Thinking about a trip from Barcelona to Montserrat to explore this place on your own? Here is what you need to know before heading out to this beautiful place. It has the perfect combination of nature and mysticism!
About Montserrat mountain
Montserrat mountain is probably one of the most magic places in the country and it is located quite close to Barcelona. Specifically, 50km away from the city. A lot has been said and written about this magic place over time, and its stories waiting for you to discover ;-)
From Barcelona to Montserrat: How to get there?
1. Train (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya FGC, not renfe) + Funicular (cable car) / Cremallera (special train)
You will have to take the train R5 (Destination Manresa) at Plaça Espanya station and then you have two options:
1. Get off at the stop “Aeri de Montserrat” to take the cable car (called Telefèric Sant Joan) which will take you to the Montserrat Monastery. This cable car leaves every 15 minutes and it takes only 5 minutes to get to the top.
2. Get off at the stop “Monistrol de Montserrat” and then take a special train which is called “Cremallera” to get to the Montserrat Monastery. It leaves every 30 minutes/1 hour (depending on the season) and you will arrive to the monastery in 20 minutes.
You can buy the tickets directly in the vending machines of the station, but you can also check timetables and prices here. There is a “pack option” offer called “Pack Trans Montserrat” which includes a round trip ticket to Montserrat and Cable Car/Cremallera.
There is also a pack “Trans Montserrat” which costs 31,50€ and includes the ticket metro, a round trip ticket to Montserrat + Cremallera train).
2. By bus
The cheapest way to get from Barcelona to Montserrat, a route operated by Autocars Julià. A one way ticket costs 5,10€, but here is what you need to take into account: there is only one departure in the morning (which is around 9.15am) and only one departure on the way back from Montserrat (which is around 5pm). You can check the schedule here since it may vary depending on the season.
The departure point is at the square in Estació de Sants (Plaça dels Països Catalans) and you can buy the ticket there.
3. By car
If you drive to Montserrat, you have two options to park: there is a parking lot in Montserrat Monastery (which costs 6,50€/day) or you can also leave your car at the parking lot in Monistrol de Montserrat train station, before arriving to the monastery, which is free. The good thing of this second option is that you can take the special train called “Cremallera” to get to the monastery, while enjoying beautiful views of the mountain on your way up.
What to do in Montserrat?
1. Just contemplate this magic mountain range
First things first. Before heading out to explore the must-stops marked on your map (virtually talking), make sure to look up to contemplate this artwork’s nature. A mountain range with a strong personality which is easily perceived through its majestic forms.
2. Montserrat Monastery: Santa Maria de Montserrat
After taking the time to contemplate the views, you are ready to go to your first stop: Montserrat Monastery. It was founded in 1025 and remodeled by Catalan architect Puig i Cadafalch in the nineteenth century. This monastery treasures the most important icon in Montserrat: La Moreneta (The Black Madonna), the patron saint of Catalonia. It is a figure of Virgin Mary and Jesus which is made out of wood, and there is one visible trait that makes it really special: her skin is completely black (this is why in Catalan it is called “La Moreneta”).
3. “Santa Cova”: the origins
Santa Cova is where all begins. It is the place where La Moreneta was found and it is located approximately one kilometer away from the monastery. “Santa Cova” is accessible through a special cable car (check first, it is inoperative sometimes) and also through a path dug into the mountain which also hides a surprise that you will find on your way: Gaudí’s artwork “Rosari Monumental de Montserrat”, a set of sculptural work of a religious character. And once you finally enter the cave you will also realize something else: how this chapel is beautifully integrated on the grotto in which it was built.
4. Montserrat Museum
It is located in the basement of the Montserrat Monastery square, and is definitely a must-stop specially for those who love art. This museum hosts paintings from recognized artists worldwide such as Caravaggio, Marià Fortuny, El Greco, Degas, Santiago Rossinyol and Claude Monet.
5. Mirador de Sant Jeroni
Sant Jeroni lookout is the highest point of this mountain range called Montserrat. This is why we highly recommend you to stop by and enjoy amazing views: you can contemplate the Pyrenees from up there and even catch a glimpse of Mallorca island (on a side note: check the weather before visiting). It is accessible trough the cable car “Sant Jeroni”.
BONUS
We added two more places to visit as a “bonus” since it will basically depend on the time you are going to spend in Montserrat (exploring both places is going to take a couple of hours, since they are a bit far from the monastery):
6. Santa Cecilia Monastery
Besides Montserrat monastery, this is another beautiful monastery worth a visit. Specially because it is surrounded by that majestic range of mountains and that general view is quite amazing. Here is proof:
This is a recommended stop if you are visiting Montserrat by car, since it only takes 8 minutes to get there. But it is not accessible by public transport, and it would take around 3-4 hours to get there by foot.
7. Sant Joan, Sant Onofre i Santa Magdalena hermitages
Also, if you like hiking and exploring places with hidden stories that not everybody knows… You will probably enjoy a tour discovering these three hermitages (there are tour operators which offer tours covering this route). Sant Joan, Sant Onofre i Santa Magdalena hermitages are only accessible by foot.
Where to eat in Montserrat?
Bring your own food
A nice option since there is a picnic area. Eating while contemplating Montserrat in the background sounds like a plan (very important: don’t forget to leave the place as clean as you found it).
Eat in a restaurant in Montserrat
Also, if you prefer to eat something there (instead of exploring restaurants nearby), you have this option too. There is a restaurant “Bufet Montserrat”, a bar “El Bar de la Plaça” (sandwiches basically) and also a coffee shop.
Eat in a restaurant in a nearby village
This is the option we recommend (cheapest and most authentic) to explore the Catalan cuisine in a traditional restaurant in a village nearby, for instance, Monistrol de Montserrat. Here are two suggestions:
– Restaurant Ca la Rosa (lucky you if it is calçots season! ;-)).
– Restaurant/Braseria Can Ibars (specialized in meat cooked “a la brasa”).
And before heading out to explore one the most magic places in the country, we highly recommend you to read the article we wrote about the stories and legends this mystic mountain hides: Montserrat mountain, land of stories and legends.