Welcome to Montserrat, the most important mountain range in Catalonia which has been a popular pilgrimage site for centuries. This beautiful area offers unforgettable experiences for everyone. Pilgrims, nature lovers, hikers, climbers, art, and food lovers… They all come to Montserrat to look for what they need, whether it’s a spiritual moment, tranquility, a good climbing route, striking views, or tasty food.
What will be the reason for your visit? That’s totally up to you! In this post, we’ll show you various options for things to do on a day trip to Montserrat from Barcelona (and its surroundings). Vamos!
Interesting fact. In Catalan, Montserrat translates to “Saw Mountain”. Just look at the peaks that resemble the jagged teeth of a saw! Isn’t it a very accurate description? Also, if you want to train your imagination and find what creatures the nearest peaks resemble most, just look around. We found a cat, a monkey, a mummy, and an elephant!
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Montserrat, Spain FAQ
Montserrat is a mountain range in Catalonia, near Barcelona. The highest summit has 1236m a.s.l and is called Sant Jeroni. The area is known for being the site of the Santa Maria de Montserrat abbey, which hosts the statue of the Virgin of Montserrat.
Montserrat is located in the Province of Barcelona in Spain. It’s right in the region’s heart, making it a great day trip from cities like Barcelona, Tarragona, or Girona.
Montserrat is best known for being home to a Benedictine Abbey which is a popular pilgrimage site for people from all over the world. Within its walls, it hosts the ancient wooden statue of the Virgin of Montserrat, La Moreneta. And it all takes place in beautiful scenery, high in the mountains with spectacular views at every step.
Montserrat is a place worth visiting, whether you’re a religious person or not. Even if you’re not up for visiting the basilica or museums, just visit for pleasant walks among beautiful scenery, fresh mountain air, and for peaceful moments far away from the bustling Spanish cities.
Montserrat is a perfect destination for a day trip. If you start exploring in the morning hours, you’ll be able to see everything you want and you’ll still have some time left.
Getting to Montserrat Monastery grounds
Before your day trip to Montserrat begins, you need to choose how you wish to get to the top. And with a large number of visitors, it’s good to know how to skip long queues!
After arriving to Monistrol de Montserrat town, which lies at the foot of the mountain, you can choose between the Aeri de Montserrat cable car and the Rack Railway. If you travel by car, you can also drive to the top but it’s not the most spectacular option.
Cable car – Aeri de Montserrat
Aeri de Montserrat offers just a 5-minute ride over the valley, up to the top. At the lower station, there are plenty of free parking spots available. If you plan to travel by train, get off at ‘Aeri de Montserrat’ stop.
You should buy your tickets for the cable car in advance, online on aeridemontserrat.com website. Normal round trip ticket costs €15, €12.5 reduced one, and €7.5 for kids 4-13. General one-way ticket costs €10, €8.75 reduced one, and €5.25 for kids 4-13 (August 2026).
Rack Railway
Rack Railway, or Cremallera de Montserrat in Spanish, is a train that will take you on a 15-minute trip on the slopes of Montserrat Hill. At the lower station, there are plenty of free parking spots available. If you plan to travel by train, get off at the ‘Monistrol de Montserrat’ stop.
You can buy tickets online in advance on turistren.cat website. Round trip general ticket costs €15, €13.5 for seniors, and €7.5 for kids 4-13. One-way general ticket costs €9, for seniors €8.1, and €4.5 for kids 4-13 (August 2026).
For our visit, we chose a round trip by Aeri de Montserrat, but we didn’t find it too spectacular or exciting. Now, with the knowledge we have, we’d choose to go up by Rack Railway and go down by the cable car to get to experience both.
Visiting Montserrat Monastery & La Moreneta
Montserrat Monastery
Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey was founded in the early 11th century and it quickly became a popular Christian pilgrimage destination thanks to reports of miracles performed by the Virgin of Montserrat. Unfortunately, most of the monastery was destroyed during the Napoleonic wars and the building that we can see today was built between the 19th and 20th centuries. Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey operates to this day and is home to around 80 Benedictine Monks.
Interesting fact. Montserrat was linked to the location of the Holy Grail in Arthurian legend (many believed that Mont-Salvat was Montserrat). This motivated many to seek this precious treasure, including Nazis. Heinrich Himmler, on command of Adolf Hitler, came to Montserrat in 1940 to find the Holy Grail. Why? Well… They tried to get the Force emanating from the Grail to become invincible.
La Moreneta
But it’s not the Abbey itself the main reason why thousands of pilgrims decide for a day trip to Montserrat. Then what is? Seeing, touching, and feeling the miracle-working powers of the wooden statue of the Virgin of Montserrat! The statue dates back to the 12th century and thanks to its appearance (dark skin tone) it also goes by different names like La Moreneta (meaning The Dark One), Black Virgin, or Black Madonna. She is one of two Patron Saints of Catalonia, together with Sant Jordi (Saint George).
