Lance & Dua Pinson
Barcelona explorers, bloggers, and youtubers
One Day Trip from Barcelona: Montserrat
Reasons to go to Montserrat
About this guide
This guide will help you decide if you should go to Montserrat, one of the most popular destinations for one-day trip from Barcelona.
Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey
🕯️ The heart of Catalonia
Lance & Dua Pinson , Sergio, Tengo Alma Viajera
☀️ About Montserrat
Montserrat Abbey is a famous monastery not far from Barcelona. It is located in the natural park of scenic serrated mountains. The abbey is a spiritual center of Catalonia. Over the centuries it became an important place of pilgrimage. After the Spanish Civil War, the monastery became a shelter for Catalan separatists. And later, during the years of Francisco Franco’s regime, it was the only place where the prayers were conducted in Catalan language. It is the perfect destination to admire Catalan nature and learn more about history and culture of Catalonia.
🚌 Get to Montserrat with comfort
Montserrat is situated just about an hour northwest of Barcelona. You can go by car, train or even walk there (there are hiking routes which are actually quite popular). But for a stress-free journey, we recommend to hop on a bus. There are several daily services from Barcelona. This way you can just sit back and enjoy the ride.
⛪ Discover Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey
Once you arrive, you can explore the main basilica. It feels straight out of a medieval fairy tale with grand vaulted ceilings, intricate mosaics and stained glass windows. Get to see Virgin of Montserrat, an ancient statue of the Holy Mary, venerated as the patron of Catalonia. Finally, admire the treasures of Montserrat museums which there are a few on the mountain.
🌄 Hit the hiking trails
Surrounding mountains offer incredible panoramic views. We recommend you to make at least one hiking trail to enjoy the beauty of Catalan landscapes and snap some mesmerizing photos for your Instagram feed. You can choose from routes with different level of difficulty. Plus, there are several funicular rack railways which can bring you to the beginning of a route or help safely get back to the abbey.
📋 Take a guided tour
If planning isn't your thing, no worries! There are tons of guided tours from Barcelona to make your life easier.
See our Ultimate Guide to Visiting Montserrat Monastery created to help you plan your trip to Montserrat.