Montserrat – Is it Worth a Day Trip from Barcelona?

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If you are visiting Barcelona for the first time, there will likely be enough within the city limits to keep you occupied for several days. Whether you are interested in taking a food tour to sample some of Catalonia’s local delicacies, or perhaps explore some of Antoni Gaudi’s iconic structures around the city, there is an abundance of attractions to visit. But what about if you want to take a break away from city life and consider a day trip from Barcelona?

Don’t worry, there are plenty of options available and at the very top of this list is a day trip to Montserrat! Located about 50km from the heart of Barcelona, Montserrat is so much more than a haven of breathtaking scenery. After reading this post you will understand why there is a much deeper attraction to this location and I will let you decide whether it is worth a day trip from Barcelona.

montserrat day trip from barcelona

How to Get to Montserrat

Ok, so you have decided that a day trip to Montserrat is on the cards but now you have to figure out how to get there. Fortunately there are a variety of ways to visit Montserrat, and it is really down to personal preference on how you want to travel. Here are a few ways to reach this beautiful destination:

By Car – This option was what we took! We rented a car at Barcelona-El Prat Airport and the drive to Montserrat is for the most part on highway and easily navigable even if you are not familiar with driving on Spanish roads. The majority of the route is along C-58 and as you approach Montserrat there are a number of signs that will point you in the right direction if you don’t have a GPS handy.

montserrat monastery

Parking is available either half way up the mountain at Monistrol de Vila Rack Railway station (FREE Parking) and you can then take the Rack Railway to the summit, or alternatively as we did you can drive to the top and pay 5 Euros which is still good value for money!

By Train (Option 1) – There are a couple of options available if you decide to take the train. Option 1 involves taking a local train and then the funicular/rack railway to Montserrat. Head to the Plaza España station in Barcelona and take a local R5 train to the Monistrol de Montserrat station.

rack railway montserrat day trip from barcelona

Arriving here, you can hop on the green funicular railway known as the ‘Cremallera’ and this will take you to the summit. Prior to purchasing your ticket at the Plaza España station in Barcelona, be sure to get a combined ticket that includes the rack railway to save money.

cremallera de montserrat

By Train (Option 2) – An alternative option is to take the R5 train from the Plaza España station in Barcelona to the Montserrat-Aeri station and then take the cable car to the summit.

This option is slightly more expensive but again tickets can be purchased in Barcelona that will include both the train ride and cable car. If you opt for this route, you certainly won’t be disappointed by the views that you encounter on the way to Montserrat!

Santa Maria de Montserrat Monastery

Hidden among the Montserrat multi-peak mountain range is the gorgeous Santa Maria de Montserrat Monastery. There is much history behind this monastery but undoubtedly the most iconic of them all is the ‘Black Madonna’ which can be found inside this historic architecture.

montserrat monastery

This is probably the most famous religious sanctuary in the region of Catalonia, and after visiting Barcelona you will realize that there are a lot of pretty spectacular religious buildings in the area.

our lady of montserrat

The Benedictine monastery dates back to the 10th Century, and in some cases even before this date when hermit monks are said to have constructed the initial design of this building. The monastery was destroyed by Napoleon’s army in the early 19th century but was reconstructed soon after.

black madonna montserrat

Let’s take a moment to look at the history behind the sacred Black Madonna. Dating back to the 12th century, many miracles are said to be attributed to this statue. The statue is a representation of Mary and her location in Montserrat is applicable to the region given that she is the patron saint of Catalonia.

montserrat

‘Our Lady of Montserrat’ or ‘La Moreneta’ (‘the little dark-skinned one’) as it it known among locals and tourists alike, is one of the most popular attractions and there are usually lines waiting outside the monastery trying to capture a glimpse of this effigy.

montserrat day trip from barcelona

The Santa Maria de Montserrat Monastery is more than just the home of the Black Madonna. The interior of this sacred venue is equally as impressive as the outside and just standing inside the grounds of this location is an awe-inspiring experience. As we climbed the mountain, the view overlooking the monastery is stunning and well worthy of the hike!

