Book Montserrat Tickets & Tours
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TransMontserrat Card: Train from Barcelona, Cog-Wheel & Self-Guided Tour of the Monastery
Take this all-included transportation pass to rediscover Montserrat like ever before.
- Montserrat is a Benedictine monastery, a natural park, and a shrine to spirituality and Catalan culture.
- The TransMontserrat Card includes train transportation from Pl. Espanya to Monistrol de Montserrat; Cog-Wheel "Cremallera" tickets to Montserrat & unlimited use of Sant Joan funicular.
- Local or tourist, don't miss this unique opportunity to visit "La Moreneta" (Black Madonna) Patron Saint of Catalonia, without the usual hours-long queue at the entrance of the basilica.
- Make the most of your day and jump on the Sant Joan Funicular to get to the Montserrat Park for a hike where you'll have jaw-dropping views of the erosed Montserrat mountains, the Pyrenees & the Sea.
- Delve into the pure Catalan Tradition: get a taste of the well-known "Coca de Montserrat" (typical pastry) or buy "Mel i Mató" from local farmers (Honey and fresh cheese).
- These tickets cannot be cancelled, amended, or rescheduled.
- These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.
Early Access Guided Tour to Montserrat Monastery from Barcelona
- Visit the world-famous Montserrat Monastery, and discover its Gothic and Renaissance architecture.
- The early morning tour avoids long queues and unnecessary delays.
- Savor a hassle-free experience, with transport to and from the attraction pre-arranged.
- Admire the beautiful Royal Basilica of Montserrat, which holds the carving of the Virgin of Montserrat, the patron saint of Catalonia.
- Taste the four liquors typical of the area.
- With a bilingual guide by your side, discover the history and culture of the attraction.
- Get a full refund on canceling this ticket up to 24 hours before the schedule.
- You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Early-Morning Montserrat Mountain Tour with Round-Trip Transport from Barcelona
Small-group tour of Montserrat. Round-trip transfers included.
- Journey to the holy Monastery nestled amongst the cliffs and rock spires of Montserrat.
- Meet your expert local guide as you board a comfortable air-conditioned bus from Barcelona which will also take you back.
- Get a chance to independently visit the famous Romanesque statue of The Black Madonna in the basilica, on your own.
- Spend some time hiking through the mountains, taking a cable car ride, or visiting the local museum post your guided tour.
- Treat your tastebuds to a range of culinary specialties (herbal liquors, cheese, and cured meats) at stalls outside the monastery.
- You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Tour of Montserrat from Barcelona by Train and Rack Railway with Audio Guide
- Travel on a round trip to the land of Montserrat from Barcelona via train or rack railway, and enjoy exploring the various sights and scenes that the region offers.
- Visit the Information Office to receive your audio guide, map, and an informative booklet to kickstart your tour of Montserrat and learn more about the sites you visit.
- Overcoming a drop of 600 metres, ride the rack railway that takes you around the region and visit the Holy Grotto, Via Crucis, and more famous sites at the Open-Air Museum in Montserrat.
- Revere the image of the Virgin of Montserrat, a romanesque sculpture from centuries ago, housed in the Basilica of Montserrat, a gothic monastery with splendid golden accents adorning the domes.
- Showcasing the history of the mountain, monastery, and sanctuary, the Audiovisual Space Montserrat Portes Endins exhibition will leave you in awe of the rich history of the region.
- Declared as a museum of national interest in 2006, the Museum of Montserrat houses works of art by artists like Monet, Picasso, Dali, and more, with archaeological materials from the Near East to amaze you.
- Upgrade your ticket and be a part of the liturgical celebrations and community prayers at the Basilica with Escolanía de Montserrat, one of the oldest schools of music in Europe.
- The audio guide and booklet are available in Catalan, Spanish, English, German, French, Dutch, Russian, and Japanese.
This ticket has the following options that you can choose from:
- Montserrat from Barcelona with Train and Rack Railway
- Montserrat from Barcelona with Train and Rack Railway + Escolanía
- You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Nestled in the mountains and visited by the sea, Montserrat is an island that is perfect for a day trip from Barcelona. You have to take a drive up the mountain and then you will arrive at the main grounds of the city. Benedictine Abbey is the most famous attraction of Montserrat. The museum is also a breathtaking sight as after marveling at the bold Gaudi in Barcelona, you can see Caravaggio, Picasso, and Dali in the museum. Montserrat is famous for being an active volcano site and it still has remains of the explosion. The jagged mountain offers a view of the Catalan Country which is beyond magical.
Distance
Montserrat is located around 60 kilometers from Barcelona.
Duration
4 hours 30 minutes
Best time to visit Montserrat
December to April
Why Take a Day Trip from Barcelona to Montserrat?
- Historical Importance: The monastery at Montserrat has over a thousand years of history and some monks will tell you the whole story of the island commune.
