Tour details
Meeting Point
We meet 15 minutes before departure time in front of Hotel Olivia Plaza at Plaça Catalunya 19. Look out for our guide who will have an orange umbrella.
Ask for your quote
Includes visit guided and transport.
Guide
Friendly and expert official guide..
Itinerary
Barcelona > Parc Natural de Montserrat > Sanctuary (Monastery, Basilica, Chapel of the Virgin) > Free time > return to Barcelona.
What can Barcelona Experts offer you?
Why do our customers book this tour?
- The tour is in your language making it easier for you to follow the whole story.
- If you don’t have a whole day to visit Montserrat this is your tour: you can visit Barcelona in the morning and see Montserrat in the afternoon.
- Afternoon is also best because there are less people in Montserrat than in the morning.
Tour Highlights
- Montserrat – serrated mountain.
- Spectacular views.
- La Moreneta – Black Madonna.
Please note
- This tour involves some walking so wear comfortable shoes.
- Dress a bit warmer for Montserrat, it is colder than the city.
- Silence must be kept inside the church so the guide will give all the explanations outside.
- This is not a wheelchair accessible tour.
What to expect
There’s a good bit of walking on this tour, so wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately for the cooler mountain weather. Unfortunately, this is not a wheelchair-accessible tour.
Silence is the order of the day inside the monastery so your guide will give a brief presentation outside before you go in.
Montserrat, the “serrated mountain,” towers 4,000 feet into the sky, with its jagged peaks and finger-like shapes. It’s a mesmerizing sight from miles away, even better as you enter the natural park. The view unfolds around you on the drive to the monastery.
The Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey dates back to the 11th century, although it was rebuilt in the 19th century. It melds into the mountainside and still serves as a home to nearly 80 monks.
The abbey has always played an important role in the spiritual life of Catalonia; it’s a rite of passage to hike the mountain to watch the sunrise from the top of Montserrat.
The basilica dates to the 16th century. La Moreneta, the Virgin of Montserrat and the patron saint of Catalonia, resides in the basilica’s chapel. Legend has it that the Black Madonna became very heavy and refused to move, so the monks built their monastery around her.
L’Escolania, the boys’ school known for its devotion to music—and of course, the Montserrat Boys’ Choir—is also part of the monastery complex, although it’s not included in this tour, due to time management.
On the tour, you’ll have time to explore Montserrat on your own and take pictures of the amazing views. For a truly spectacular sight, take the funicular to St. Joan’s Chapel (not included in the tour) if there’s enough time.
Montserrat is also a well-known haven for food artisans—the cheeses and honey are exceptional. Hit the market stalls for a few local treasures.
And if you’re an art lover, you won’t want to miss the Museum of Montserrat. In addition to some rare works by Dalí, Picasso, and El Greco, there are even some ancient Egyptian artifacts.
- Meet Meet at your accommodation in Barcelona.
- Scenic drive to Montserrat
- Parc Natural de Montserrat
- Monastery, basilica, and Chapel of the Virgin
- Approximately one hour to explore Montserrat on your own
- Return ride to your accommodation.
Book in advance, since this is one of our most popular day tours. The tour runs six days a week, so you can easily fit it into your Barcelona vacation.
Your booking is refundable if you cancel at least 24 hours in advance.
