FGCComplete 2024 Montserrat Monastery & Mountain Day Trip Guide
Discover the geologically unique Montserrat mountain range & world famous monastery. Plan a day trip with transport guide, train times, hiking trails, maps & tickets
About Montserrat Mountain, Natural Park & Monastery
The number one tourist excursion is a Barcelona day trip to Montserrat. Montserrat is the religious centre of Catalunya with a monastery, basilica, Museums, restaurants and a hotel. It is a mountain top religious centre and world famous pilgrimage destination. The Benedictine Monk retreat at Montserrat offers you some of the most spectacular mountain views of Catalunya.
Montserrat Mountain Hiking
For an easy family day trip to Montserrat I recommend visiting the Montserrat Monastery Basilica first and walking around the main square. The Easy Santa Cova walk can be done with young children or elderly relatives after you have finished in the basilica.
For an family day trip to Montserrat with children I recommend a visit to the Montserrat Monastery Basilica first followed by the Easy Montserrat walking route. This combination will allow you to explore some of the mountain hermitages as well as the basilica.
For a more challenging Montserrat day trip hiking experience, I recommend a quick visit to the Montserrat Monastery Basilica followed by the Sant Jeroni from Montserrat Monastery route. Sant jeroni is the highest summit in the Montserrat natural park and you will enjoy magnificent views of some of the most unusual rock formations in Catalonia consisting of a sedimentary geology of pebbled stone with its flora, fauna and abandoned hermitages along the way.
Alternatively the monastery complex can be reached from Monistrol de Montserrat with a spectacular hiking route up the side of montserrat mountain via the Abandoned Hotel Colonia Puig and Santa Cecilia Hermitage.
For the ultimate Montserrat hiking route from Colbató, walk up the entire Height of the Montserrat mountain range rather than starting half way up from the monastery complex. The Sant Jeroni from Colbató circular route from Colbató is reachable by bus and provides great views of the opposite side of Montserrat mountain from the Monastery. This route is challenging because it involves walking up the entire height of the Montserrat mountain range rather than starting half way up from the monastery complex.
Not on the Montserrat mountain range but in the valley below is La Puda abandoned thermal bath complex and this hiking route gives spectacular views of Montserrat mountain from Sant Salvador de les Espases hermitage.
4 Things to do and see in Montserrat Mountain, Natural Park & Monastery
FGC
FGCMontserrat Monastery and Easy mountain Santa Cova walk
An EASY 1.4 Km route from Montserrat Monastery via Cami de la Santa Cova to Santa Cova chapel via monuments and sculptures with a distinctly religious theme
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FGCWhat can you see at Montserrat Monastery and history
Private monastery complex with main church and museum open to the public. Famous for its statue of the Black Madonna, patron saint of Catalonia
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FGCMontserrat Monastery and easy mountain hermitage walking route
Easy 7km circular route from Montserrat Monastery that passes via several abandoned hermitages and viewpoints in the Montserrat Mountain range
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Map of Montserrat Mountain, Natural Park & Monastery
Attractions
Events in Montserrat Mountain, Natural Park & Monastery
- Festividad de Nuestra Señora de Motserrat: Every 27th of April, the Montserrat Monastery is decorated to celebrate the Patron Saint of Catalonia. A two day event of celebrations that draws thousands of pilgrims. The festival begins on the 26th of April in the afternoon with various events, of which the Vetlla de Santa Maria, bringing together a large number of young people with musical activities and to interpret psalms and special readings. The following day the festival is celebrated. It is a day full of liturgical events that begin at 9 am when you can hear the Escolania choir performing the song canto de la Salve y el Virolai. The monastery is also filled with folklore celebrations that liven up the day with sardana dancing, castillos (human towers), and the Dance of Sticks.
- Montserrat Boys Choir: One of the oldest choirs in Europe dating from the 14th Century and accompanies religious ceremonies and communal prayers in the Santa Maria abbey.
- Monday to Friday: 13.00h Salve and Virolai
- Monday to Thursday: 18.45h Vespers, Salve Montserratina and Polyphonic Motet
- Saturdays: The Boys Choir does not sing
- Sundays and religious holidays: 12.00h Salve and Virolai, 18.45h Vespers, Salve Montserratina and Polyphonic Motet
- The boys choir do not perform over the Christmas period because they are on Holiday.
