Day trip · Montserrat, 4,055 feet up
The best Montserrat day trips from Barcelona
Half-day and full-day tours with the rack railway, winery and tapas stops, horseback rides and the monastery ticket with the boys’ choir. Here is how they compare, with honest advice on whether a tour beats the train, how much time you really get on the mountain and whether you will see the Black Madonna.
See our 8 picks
Yes, Montserrat is an easy day trip from Barcelona, by tour or on your own by train. The cheapest guided trip is a 5.5-hour small-group tour from €35. The train and rack railway together are listed at €48.80. Pick a tour if you want the Black Madonna and a guide sorted. Go alone if you want a full day on the mountain.
Which Montserrat tour to pick
All eight have free cancellation on GetYourGuide. Prices are per person.
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from €52 per person Our top pick 5–7 hours 4.6 (9,459) reviews on GetYourGuide
Montserrat with the cog-wheel train and the Black Madonna
You ride the cog-wheel train up and visit the basilica and the Black Madonna with a guide. You also taste four local liqueurs. You must check in at Carrer d’Alí Bei 80 first.
Best for First-timers who want it all arranged
Check availability: Montserrat with the cog-wheel train and the Black Madonna on GetYourGuide -
from €39 per person 6–9 hours 4.7 (7,160) reviews on GetYourGuide
Montserrat with optional cogwheel, Black Madonna and winery
A low base price, and you add what you want. The cogwheel train, the Black Madonna, wine and lunch each come only with an option. The museum and the funicular are not included.
Best for Budget, pick your extras
Check availability: Montserrat with optional cogwheel, Black Madonna and winery on GetYourGuide -
from €35 per person 5 h 30 min 4.8 (1,894) reviews on GetYourGuide
Half-day small-group tour
A 5.5-hour trip with early access to the monastery. Transport from central Barcelona is included. The tour is in English only. The boys’ choir option does not include the Black Madonna.
Best for Short on time
Check availability: Half-day small-group tour on GetYourGuide -
from €89 per person 7 hours 4.8 (2,087) reviews on GetYourGuide
Half-day wine and tapas trip
A guided visit to the monastery, an hour of free time, then a family winery with a tapas brunch and three wines. The cogwheel train is only on the Spanish tour. The winery may change on the day.
Best for Food and wine lovers
Check availability: Half-day wine and tapas trip on GetYourGuide -
from €104 per person 9 hours 4.8 (925) reviews on GetYourGuide
Full-day Montserrat and wine, small group
A long day with extended free time on the mountain, a winery visit and a multi-course meal with wine. Tickets for the Black Madonna and the boys’ choir are bought separately online.
Best for A relaxed full day with lunch
Check availability: Full-day Montserrat and wine, small group on GetYourGuide -
from €98 per person 6 h 30 min 4.9 (121) reviews on GetYourGuide
Walking and horseback riding
A guided walk on the mountain and a 1-hour guided horseback ride. Entry to the abbey and basilica is included. It is not for children under 12 or anyone over 200 lb (91 kg).
Best for Active couples
Check availability: Walking and horseback riding on GetYourGuide -
from €98 per person 6 h 30 min 4.7 (152) reviews on GetYourGuide
Horseback tour in the natural park
A 1-hour guided ride in the natural park, plus entry to the abbey and basilica. The same age and weight limits apply. It may be cancelled in cold or wet weather.
Best for Riders
Check availability: Horseback tour in the natural park on GetYourGuide -
from €25 per person Your own pace 4.4 (149) reviews on GetYourGuide
Monastery ticket with the Escolania boys’ choir
Sold by the monastery itself. It covers the basilica, the Throne of the Virgin, the choir, an audio guide, the museum and the audiovisual space. There is no transport. Arrive 15 minutes before the 1 pm choir.
Best for Going on your own
Check availability: Monastery ticket with the Escolania boys’ choir on GetYourGuide
Compare each Montserrat, Spain tour from Barcelona
| Tour | From | Duration | Group size | Black Madonna | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montserrat with the cog-wheel train and the Black Madonna | €52 per person | 5–7 hours | Not stated | Included | First-timers who want it all arranged | The Black Madonna is in the price, and it has more reviews than any other pick: 9,459. |
| Montserrat with optional cogwheel, Black Madonna and winery | €39 per person | 6–9 hours | Up to 30, 20 per guide | With option | Budget, pick your extras | From €39, rated 4.7 from 7,160 reviews. |
| Half-day small-group tour | €35 per person | 5 h 30 min | Not stated | With option | Short on time | The cheapest guided trip, from €35, rated 4.8. |
| Half-day wine and tapas trip | €89 per person | 7 hours | Up to 20 | Not listed | Food and wine lovers | Rated 4.8 from 2,087 reviews, with skip-the-line entry to the basilica. |
| Full-day Montserrat and wine, small group | €104 per person | 9 hours | Up to 20 | Separate ticket | A relaxed full day with lunch | The most time on the mountain, with lunch in the price. Rated 4.8. |
| Walking and horseback riding | €98 per person | 6 h 30 min | Up to 8 | Not listed | Active couples | The highest rating on this page, 4.9, in a group of up to 8. |
| Horseback tour in the natural park | €98 per person | 6 h 30 min | Up to 8 | Not listed | Riders | A ride without the extra walk, in a group of up to 8. |
| Monastery ticket with the Escolania boys’ choir | €25 per person | Your own pace | Not stated | Included | Going on your own | The way to see the choir and the Black Madonna if you take the train. |
Montserrat with the cog-wheel train and the Black Madonna
€52 per person5–7 hours 4.6 (9,459)
Details
- Group size
- Not stated
- Black Madonna
- Included
- Who it suits
- First-timers who want it all arranged
- Why we picked it
- The Black Madonna is in the price, and it has more reviews than any other pick: 9,459.
