Barcelona to Montserrat Day Trip Guide
When booking your trip to Spain. I encourage you to go beyond famous cities like Barcelona and Seville for a taste of Spain’s breathtaking countryside. The most popular day trip to do in Spain is to travel from Barcelona to Montserrat.
Only 30 miles northwest of Barcelona by car, you can spend the day climbing mountain peaks, looking at art in the museum, or sitting among hand-carved sculptures of God’s disciples inside the Montserrat Basilica.
The great thing about traveling to Montserrat is that there are plenty of transportation options even if you don’t have a car.
What is the Significance of Montserrat?
This abbey hosts the Virgin of Montserrat sanctuary and is considered to be one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Spain. The Virgin of Montserrat, also known as La Moreneta due to her dark complexion, is the patron saint of Catalonia.
Montserrat has become a symbol of Catalan identity and nationalism. The mountain and the monastery have played a role in Catalan history, particularly during periods of repression, such as under the Franco regime, when the abbey served as a sanctuary for scholars, artists, and politicians.
The site continues to be a focal point for Catalan culture and language.
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How to Get to Montserrat from Barcelona
On my trip to Spain, we decided to stop in Montserrat from Madrid before heading to Barcelona, which is the opposite of what others do. The drive to Montserrat from Madrid is quite lengthy at around 5 hours and 33 minutes without traffic, but there are a lot of places to stop along the way if you like longer road trips.
It is important that you book your tickets ahead of time, which can be done online or at the vending machines in Placa Espana station. There are different tickets depending on if you are driving a car or taking the train from Barcelona.
For a single journey, the cost of a train ticket is 14 euros. If you want a combined ticket that includes the monastery and the funicular mountain trains for different viewpoints, it will be around 45 euros.
If you want to experience everything that Montserrat has to offer, buy the ToT Montserrat ticket, which includes free lunch and free entry into museum for around 68 euros.
Train and Rack Railway
If you are taking the train, make sure to hop on the FGC R5 line and look for the Monistrol de Montserrat station. (Taking the train is the cheaper option and can save you a bit of headache for finding parking.)
From there, take the rack railway (Cremallera) up to the Monastery. This option provides a scenic route up the mountain.
Train and Cable Car
Take the R5 line from Barcelona’s Plaça Espana station towards Manresa. Then get off at the Aeri de Montserrat station. From there, take the cable car up to Montserrat Monastery. The ride offers spectacular views as well.
Take a Shuttle Bus
You can also take direct buses to Montserrat, but they are less frequent than trains, which means less time exploring. AeroBus Montserrat operates a direct bus service from Barcelona to Montserrat.
The departure point is usually from Barcelona city center, but it’s essential to check the current schedule and departure point just to be sure.
Joining a Guided Tour
Many companies offer guided tours from Barcelona to Montserrat, which include transportation (usually by coach), a guide, and sometimes additional activities or entrance fees to parts of the monastery or museum.
This can be a convenient and informative option if you don’t want to do all the planning yourself. However, you’re on a time crunch and you usually won’t have as much time to explore the monastery.
You can find many options for this day trip on Get Your Guide or Viator!
Driving a Car
Driving a car to Montserrat can be quite challenging, especially if it’s your first time driving in Spain. It’s important that you pay attention to the signs and watch your speed. For specific details on the route from Barcelona to Montserrat, refer to this guide to help.
Final Thoughts: Barcelona to Montserrat Day Trip
Depending on which transportation option you choose and the time that you set out for Montserrat, expect this trip to take all day, especially if you want to have dinner or go hiking in search of even better views.
I hope your day trip to Montserrat is nothing short of magical, offering a perfect blend of nature, culture, and spirituality.
Montserrat’s unique aura, with its centuries-old monastery, perched precariously on the mountainside, is a testament to the enduring spirit of Catalonia.
So, as the day comes to a close and you reminisce about the sights, sounds, and sensations of your Montserrat adventure, remember that this mystical mountain will always be there, beckoning you to return and uncover its secrets once more.
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