A Day Trip to Montserrat, Spain

If you have some spare time when visiting Barcelona, one of the best day trips you can take from the city is to Montserrat. Montserrat is a gorgeous mountain range in the countryside of Catalonia and is home to a stunning Benedictine monastery, Santa Maria de Montserrat.

For some, a visit to Montserrat is a religious pilgrimage as the site is considered one of the most sacred places in the world. For others, Montserrat’s incredible views and unique history are something not to be missed.

Keep reading to learn everything you need to know to take a day trip from Barcelona to Montserrat, including how to get there, what to do, and how to make the most out of your visit.

How to Get to Montserrat

There are several ways to get to Montserrat including by rental car, bus, or train. Unless you are already planning to have a rental car, I personally think the train is the best option. It’s super easy and stress free. The train to Montserrat leaves from Plaça España Station and only takes an hour and a half.

If you’re going to take the train, I highly recommend buying the 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 rides on both funiculars at Montserrat, and two metro rides. At €35.30, it’s a great deal. You can buy the tickets from a booth at the Plaça España Station. I recommend getting the tickets in advance, especially if you’re in Spain during the busy season.

I was a little confused as to why we needed so many different tickets so I’ll walk through how the combination pass is used. The metro tickets are to get you to and from Plaça España Station, the train tickets are to get you to the base of the Montserrat mountain range, the cable car/rack rail tickets are to get you up to the monastery, and the funicular tickets are to get you to other vantage points on the mountain.

Cable Car vs. Rack Railway

Whether or not you buy the Trans Montserrat Ticket, you will have to get up to Santa Maria de Montserrat via either the cable car or the rack railway (also called the Cremallera). Hiking to the top is another option, but it takes quite a bit of time so it may not be feasible on a day trip.

You’ll see incredible panoramas of the mountain range from both the cable car and rack railway, but the rack railway is said to offer slightly better views. On the other hand, the cable car is a really unique experience. The choice comes down to what you’re looking for. The rack railway is more accessible for those who have mobility issues.

Something else to keep in mind is that where you will get off the train is dependent on which option you choose. If you choose to ride the cable car up, you’ll get out at Aeri de Montserrat. If you choose the rack railway, you’ll get out at Monistrol de Montserrat.

What to Do in Montserrat

Visit Santa Maria de Montserrat

Of course, when in Montserrat, you have to visit the Benedictine abbey and basilica. This impressive 11th century abbey is famous for housing the Black Madonna, also known as the Virgin of Montserrat. According to Catholic tradition, the Black Madonna was carved in Jerusalem by St. Luke in 50 AD. Then in 1844, Pope Leo XIII declared the Black Madonna the patroness of Catalonia. Today, it is one of the most famous Black Madonna statues in the world and is said to bring healing to those who visit her.

Depending on when you visit the monastery, lines can be quite long so try to get there as early as possible. You can find visiting hours here. Oftentimes, there are two lines to enter the basilica—one to get up close to the Black Madonna and touch the sphere that she is holding, and one just to enter the church. The queue to see the Black Madonna moves very slowly so my husband and I decided to just enter the church. Personally, I didn’t feel like I missed anything because I was able to see the exquisite exterior courtyard, the beautiful church interior, and the Black Madonna from a distance.

Ride the Funiculars

There are two funiculars in Montserrat—the Sant Joan and the Santa Cova. If you only have time for one funicular, I would recommend Sant Joan. The funicular travels straight up the mountain at a 65% grade and offers a stunning birds eye view of the monastery below.

At the top, you’ll find 3 separate trailheads. If you’re having trouble choosing, I would recommend the path to Santa Magdalena as it offers a picturesque view of the Chapel of Saint Joan complete with an awe-inspiring mountainous backdrop. For those who are short on time, don’t have to walk the full trail to experience its beauty.

