Montserrat Day Trip from Barcelona: How to Plan Your Visit
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Last updated on April 27, 2026
If you’re spending more than a few days in Barcelona on your trip to Spain, there’s a good chance you’ll want to explore beyond the city. One of the best day trips we took on our last Barcelona vacation was to Montserrat Monastery.
A Montserrat day trip requires some effort to reach, but it is well worth it. It’s one of the most important religious locations for the Catholic Church and is home to the famous Black Madonna. It’s also situated in an incredible mountainous landscape with hiking trails, farmers’ markets, and much more to see beyond the church itself.
If you’re interested in taking a Montserrat day trip from Barcelona, here’s everything you need to know about visiting. From transportation, tour options, and things to do at the Monastery – we’ll show you why this is a day trip worth making.
Table of Contents
Quick facts for a Montserrat day trip
- Location: Catalonia, Spain
- Travel time from Barcelona: 1 and a half hours by car, bus, or train
- How to get to Montserrat: Car, train + cable car or rail rack train, or guided tour
- Entrance Cost: Free (but certain activities like going inside the Monastery cost money)
- Built: ~880 AD
- Elevation: 2,362 feet or 720 meters above sea level
- Time spent there: 2 – 4+ hours on average (we recommend 4 – 6 hours)
- Best time to visit: Spring and fall
Is Montserrat worth visiting?
Montserrat is one of the most important sites for the Catholic Church and is a practicing Abbey for Benedict Monks. Even if you are not religious (we aren’t), we still feel it is absolutely worth visiting!
Roughly 1,000 years ago, a special statue, called La Moreneta, or the Black Madonna, was discovered in a cave by a shepherd. The statue was believed to have special powers, drawing in visitors from across the country on pilgrimage.
As the legend goes, a priest who ran a church below the mountain saw many visitors trekking into the mountain to visit La Moreneta and grew frustrated that his church was being passed by.
So, he attempted to move La Moreneta down the mountain to his church. But along the journey, the Black Madonna grew too heavy to continue, so he built a Basilica to protect her where he could no longer move. La Moreneta, the Spanish name for the Black Madonna, is now the Patron Saint of Catalonia and is held in the practicing Abbey and Cathedral at Montserrat to this day.
Even if you aren’t visiting to see the Black Madonna, it’s still worth it. Montserrat translates to “saw mountain” in Catalan, the language spoken in this region of Spain and is an incredible landscape to explore.
Looking for more fun day trips from Barcelona? Here are some other great tours.
Best Way to Visit Montserrat (Tour vs DIY)
The Abbey of Montserrat is located about an hour to an hour and a half outside of Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain. To get there, you can take a car or train to the parking area, then a cable car or rack rail train to arrive at the actual Abbey.
Or, for an easier, all-in-one solution, you can take a guided tour, which provides bus transportation and a train or cable car to arrive at the abbey. We took a guided tour of Montserrat, which included round-trip transportation, a guide at the site, and a stop at a local winery!
We loved getting to learn the history of the area on the bus ride, and not having to worry about getting to and from Montserrat on our own. It was also great to have a guide at the site to help us get our bearings and share more history about what we were seeing.
Doing a DIY Montserrat day trip is definitely more cost-effective than taking a tour. Since there is no entrance fee, your only cost is round-trip transportation. But there are no tour guides on site to hire, so I think you miss out on some of the history and experience.
If you want specific details on how to get to Montserrat from Barcelona, this post explains your options with costs and detailed instructions.
Things to do in Montserrat, Barcelona
Most people come to Monserrat to see the Black Madonna inside the Monastery, but there are loads of other things to do, including some nice hikes to beautiful vistas. Below is a map of Montserrat to give you an idea of the various activities and places you can visit.
- Farmers’ market selling fresh cheese, honey, and other goods from farmers in the mountains
- Museum with world-class art and fascinating history: 12€ on site (11€ online)
- The world-famous Escolania de Montserrat Boys’ Choir: 14€ on site (12€ online)
- The Black Madonna in the Basilica of Montserrat: 10€ on site (9€ online)
- Sant Joan Funicular: 10€ one-way (15€ round-trip)
- Hiking paths (Free-accessible by the funicular or walking)
- 3 restaurants (2 are formal and one is more cafeteria style)
- Grocery store with basic prepared foods, breads, cheeses, wines, etc.
