Our readers write us quite often to ask what to see in Barcelona, especially if they already visited the city and hence they have already seen the most important sights. One of the excursions we strongly recommend to people who visit Barcelona is a day trip to Montserrat, a very peculiar mountain situated only 50 km from Barcelona. The shape of the mountain is very unusual with a large number of strange rocky formations, many of them resembling animals and other creatures.
It’s worth visiting Montserrat not only because of the landscape, but also to embrace the spiritual and historical importance of this site. One of the holiest places of Catalonia is found here, the Santa Maria de Montserrat Monastery, which is a Benedictine abbey originated form the 9th century. We can find the Virgin of Montserrat (the black virgin), the favourite saint of Catalonia in the Montserrat Monastery, and apart from the main monastery, we can find many other holy shrines and chapels, if we go hiking in the mountains.
We invite you on a photographic travel excursion to explore this wonderful site, which you can add to your list of what to see around Barcelona.
Useful Information about Montserrat
Where is Montserrat:
Montserrat is at just 50 km from Barcelona
How to get to Montserrat from Barcelona by train:
1.) Local Train + Funicular Railway: You can take a local FGC train (R5) from Plaza España in Barcelona and at the Monistrol de Montserrat station you can change to the green funicular railway (called “Cremallera”). Combined tickets can be bought in Barcelona.
2.) Local Train + Cable Car: You can take the same local train R5 from Plaza España in Barcelona and get off at Montserrat-Aeri for the cable car ride. The latter combination is shorter with even more amazing views, but the cost is slightly higher than that of the 1st option. Combined tickets are also available.
3.) Train + Walk: The cheapest and healthiest way of getting to the Montserrat Monastery is hiking there from the village of Monistrol de Montserrat. After taking the already mentioned R5 train from Plaza España in Barcelona, you get off at Monistrol Montserrat. From the village there are several different trails to climb up to the Monsastery, the length of the hikes is around 4 km, and the slope is over 500 m, so you have to be in relatively good form.
Trails starting from the Montserrat Monastery that worth your effort:
1.) The walk to the pilgrim site, the Santa Cova Chapel. The length of this walk is around 2.7 km (Slope: 120 m) and during the walk you’ll have fantastic views of the surrounding area, and looking up, the views of the monastery are pretty spectacular, too.
2.) The walk to Sant Miquel’s Cross. This easy, 30 minute-walk from the monastery leads you to a fantastic viewpoint from where you will have the greatest view on the Montserrat Monastery.
3.) Climbing Sant Jeroni, the highest peak of the Montserrat Mountains. For those who want some more physical experience, it’s worth climbing the Sant Jeroni (ca. 3 hours return from the monastery), from where you’ll have an unbeatable view on the whole mountain chain. Simply breathtaking.
Wow! Nature at its best. Those rock formations are gorgeous, thank you for sharing this, I would love to visit Montserrat
Thanks Alejandra! Montserrat is a really unique and wonderful natural creation! Hope you can visit it one day!
I really, really love your photography. I didn’t know there’s such a gorgeous landscape and monastery so close to Barcelona. And I love visiting places with unique rock formations!
Thanks so much! Montserrat is a really unique place and it’s easily accessible from Barcelona on a day trip.
When me and my friend was in Barcelona she was nagging me to go for a day out yo Montserrat now I regret now going there. Beautiful place to explore but maybe one day
Next time you will! Thanks for commenting!
Stunning images! I love Barcelona and will definitely return, so I’ll put Mostserrat on my itinerary!
Thank you, and hope you will be able to visit soon!
Your pictures are absolutely gorgeous. I’m going to have to pin this and keep it in mind for the future.
Thanks so much!
This looks absolutely gorgeous! I’m going to TBEX soon and planning to spend a few days in Barcelona first, so I’ll definitely visit Montserrat when I’m there. Looking forward to it even more now!
It’s a great idea to visit Montserrat when you come to TBEX!
Beautiful photos. When I was there is was pretty cold so I did not really get hike around the area. Next time.
Thanks Jeff! Hope you wil be luckier with the weather next time!
We’re going to be in Barcelona in May and will definitely be making a day trip out here!
It’s a good idea to do that!
This is probably really helpful to those heading to TBEX. I hope more people get out there and explore Montserrat. We didn’t have enough time the last time we were in Barcelona, and were kicking ourselves for it. Until we saw your pictures. Now we’re just depressed.
I am sure you will have another chance to visit Montserrat!
Montserrat looks so beautiful, and unusual. I would love to visit. I hope to get to Barcelona soon, so I will definitely follow your tips for getting to Montserrat. 🙂
Thanks very much for commenting! I am sure you can get to visit Barcelona soon, and then you can include a day trip to Montserrat in your itinerary.