- Tour the Exclusion Zone: Montserrat has recently been announced as safe to visit again after the devastating volcano incident. You can now find yourself taking a tour of the Exclusion Zone. The Exclusion Zone shows you the real force of nature and the remnants of the volcano blast. You can see the remains of the city which was buried under ash and earth.
- Awe-inspiring Peaks: Montserrat means ‘serrated mountain’ and it does have a unique feature that awes everybody who visits it. The hundreds of rounded peaks that jut into the sky. There are paths, stairs, caves, chapels and hermitages scattered over the mountain, extraordinary landscapes and wonderful views.
- To Go Hiking: If you love hiking, then you can spend an afternoon at Montserrat, enjoying a hike around the mountain. You will be rewarded with a sweet view of Catalonia once you are done with the little hike.
- Great Restaurants and Markets: The markets and the restaurants make Montserrat the ideal destination. You would never have believed that you would eat in a restaurant with such a spectacular view. In the markets, you get local produce like fig and cheese.
Know Before You Go
- Basilica: 7 AM to 7 PM
- Throne of Our Lady: 8 AM to 10:30 AM and from 12 PM to 5:45 PM.
- Holy Grotto: From Monday to Friday 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
On weekends, from 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM - Tourist Information: Monday to Friday, from 10 AM to 2:30 PM.
On weekends, from 9 AM to 5 PM - Museum of Montserrat: 10 AM to 5:45 PM
- Interactive Exhibition: Monday to Friday, from 10 AM to 5.45 PM.
Weekends, from 10 AM to 6:45 PM
Address: 08199 Montserrat, Barcelona, Spain
Find On Map
- By Cable Car: Montserrat’s cable car (Aeri) covers the 1320-meter journey in 5 minutes, making it the quickest way to reach the sanctuary. Passengers also get to enjoy the view of the beautiful scenery. Cable cars depart every 15 minutes.
- By Train: Get on board Montserrat’s Cremallera. The journey from the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat railway station in Monistrol de Montserrat to the monastery takes 15 minutes. The train departs from Monistrol Vila every 20 minutes.
- By Car: Located in the center of Catalonia, Montserrat is very well-connected by road. The Montserrat Mountain Trust provides a car parking facility. The first 30 minutes are free, and costs € 6.50 for up to 24 hours.
- Adults. € 6.90 - € 11.50.
- Child (4-13 years) € 3.80. € 6.30.
- Senior Citizen € 6.20. € 10.30.
- Large family - Single Parent - General 20% € 5.50. € 9.20.
- Large family - Single Parent - Special 50% € 3.40. € 5.70.
- If you are heading out to Montserrat with the kids, make sure to take them to the Museum and the MVO.
- The trip to the MVO can be a bit risky for younger kids, but teenagers would find it very informative.
- Take a tour that starts in the afternoon i.e. the half-day tours to Montserrat are very comfortable and wouldn’t bore the kids.
- Opt for half-day tours that cover the main attractions to have a trip to Montserrat, which is lighter on the pocket.
- Hiking your way up could save you money.
- Walking or biking around Montserrat is also a great way to save money and soak up all the sights.
Montserrat is a conservative region. Add to this the chilly weather, full-length clothing are your best bet.
Resort to simple dresses or skirts or wear comfortable pants and cotton blouses. In winters, dress warm.
Montserrat is liberal, but only to a certain extent. There is religious importance to the place that brings in some rules and regulations.
- Consuming alcohol in the streets is illegal.
- Wearing appropriate clothing is a must and the weather calls for it as well.
- Possessing drugs that aren’t prescribed is also a criminal offense under Spanish law.
Best Time to Visit Montserrat
Spring
March to May
Springtime is the best to visit Barcelona. Montserrat is just a mere 60 km from Barcelona so naturally, spring would be an ideal time to visit Montserrat. If you visit in March, you could witness the St. Patrick’s Day event which is held on the island where everybody comes on to the main street and celebrates Montserrat’s African-Irish Heritage.
Summer
June to August
In Summer, Montserrat is bright and colorful, as is all of Spain. You can witness the Calabash event which promotes the use of this fruit and a fair where all the utensils are made up of calabash. Montserrat showcases its African ancestry during Cudjoe Head celebrations that are held at the end of July or beginning of August.
Autumn
September to November
If you go to Montserrat in autumn, you can get a spectacular view from the Montserrat Volcano Observatory. You can also take a trip to the Jack Boy Hills and the center Hills. Autumn also calls for helicopter expeditions.
Winter
December to February
Winter is the time to take a culinary tour in Montserrat. The produce is good and you can buy it from any local shops and have the best dishes in the restaurants. The Alliouagana Festival of the Word in November brings together acclaimed writers and readers for readings, conversations, lectures, panel discussions, and workshops.
Top 10 Things to Do/See Around Montserrat
The Benedictine Abbey
Benedictine Abbey has significant religious importance. It plays host for the famous Catalonian virgin of Montserrat. It is called “La Moreneta” because of its dark color and there are only a few of these peppered across Europe. It is believed that this Abbey was once home to the Holy Grail. The Abbey is also a center of musical culture. There still live monks here who are visited by tourists after over a thousand years of its founding.
