Montserrat is a perfect day trip from Barcelona, especially if you love hiking, maybe some wine tasting, all while enjoying the stunning mountainous scenery, with a visit to the historic monastery.
How to Get There
There are several ways to reach Monserrat from Barcelona:
- Public Transport (Train + Cable Car/Rack Railway):
• Take the FGC R5 train from Plaça d’Espanya in Barcelona towards Monistrol / Montserrat.
• Get off at either Aeri de Montserrat (for the scenic cable car) or Monistrol de Montserrat (for the rack railway up the mountain).
• Travel time is approximately 1 to 1.5 hours depending on connections.
• There’s also a direct bus service (Autocares Julià), but with fewer departures.
- 2. Driving / Car:
• Drive about 50–60 km from Barcelona via the A-2 or C-55.
• Parking is available at Monistrol or near the monastery (spaces limited).
• Ideal if you want to combine Montserrat with nearby wineries or small towns.
- 3. Guided or Group Tours:
• Many tours depart from Barcelona and include round-trip transport, monastery visit, and sometimes wine tasting.
• Convenient and time-efficient, though with less flexibility.
We chose to do the tour, mainly because there are just so many moving parts to the day, and we wanted to enjoy our day without the stress of missing a connection or not knowing how much time is needed for each activity. My advice here is to let the professionals do their job and sit back and enjoy the ride. Yes I know the tour is more expensive, but what I’ve learnt over the time, is that those interactions with the local guides, the ability to ask questions and meet other fellow travellers are the real nuggets of joy, that really deepen the experience.
Maybe if you are staying in the area and you don’t have the travel time to consider, or already have a hire car, then I don’t see why planning your day independently, is not a good option too.
Duration of a Visit or Tour
When we booked our tour there was a variety of options, to include tapas or a full lunch, or include a wine tasting, so the lengths vary between 5 to 9 hours to choose from. The one thing I’ve noticed though, is that after you have had your walking tour to orientate yourselves, been into the Monastery, there is only so much free time allocated on a tour (Typically 1.5 hours), so depending on what you want to see or do, try plan this ahead of time.
Options:
- Entry to the Museum and Black Madonna (Additional ticket for this)
- Funicular to the top of the mountain, Sant Joan viewpoint for panoramic views
- Walk to the cross for perfect photos of the Monastery, about 15 minutes each way
- Visit some smaller shops for local tastings
Tips for Visiting Montserrat
- Wear comfortable shoes
- Check the weather as the temperature is often very different from that of the city and pack accordingly
- Pack a water bottle or snacks, there are options to buy at the Monastery, but if you have had an early start, you will want something with you.
