Explore the Royal Basilica and Monastery of Montserrat on this trip from Barcelona. Travel by coach and cogwheel train to the spectacular, mountainside Benedictine abbey. It’s one of Spain’s most popular pilgrimage sites for its revered "Black Madonna" statue—which you’ll see on your visit, thanks to prebooked tickets. Then, enjoy free time to explore or taste liqueurs, making this one of the most flexible Montserrat tours from Barcelona available.

Explore the basilica and see its 12th-century carving of the Black Virgin
Board the cogwheel train up to Montserrat and enjoy the views
Relax with transportation by deluxe air-conditioned coach
Tasting of four typical liquors made to traditional monastery recipes

What's Included

Cog-wheel train up to Montserrat
Access to the basilica and the Black Madonna
Taste of 4 typical liquors of the area
Entrance to the audio-visual exhibition in Montserrat “Espai Audio visual Montserrat”
Local guide
Tour operated in both Spanish and English
Transportation on an air-conditioned coach
Radio guide system

Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Food and drinks

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Julià Travel
Carrer d'Alí-Bei, 80 Local nº 180 - Planta baja Delante del andén 19 / In front of the Platform 19, Eixample, 08013 Barcelona, Spain
Please find the Julia Travel Office in Ground floor, Carrer d'Alí Bei, 80, 08018 Barcelona, Spain. It is mandatory to check-in in the counter and after we will go to platform 19

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Meet your group in central Barcelona. Depart by air-conditioned coach and head to the mountain of Montserrat, a cluster of cone-like peaks that reach up to 4,051 feet (1,235 meters) in height to the north of the city.

As you travel, pass through scenic villages, then admire the epic landscapes as you ascend the mountain by cogwheel train. On arrival, take in the views over the countryside and Barcelona.

Montserrat’s main claim to fame is the magnificent Royal Basilica and Monastery of Montserrat. The mountainside church and Benedictine abbey is best known for its Black Madonna (La Moreneta), a statue of the Virgin Mary that has made it one of Spain’s most popular pilgrimage sites for centuries.

Hear all about it from your local guide, then explore the vast basilica and its echoing interior. See the revered Black Madonna, a simple wooden statue housed in a small room, and learn the story behind this hallowed sculpture. Then, if time allows, walk up to the grotto, traditionally said to be where the statue was discovered.

You can also opt for a walk through Montserrat’s audiovisual museum to learn about the daily life of the monks, finishing at the gift shop to taste and perhaps buy some of the traditional liquors made to monastery recipes.

After your time exploring independently, return to Barcelona by coach where your trip ends.

Abadia de Montserrat

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Cremallera de Montserrat

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Monestir de Montserrat

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Montserrat Museum

1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included

Montana de Montserrat

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Most travelers can participate
Duration 08:00AM Tour: 5 and a half hours (transportation included). Duration 10:15Am Tour: 6h and 45 minutes (transportation included)

Correct dress code is requested to enter the Basilica at Montserrat. It is not permitted to enter with tank tops, strapless shirts, short shorts or sandals.
Please be aware that some walking is included during this tour, please come prepared and we recommend wearing comfortable clothes and shoes.
At Montserrat there is a mountains climate, depending on the season you will need clothes protecting you from the rain and/or cold.
We recommend you to check the timetable of the different facilities that you wish to visit during your free time.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.5

2,409 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 2,409 reviews

Loved it Had an awesome...

Shelan_H, Apr 2024

Loved it Had an awesome day The guide was amazing and we really got to understand Monseratt in a way that we did not before

Needed bigger block of free time.

Cathy_C, Apr 2024

The Basillica was beautiful. The guide was knowledgeable. I wish the tour of the basillica was the first thing we did after getting off the train to have the rest of the time free for hiking, art museum, shopping and eating. I didn’t have time for the hiking that I wanted to do.

Excellent highly recommended

Lee_M, Apr 2024

We loved this tour! We had an amazing guide (Gloria) who was very knowledgable and interesting, the trip was great value for money and we would highly recommend. Bus was comfortable and a nice temperature with a good driver. I’m not religious but this tour did leave me feeling very spiritual. Well done team!

Magnificent

Sarah_L, Apr 2024

It was AMAZING! The monetary and mountains surrounding it are magnificent. We enjoyed being able to walk around the basilica and grounds on are own and then regrouping. The food was great.

Zero consideration and bad customer service

Anonymous, Apr 2024

The place is a bit hard to find. We were around the place at time but since we had trouble finding it and we could not reach the operator we were late for 5 minutes. By the time we reached the place the operator already left. I understand that when you guide a group you need to take everyone's time into consideration. But we are 3 ppl of the group and the operator could have called to check where are we before leaving. After that experience, the operator demanded half of the money for rescheduling for the next day and refused any form of refund. This operator offers nothing but a bus drive to the location. Zero customer orientation or consideration, they could have either call us to see where we are or reschedule for tomorrow without extra charge and this bad experience would have been avoided. However, we are now 200$ down with no trip because it took us 7 minutes to find the place. Would not recommend dealing with them for this specific trip. Book it with different operator who might want you to enjoy the experience.

Best guide on this trip!

Jan_J, Apr 2024

Maria was a very caring responsible and knowledgeable guide- using a walker- she helped me every step !!!

The heights of Montserrat monastery!

