Planning to take a day trip to Montserrat from Barcelona? Montserrat is a beautiful mountain range near Barcelona, known for its distinctive rock formations and the Benedictine monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat. It is one of the most popular day trips from Barcelona, and if you want to know how to get to Montserrat from Barcelona by train, car or by joining a group tour, I’ve brought together the best ways to get from Barcelona to Montserrat so you can make the most of this special place.
Before travelling to Montserrat, consider if you prefer to take a day tour or go independently for a day trip or to spend the night. Book as far in advance as you can as popular dates can sell out.
⭐ TOP 3 BEST TOURS TO MONTSERRAT FROM BARCELONA:
1: Montserrat & Cava Winery Tour with Lunch – a fabulous day trip with Devour Tours
2: Montserrat Tour with Cog-Wheel & Black Madonna – includes a ride on the rack railway
3: Montserrat Walking and Horseback Riding Tour – Hike and ride around Montserrat
🛌 BEST PLACE TO STAY OVERNIGHT IN MONTSERRAT:
$$: Hotel Abat Cisneros Montserrat – Excellent location next to the Monastery
What is Montserrat?
Montserrat literally means “serrated mountain” in Catalan, and is a mountain around an hour outside of Barcelona which has a unique formation that looks like the serrated edge of a saw.
The mountain is home to The Benedictine monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat and the statue of the Virgin of Montserrat, commonly known as the Black Madonna or La Moreneta, which is a significant religious and cultural symbol in Catalonia.
Montserrat is a popular destination for tourists, hikers, and pilgrims, and has stunning views of the surrounding countryside as well as opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, horse riding and rock climbing, and is well worth a visit while you are in Barcelona. Most people just come for a day trip, but spend the night here to experience the peace and quiet after the day trippers have left!
Montserrat is often cooler than Barcelona, so come prepared with layered clothing, a jacket and sun protection. You’ll also need to cover knees and shoulders to enter the monastery so dress appropriately. Comfortable shoes for walking are a must!
How to Get to Montserrat from Barcelona?
There are three main ways to get to Montserrat from Barcelona: with a group tour, by train, or by car.
Montserrat Tours from Barcelona
Tours to Montserrat from Barcelona are the most convenient and easiest ways to visit Montserrat. If you’re on a budget, some Montserrat tours from Barcelona actually work out cheaper than taking the train, but they might not include certain activities such as tickets for the funicular or a visit to the Black Madonna.
One downside of taking a tour to Montserrat from Barcelona is that you have a limited time to explore Montserrat, but the convenience of going with a tour means all the logistics are taken care of and you don’t have to worry about navigating the train or getting lost!
Most tours include transport to Montserrat, either by mini-bus or coach. Sometimes they go directly to the top of the mountain, or others might stop at the bottom and then include tickets for the rack railway or cable car to take you up the mountain. A tour of the complex, entry to the Basilica and a ticket to see the Black Madonna are often included. Usually you will then have some free time to explore some of the other things to do in Montserrat.
Some Montserrat tours (like this one) also include an option to visit a winery with a wine tasting and lunch on the way back to Barcelona, which is a great way to combine food and drink with culture and magnificent scenery of Montserrat. You can read my review of the Devour tour to Montserrat here.
The key things you need to look out for when booking a tour to Montserrat from Barcelona are what time you will leave Barcelona (and therefore what time you will arrive in Montserrat), and what is included in your visit.
Generally speaking, the earlier you leave Barcelona, the better, so you can get to Montserrat before the crowds. Montserrat is a very popular place to visit and gets extremely busy with day trippers, so if you arrive earlier than most of them you’ll have Montserrat almost to yourself.
The Best Montserrat Tours from Barcelona
Best Small Group Tour: Montserrat & Cava Winery Tour: Day Trip from Barcelona with Lunch
I joined this tour run by Devour Tours and loved it, so I know from personal experience that this is one of the best Montserrat tours from Barcelona.
It’s an early start (departure time is 7.50am) so you’ll arrive in Montserrat before the crowds, and will visit the Black Madonna and the Monastery while it is still quiet. There is some free time to explore Montserrat before heading to the Penedes wine region to visit a family-run winery that specialises in Cava (sparkling wine).