Santa Maria de Montserrat Monastery

Sacred Mountain Range

The natural beauty of the Montserrat mountain range makes this a unique attraction by itself, regardless of the inherent cultural and sacred values associated with the monastery. Approaching Montserrat from the bottom of the mountain, the most noticeable feature are the unique rock formations that comprise the Montserrat mountain range.

montserrat mountain range spain

The highest point in this mountain range is Sant Jeroni (Saint Jerome) which stands at just over 4,000 feet above sea level. Hiking trails are available to the summit though we decided to save this ambitious trail for another day! I can only imagine how spectacular the views are overlooking the valley and rest of the mountains from the very top of the range.

sacred mountain of montserrat

It’s the uniqueness of these rocks that make this such an intriguing place to visit. Can you imagine the reclusive monks residing in this mysterious abode? The best way to describe the appearance of these mountains is a very distinct similarity to an animal or prehistoric dinosaur.

montserrat day trip from barcelona

Montserrat is known as ‘the sacred mountain’ primarily because of the religious affiliation with the Catholic church. This is still an incredibly popular spot for worshippers of Catholicism.

Hike to the Cross of San Miguel

After taking some time to explore the Santa Maria de Montserrat Monastery and other attractions in the area, we embarked on a short hike to the Cross of San Miguel. You can see the cross from the monastery and it looks a pretty steep hike to reach it! But it’s not as bad as it looks and I can certainly attest that it is worth the effort.

hike to cross of san miguel

The trail takes anywhere from 40-60 minutes depending on your pace and how many pictures you want to take en route to the summit. There are a few spots along the route that are a little treacherous, so be wary of your footing and you will be fine!

We were fortunate to hike this trail in perfect conditions, with a cool breeze at our back and the sun occasionally shining down on the Catalonia valley.

montserrat monastery catalonia

As you hike further towards the Cross of San Miguel, the views become more and more breathtaking! We spent probably 45 minutes at the top of the hike overlooking the monastery and appreciating the natural beauty that was right in front of us. If you are looking for a moment of relaxation and solitude, this may well be the perfect spot for you!

cross of san miguel

Summary

I will start by answering the question – is Montserrat worth a day trip from Barcelona? DEFINITELY!!! No question, this is an unbelievable experience and one that you will not regret. You could quite easily spend all of your time exploring Barcelona and probably have an amazing time, but there is nothing quite like the spectacular views and deep knowledge you will learn from walking around the sacred mountain of Montserrat.

day trip from barcelona to montserrat

There are a number of hiking trails available and even taking the cable car ride offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape. As you peer down into the Catalan valley, the relaxing haven offered by the Montserrat mountain range is second to none in the region of Catalonia.

Have you visited Montserrat? If the answer is yes, you probably understand exactly why I am so passionate about this location. If the answer is no, you need to start planning a trip to Spain because Montserrat is waiting for you, and you will not be disappointed!

For more pictures of our experience at Montserrat, check out our photo gallery here: Montserrat

Weekend Wanderlust


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Chris Boothmanhttps://abritandasoutherner.com
Chris Boothman is the co-founder of A Brit and A Southerner. Born near Manchester, England, Chris moved to USA in 2006 where he soon after met his wife and travel partner in crime, Heather. They have since embarked on an amazing journey of travel as they challenge others to follow in their paths of working full-time but also being able to travel frequently! If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact Chris at [email protected]

33 COMMENTS

  1. I’ve heard vaguely about Monserrat, but seeing your photos I agree that it’s worth a visit! The scenery is beautiful! I always prefer renting a car when I want to explore more than a city (e.g. Barcelona). It gives you much more flexibility that trains or buses!

    • Definitely agree with rental cars! I enjoy using public transportation and that’s fine if you are staying within the confines of the city centre, but if you have the opportunity to get out and explore some of the ‘hidden gems’ I would always recommend doing so.