- Hotel (popular for honeymooners, as this is said to bring good luck and fertility to a marriage)
- Several hiking trails to visit other Churches (Santa Cova Chapel), statues, and vista points
- ATM, public restrooms, and an information center
Visit the Basilica and touch the Black Madonna
The Basilica to see La Moreneta, aka the Black Madonna, is by far the top thing to do at Montserrat. There is a 10€ entrance fee to enter the Basilica, but it’s 100% worth it. This beautiful sanctuary is where La Moreneta, an icon for Catholics and the patron saint of Catalonia, is kept.
La Moreneta is a black statue of the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus on her lap and a globe in her other hand. The statue was discovered in the mountains in the 9th century and is believed to have healing, fertility, and abundance-giving powers.
People take pilgrimages from all over Spain and beyond to touch her globe, make prayers, and receive her healing gifts. Tickets are required to go up to the Throne and touch her. They are 14€ on site (12€ online) and sell out most days during the busy summer season.
I recommend reserving your timed entry and saving some money by purchasing tickets online. Entry is every 15 minutes.
Visit the museum
If you are into artwork, I recommend stopping by the museum. The Monastery you see today was completely rebuilt after being burnt down by the French Emperor, Napoleon, and later by the Spanish dictator, Franco. These attacks mean very few artifacts from the Basilica exist, so most of the artwork here is collections of the Church from around the world on display.
They have many famed artists hanging on the walls and it is a great stop for art lovers. Tickets must be purchased online and cost 12€ (bundled with the Basilica entrance to see the Madonna).
Visit Santa Cova Chapel
If you aren’t into art or simply don’t want to pay the entrance fee to the museum, head to Santa Cova Chapel instead. This chapel is where La Moreneta was discovered in a cave, making it a very sacred spot for those on pilgrimage.
The chapel that surrounds the cave was built around 300 years ago and is very romantic, jutting out over the cliffside.
The walk should take about an hour round-trip. Make sure you have enough time before the boys’ choir performance, depending on the day you are visiting. If you’re short on time, you can purchase tickets to go down to Santa Cova Chapel on the Santa Cova Funicular tram. The funicular should cost between 12€ to 18€ round-trip.
Listen to the boy’s choir perform
Listen to the boy’s choir perform. Montserrat is home to one of the most prestigious boys’ choirs in the Catholic Church. It is one of the oldest choirs in Europe that now has around 50 boys in it!
The boys sing once daily, Monday through Friday, at 1:00 pm. On Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, they sing at noon. Tickets for the Boys’ Choir are 14€ on site (12€ online). If you plan to listen to the boy’s choir sing, you can bundle your tickets for both the Black Madonna and the Boy’s Choir for 18€ on site, or 16€ online.
Shop for cheeses, honey, and other fresh goods
Head to the grocery store and buy a bottle of wine and some crackers or bread. Then stop by the farmers’ market and get some fresh cheese or anything else that looks irresistible. We saw several vendors with a gorgeous Crema Catalana (a famous Catalan dessert).
The plan is to picnic as a reward at the end of your hike. Not only will you have breathtaking views, but you’ll likely be hungry after all that walking.
Go for a hike and have a picnic
One of the most popular hikes in the Montserrat area is the hike to Sant Miquel’s Cross. The trailhead is just beyond the Sant Joan Funicular entrance.
The hike takes about 45 minutes to one hour round-trip, so plan accordingly. The cross is the perfect spot to enjoy your homemade picnic and pop a bottle of wine (the wine store can help you open the bottle or buy a twist-off top).
Take a trolley ride to the top of the mountain
Take the Sant Joan funicular to the top to visit the highest point on Montserrat. This funicular was built in 1926 and takes you up 248 meters. The tram doesn’t run every day, so you’ll need to check the timetables when you arrive during your visit.
Tickets for the Sant Joan Funicular are 8.50€ for children and 17.50€ for adults, round-trip. You can bundle this with the Santa Cova funicular for better savings.
The best time to visit Montserrat
Spring and fall are the best times to visit Montserrat. Not only will you find fewer crowds during these seasons, but you’ll be greeted with beautiful weather. Since Montserrat is 2,362 feet (720 meters) above sea level, it’s noticeably colder than Barcelona year-round.
Winter temperatures can drop to -6°C (20°F) and below at night. The colder weather isn’t a deterrent for some, but it can interrupt what activities are available during your Montserrat day trip. Summer can be very hot with temperatures reaching 37°C (100°F) in July and August. These months are also the busiest for tourists, making it a less-than-ideal time to visit
What to bring on a Montserrat Day Trip
Check the weather to ensure you have a jacket on hand before visiting Montserrat. The weather can be cooler up there, and rain can be frequent in the mountains even when the weather is hot and dry in Barcelona.