At the winery, you’ll have a tour of the vineyards in a 4×4 and enjoy a delicious lunch amid the vines with wine pairings before learning about the bottling process and having the chance to win a bottle of cava to take home. The minibus will then drive you back to Barcelona.
BOOK NOW
Best Budget Tour: Montserrat Tour with Cog-Wheel & Black Madonna
This Barcelona Montserrat bus tour has the choice of morning (8am) or afternoon (3pm) departures to avoid the worst of the crowds, and includes a return trip on either the cog wheel (rack railway) train or the aeri cable car, as well as transport by air-conditioned bus from Barcelona to the stations in Montserrat.
The tour includes entry to the Basilica and a ticket to see the Black Madonna as well as entrance to the audio-visual exhibition in Montserrat and liquor tasting. On the days when the Choirboys are practising in the Monastery then there is an option to see them as well, although that reduces the amount of free time you have to explore.
Lunch is not included as it is a half-day tour, although you can purchase food at the restaurant and shop in Montserrat, or bring some snacks of your own.
I haven’t taken this tour myself but have seen where they depart – it is on a large bus so don’t expect a small group tour – but it is great value with prices starting at €50 for the day, and gets good reviews.
Best Active Tour: Montserrat Walking and Horseback Riding Tour
If you want to get a unique experience at Montserrat this is the one for you. It includes transport from Barcelona in an air-conditioned min-bus, a 1 hour guided horseback ride in Montserrat Natural Park, entrance to the Basilica at Montserrat, and a guided walk through Montserrat Natural Park, to take in the best views.
You won’t have much time to explore Montserrat on your own, but will get to experience more of the nature and scenery than with most of the other tour options, so it depends on your priorities. The tour gets great reviews, even from beginner riders, and is a wonderful way to see a different side of the mountain and natural park.
How to Get to Montserrat by Train from Barcelona
Take the R5 Line from Plaça Espanya towards Manresa-Baixador, which is operated by Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC). The train station is underground and you can follow signs for the green Ferrocarrils symbol to find the station in Plaça d’Espanya.
You can buy your ticket at the station, to get from Barcelona to either Aeri de Montserrat or Monistrol de Montserrat, depending on whether you prefer to take the cable car or rack railway up to the top of the mountain. You can buy combined tickets at the station which include the cable car or rack railway journey, or buy them separately when you arrive at the respective station at Montserrat.
Both options are the same price, and both have spectacular views, but you’ll need to decide which one you prefer before you buy your ticket if you want to save money on the combined return ticket option.
The train journey takes about an hour, plus the ride to the top in whichever transport you choose. For the cable car, get off the train at Aeri de Montserrat, and for the rack railway, get off the train at Monistrol de Montserrat, which is the next stop.
There are various ticket options available which can be confusing!
I recommend checking the timetables for everything before you travel so you can try to co-ordinate the best times for you. The Cremellera Rack Railway is more comfortable and accessible, with seating available (plus you are first on the R5 train back to Barcelona so more chance of a seat on the journey back to Barcelona), but the Cable Car has better views, and runs more frequently, although it starts later.
➡️ Check the R5 train timetables from Barcelona here
➡️ Check the Cremellera Rack Railway timetables from Monistrol de Montserrat here
➡️ Check the Cable Car timetable from Aeri de Montserrat here
Transfers from the Train Station to Montserrat
As I mentioned, there are several options to get from the train station at the base of Montserrat Mountain up to the monastery.
Both the cable car and the rack railway offer stunning views, so choose the one that suits you best – if you’re not keen on heights than the railway is probably best for you!
Another alternative, if you’re feeling active, is to hike up the mountain from Monistrol de Montserrat, which is about an hour and a half of hiking uphill.
Montserrat Rack Railway
The first Montserrat Rack Railway, also called La Cremallera de Montserrat or cog-wheel train, opened in 1892 and made the journey to Montserrat much easier although it still took 65 minutes to get from Monistrol station to the Monastery!
These days it only takes 15 minutes, although the frequency of trains vary between 1 per hour in low season to every 20 minutes or so at peak times.
The trains and platforms are adapted for those with reduced mobility, and the trains have panoramic windows so you can get a great view of the countryside and landscape as the train climbs up the mountain.
TOP TIP: sit on the left hand side of the carriage on the way up for the best views of landscape, and on the right hand side on the way down for the same.