The Montserrat Museum
The Montserrat Art Museum stands proof of the thousand-year-old history and heritage of the Abbey. The greatest of the greats have their canvases here. From Salvador Dali to Pablo Picasso. Several exhibitions are on for the entire year and there are also some traveling exhibitions which are done by art critics. The structure of the museum is perfect and reflective of the kind of art it is home to.
Santa Cova and Sant Joan
From the monastery, it would take you a short walk to reach the Santa Cova. The road is pretty with nature putting on its best display just for you. Santa Cova is believed to be the first place where the Montserrat Virgin Statue was found. The Sant Joan funicular provides a bird’s eye view of the Montserrat mountain and all that surrounds it. All nature enthusiasts can get lost in the ‘Aula de la Natur’ and on the walk that leads to Sant Jeroni.
The Rack Railway or the Cable Car
From the Plaza Espana metro station, all you have to do is take the FGC train. It is either that or the Aeri de Montserrat cable car. A good thing about the train is that it allows you to fully enjoy the natural environment since it connects the FGC Station in Monistrol de Montserrat with the monastery.
The Local Market
As you walk to the Monastery of Montserrat you will encounter the local market on your way where you ought to stop for the typical local produce. The market is run by the farmers and the people who themselves have grown the produce so it is as organic as it gets and you get stuff that has not been tampered with at all. Among its variety of products, we will find typical products such as oil, liquor, honey, cheese, and cottage cheese.
Explore Plymouth
Your childhood dream of being an archaeologist might seem to come true when you visit Plymouth. The Molyneaux Building and the Flora Fountain hotel are some of the few sites that were submerged by the lava and ash from the volcano. You can go and look at their remains on a guided tour of the region. (Image Credits)
Local Food and Fine Dining
If you are looking for fusion foods with the local food, look no further than the Attic. A quaint restaurant that is known best for its shrimp quesadillas and chicken and vegetable rotis. You can tantalize your taste buds at the Good Eats restaurant. Located at Ryan’s complex, it offers refreshing local drinks, local cuisine along with a relaxed atmosphere. To experience the traditional British palette, you can take a trip to Olveston Guesthouse or Watermelon Cottage. (Image Credits)
Take a Field Trip to the MVO:
The Montserrat Volcano Observatory provides a great adventure. For students who look to study in the observatory or get an internship there, a field trip to the MVO is the best way to get their shot at it. A trip may include measuring the volcano’s dome and gas activity, examining shifts in gravity, hiking to research plants, and learning about the reptiles and birds that are susceptible to volcanic emissions.
The Night Life
The Soca Cabana is just a small walk away from the Little Bay and has Saturday nights reserved for Karaoke. It also plays host to the Montserrat Idol talent singing competition. Reggae, meringue, soca, and calypso are played until the wee hours at Salem’s Club Legend. Uncle’s Bar and Mystique, Sweeneys are the places to be if you want to dance all night and party like there is no tomorrow.
Caves of Salnitre
The Caves of Salnitre are the place to be if you are interested in caving and a little bit of an Indiana Jones-like adventure. You can view the formation of the stalactites that have formed over so many years in the caverns. Visitors are only shown the area about to only 500 meters. (Image Credits)
Montserrat Tours & Tickets
You could tour Montserrat in so many ways according to what interests you the most. The best way to explore Montserrat is to go with a Catalan tourist guide, a person who knows the rich history of the place and its religious importance to Spain. If you want a quick trip around the island, you could take the Half-Day Tour to Montserrat from Barcelona. This tour takes you to all the main attractions in Montserrat and is a good experience for someone who has to be quick on their feet.
There are tours where you get to enjoy the entire ride to Montserrat. One of them is the Montserrat day Trip from Barcelona with the Cogwheel train ride and the other is Montserrat from Barcelona by the Rack Railway. You get to enjoy the train ride and the beautiful hillsides as you ride up to Montserrat. For all the Gaudi admirers, there is the Montserrat Artistic Full day Trip. On this trip, you would be left spellbound as the architecture of Gaudi enthralls you completely.
Your Experience on a Montserrat Day Trip
Ideally, you should take a trip to Montserrat from Barcelona because that would ensure that you see the stark contrast that lies between the two. While Barcelona is thumping with energy and color, Montserrat is a treasure trove for nature. It is raw and fierce and you can experience it all. For some, Montserrat is a pilgrimage site where they visit the Basilica and the Benedictine Abbey and take a quick tour of the Museum. For others, it is a hiking adventure. Hiking up the mountain to see the view of Catalonia is a grand experience and that would include enjoying the mountainside in all its glory. Hiking in Montserrat is also a great experience as one can take a trek to the MVO and also walk around Plymouth. The guided tours are much better there.