Montserrat with optional cogwheel, Black Madonna and winery
€39 per person6–9 hours 4.7 (7,160)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 30, 20 per guide
- Black Madonna
- With option
- Who it suits
- Budget, pick your extras
- Why we picked it
- From €39, rated 4.7 from 7,160 reviews.
€35 per person5 h 30 min 4.8 (1,894)
Details
- Group size
- Not stated
- Black Madonna
- With option
- Who it suits
- Short on time
- Why we picked it
- The cheapest guided trip, from €35, rated 4.8.
€89 per person7 hours 4.8 (2,087)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 20
- Black Madonna
- Not listed
- Who it suits
- Food and wine lovers
- Why we picked it
- Rated 4.8 from 2,087 reviews, with skip-the-line entry to the basilica.
Full-day Montserrat and wine, small group
€104 per person9 hours 4.8 (925)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 20
- Black Madonna
- Separate ticket
- Who it suits
- A relaxed full day with lunch
- Why we picked it
- The most time on the mountain, with lunch in the price. Rated 4.8.
€98 per person6 h 30 min 4.9 (121)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 8
- Black Madonna
- Not listed
- Who it suits
- Active couples
- Why we picked it
- The highest rating on this page, 4.9, in a group of up to 8.
Horseback tour in the natural park
€98 per person6 h 30 min 4.7 (152)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 8
- Black Madonna
- Not listed
- Who it suits
- Riders
- Why we picked it
- A ride without the extra walk, in a group of up to 8.
Monastery ticket with the Escolania boys’ choir
€25 per personYour own pace 4.4 (149)
Details
- Group size
- Not stated
- Black Madonna
- Included
- Who it suits
- Going on your own
- Why we picked it
- The way to see the choir and the Black Madonna if you take the train.
- None of the 8 includes hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point.
- All 8 offer free cancellation.
- Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 25 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Montserrat tour or train: which is easier?
A tour is easier, and often cheaper. The half-day tour costs from €35. The train and rack railway are listed at €48.80. On your own, you change trains and buy tickets yourself.
The train is better if you want a full day on the mountain. Montserrat is one of several easy day trips from Barcelona.
Want Girona and the coast too? See our Girona, Dalí Museum and Costa Brava day trips.
A tour to Montserrat from Barcelona: what’s included
Every tour here, except the monastery ticket, includes the ride from Barcelona and back. The Black Madonna is the big difference. One tour includes it. Two add it as an option. On the full-day wine tour you buy it yourself.
Barcelona Montserrat tickets if you go on your own
Buy the Trans Montserrat ticket. It covers the metro, the FGC train there and back, the rack railway there and back, and the funiculars at the top. It also gives direct access to the Throne of the Virgin, where the Black Madonna sits. One guide reports a price of €50.
FGC trains leave Plaça Espanya every hour from 08:26. The ride takes about 1 hour. For metro and train tickets in the city, see our guide to getting around Barcelona.
Like the Barcelona Girona train, this is an easy trip to plan alone. For a beach day by train instead, the Sitges to Barcelona trip uses the R2 Sud line.
The Barcelona cable car to Montserrat: Aeri or rack railway
You have two ways up from the valley. The Aeri cable car takes 5 minutes and leaves every 15 minutes. It costs €10 one way or €15 return. The rack railway takes 15 minutes and leaves every 20 minutes from Monistrol Vila.
Montserrat monastery tour: basilica, Black Madonna and choir
Check what each tour includes before you book. The cog-wheel tour includes the basilica and the Black Madonna. The optional-extras tour includes her only if you pick that option. The full-day wine tour needs separate tickets bought online.
For the choir, the monastery ticket sells the 1 pm performance. Times change with religious holidays and the school calendar. The choir does not sing on Saturdays and some other dates.
On Sundays and religious holidays, the basilica may be closed to visitors.
Montserrat wine tour: winery and tapas options
Three tours add a winery. The half-day wine and tapas trip gives you a brunch and three wines. The full-day tour adds a multi-course meal with wine. The optional-extras tour adds wine only with a winery option.
The half-day listing says you may visit a different winery on the day.
Things to do in Montserrat near Barcelona
See the basilica and the Black Madonna. Hear the boys’ choir. Ride the funiculars. Visit the museum and the audiovisual space. Or see the natural park on horseback.
Want a bigger mountain day? There is no direct Barcelona Andorra train: the route we found to Andorra is a bus of about 2 h 45 to 3 hours.
Tips before you book a Montserrat tour
Dress for the basilica
No tank tops, strapless tops, short shorts or flip-flops inside the basilica, the cog-wheel tour says.
Bring a warm layer
Montserrat is 4,055 feet (1,236 m) high. It can be colder or wetter than Barcelona.
Check in early
The cog-wheel tour needs you at the Julià Travel desk at Carrer d’Alí Bei 80 before you go to platform 19.
Read the group size
The optional-extras tour fills a big bus of up to 30, then splits into groups of 20 per guide.
If plans change
All eight picks have free cancellation. The horseback tours may be cancelled in cold or wet weather.
Montserrat day trip questions
What is there to do in Montserrat?
How do I get to Montserrat from Barcelona, and can I go without a tour?
Is Montserrat worth it?
What should I wear to Montserrat?
Which is better for Montserrat: the cable car or the rack railway?
More Montserrat tours, live
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
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Sources (7), facts checked on 25 October 2026
Written by the Things to Do in Barcelona editorial team.