benedictine monastery, the Monestir de Montserrat, was constructed, making the mountain and its sanctuary a significant pilgrimage destination in Spain.
The statue of La Moreneta is also a major reason many visitors come to Montserrat. The Black Madonna, still venerated today, is a Romanesque statue from the 12th century. The statue is about 95 centimeters tall and is made of gold, except for the head and hands. On September 11, 1881, Catalonia’s national holiday, the Virgin was declared the official patron saint of Catalonia by Pope Leo XIII. Her dark complexion is said to be the result of candle smoke in the monastery.
The boys’ choir
When visiting the monastery, make sure not to miss a performance by l’Escolania, the boys’ choir. It is one of the oldest children’s choirs in Europe. Records from the 14th century mention the existence of this choir. The thirty boys live at the monastery and attend school there as well.
Library
The monastery houses a library with nearly 300,000 works, including about 6,700 newspaper publications, 1,500 manuscripts, and hundreds of old maps and charts. One of the manuscripts is the Llibre Vermell de Montserrat (the Red Book of Montserrat), written between the 14th and 15th centuries. This book is a collection of liturgical, informational, and instructional texts related to the veneration of the Virgin Mary at Montserrat, named for the red velvet cover that binds the manuscript. The most valuable part of the Llibre Vermell is its ten songs, complete with musical notation. Unfortunately, the library is not open to the public.
The museum of Montserrat
At the beginning of the 20th century, the “Biblical Museum of Montserrat” was established. Initially, it featured mainly archaeological, ethnological, zoological, and botanical materials from the Middle East. Today, the museum houses six diverse collections, totaling about 1,300 pieces. In 1963, the museum was renamed Museu de Montserrat and expanded to include paintings from the Renaissance and Baroque periods, which were acquired from the monastery.
About twenty years later, the museum’s collection grew significantly with donations of 19th and 20th-century art. The museum now displays works by renowned artists such as El Greco, Picasso, and Salvador Dalí. Visitors can also view an ancient Egyptian mummy.
Food and drinks at Montserrat
Once on the mountain, you won’t go back down in an hour. That means you will probably have lunch at Montserrat. You can of course bring a sandwich from Barcelona, but it is also possible to have lunch at a restaurant near the monastery. At restaurant Abat Cisneros on the Plaza del Monasterio, there is a continuous kitchen. A dish costs an average of 12 euros and for 27 euros per person you have a (good!) menu. Quick appetite? There is a small supermarket, which sells local products and fun souvenirs in addition to standard refreshments.
Hotels near Montserrat
If you want to extend your visit and enjoy the stunning surroundings of Montserrat, there are several charming hotels and apartments nearby. Here are some of our top recommendations:
- Hotel Abat Cisneros Montserrat
- Alberg Abat Oliba
- Apartamentos Montserrat Abat Marcet
- El Celler de La Guardia
Fascinating facts about Montserrat
- Historical Resilience: Montserrat has a rich and tumultuous history. In 1811, Napoleon’s troops devastated much of the monastery. A century later, during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), the monks were again driven away. Fortunately, in 1925, the monastery was beautifully restored by the modernist architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch. Puig i Cadafalch is also known for designing Casa Amatller, located next to Casa Batlló on Barcelona’s Passeig de Gràcia.
- A Secret Sanctuary: During the Franco regime, the monastery served as a secret stronghold for Catalan resistance fighters, further cementing the mountain’s sacred status among the Catalan people.
- Name Fame: The name Montserrat, or “Montse” for short, is a popular girl’s name in Catalonia.
- A Caribbean Connection: The Caribbean island of Montserrat was named by Christopher Columbus in 1493 after the unique Catalan mountain.
- Celebrity Connection: You might have heard of Montserrat Caballé, the renowned Spanish opera singer. She gained international fame with her hit “Barcelona,” a duet with Freddie Mercury of Queen.
Yes! You came this far!
My name is Annebeth, I’m originally from The Netherlands and I have been home in Barcelona for 22 years. As an online guide, journalist, author of many travel guides about the city and co-owner of bicycle tour company El Ciclo, Barcelona is my great inspiration and I am happy to share everything I know (and learn) with you. You will also find personal tips and recommendations so you can experience that authentic, local and unique Barcelona feeling once you’re here.