To visit La Moreneta you need to enter the Basilica of Montserrat. Remember that the earlier you arrive, the fewer chances of standing in a really long queue. Many believe if you touch or kiss (not recommended option!) the orb she’s holding in her right hand and then make a wish, it will come true.
Escolania – Montserrat Boys’ Choir
There’s one more thing you can do in the Basilica of Montserrat: listen to a performance of Escolania. It’s one of Europe’s oldest boys’ choirs, dating back to the 14th century. It consists of more than 50 boys, from 9-14 years old. The choir performs from Monday to Friday from 1-1.30 PM. For sure, it’ll be a very memorable thing during a day trip to Montserrat!
Tickets to Abbey of Montserrat
Many claim that a day trip to Montserrat isn’t complete without seeing La Moreneta. As of May 2023, everyone except Catalan residents, must pay to see the Basilica and experience the Black Madonna miracle. Is the price worth it? That we’ll leave up to you.
There are a few variations of tickets to choose from. You can for example choose to visit Basilica + Throne of Our Lady, only Basilica, Throne of Our Lady + the Boys’ Choir, or only Boys’ Choir. There are even pack tickets including round trip by cable car or a train.
The most popular Montserrat ticket, which includes visiting the Basilica and a statue of the Virgin of Montserrat, costs €23 for adults, €21 for students and seniors, and €11 for children 8-16 (August 2026). To learn more about all the ticket options, prices, and opening hours visit tickets.montserratvisita.com website.
Montserrat funiculars – Sant Joan & Santa Cova
Two funiculars are running in Montserrat, Funicular de Sant Joan and Funicular de Santa Cova. Both are great options if you want to save some time or energy for moving around the area.
You can buy a ticket (one way or return) for each funicular in the ticket office or online on the vol.cremallerademontserrat.cat website.
Sant Joan funicular
Sant Joan will take you higher up to the mountains, to the observation deck from which you’ll be able to admire panoramic views or start a hike to Sant Jeroni summit.
Santa Cova funicular
Santa Cova on the other hand goes downhill, to the point from which you can start your walk towards Santa Cova de Montserrat, where according to the legends the Virgin of Montserrat was discovered.
Explore local attractions
Hiking in Montserrat
Hike to Saint Michael Cross
If you’re looking for an amazing views over the abbey and the surrounding areas, direct your steps to Saint Michael Cross viewpoint (es. Creu de Sant Miquel). It’s also a great place to escape busy and crowded Monastery grounds and for a peaceful break.
To get to Saint Michael Cross from monastery grounds, head to the lower station of the Sant Joan funicular and then follow the signs. The walk takes only around 20 minutes each way and is very easy, suitable for most people. The views from Saint Michael Cross over the Montserrat and its surroundings are absolutely fantastic. Don’t miss this short hike during your day trip to Montserrat.
Also, just a few steps from Saint Michael Cross, you’ll find a small, 19th-century Hermitage of Saint Michael (es. Ermita de Sant Miquel).
Hike to Santa Cova
Santa Cova is a small chapel built between the 17th and 18th centuries. According to the legend, this is the place where the image of the Virgin of Montserrat was found for the first time.
To get to Santa Cova you need to take a paved path downhill that starts near the Aeri de Montserrat cable car. After descending it, there is only a fairly even path left that you need to continue until you reach the chapel of the Santa Cova. Along the way, you can admire sculptures and altars created by local artists like Antoni Gaudi, Josep Puig i Cadafalch, or Josep Llimona.
The hike takes around 30 minutes each way and can be quite exhausting, especially climbing back up to the abbey grounds. But don’t worry if you’re not up for the climb (down, up, or both) – you can help yourself using the already mentioned Santa Cova funicular.
Hike to Sant Jeroni summit
This hike will take you to the top of Sant Jeroni – the highest mountain of the Montserrat range at 1237m a.s.l. To start a hike you can take a Sant Joan funicular which will take you higher in the mountains, to Pla de les Tarantulas. But if you’re not in a hurry, you can also hike there, which should take around 1 hour from the monastery grounds.
Whichever option you choose, after leaving the upper station you need to follow the signs towards Sant Jeroni summit. The hike should take you around 2.5-3 hours, there and back. We haven’t done this hike, but we’ve heard that the panoramic views from the trail and the top are incredible!
More things to do in Montserrat
Apostols viewpoint & Stairway to Heaven sculpture
If you wish to get even more great views over the Montserrat Monastery, head to Apostol’s viewpoint (es. Mirador dels Apòstols). To get there you need to continue straight through the market and pass a bridge and restaurant. Then, right before the parking lot you’ll find it.
