Montserrat day trip from Barcelona: rack railway, cable car and hikes

How to visit Montserrat from Barcelona: trains from Plaça d'Espanya, the rack railway or cable car, the Black Madonna, the choir and the best short hikes.

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Why Montserrat

Montserrat is a jagged mountain of pink conglomerate rock about an hour north-west of Barcelona, home to a Benedictine monastery that has been a pilgrimage site for centuries. The scenery alone justifies the trip.

Getting there

FGC trains on the R5 line leave from Plaça d'Espanya. Get off at Aeri de Montserrat for the cable car, or at Monistrol de Montserrat for the rack railway (Cremallera). Combined tickets that include the train and the mountain transport are sold at Plaça d'Espanya and online. Both options are scenic; the cable car is shorter and steeper, the rack railway more comfortable.

The monastery and the Moreneta

The basilica holds La Moreneta, a wooden Romanesque statue of the Virgin and Child darkened with age and the patron of Catalonia. Visitors queue to see it from a chapel behind the altar; lines are long around midday and at weekends. The Escolania, one of Europe's oldest boys' choirs, usually sings in the basilica on certain days; check the schedule, as it does not perform during school holidays.

Hiking and funiculars

The Sant Joan funicular climbs above the monastery to trails with huge views; an easy walk leads to the Sant Joan hermitage area, and a longer path continues to Sant Jeroni, the highest point. The Santa Cova funicular descends towards a chapel built where the statue was said to have been found.

Tips

Go early to beat tour groups, bring water and layers, as the mountain is cooler and windier than the city. The Museu de Montserrat has a surprisingly good art collection, including works by Picasso, Dalí and Catalan modernists.

The mountain and the monastery

Montserrat means 'serrated mountain', a fitting name for its jagged pink conglomerate peaks, which rise abruptly about an hour north-west of Barcelona. A Benedictine monastery has stood here for roughly a thousand years, and the basilica houses the Virgin of Montserrat, known as La Moreneta, the patron saint of Catalonia. Pilgrims and visitors queue to touch the statue; at busy times the wait can be long.

Hiking options

Beyond the monastery, marked paths lead to hermitages, viewpoints and the summit of Sant Jeroni, the highest point of the massif. The Sant Joan funicular shortens the climb to the upper trails. Paths are well signed, but carry water, wear proper shoes and check the weather, as conditions can change quickly in the mountains. Natural park rules apply.

Food and facilities

There are cafés, a self-service restaurant and shops at the monastery complex, and a small market where local producers sell cheese, honey and the herbal liqueur Ratafia. Bringing a picnic is a good option for hikers, especially on busy days.

When to go

Weekday mornings are calmer than weekends. Spring and autumn are ideal for hiking. In summer, start early to avoid the midday heat and crowds; in winter, the mountain can be cold and windy. Check the choir schedule if you want to hear the Escolania, which does not sing every day or during school holidays.

Where to stay

Most visitors stay in Barcelona near Plaça d'Espanya, where trains to Montserrat depart. Staying overnight at Montserrat lets you enjoy the mountain after day visitors leave.

FAQ

Official sources

• Official Barcelona tourism
• TMB (Metro & buses)