How to Get to Montserrat Monastery in Catalonia, Spain
Wondering how to get to from Barcelona to Montserrat Monastery and Montserrat Natural Park?
Most visitors to Montserrat travel here from Barcelona. In fact, Montserrat is one of the top day trips from Barcelona!
We’ve therefore described below how to get from Barcelona to Montserrat, but if you are visiting from somewhere else, you can still use these directions to get from the bottom of Montserrat Mountain to the monastery at the top of the mountain.
From Barcelona, you can drive to Montserrat if you have a rental car, or you can take the train to the bottom of Montserrat Mountain — it’s fast and convenient. There is also a bus service between Barcelona and Montserrat.
From the bottom of Montserrat Mountain, you can take the cable car or rack railway to the monastery complex, or you can hike.
And of course, if you prefer to leave the logistics to someone else, there are a number of guided tours from Barcelona to Montserrat from which you can choose.
Read all your options for getting to Montserrat from Barcelona in greater detail below!
🍷 Montserrat Half-Day Tour with Tapas and Gourmet Wines! Combine a visit to Montserrat with a delightful tasting of local wines and tapas. Experience Catalonia’s cultural and culinary heritage. Check price and availability now!
Planning a trip to the historic mountaintop abbey? Bookmark our Montserrat Monastery website for the complete rundown on visiting Montserrat!
And if you’re just starting to plan your visit to Barcelona, check out the some of the top day trips from Barcelona, which you absolutely don’t want to miss!
Fleshing out your Barcelona itinerary? Browse our round-up of the top 10 things to do in Barcelona — iconic attractions and activities you just can’t miss on your first visit to this vibrant city, from La Sagrada Familia to Montjuic.
Montserrat from Barcelona by Train and Cable Car
The FGC (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya) R5 Line that runs between Barcelona Plaça Espanya Station and Manresa Baixador passes through Montserrat and is the line you will take when you head to Montserrat from Barcelona.
The R5 train line runs daily throughout the year. You can check the schedule here, and get current ticket prices here. Montserrat is in zone 4.
You can take the metro in Barcelona to get to the Plaça Espanya Station. The train station and the metro station are in the same building, so it’s a breeze to transfer.
At Montserrat, to take the Aeri de Montserrat Cable Car to Montserrat Monastery, get off at the Aeri de Montserrat station on the F5 line. The train journey takes one hour.
Read more about the Montserrat cable car and how to get tickets, or get the ToT Montserrat ticket or the Trans Montserrat ticket online at GetYourGuide now, with the option to pay later as well as free cancelation.
ToT tickets can also be purchased online at the Barcelona Tourism website.
When you purchase online, you will receive a voucher that you will need to print or download in order to exchange it for the ToT or Trans Montserrat Card. In Barcelona, the exchange can be made at the Tourist Information Office in Plaça Catalunya, or at the Plaça Espanya Station on the day of your visit.
You can also buy these tickets or other ticket options at the ticket machines at Plaça Espanya Station on the day of your visit, but it helps maximize your sightseeing time if you plan ahead.
Barcelona to Montserrat Monastery by Train and Rack Railway
Take the FGC (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya) R5 Line that runs between Barcelona Plaça Espanya Station and Manresa Baixador. This is the train line that connects Barcelona with Montserrat.
The R5 train line runs daily throughout the year. You can check the schedule here and get current ticket prices here. Montserrat is in zone 4. .
Take the metro in Barcelona to get to the Plaça Espanya Station. The train station and the metro station are in the same building, so it’s easy to transfer from one to the other.
To take the Montserrat Rack Railway, known as Cremallera, to Montserrat Monastery, get off at the Monistrol de Montserrat station on the F5 line. The train journey takes one hour and 4 minutes.
Read more about the Montserrat rack railway and how to get tickets, or get the ToT Montserrat ticket or the Trans Montserrat ticket online at GetYourGuide now, with the option to pay later as well as free cancelation.
You can also buy these tickets (or other ticket options) at the ticket machines at Plaça Espanya Station on the day of your visit.
Barcelona to Montserrat by Car
If you have a rental car in Spain, you can drive from Barcelona to Montserrat via the A-2 or you can take C-31 to C-58 (see map).
The driving distance is about 60 kilometers (~ 37.3 miles) and the drive should take you about one hour in normal traffic.
At Montserrat, you have the option of driving almost right up to Montserrat Monastery, or you can drive to the bottom of the mountain and take the cable car or rack railway up and down the mountain.
You can purchase one-way or round-trip tickets for the cable car or the cog railway at the ticket offices at the respective stations. You can also get cable car tickets online.
If you choose to take the cable car up and down, you can park your car for free at the parking lot at the Aeri de Montserrat Station. The parking lot hours are the same as those for the cable car.
Similarly, if you choose to take the rack railway up and down, you can park your car at no charge at the Monistrol de Vila Rack Railway Station. The parking lot hours are the same as those for the rack railway.
If you drive all the way up the mountain to Montserrat Monastery, there is a paid parking lot at the top where you can park your car.
The day parking fee for a car (beyond the first 30 minutes, which are free) is currently €7.00 but is subject to change. Take a parking ticket at the machine when you enter and pay before you exit.
From the parking lot, it is about a 10- to 15-minute walk to the monastery complex. Note that the walk is all uphill!
While the road to the top of the mountain is winding and steep, it is paved and you can do it in a regular car.
Guided Tours from Barcelona to Montserrat
Want to just show up at Montserrat Monastery and enjoy your day? There are a variety of guided tours from which to pick!
This hugely popular full-day tour from Barcelona combines a visit to Montserrat Monastery with a stop at a medieval winery for lunch (or tapas) and wine. At Montserrat, you will visit the basilica and the monastery, with free time to choose from other attractions at the complex. 🚐 🍷
>>> Check price and availability for this Montserrat tour + winery stop now!
This well-reviewed half-day tour of Montserrat from Barcelona includes the viewing of the Black Madonna with priority access to the basilica, as well as the rack railway or cable car experience.
>>> Check price and availability for this half-day Montserrat tour from Barcelona now!
This really small-group tour (limited to just 8 participants) includes a visit to Montserrat Monastery combined with a funicular ride to the top of the mountain and some hiking in the natural park. Perfect for active travelers!
>>> Check price and availability for this Montserrat Monastery + hiking tour now!
More Top Montserrat Tours from Barcelona
Barcelona to Montserrat by Bus
You can also travel from Barcelona to Montserrat as an independent traveler by bus. Note that there is only one departure in either direction per day, so make sure you do not miss it.
Autocares Julia operates a bus service between Barcelona and Montserrat. The bus leaves from Barcelona at 9.15 a.m. It departs from Montserrat at 5 p.m. between October 1 and May 31 and at 6 p.m. between June 1 and September 30.
The bus journey takes about an hour and 15 minutes to an hour and 25 minutes one way.
Buses depart from the Sants Coach Station near the Estació Sants train station in Barcelona and drop off you at the Plaza del Funicular at Montserrat.
Barcelona to Montserrat Round Trip Private Transfer
The most expensive way to visit Montserrat Monastery from Barcelona is via private transfer (or taxi).
This option makes sense if you are visiting as a family or a group, since the price is for mini-van transport to and from the monastery (up to 7 passengers).
While transport is provided, you will explore independently at Montserrat.