- Montserrat Boys choir Times:
Getting to Montserrat Mountain, Natural Park & Monastery
When planning a Day Trip from Barcelona to Montserrat there are five options for getting to the Monastery from Barcelona:
FGC train + Montserrat Cremallera train
Take the FGC train from Barcelona Plaça España to Monistrol de montserrat station and change here onto the Montserrat cremallera racked railway which terminates in the main square of the Monastery complex.FGC train + Montserrat Cable Car
Take the FGC train from Barcelona Plaça España to Aire de Montserrat station one stop before Monistrol de Montserrat. Exit the station and immediately outside is the Montserrat yellow cable car lower station. The cable car terminates in the main square of the Monastery complex after climbing some steps upon exiting the upper cable car station.Walk via Abandoned Hotel, Sant Bennet Monastery & Santa Cecilia
following this beautiful route from Monistrol de Montserrat train station.Hire a car and drive
Take the A2 (Not AP2) motorway leaving Barcelona and at the 582A junction take the C55 Dual Carriageway towards Manresa. At Monstrol de Montserrat take the BP-1121 mountain road which ends at the Montserrat Monastery public parking. Parking costs €7 for the wholeday.Book a Guided Coach Tour
from the list of coach excursions from Barcelona.
FGC train + Montserrat Cable Car is the fastest way to get to Montserrat monastery from Barcelona with the train taking 1h and the cable car taking 5 minutes. FGC train + Montserrat Cremallera train takes about 1h 45 minutes with the Cremallera rack railway having a journey time of 40 minutes.
FGCMontserrat from Barcelona by train + Cremallera Rack Railway
A history, some technical details, photos and usefull links about the Cremallera rack railway and funicular cable railways at Montserrat Monastery.
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FGCMontserrat from Barcelona by train + Aeri yellow cable car
Inaugurated in 1930, It is a short 6 minute scenic cable car ride from the FGC aeri de Montserrat train station to Monserrat Monastery
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FGCAbandoned Hotel Colonia Puig To Montserrat Monastery
11km linear route from Monistrol de Montserrat via Abandoned 1910 hotel Colonia Puig, Sant Benet & Sant Cecilia monasteries finishing at Montserrat monastery
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COACHMontserrat from Barcelona by Guided private coach Tour
A Guide to coach tours to Montserrat. Prices, Tickers & options for coach trips to Montserrat Monastery in Catalonia Spain
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Where to Eat Montserrat Mountain, Natural Park & Monastery
- Plaça Abat Oliba: Leaving the main square in front of Montserrat Abbey by the descending ramped street with the orange trees goes down through a gate into Plaça Abat Oliba where you will find Queviures supermarket that sells sandwiches, drinks, and food gifts like honey. Opposite is another cafeteria, Bar de la Plaça. In Plaza Abat Oliba there is also a drinking water fountain.
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Queviures supermarket:
- Monday to Friday: 09:00h to 17:30h
- Weekend: 09:00h to 18:30h
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Bar de la Plaça:
- Monday to Friday: 10:00h to 17:30h
- Weekend: 09:00h to 18:30h
- Montserrat Buffet Restaurant & Cafeteria: Opposite the Montserrat Cremallera Station is a cafeteria style restaurant that offers meals of traditional Catalan food as well as sandwiches, cakes and drinks.
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Buffet Restaurant:
- Monday to Sunday: 12:00h to 15:15h
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La Cafeteria:
- Monday to Friday: 10:00h to 17:30h
- Weekend: 09:00h to 18:30h
- Restaurant El Mirador: A 1976 architectural monstrosity perched on the side of the mountain underneath Mirador dels Apòstols next to the bus and coach parking area. Despite the ugliness on th outside, the dining room commands superb panoramic views over the mountain, the Santa Cova and the Llobregat river Valley.
- Monday to Sunday: 12:15h to 16:00h
- Restaurant Abat Cisneros: is a the restaurant inside the hotel/hostal Abat Cisneros, former monastic buildings.
- Monday to Sunday: Breakfast 08:00h to 10:00h, Lunch: 013:00h to 15:30h, Dinner 19:45h to 21:30h
- Bar El Rincón: My secret pick of where to eat in Montserrat is not in the Monastery complex but is a small garden restaurant that is accessible from the end of the Aeri de Montserrat FGC train station. It is a shed kitchen with 3 or 4 outside dining tables in a forested plot of land. The food is fresh, delicious and cooked when you order, unlike the reheated canteen stuff served in the Monastery Complex.
Documents for Montserrat Mountain, Natural Park & Monastery
Click on any one of the 9 PDFs to view in full screen and download.
Weather for Monistrol de Montserrat
Mountain Forecast weather for Montserrat Mountain
What to take with you for Montserrat Mountain, Natural Park & Monastery
If just visiting the monastery area then be aware that this is the religious centre of Catalunya so there is a dress code to enter the basilica. No see through clothes, beachwear, bikinis. Skirts must be at least mid thigh length. Shorts are permitted but not hot pants. You will be asked to remove your hat when you enter the basilica.