Garry_S, Apr 2024

Great trip, one of the best we have had! Well organised and Maria our guide was excellent, loads of facts, warm, friendly and witty! And also a shout out to our driver Francesco , well driven on very high roads...

Great tour to Montserrat

lconnorrn, Apr 2024

Wonderful tour! The experience was only slightly diminished due to overcast/haze described to us by tour guide Gloria as dust from winds from the south brining dust from the Sahara desert. (But how many people can say the saw the desert in Barcelona!) The bus used for the tour could have used a bit of a cleaning, but all aspects of the tour were enjoyable, Gloria a wonderful kind guide and we enjoyed it all!

Good, but not really the “cog-wheel” experience

Christian_S, Apr 2024

They do indeed call the first train a funicular at the site, but it is like a subway car on a mild inclune… I wouldn’t call it a “cog-wheel” funicular experience. There’s a second funicular that several of us paid extra for because it was more like what we thought we were already getting (steep, very slow, ends with some great views). Also I didn’t read carefully that this is basically an entirely self-guided day. There’s maybe 20 minutes of actually tour outside the monastery, which our guide was great, but then you’re on your own for 2+ hours. I was kinda confused and wish the schedule was just reiterated/explained in the beginning of the tour. All-in-all, Gloria was great and the transportation was comfortable. The tour fit the timetable I needed and afterall I saw Montserrat which was the point.

Lot of people

John_M, Apr 2024

Black Madona tram ride. Beautiful mountains. Tour guide was very informative. Not muck more to say but if wish comes true with Madona must return for thanks.

Beautiful Montserrat

Arlene_S, Apr 2024

Black Madonna, the mountain shape and just hike to the cross. The tour guide was pleasant and patient with so many people asking questions

Highly recommend

Randie_S, Apr 2024

Amazing experience! We had a lot of fun and the trip there was very comfortable. Both guides speak both Spanish and English so that does make it hard to have a conversation with others in the group as the guide is having to do both languages. The whole area is amazing and it did feel as though we ran out of time to be able to explore. I wish that once we arrived we could just head off to do all the things and not stay as a group but it was still an amazing experience. Highly recommend going all the way up the mountain!!

Beautiful venue spoiled by defective technology.

Michael_B, Apr 2024

The audio part of the tour was a disaster as a background hiss made it impossible to hear the tour guides commentary.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Dear Michael_B Thank you for sharing this review, I regret to learn that you could not enjoy our guide's commentary due to the issue with the radioguides, Although our devices are frequently examined to make sure that all of the features are working properly, unfortunately, this kind of issue may appear during the tour, Best regards,

False advertising

Joseph_M, Apr 2024

Your advertising this trip to include a cog wheel train ride, that's simply a lie. How would I know that you might ask, because everyone can clearly see it taking passengers to the highest part of the mountain. When I ask my guide, she tried to tell me the electric commuter train that dropped us off at the monastery was a "cog wheel train". C'mon Viator!! We have taken more than a few of your European Tours and they have all been excellent. This BS is unnecessary and beneath you.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Dear Joseph_M Thank you for coantact with us, I regret to hear that you were not satisfied with tour, as you were not corretly informed about the inclusions, In this tour, the traintrio included is a cogwheel train, which goes from the base of the mountain to the Monastery area. The cable car that reaches the top of the mountain is a different cable car, not included in our tour. The name 'Cogwheel train' is even included on the tour's name as reflected on your reservation. Best regards,

High potential not delivered

Shane_C, Apr 2024

Gloria our guide was excellent however disappointed with the content of the tour. Expected to experience more of the monastery and disappointed that the train was a one way transfer.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Dear Shane_C Thank you for sharing your feedback, I am thrilled to learn how sataisfied you were with our guide, Gloria's performance, Regarding the duration, it is informed to all authorized selling points, as per the cogwheel train included being one way only, Best regards,

I wished we had more time to go up the mountain top

elsa_i, Apr 2024

The entire visit to the monastery and the audio visual tour was such an experience. The tour guide was friendly and accommodating from start to finish.

Montserrat Monastery and COG wheel tour

Michael_G, Mar 2024

Our guide Sandra was excellent, she really did make the day passionately talking about the history of the monastery. The Cog wheel train was a treat all helped with perfect weather for make. A vey well organised tour with plenty to do and looked after very well by Sandra from start to finish.

Great day, great guide!

Peter_M, Mar 2024

The cog-wheel train was a great experience Our guide Jessica was informative, had lots of local knowledge & very helpful. The tour was wonderful highly recommended

Nice trip to Monserrat

Miriam_P, Mar 2024

Everything was as planned - Very good trip and tourist guide - Beautiful landscapes, history, culture, correct balance between guide and free time - Thank you Anna and Sergi !

Unexpected tour

Kanaruj_C, Mar 2024

The description when I booked the trip was unclear on the cogwheel train. We understood that we would get a chance to go up the inclined train from monastery to the top of Montserrat; however, it was only the train from the foot of mountain to the monastery of Montserrat. We also think that the tour is a bit too pricey considering the experience we received.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

Dear Kanaruj_C Thank you for sharing this review, I regret to learn that you were not satisfied with the Montserrat tour, Please bear in mind that the complete description including duration and the train ride type is informed to all authorized selling points and agencies, Best regards,

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