Gorgeous pictures! I would love to visit Montserrat!
Thanks Kristi!
Wow. Those mountains are impressive and that said from an Austrian. 😉
Would love to hike there.
Yeah, I agree with you that these mountains are really special, even for those who are used the high mountains. The shape of the rocks is really unique.
I’ll be in Barcelona this spring. Maybe I should attempt a trip to Monserrat, it’s not so far. It looks really beautiful.
I can really recommend you to spend a day in Montserrat, if you have time when visiting Barcelona.
Wow! The monastery looks amazing. I will bookmark your post for future use since barcelona is on my list!
Thanks! I hope you will get to visit soon!
What a dreamy place! And your photos are just superb!
Thanks Megsy!
Montserrat is breathtakingly beautiful! I stumbled this, this is StumbleUpon worthy, meaning this is a day trip I will jump upon taking!
I am glad Andrea that you liked it! Thanks for stumbling it!
Oh wow! I think I would enjoy this place more than Barca! Amazing photos too. As a climber I can really appreciate the landscape here, but it is also so beautiful.
Oh wow, as always, your photos look straight from a National Geographic magazine. What I would give to do-over my underwhelming experience in Barcelona and exchange it for something like this! The trip here looks so worth it!
Thanks Alli for this very kind comment!
Wow Amazing pictures!
I am Spanish and Barcelona city and region is a must see for any traveller, it is beautiful
Thanks so much!
Wow! Looks amazing! Will put it on my list when we go to Spain. Thanks for the great information!
Thanks Elizabeth, hope you can visit Montserrat on your visit to Spain!
What a great place! My Couchsurfing host took me there, we had a great day and reading your post made me remember that. Thanks 🙂
I am glad you had a great time there! Couchsurfing is also gret for this, local hosts usually show you those awesome places that are not the top recommendations of the guide books
Looks so surreal, so interesting.
I’m sorry I couldn’t visit it, although I’ve been a few times to Barcelona… But: NEXT TIME! 😀
Montserrat is really worth visiting, so next time you come to Barcelona, don’t miss out on that!
Absolutely beautiful pictures! Have heard so much about Montserrat, hopefully I can visit one day! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much! Hope you can get to visit Montserrat soon!
Barcelona has been on our bucket list for a while – your amazing photography has helped move it to the top of our list!
Thanks so much for this really kind comment! Hope you can get to visit soon!
I’m obsessed with everything about this. I don’t know what else to say.
Wow, Montserrat is gorgeous!
Do you conduct the tours? I plan on a day trip from BCN in August and would love to do a photography tour. Thanks!
Hi Sonal! We don’t conduct the tours, and actually you don’t need a tour to enjoy this wonderful place. You can use public transport to get there and then you can walk along one or more of the itineraries I mention above (all these details you can find in the post). If you need any more concrete information, feel free to contact us!
I’m going to Barcelona next month for the first time. How long takes by train to arrive in Montserrat? I really want to go there.
Dear Selma! You have to take a train at Plaza España in Barcelona, and it takes an 1h 30 min to get to the feet of Montserrat mountain. From there you can take the cable car, which takes you in 10-15 min up to the monastery.
How long do you think it will take us to explore Montserrat? Are there trains to and from Montserrat every hour? Planning to visit Barcelona next fall but only have 2 days to spare. Definitely would love to see M.
Hi Gisela! From Plaza España station in Barcelona there are trains twice every hour to Monistrol de Montserrat. From there you can either walk up to the Monastery (1,5-2 hours) or take some of the additional transports. There are cable-cars from Montserrat-Aeri or Cremallera train (a green funicular train) from Monsitrol village. You can buy either normal tickets (if you prefer to walk up) or combined tickets for (train+funicular o train+cable car) in Barcelona. In a first visit, I recommend taking the additional transport and when you get up there, there are several nice trails to walk, and spend the whole day in the area. If you need any more information, don’t hesitate to contact us!
Love your pictures.. Gorgeous!!
We are planning to go to Barcelona in Mid November. What do you think in terms of going to hike at that time of the year ?
Lastly.. this would be our first time.. in BCN.. really keen on hiking in Montserrat, with a family( 2 boys 11, 12).
What do you suggest be our mode of transportation?
Thank you for your post, suggestions and love the pics !!!
Hi Savita! The weather is usually nice in the area, and even in winter it’s perfectly possible to hike in Montserrat. As far transportation options, you can find detailed information in the post. There are organized excursions (including hiking) at the beginning of the article, and you will find the individual modes at the end of the post. Thanks for your comment!
Really interesting post about Montserrat. I went hiking to Sant Jeroni ,the top of Sant Jeroni, a really beautiful hike also in Montserrat!!
Hi Andres! Thanks for your message. We already mention San Jeroni in our post 😉