The Montserrat Rack Railway is the most accessible and comfortable option as the train has seats (the cable car is standing only) and it starts earlier so you can be among the first people in Montserrat. While there are great views from the train, the cable car has more spectacular views.
Tickets cost €9 per adult one way or €15 return, with reduced rates for seniors, and €4.50 per child from 4 to 13 years old one way or €7.50 return. Children 3 and under go free. Return tickets are valid for up to 3 days after the first use.
Montserrat Cable Car – Best Views
The Aeri de Montserrat cable car whizzes up the mountain from the train station at Aeri de Montserrat to the Monastery in just 5 minutes.
The views are spectacular, but there are no seats inside the cable car, which holds up to 35 people standing, and is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Cable Cars depart every 15 minutes, starting from 9.30am and run until 5.15pm in off season, up to 7pm in peak season.
Tickets cost €10 per adult one way or €15 return, with reduced rates for seniors, single parents and others, and €5.25 per child from 4 to 13 years old one way or €7.50 return. Children 3 and under go free. Return tickets are valid for up to 3 days after the first use.
While the cable car has the best views, it starts later than the rack railway so not ideal for early birds. Also, if you are taking the train back to Barcelona, on the return journey you will get on the train after everyone at the Monistrol de Montserrat station so you may not get a seat.
Bus to Montserrat from Barcelona
I haven’t been able to find much information about the bus from Barcelona to Montserrat as it not the most popular option, but apparently Autocares Julia offers a daily service from Barcelona to Montserrat Monastery and back. The bus drops you at the top of the mountain, so no rack railway or cable car transfer is needed.
On their website it has a pdf of what seems to be the current timetable, with one return trip every day (except 25th December and 1st January). Buses depart from the bus station at Sants, Barcelona Estacion de Autobuses de Sants, on Carrer de Viriat (get location here) at 9.15am, arriving at Montserrat Monastery at 10.40am.
Return buses leave Montserrat Monastery at 5pm from 1st October to 31st May, and at 6pm during the Summer from 1 June to 30th September, arriving back at Barcelona Sants bus station 1 hour and 15 minutes later.
I haven’t found up to date prices for this but it is the cheapest way to get to Montserrat from Barcelona. The Julia website doesn’t have prices but I’ve seen it listed on other websites as €6.25 one way but I’m not sure if that is accurate for 2026. It seems the only place to buy tickets is directly from the Autocares Julia desk at Sants Bus Station, you can also call them for more information on +34 93 402 69 00.
Drive to Montserrat from Barcelona
While I don’t recommend hiring a car to explore the city of Barcelona, having your own transport is a great way to get out and explore more of Catalonia, including Montserrat. You can hire a car in Barcelona from the airport, the railway station or several other locations in the city.
Looking to Hire a Car in Barcelona?
Get a quote for car hire with Discover Cars who compare car rental deals from trusted suppliers in Barcelona like Alamo, Avis, Budget, Centauro, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, SIXT and many more, so you know you're getting a great deal.
It is possible to drive to Montserrat Monastery, however, the road up the mountain is narrow and winding, and parking near the Monastery is limited and can be around 20 minute’s walk up hill to the Monastery. If you can find a space, as of 2026, parking costs for a standard car is €7 for up to 24 hours with the first 30 minutes free. Check current prices here (assuming the website is kept up to date!).
Another option is to drive to Monistrol de Montserrat and take the rack railway for the last part of the journey, or to Aeri de Montserrat and take the cable car. Both of these places have free car parking, although you’ll have to pay for the tickets to ride the cable car or train which is €13.50 or €14.00 per adult.
The drive to Montserrat in these cases is quite straightforward and is on the highway for most of the journey, once you have left the city. The Montserrat website offers these instructions for driving to Montserrat from Barcelona, depending on where you are leaving from:
From Barcelona leaving the city by Avinguda Diagonal:
— B-23 dual carriageway and A-2 Barcelona-Lleida motorway (Manresa exit); C-55 road
to Monistrol de Montserrat and BP-1121 to Montserrat.
— B-23 dual carriageway and A-2 Barcelona-Lleida motorway (Montserrat exit); BP-1103
road to Montserrat.
From Barcelona leaving the city by Avinguda Meridiana:
— C-58 dual carriageway; C-16 motorway (Montserrat exit); C-55 road to Monistrol de
Montserrat and BP-1121 to Montserrat.