We recommend going down from the main viewing platform, first to admire the Stairway to Heaven sculpture, and then for a great view of the surroundings from an even lower platform. Easy and a spectacular thing to do on a day trip to Montserrat.
Museum of Montserrat
Right across the Basilica, you’ll find the Museum of Montserrat. It’s home to a large collection of art and artifacts, including works by renowned artists like El Greco, Picasso, Monet, Dali and Caravaggio, as well as sculptures, archaeological finds, and liturgical items. Exhibits also provide a deep insight into the rich history and religious significance of Montserrat. Great thing to do during day trip to Montserrat for art lovers!
Entrance to the Museum of Montserrat costs €12 for a general ticket, €10 for a reduced one, and €6 for children 8-16 (August 2026). For current prices, opening hours, and online tickets visit museudemontserrat.com website.
Montserrat daily local market
Every food lover should head to Montserrat’s local market to taste some delicious local and Catalan products. We think that out of all of them, a dessert called Mel i Mato (fresh goat cheese drizzled with honey and nuts) just cannot be missed. It’s sooo good, like heaven on earth! The market is located behind the monastery, on the way to the parking lot and Apostol’s viewpoint.
Rock-climbing at Montserrat
If you’re a rock-climbing enthusiast, you might also visit the area only to climb one of its mighty peaks. Montserrat offers some of the best multi-pitch sports climbing in Spain and provides a fantastic playground for rock climbers. Many of the routes are between 200m and 300m long, and characterized by hanging belays. In total, there are more than 1000 routes in the area! For more information about climbing in Montserrat visit thecrag.com website.
How to get to Montserrat, Spain?
Montserrat is located about 60km from Barcelona, 75km from Sitges, 105km from Tarragona, and 130km from Girona. The most convenient way to get there is by car, train, or with an organized tour.
Where to park in Montserrat?
It all depends on how you wish to get to the top, but whenever you choose Aeri de Montserrat cable car or a Rack Railway you’ll find free parking lots at their lower stations. Your other option is to drive up to the top, but it’s not recommended due to the preservation of the environment of Montserrat.
To Montserrat by public transport
From many places like Barcelona, Tarragona, Girona, or Sitges you can easily get to Montserrat (Monistrol de Montserrat station) by train. You can check out a map of available train connections on the acprail.com.
Unfortunately, you can’t get directly to Montserrat by bus, nor to Monistrol de Montserrat.
Still, your best bet is to travel in your own or a rented car. For the best options, visit the rentalcars.com website.
Camping Montserrat
If you’re traveling by camper, Camping Montserrat might come in handy to you. It’s located 25km from Montserrat.
To Montserrat with a guided tours
You can also choose to visit Montserrat with a guided tour. You can for example choose this popular Half-Day Montserrat Small Group Guided Tour From Barcelona, or this delicious Montserrat Half-Day Tour with Tapas and Wines.
Explore local attractions
Day trip to Montserrat from Barcelona – Summing up
As you can see now, a day trip to Montserrat might mean different things to different people. When most visit to experience some kind of miracle, others might visit to admire stunning views during one of many hikes or rock climbing.
Whether you are a religious person or not, a day trip to Montserrat is worth the effort. Hope you’ll have a great time and all your trip needs will be met there. Enjoy!
Our travel video from Montserrat
Our opinion about Montserrat
For us, a visit to Montserrat was a day trip from Salou where we lived for a couple of weeks. We visited in early May. We arrived first thing in the morning, fot the very first possible cable car trip. At first, the Monastery grounds were quiet and empty, but it wasn’t long before the huge crowds showed up.
For us, a trip wasn’t about visiting Montserrat Monastery and touching La Moreneta. Sure, we wanted to see what all the fuss is all about but in the end we didn’t. They started to charge money literally 7 days earlier, and we just never pay for visiting churches as they aren’t that interesting for us. Still, our main goal was to spend some time in the mountains, admire nice views, and walk on trails. And that we did.
Overall, we enjoyed our day trip to Montserrat and we got what we wanted from it. We loved walking along the trails and enjoying the magnificent views. Most people focus on the monastery, so the trails are very peaceful. What we’d change is the way of getting to the top – now we’d choose a mixed way, instead of the round cable car.
As for the Monastery grounds itself, we didn’t find them impressive. Until today we think that it looks more like a prison than a popular pilgrimage destination, especially from afar.
Oh, and we really liked the local market – delicious Mel i Mato will stay in our memories for a long time. Yum!
Restaurants, accommodations, and map
Check out various recommended places below.
Where to eat in Montserrat?
Here are your best, high-rated options in Montserrat:
