Summary
Day Tours To Montserrat Spain From Barcelona
If you’re on a tight schedule and want to skip the extra steps involved in arranging your own trip to Montserrat, there are several companies that offer guided tours.
Here’s a prearranged Montserrat day tour from Barcelona, which includes an English-speaking guide and optional lunch.
However, if you’d prefer to make your own arrangements, that will be covered next.
Where Is Montserrat Spain?
Montserrat is a stunning mountain range and natural park located in Catalonia, in northeast Spain.
Consequently, the distance from Barcelona to Montserrat is about 60 kilometers (37 miles), making it accessible for a day trip.
How To Get To Montserrat Spain From Barcelona
There are three main methods to reach Montserrat: by train, bus, or car.
Firstly, I’ll outline the train option, as it is the most common and generally the recommended way to get to Montserrat. The train brings you to the foot of the mountains, followed by a quick ride either via cable car or rack railway to the natural park.
The total one-way travel time via train and cable car is approximately 1.5 hours, making it quite feasible for a day trip from Barcelona.
By Train
- Step #1. Reach The Starting Point: Travel to the Placa d’Espana station. You can use a taxi or conveniently walk there from your hotel. At the station, look for route R5 (Manresa), which will be clearly marked as ‘To Montserrat,’ or ask for assistance at the information booth.
- Step #2. Buy Your Tickets: A round-trip ticket costs around €25. Trains depart about once per hour. Detailed timetables can be found on the Aeri website. When visiting Montserrat, you have two ticket options: train + cable car or train + rack railway. I recommend the cable car for a quicker and more scenic route, but if you’re apprehensive about heights, the rack railway is a suitable alternative.
- Step #3. Ride The R5 Line: The train journey across the Spanish countryside lasts about an hour. If the seats are full, standing is an option, but it’s manageable. Depending on your ticket, disembark at ‘Aeri de Montserrat’ (for cable car) or ‘Monistrol’ (for rack railway).
- Step #4. Ride The Cable Car / Rack Railway: The cable car journey takes approximately 5-10 minutes, offering spectacular views as you ascend into the mountains. It might feel a bit cramped. Alternatively, if you choose the rack railway, the ride lasts around 15 minutes.
- Step #5. Enjoy Montserrat Spain! Upon reaching the monastery plaza, there are numerous activities to engage in. You can enter the monastery, have a meal at the café, hike into the mountains, or take the Sant Joan Funicular to access the main trail junction further up the mountain. I suggest considering the latter option.
By Bus
Autocars Julia operates a daily bus service from Barcelona to Montserrat and back, with one trip in each direction. The bus departs from the Estacio Sants train station in Barcelona at 9:15 AM and returns at 6 PM.
This bus option is priced at €5.10, making it a more economical choice compared to the train. Their contact number is ☎ +34 93 402 6900, and additional information can be found on their official website.
By Car
If renting a car in Barcelona, you can drive to the Montserrat parking lot and then take the cable car or rack railway highlighted in the train section. Additionally, guided day tours to Montserrat are available from certain companies.
Things To Do & See In Montserrat Spain
• Hike The Mountain Trails
The remarkable jagged mountains will be the first sight you encounter in Montserrat Natural Park.
This region boasts numerous hiking trails, each providing breathtaking views of the distinctive mountain formations. After being dropped off at the monastery plaza, I recommend taking the Sant Joan Funicular to reach the main trail junction, allowing you to explore several hikes in one day.
By utilizing the main junction of trails as a starting point, the hikes are relatively flat and accessible, making it feasible to complete them all in one day if you maintain a steady pace.
For experienced rock climbers seeking more challenge, Montserrat offers excellent climbing opportunities as well.
Nonetheless, you can still walk the main trails to witness some spectacular mountain views. Keep in mind that the last cable car descent occurs at 7 PM, so starting early will afford ample time for exploration.
• Go Inside The Montserrat Monastery
The historic Catholic monastery at Montserrat dates back to the 11th century and is breathtaking inside.
The basilica’s ceiling is truly remarkable, and it houses a substantial pipe organ from the 1800s. Admission to the monastery is free, and photography is permitted in most areas.
Touring the monastery doesn’t take long, so hiking should be prioritized unless you’re particularly interested in its history or architecture.
I visited the monastery at the conclusion of my Montserrat experience, spending approximately 30 minutes inside. It’s certainly worthwhile to take a brief look.
• Shop & Visit The Museum
The Montserrat region features a modest museum showcasing works from renowned artists, including Monet and Picasso. The entrance fee for the museum is €7.
Close to the monastery, there is also a café and restaurant; however, dining prices tend to be high, so it’s advisable to pack a lunch or eat in Barcelona before your trip to Montserrat.
Where I Stayed
I stayed at Guesthouse Barcelona Gotic, in a private room for $54 USD per night. This hotel is situated in the Gothic district of Barcelona, just a short stroll from cathedrals, restaurants, the beach, and Plaza Cataluña Square.
The renowned Catedral de Barcelona and the Santa Maria Del Mar are merely a 5-minute walk away! While Barcelona can be an expensive city to travel in, this hotel represents one of the best ‘bang for your buck’ options in the area.