    • I am sure that whenever you have the opportunity to explore Spain, whatever you decide to do you will love it there! We had an amazing few days experiencing Barcelona and Catalonia in general.

    • I would love to go back again Lo and experience the train all the way from Barcelona! Just writing about that option made me eager to get back there but the views are just breathtaking and not to be missed if you are anywhere in Catalonia.

  2. I’ll be in Barcelona for work in a couple weeks and looking for options for my free weekend, you have now made me consider a day trip! Beautiful!

    • I think you pretty much should make your mind up now and go to Montserrat 🙂 In all seriousness, there are so many awesome day trips from Barcelona that it is really difficult to choose and we had such a great time in the city that it was hard to leave! So I understand the difficult choices that lie ahead for you. Looking forward to hearing about what you decide to do!

    • You are very welcome Lyn and thanks for your comments! Hopefully you will get the opportunity in the not too distant future to experience Montserrat for yourself and we will look forward to hearing and comparing your encounters there!

  3. I went to Montserrat as well and thought it was really cool. I didn’t do any hiking because we ran out of time. I did attend mass and thought the choir was beautiful. All those people lining up to see the Madonna too was pretty impressive.

    • We were pretty fortunate that the line to see the Lady of Montserrat was not particularly long, maybe 10-15 minutes but I can imagine that it gets pretty crazy when there are tour buses etc. exploring the region!

  4. Wow! We just did not have enough time in Barcelona, and we decided Montserrat would have to wait for our next visit. Nice to see what we have to look forward to! Thanks for sharing – as always, great photos and an awesome write up!

    • Cheers mate, always appreciate your kind comments! The next time you head to Barcelona, please set aside time for Montserrat because it is definitely worth it. Breathtaking scenery and a cultural experience you will never forget.

    • It’s worth the time and effort and I am so glad we headed there! We spent so long there that we missed the opening event of TBEX but I have to say that it was a pretty good compromise!

  5. Thanks for all the info! I am going to Barcelona in October and I am looking into side trips. This looks like a good option. I was thinking about driving around the Costa Brava but that would be a bit of a stretch.

    • The Costa Brava is a gorgeous stretch of coastline and actually that is where we headed after visiting Montserrat. The drive from there to Lloret de Mar wasn’t bad at all and we were able to explore some of the smaller towns along the route. So many side trips from Barcelona but Montserrat in my opinion is at the very top – I am biased though 🙂

  6. It definitely looks as though it’s worth the trip! I’d go for those views alone. I’ll have to recommend it to my sister who is going to Spain next year. I’d like to get to Spain sometime – I’m really thinking about hiking the Camino 🙂

    • Hiking the Camino would be really awesome but then again, hiking the trails in Montserrat offer some pretty stunning views 🙂 Maybe that would be a good ‘warm-up’ for the Camino!

    • You certainly won’t regret it Paula whenever you have the opportunity to explore Montserrat! We ventured there expecting to spend maybe a couple of hours and it ended up being half a day and really we could have spent a lot longer there exploring more of the trails!

    • It’s such a gorgeous backdrop and a perfect spot to just getaway from the hustle and bustle of Barcelona tourism! A great combination of urban and rural settings that are so close together that make a perfect vacation spot!

  7. Chris this looks amazing! I was just in Barcelona last month and had no idea all this was there. The mountains look incredible! I’ll have to bookmark it for the next trip! 😀

  8. It’s been about 16 years since I visited Montserrat. Your photos remind me of what a gorgeous place it is — both the monastary and the view looking down into the valley. I agree that it’s definitely worth taking a little time off from Barcelona to visit Montserrat.

  9. We are heading to Barcelona early September for our 2nd visit and are planning on renting a car to take a trip to Montserrat and then on to Girona for an overnight. or we could drive from Barcelona to Girona first and visit Montserrat on our return the following day. which way would be better, if any?

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