Imagine standing atop a rugged mountain range, surrounded by breathtaking scenery, and exploring a centuries-old monastery that holds immense cultural and spiritual significance. Welcome to Montserrat—a destination that promises a unique blend of adventure, history, and spirituality. Whether you’re a travel enthusiast, an adventure seeker, a history buff, or a Catholic pilgrim, a day trip to Montserrat is a must.
In this blog post, we will take you through everything you need to know about planning an extraordinary day trip to Montserrat from Barcelona including how to get there, the best things to do in Montserrat, what to wear, and more. For more information about Barcelona, be sure to check out our detailed Barcelona Travel Guide.
What Is There to Do in Montserrat?
Catalonia is filled with incredible places to visit. As the region’s biggest city, Barcelona is a major springboard to Eastern Spain’s greatest sights. While there are plenty of great day trips from Barcelona, it is hard to top a trip to the stunning Montserrat monastery tucked high into the mountains.
The Montserrat Monastery
The Montserrat Monastery, also known as Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey, is the heart of Montserrat. This benedictine monastery is often considered the jewel of Catalunya, and it has been a cultural gemstone for centuries. While Barcelona has its fair share of epic churches, like the Sagrada Familia, Montserrat stands head and shoulders above the best churches to visit in Barcelona.
Founded in the 11th century, the monastery is renowned for its stunning architecture and historical significance. The façade of the basilica is a masterpiece, with intricate carvings and statues that tell the story of Montserrat’s religious heritage. It is most commonly known for housing a famous Black Madonna statue.
Religious Pilgrimage to the Monastery of Montserrat
The Montserrat monastery is open to all, regardless of religion. But for devout worshippers, one of the best ways to experience Montserrat is to hike from the bottom of the mountain up to the monastery as a pilgrimage! This 10km hike (each way) can be completed between 2-3 hours, and its starting point is the town of Monistrol de Montserrat at the foot of the mountains. This route is known as the Pilgrimage Path, and it was formerly called the PR-32.
Pilgrims have been hiking up to monastery since the middle ages, when hiking was the only way for a commoner to arrive at the Abbey. To this day, many groups of pilgrims make the trek every year, and it is a part of the famous Camino de Santiago trek.
Natural Park of Montserrat
For nature lovers, the Natural Park of Montserrat is a paradise. The park offers numerous trekking routes, each providing spectacular views of the surrounding landscape. The flora and fauna are diverse, and you might even spot some rare species.
The name Montserrat itself means “serrated mountain”, a testament to the saw-tooth shape of the mountains in the similarly named mountain range. In the village of Montserrat, there is no shortage of panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and towns.
The most popular trail is the Sant Jeroni route, which takes you to the highest peak of Montserrat. Sant Jeroni, or Saint George, is the patron saint of Catalonia.
The Art Museum of Montserrat
The Museum of Montserrat is a wonderful little art museum run by the monastery. It is filled with Catalan paintings from the past few centuries. It is included when you buy a combination ticket from the monastery’s official website, or can be visited for just 8 euros on its own.
This little Montserrat museum is humble in comparison to alternatives in Barcelona, but it is a great pitstop to see the work of famous artists from the area while visiting the monastery.
The Sant Joan Funicular Train and Cablecar
Sometimes the journey is a part of the final destination, too! To get to the top of the mountain, travelers can take either the Sant Joan Funicular train or the Aeri Cablecar. There is also the Sant Joan Funicular train that take passengers from the foot of the mountains up to the cogwheel train station at the gate of the monastery. Train tickets can be bought ahead of time at Placa España station in Barcelona.
How Much Time Do You Need in Montserrat?
Many people recommend visiting Montserrat as a half-day tour from Barcelona, but we think it is better to plan your Montserrat tour to take a full day. This is especially true if you want to learn more about the religious significance of the monastery and the Virgin of Montserrat. We visited for a half day, and we didn’t have time to hike in the national park or ride the cogwheel train up the mountain.
We think it is better to plan your Montserrat tour to take a full day.
There are some cute, smaller things to do while in Montserrat, too. One great example is a pop-up market that takes place selling local produce and agricultural goods! Because of these things, booking a full day tour of Montserrat should leave you the perfect amount of free time to get the most out of your visit.
How To Get To Montserrat
TRAIN | CAR | GUIDED TOURS
When it comes to traveling from Barcelona to Montserrat, you have several options, each with its own set of advantages. The most popular choices are train, car, and via a tour guide. We opted to book a private tour that included transportation from Barcelona, so we traveled by private van from our accommodation in Barcelona straight to the monastery.
Montserrat is not a very big place, so if you plan on traveling on your own and meeting your guide at the monastery, the meeting point will not be far from the train station or cablecar station.
What to Wear to Montserrat
The Abbey at Montserrat is a functioning church community, and you should dress respectfully if you wish to enter. With that being said, hiking is a very popular activity in the area, and there is no need to adhere to a formal dress code to visit the monastery. You can wear athletic and comfortable attire, but it is advised to wear things on the conservative side, such as long pants or leggings and no tank tops or sports bras.
Many travelers don’t recognize that many churches in Europe enforce their dress codes and turn visitors away if their attire is too immodest – even in famous touristy areas.
The Spiritual and Cultural Significance of Montserrat
Montserrat is not just a tourist destination; it’s a place of profound spiritual and cultural importance. For Catholics and other Christians, Montserrat has held a special place for centuries. The Black Madonna (or Black Virgin), known as La Moreneta, is believed to have miraculous powers and attracts thousands of pilgrims every year. The monastery also offers spiritual retreats and religious services, providing a serene environment for reflection and prayer.
The monastery has been destroyed and rebuilt several times, as recently as the mid-1900s after the Spanish Civil War. Seemingly every major opposition leader, including Napoleon, set his sights on the esteemed Abbey of Montserrat. Maybe that is a testament to its significance!
The monastery also hosts a range of events every year. If you’re planning your visit, consider timing it around one of Montserrat’s annual events. The Feast of Our Lady of Montserrat, celebrated on April 27th, is a vibrant festival featuring religious processions, music, and traditional dances. Other notable events include the Montserrat Music Festival and various art exhibitions.
A day trip to Montserrat from Barcelona offers a perfect blend of adventure, history, culture, and spirituality. From the awe-inspiring Montserrat Monastery to the exhilarating hiking trails, there’s something for everyone. We spent only a half day here, and would have much preferred a whole day.
We hope this guide inspires you to explore Montserrat on your next visit to Barcelona. Whether you are a religious pilgrim or on vacation in Spain, Montserrat is a place you don’t want to miss.
Hopefully this post answered the question any questions you have about taking a day trip to Montserrat. If you have any other questions, let us know by dropping a comment below!