The second hike takes you to the Cross of Sant Miquel. This would be high on my list, however, it’s easy to walk to the cross from the monastery level so my opinion is that it’s better to experience a different area of the mountain. For you hikers out there, the trail from the Cross of Sant Miquel actually extends all the way to Santa Magdalena so you could actually bypass the funicular all together and hike the entire way up.

The last option, the Saint Jeroni hike, is by far the longest hike. With that said, Saint Jeroni is the highest peak on Montserrat and provides dazzling panoramic views of the mountains and valley below. If you have the time (and comfortable hiking shoes), it’s worth considering.

The second funicular, Santa Cova, takes you down the mountain to Santa Cova cave, the religious site where the Black Madonna was found in 8080 AD. There is a chapel there that is home to the original grotto. Besides the chapel, another highlight is a walking path that is really pleasant to explore and provides excellent views.

Hike to Sant Miquel's Cross

The path to Sant Miquel's Cross is gorgeous and shouldn’t be missed. The walk from the monastery level takes you to a higher vantage point and provides stunning views of the surrounding countryside and basilica. It starts directly behind the Santa Cova Funicular and takes about twenty minutes each way.

As mentioned above, you can also get to the cross from the top of Sant Joan. All of the trails on Montserrat mountain are interconnected. If we had more than one day to explore the area, we definitely would have hiked more.

Listen to the Boys Choir

L’Esconia Montserrat, the Boys Choir, is famous for providing a world-renowned performance. The tradition of the boys choir at the abbey dates back to the 1200s. There are now 50 boys in the choir and they perform twice daily inside the basilica. Learn more about the choir through the official website.

Where to Eat in Montserrat

I’m going to give it to you straight here. The dining options at the top of Montserrat are pretty abysmal. There are a few cafes with pre-made food and the lines can get terrible on busy days. My recommendation is to grab a to-go breakfast to eat on the train on your way to Montserrat and then to eat in the town at the base of the mountain, Monistrol de Montserrat, for a late lunch before catching the train back to Barcelona. Restaurant BO2 is a solid choice!

Dos & Don’ts

Do get there as early as possible.

Montserrat is one of the most popular day trips from Barcelona so it’s prone to crowds. Try to get there as early as possible, especially if you’re hoping to visit the Black Madonna.

Don’t eat at the mountainside cafes.

If you’re hungry, these cafes will get the job done. Just don’t expect them to deliver the best Spanish food you’ve ever tasted.

Do venture to different viewpoints.

At the end of each of the funiculars, there are viewing platforms. I’m not one to knock a good viewing platform, but the nearby trails lead you to views that are even better and with far fewer people.

Don’t wear uncomfortable shoes.

If it hasn’t been made clear already, a visit to Montserrat requires quite a bit of walking. Wear comfortable shoes, especially if you plan to hike any of the trails.

Do pack a jacket.

Even if the weather in Barcelona is sunny and beautiful, the higher elevation at Montserrat will make the temperature quite a bit cooler. Pack accordingly.

If you’re looking to experience something different than the hustle and bustle of Barcelona, Montserrat is the perfect choice! You will fall in love with the scenic mountainous views, enchanting Spanish countryside, and impressive monastery. Let me know if you have any questions as you plan your visit!

If you’re staying in the city for a while, be sure to check out the top 7 things to do in Barcelona and planning a day trip to Girona!

FOLLOW ALONG WITH MY TRAVELS ON INSTAGRAM

Thinking I should just rotate each of these to be my Zoom background until all my coworkers are sick of the fact that I went to Costa Rica. 🌴

#travelcostarica #uvitacostarica #puravida #costaricatravel #visitcostarica

We’re back in Colorado, but I still have way too many Costa Rica pics to share. I didn’t think I’d be saying this, but I actually miss getting woken up by howler monkeys at the crack of dawn every morning!🐒

#puravida #uvitabeach #

WELCOME

My name is Kolby Tallentire and I’m the creator of Tallentire Travels! This site formed out of my unending love of travel. My goal is to bring you the most unique and affordable travel recommendations for every destination. Learn More