In the winter months it can get a little windy at the monastery. If you are visiting Montserrat for a hiking activity and also plan to visit the basilica, pack appropriate clothes that you can put on over your sports wear if you do not meet the dress code for the Abbey.
If you visit the Museum it is worth having headphones for the audio guide.
Where to stay overnight in the Complete 2024 Montserrat Monastery & Mountain Day Trip Guide
At Montserrat Monastery, there are three hotels and one campsite.
- Montserrat Abat Marcet
- Hotel Abat Cisneros
- Apartamentos Montserrat Abat Marcet
- Area Esportiva i d'Acampada de Montserrat Is a simple and cheap campsite (3.5 Euros per tent + 4 Euros per adult) about 10 minutes walk from the Monastery via the Sant Miquel path towards Creu de Sant Miquel. Only open in the summer months and can be booked by calling (+34) 93 77 77 77. Popular with mountain Climbers.
How much does Montserrat Mountain, Natural Park & Monastery Day Trip Cost?
Lets talk about prices and Montserrat combined tickets versus Montserrat individual tickets for each section of the journey. Plus what you can pay on the day at the monastery.
Tot Montserrat Ticket
- Includes:
- Metro ticket to and from Plaça España FGC train station
- Return FGC train ticket to Monistrol station link (linking with the rack railway line)
- Return ticket for the Montserrat rack railway
- Return ticket for the Montserrat Aeri cable car
- Sant Joan & Santa Cova funicular railways (When operational)
- Entrance to the Audio-visual Space
- Entrance to the Montserrat Museum
- Direct access, without previous reservation, to the Throne of the Virgin
- Buffet lunch
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Tot Montserrat is an all in one ticket that includes using the Cremallera or Aeri cable car to go up and return from the Monastery and also ride the two funiculars. This ticket is ideal for someone that wants to spend the day mostly exploring the Monastery basilica and Museum (collection of religious art) with some easy walking in Santa Cova and sant Joan.
Trans Montserrat Ticket
- Includes:
- FGC Train return trip to Monistrol de Montserrat
- Montserrat Rack Railway return trip
- Museum of Montserrat entry ticket
- Montserrat Audio-visual Space entry ticket
- Liqueur tasting
- Pre-booked visit time to the Virgin of Montserrat
- Audio guide
- Map
- Informative booklet
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This is an all in one ticket that includes using the Cremallera to go up and return from the Monastery. This ticket is ideal for someone that wants to quickly exploring the Monastery basilica and spending the rest of the day hiking via my Easy Monserrat route or my Santa Cova route.
Aeri de Montserrat Cable car only ticket
- Includes:
- Return or one way Aeri de Montserrat cable car
NOT INCLUDED: FGC train ticket to Aeri de Montserrat train ticket. this can be purchased separately in the ticket machines at Plaça España subterranean FGC station.
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The Aeri de Montserrat cable car is the fastest way to get up to the Montserrat monastery and is ideal for someone that wants to be the first to visit the basilica quickly before heading up into the mountains for a day hike such as Sant Jeroni Summit from Montserrat Monastery.
Buying separate tickets
Separate tickets for each section of the journey to Montserrat monastery can work out a little bit more expensive depending on what you do when at Montserrat.
- 6.15€ Single ticket FGC R50 or R5 from Barcelona Plaça España to Monistrol de Montserrat or Aeri de Montserrat
- 12.30€ Return ticket FGC R50 or R5 from Barcelona Plaça España to Monistrol de Montserrat or Aeri de Montserrat
- 8.40€ Single ticket Cremallera de Montserrat rack railway
- 14.00€ Return ticket Cremallera de Montserrat rack railway
- 8.95€ Single ticket Aeri de Montserrat cable car
- 13.50€ Return ticket Aeri de Montserrat cable car
- 8.00€ Montserrat Museum
- FREE Montserrat basilica
- 3.50€ Throne of the Virgin (black Madona)
- 15 to 20€ Buffet Lunch at Montserrat
I only recommend buying individual tickets when completing hiking activities to Montserrat such as Hiking to Monserrat via Abandoned hotel and Santa Cecilia.
Things to do near Montserrat Mountain, Natural Park & Monastery
FGCLa Puda de Montserrat Abandoned Thermal Baths ruins
Former luxury spa and bathhouse with sulphated water from nearby natural spring for its health properties. Known for its urban graffiti art. Private ruin
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BUSMontserrat Sant Jeroni summit from Collbató Via Bus
17km route to Sant Jeroni, summit of the Montserrat mountain range from Collbató via vineyards, rural restaurant & several abandoned hermitages
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BUSVisiting Cardona Salt Mine, Museum & castle By Bus
Former salt mine active till 1990. Now open for guided tours and mine museum. Medieval 9th Century castle and luxury hotel. Once used to store the salt.
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