— C-58 dual carriageway; C-58 road; C-55 to Monistrol de
Montserrat and BP-1121 to Montserrat.
From Barcelona leaving by the Vallvidrera tunnels:
— Vallvidrera tunnels, C-16 motorway(Montserrat exit) C-55 road to Monistrol de
Montserrat and BP-1121 to Montserrat.
I’d recommend using a GPS or your phone for navigation just in case – if you don’t have data then download Maps.me for data-free navigation.
Where to Stay in Montserrat
If you decide to spend the night in Montserrat there are only three hotels that are at the top of Montserrat mountain, so you can enjoy the peace and quiet of Montserrat once most visitors have left – and avoid a very early start in the morning!
The hotels do fill up, so book as far in advance as you can to avoid disappointment. One night should be enough unless you plan to do several different hiking trails in Montserrat.
There are some more hotels in Monistrol de Montserrat where you can take the Rack Railway to and from the Monastery which gives you more options to choose from.
There are also some campsites in Montserrat Natural Park which are great if you have a campervan, caravan or tent.
Hotels at Montserrat
Hotel Abat Cisneros Montserrat
Right next to the monastery, this hotel is a decent choice for accommodation at Montserrat. Reviews mention the outdated décor and low quality food in the restaurant, although the location is really what you pay for. Not all rooms have views, so check when you book. My friend stayed here on her last visit and she said it was basic but fine, and being in Montserrat without the crowds was well worth it! ➡️CHECK PRICES & AVAILABILITY
Apartamentos Montserrat Abat Marcet
These apartments next to the monastery have simple décor and come with a kitchenette so you can cook your own meals – although reviews mention there are no basic supplies like a lighter to light the stove or any cleaning equipment to wash up.
There are studios, and one and two bedroom apartments for families. For the dates I checked there was a minimum stay of 2 nights. ➡️CHECK PRICES & AVAILABILITY
Alberg Abat Oliba
A good option for families, Alberg Abat Oliba has twin, quadruple and family rooms for up to 6 people. There is a restaurant and a shared kitchen onsite, and breakfast is included in the rate. ➡️ CHECK PRICES & AVAILABILITY
Hotels in Monistrol de Montserrat
Barceló Apartaments
Right next to the train station, these apartments are in an excellent location and have a view of Montserrat, as well as kitchen facilities to cook your own meals. ➡️CHECK PRICES & AVAILABILITY
Alojamiento en Montserrat – Montserrat Paradise Apartament
This duplex apartment has 3 bedrooms and a sofa bed so is perfect for families or groups, and is one of the highest-rated places to stay in Montserrat. It has a hot tub and sauna, and wellness packages are available. There is a kitchen and a terrace with mountain views. ➡️CHECK PRICES & AVAILABILITY
Piso con Desayuno Incluido y Vistas a la Montaña.
This privately owned one bedroom apartment is also next to the train station and has a balcony with mountain views. There is a kitchen, which has a stovetop, a refrigerator, kitchenware and a microwave. There is also an on-site family-friendly restaurant, and packed lunches are available upon request. ➡️CHECK PRICES & AVAILABILITY
Montserrat FAQ
Can you Drive to Montserrat Monastery?
It is possible to drive to Montserrat Monastery, however the road up the mountain is narrow and winding, and parking near the Monastery is limited and expensive. A better option is to drive to Monistrol de Montserrat and take the rack railway for the last part of the journey, or to Aeri de Montserrat and take the cable car. Both of these places have free car parking.
Do I have to pay to see the Black Madonna?
There used to be no charge for visiting the Black Madonna, however for tourists there is now a €10 fee to visit the Black Madonna, and you need to reserve tickets in advance to guarantee entry. Book time slots on the official website here.
Which is the Best Way to Get to Montserrat?
It depends on your budget and how much time you have; tours are the easiest option and are often cheaper than travelling independently, but you are restricted on how long you have to spend exploring. Trains are the most common way to get to Montserrat without a tour, with various times available during the day. Buses are the cheapest option but there is only 1 bus to Montserrat and 1 return bus each day so you don’t have any flexibility on timings.
What is There to Do in Montserrat?
The Basilica and the Black Madonna Statue are the most popular things to do in Montserrat, but there is also an art museum, an interactive audiovisual show, the chance to see the boy’s choir perform and lots of hiking routes. This article covers the best things to do in Montserrat.