If you think that such this title about Montserrat Barcelona in Spain is a bit “too much,” then you haven’t visited this rocky mountain.
For some, Montserrat is considered to have the Holy Grail hidden inside its mountains.
Montserrat outside Barcelona, Spain, hosts a massive complex of buildings, all to make the visitor (either be it a hiker or a religious pilgrim) feel like he escaped “from earth boundaries.”
To us, it was a self-promise, given a few years ago. This year we did it, along with our visit to Barcelona.
The Montserrat Barcelona Complex
We think that an excellent way to divide the whole area is in 2 main areas.
The first one is the main complex where you will see the enormous Basilica, the hotel, restaurants, the museum, parking spaces, promenade areas and terraces, gardens, sculptures, and more.
In this picture below, you can get a complete idea of the whole complex. The dominant building is the Basilica of Santa Maria.
Below is the part of the inner yard before entering the Basilica.
There are different levels. On the left side exists a pretty nice hotel.
This statue is of Abbot Oliba, founder of Montserrat Spain.
Sculptures outside Santa Maria -in Montserrat Barcelona complex are one particular element of this place as they are not of the classical type, but modern ones.
The famous one is the “Stairway to Heaven,” presenting the evolution stages of a person, starting from a basic elemental up to God’s status, and each block represents a phase of enlightenment.
The other area is the area above the complex, which hosts the hiking routes and all churches and old ruins of different monasteries.
We advise that you do the hiking part first (if you came to Montserrat Barcelona for that too) and then have the time for the main complex and lunch.
There is even a gourmet store with local products and a full-service restaurant.
Hiking the Mountain of Montserrat Barcelona
If you are the avid hiker type, you can walk your way up to Montserrat, starting from the train station.
Then you can continue towards the mountain tops.
That’s a lot of hiking, though.
To get to the routes starting from the top level, you get this 2nd funicular railway of Sant Joan.
You can walk up there but better so save some strength, as you can see it is pretty high uphill.
All routes are well marked, citing time and landmarks.
Just plan as many are circular ones, and night time will come at some point.
Routes vary and spread in different directions, but most connect after some point.
When you see the signs of each course, they seem to like being of short distance each.
But when you add them all together, you will find yourself hiking for hours. If you follow the long ones, you will see amazing nature and all rock formations.
So be in Montserrat Barcelona as early as possible.
If you go there during the summer season, it will be scalding.
Barcelona heats up to 50 degrees (Celsius), and Montserrat is a mountain, so closer to the sun.
Rock formations are almost identical to those of Meteora Greece.
Meteora was supposed to be sea bedrocks that, during millions of years, were uncovered or brought up due to earthquakes.
Perhaps Montserrat falls under the same case.
There are many steep paths like this one below.
We advise you to start the hiking route from the top endpoint of the funicular (Sant Joan).
In that way, most of the problematic parts like this one will be on your way back.
After maybe 5-6 hours of hiking, this matters a lot.
It will be rather challenging to have all that uphill going stairs at the beginning of your hiking.
At the mountain top highest point, a pretty big compass will show you the parts of Spain in any direction.
You can book a hiking guide if you like, that will also tell you a bit more about the different landmarks along the hiking route(s).
The routes (long ones) will take you to the top of the mountain, which (along with most of the rocks) is a high climbing field for rock climbers.
On good weather, you will see many as you hike around.
It is a very vivid and right vibes place. Make sure you take plenty of water for the hiking part.
Sun will play lots of games with light and shadow as you come back, and photos will become rather interesting.
Basilica of Santa Maria of Montserrat Barcelona
The basilica is the main reason most visit Montserrat and resides at the heart of Montserrat.
The church and surrounding church buildings are famous for three reasons:
- For their significant and impressive architecture
- It is the Montserrat Barcelona masses and choral concerts home
- The statue of the Black Madonna
In the atrium (Atrium of Abbot Argerich), one can see epigraphs with blessings that come in different languages.
The floor is equally spectacular. Many people stay for long, just admiring the Atrium.
Here is a close-up.
We also entered the church to visit the actual statue of Black Madonna.
It was indeed something different as you don’t encounter such color on sculptures that relate to the Virgin of Montserrat (Santa Maria de Montserrat).
Locals told us that the color is due to the aging of wood.
The statue is not very big, but it is dominant.
What else could it be, since millions of people during the ages walked in front and touched the exposed sphere/globe part of the statue?
Tips on Getting to Montserrat Barcelona
If you visit Barcelona, then getting to Montserrat is relatively easy.
You can organize this by yourself.
There is no need to do it through any travel/tourism agency. It needs very little “homework.”
Montserrat will take your whole day, so plan this trip without anything else before or after.
Better start early in the morning, especially if you visit during “hot” seasons.
By hot, we mean both the warm weather and the tourists’ high season.
We started from Barcelona, visiting Montserrat Spain in late October and there were lots of people going there. Locals do visit too, not just tourists. It is a top-rated destination.
First, find out if there is anything that may interfere with your trip, like train strikes, any works that block access, etc.
Montserrat mountain is accessible by cable car and by car. The cable car is far more impressive.
To get there, you take the FGC train from Barcelona (Plaça d’Espanya) or Cremallera train.
In the train station, you will find the ticket vending machines with a variety of choices.
You can get a combined ticket (for the train, the cable car, and the funicular) or tickets for each.
Note that if you decide to take the train ticket, then you will need to wait in long lines to get the rest in each location.
Depending on the season, this may translate from 30 minutes to 1 or 2 hours.
Before getting there, we read in some travel blogs that getting to the actual train platform in Plaza Espana is confusing. It is not.
Just follow the signs inside the train station. Many rack railway employees will guide you; even at the ticket vending machines, they will help you get the right ticket.
All speak English (at least).
Be there a bit early for the following reason (except getting in line behind huge crowds).
The train ride takes around 1 hour. Train seats are not numbered, so be there early to stand in front and enter first. It is a first in, first sits case.
The cable car takes another 10 minutes to make it to the top (once you are in).
Of course, you can bypass all these by getting your tickets online (official website), but make sure to be there early for the train (to get a seat) anyway.
Day Trips from Barcelona
Barcelona is ideal for a multitude of day trips to many destinations; this one included.
Such day trips from Barcelona, include wineries and sailing trips too.
- Montserrat Monastery with Farm-to-Table Lunch
- 6-Hour Costa Brava Kayak and Snorkel Tour
- 4×4 Winery Tour with Tapas & Wine Tasting from Barcelona
- Sailing Cruise and Vineyard Visit with Tasting
- Montserrat, Sitges, & Torres Wineries with Brunch
Overall Feelings from Montserrat Barcelona
We went there early in the morning to spent all day and hiked for more than 5 hours in the serene mountains, where nature changed its “clothes” regularly from rocky to green.
Santa Maria was full of detailed artifacts and murals and paintings.
We sensed the religious spirit, summoned there during the ages of all pilgrims.
The feelings were a mixture of devoutness along with relaxation.
The same sense that someone has when they feel they spend their day well and fulfilling.
Make some notes for the things to experience and don’t forget to read our other posts for Park Guell, Poble Espanyol, La Sagrada Familia & Barcelona, and the best things to do in Barcelona in 3 days.
So Montserrat Barcelona is highly recommended. Plan an extra day on your trip.
Enjoy. Please pin this below.