A rainstorm surprised us during our visit, and the weather got chilly quickly. I wish we had brought a jacket with us! This oversized rain jacket from Quince is perfect for day trips like this because it’s lightweight and packable, but still cute. I also love their trench coat for a more put-together, chic look.
I also recommend having comfortable shoes. You will be doing a lot of walking here, especially if you opt for a hike to one of the scenic lookouts. I love my Vessi waterproof sneakers. They’re cute, versatile, and waterproof, which is great for the fickle weather at Montserrat.
Dennis prefers barefoot shoes. They have a wider stance to mimic walking barefoot and are better for your back, legs, and comfort when hiking.
If you’re going there during the summer, make sure to bring a sunhat with you. There isn’t a ton of shade, and you don’t want to get burnt on your Montserrat day trip. I also recommend mineral sunscreen for your face or arms.
We brought a small backpack with a refillable water bottle. There is a fountain area with water from the mountain available to refill your bottles with. There is a legend that the water has healing powers. We didn’t feel anything crazy after drinking it, but we enjoyed its fresh taste.
We always recommend having travel insurance to cover the “what-ifs”, especially when doing things like hiking. Our go-to travel insurance is Safety Wing. You can get a free quote for coverage by clicking here.
Almost all of the shops will accept credit cards and debit cards, but you will want at least 20€ to 30€ for the farmers’ market. Some vendors had a card machine, but most were cash only. What to bring to Monsterrat recap:
- 🧢 Sun hat (my favorite bucket hat)
- 🧥 Layers like a trench coat or rain jacket
- 🥾 Comfortable sneakers or barefoot sneakers
- 🧦 Breathable and comfortable merino wool socks
- 📸 Camera equipment
- 🚰 Reusable water bottle
- 💶 Travel credit card w/ no international fees + 20€ to 30€ euros cash.
How much time do you need to visit Montserrat?
A day trip is plenty of time to see Montserrat. Most people spend around 3 to 4 hours on a guided tour, but if you want to explore at your own pace or go hiking, 5 to 6 hours is recommended. To make it easy on you, we’ve created a Montserrat day trip itinerary to help you make the most of your trip.
Recommended Montserrat day trip itinerary
If you’re here on a guided tour, you’ll arrive around 10:30 am. Your tour guide will walk you around the property, giving you some history of Montserrat. Then, you’ll get 2 hours of free time to explore. It’s a good idea to have a plan for what you want to do will help you maximize your time at Montserrat.
- Option 1: See the Black Madonna and Listen to the Boy’s Choir at 12:45 pm (tickets required for both)
- Option 2: Take the Sant Joan Funicular, then walk to the cross. Continue your hike to Santa Cova Chapel or walk back.
- Option 3: See the Black Madonna, visit the Museum, and take a round-trip ride on the Sant Joan Funicular.
If you are planning a DIY Montserrat day trip, here’s how I would spend my day.
- 8:35 am: Hop on the train from Barcelona and make the hour-and-a-half-long journey to the cable car or rack rail train. That should put you at the Monastery around 10:00 am.
- 10:15 am: See the Black Madonna inside the Basilica
- 11:00 am: Museum or Sant Joan Funicular (if not doing the Boys’ choir)
- 12:45 pm: Boys Choir (12:00 if visiting on Sunday)
- 1:45 pm: Grab bread, snacks, and cheese at the grocery store, then hike to Sant Miquel’s Cross to have a picnic.
- 3:00 pm: Continue to Santa Cova Chapel if desired or return home
Hopefully, this guide for a Montserrat day trip from Barcelona will help you plan the perfect trip here. We loved exploring this place and definitely think it’s worth visiting! Let us know in the comments if this guide was helpful for you or if you have any further questions about planning a Montserrat day trip.
Check out my other Barcelona travel guides
- The 15 Best Places to Eat in Barcelona Right Now – This foodie guide breaks down the best places to eat in Barcelona right now for first or second-time visitors.
- Barcelona to Montserrat: How to Get to Montserrat Monastery: This guide breaks down the 5 ways to get to Montserrat from Barcelona, with cost and time.
- What to Eat in Spain: 20 Must-Try Spanish Dishes: This foodie guide helps you understand the best foods to eat on a trip to Barcelona (and beyond).
- Perfect Barcelona 3 Day Itinerary for First-Timers: If it’s your first time visiting Barcelona, this will help you make the most of your time in the city.
