Day Trip to Montserrat from Barcelona
Montserrat is a very popular day trip from Barcelona and for very good reason. It’s quick, easy, absolutely beautiful and 100% worth taking a day of your vacation to see this mountain town! Montserrat offers stunning architecture, hiking trails, beautiful views and fascinating history. Here’s a complete guide for how to take a day trip to Montserrat from Barcelona including step by step instructions on how to get there and the best things to do in Montserrat.
How to get there
Montserrat is only 40 miles (60 kilometers) from Barcelona and takes 1.5 hours or less to get there depending on which mode of transportation you take. Montserrat is accessible via car, train or bus, however we think the easiest and best option is by train.
Furthermore, there are 2 train options for a day trip to Montserrat from Barcelona. Both journeys begin at the Plaça Espanya Station in Barcelona. There are plenty of signs and advertisements for Montserrat at this station so you will know you are at the right place.
The train leaves once an hour so be sure to check the train timetables before planning your day trip to Montserrat from Barcelona so you arrive with enough time to purchase tickets and hop on the train. It would be a bummer to miss your train and have to wait an additional hour for the next one.
Option 1:
The first option is to take a train to the base of Montserrat mountain and transfer to a cable car that will take you up the mountain.
Starting at Plaça Espanya Station in Barcelona, take the R5 train to Aeri de Montserrat. This stop is not the last stop for this train so make sure you are paying attention and get off at the right station. At Aeri de Montserrat, follow the signs and make the short transfer to the cable car and ride the cable car up to Montserrat. The cable car runs every 5 to 15 minutes depending on the number of passengers.
Option 2:
The second option is to take a train to the base of Montserrat mountain and transfer to a second train that you will ride up the mountain to the town of Montserrat.
Starting at Plaça Espanya Station in Barcelona, take the R5 train to Monistrol de Montserrat. It’s the last stop on the train so you really can’t mess it up. At Monistrol de Montserrat, get off the train and walk right along the path to Cremallera railway. There are a ton of signs to help you navigate this transfer, but it’s a straight shot. After about 2-3 minutes of walking you will see the Cremallera train. Hop on that and enjoy the ride to Montserrat.
Which option should you pick?
Both options are great, so which one you choose is really up to your personal preferences.
The cable car option is a bit faster since you ride the train from Barcelona one station less. This option provides stunning aerial views of the mountain and valley below, as well as the town of Montserrat once you are nearly to the top. Some might consider this the more scenic option but I think they are both scenic but simply provide much different views. One thing to note is the cable car does not have seats, so if you pick this option you must be comfortable to stand for the 10-15 minute ride to the top.
The train option takes slightly longer than the cable car since you have to ride the train from Barcelona one station further, however the views from the train while riding up the mountain are spectacular! While riding on the train you’ll be able to see the unique vegetation on the mountain where there are trees seemingly growing out of huge boulders. Suddenly you will find yourself surrounded by enormous rock formations that make up Montserrat Mountain. Riding the train gives you an amazing perspective on how big this mountain is and you can comfortably sit in a seat for the ride.
Cost
Both options cost the same at €24.00 round trip. When you purchase your ticket at Plaça Espanya station make sure to specify which type of ticket you would like and purchase the correct one. Once your ticket is purchased, there are no exchanges, so for example if you purchased the cable car ticket and accidentally got off the train at Monistrol de Montserrat, you wouldn’t then be able to switch your ticket and ride the train to the top.
Additionally, purchasing a round trip ticket right away will save you a few euros. However, if you forget you can always purchase your return ticket in Montserrat.
If you’re set on doing both options, one on the way there and one on the return, that is definitely doable and only costs 3€ more! Those extra 3€ might be worth it to experience both views. That’s what we did (not because we meant to but because we messed up) but it was definitely neat to get both experiences.
Things to do at Montserrat
Once you arrive at Montserrat, there are plenty of things to do to have a blast and fill your day with adventure.
Basilica of Montserrat and the Black Madonna
Touring the Basilica and Montserrat Monastery is a must while you are there. In fact, it is the main reason most people venture to Montserrat. It’s free to enter and is beautiful inside and out. Some people visit due to the church’s significance, others visit for the Montserrat masses and choral concerts, and many visit to see the Black Madonna, which is arguably Montserrat’s most significant feature.
You’ll also have the option to view the Black Madonna statue up close if you wish and we highly recommend you do. To do so, you will need to exit the Basilica to wait in the queue, as only 1 person is allowed at a time.
Funiculars to Santa Cova and Sant Joan
There are 2 additional funiculars to ride that climb further up and down the mountain. Santa Cova funicular takes you down the mountain and drops you off near a path to Santa Cova Cave. Sant Joan funicular takes you up to the peak of the mountain which brings views as far as the eye can see.
To ride the funicular you will need to purchase an additional ticket which can be purchased at the kiosk right by both funiculars. Prices vary from €9.10 for a one way ticket to €16.50 for a round trip ticket on both funiculars.
Hiking trails
If history, art and architecture aren’t your thing, Montserrat is still worth a visit to simply hike around the mountain. There are plenty of hiking trails to choose from ranging in length and difficulty and each one provides tremendous views of the Catalonia region. You could easily spend your entire day trip to Montserrat from Barcelona walking and hiking around Montserrat mountain.
Shopping at the local market and souvenir shops
Although Montserrat is small, it provides a lot of shopping opportunities. There are souvenir stores located throughout the town that are fun to hop in and out of as you are walking around. They are the perfect place to pick up a souvenir to remember this day trip or a gift for a loved one.
But in our opinion, the best shopping is at the local market. Here you will find produce that is sold straight from the farmers themselves. Pick up your favorite cheese, jam, honey or a local favorite that you can only get here in Montserrat.
Boys Choir
Montserrat is home to one of the oldest boys choirs in Europe. They sing in the Basilica almost daily, excluding Saturdays and some holidays. We happened to visit Montserrat on a holiday so we could not watch the boys choir ourselves but I’ve heard from many others this was the highlight of their day trip to Montserrat from Barcelona.
When entering the Basilica you will see the show performance times posted. If it works out with your itinerary, we highly recommend listening to the boys choir while you are here!
There you have it! A complete guide for the ultimate day trip to Montserrat from Barcelona. Montserrat is a truly spectacular place in Catalonia and is definitely worth a visit on your Spain trip. From jaw dropping views, fascinating history and stunning architecture, Montserrat has something for everyone to enjoy!
If you are looking for other awesome Spain destinations, check out Granada, Seville, Barcelona and Spain’s National Parks!
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