Montserrat National Park: Discover the Wonders of the Famous Mountain from Barcelona
4.9
2,470 Ratings
Barcelona
Discover the wonders of Montserrat National Park, a famous mountain and place of pilgrimage from Barcelona. Explore the Basilica and Monastery, touch the Black Madonna, and enjoy breathtaking views.
Duration: 5 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Montserrat - Montserrat is a mountain-top monastery perched on a unique rock formation, marking the highest point in the Catalan lowlands. The monastery is home to “la Moreneta,” also known as the Black Madonna. Legend has it that Benedictine monks discovered the statue and, unable to move it, decided to build their monastery around it. Montserrat was declared a National Park in 1987 and is now a pilgrimage site for people worldwide. During your visit, enjoy a 45-minute guided tour in a small group, followed by 2 hours of free time to explore. You can visit the Museum, sample the monastery’s homemade liquor, take a leisurely walk to Saint Miguel’s cross for stunning views, ride the Sant Joan Funicular, capture beautiful photos, shop for local products at the farmer’s market, and more.
  • Abadia de Montserrat - The origins of the monastery are unclear, but it is believed that the Virgin of Montserrat (La Moreneta) was discovered around 880. (Tours at 8:30 am and 1:30 pm include tickets to see La Moreneta). According to legend, monks built the monastery around the statue. Today, the monastery is still active with over 70 monks. The basilica of Montserrat, which began construction in the 16th century, now houses an art museum. It is also home to la Escolania, one of the oldest Boys’ Choirs in Europe, which performs during religious ceremonies (you can hear them on the 9:30 am tour).
  • Montserrat Museum - During your free time, visit the Montserrat Museum, which features six permanent art collections and two temporary ones. The museum showcases works by renowned artists such as Picasso, Dalí, and Caravaggio, as well as pieces by lesser-known but talented artists.
  • Sant Joan Funicular Lower Station - In your free time, take the funicular for a panoramic view of the mountain. The ride offers views of the monastery and the stunning Pyrenees. At the top, you can also visit the Aula de Natura (Nature Centre) to learn about the mountain’s history, flora, and fauna.
What's Included
  • Round transfer from Barcelona center to the Monastery
  • 2-hour self-guided exploration of Montserrat
  • Small-group tour for a personalized experience
  • Professional English-speaking tour guide
  • Option to listen to the famous Boys’ Choir
  • Option to visit La Moreneta and the audiovisual space
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional Information

Uncover the magic of the renowned Montserrat mountain, a universal pilgrimage site and national park which captivates millions of visitors globally. Accompany your guide in a climate-controlled private vehicle from Barcelona, as you ascend the peculiar ‘saw mountain’ - a name derived from its unique assortment of rock formations. Allow yourself to be swept away by the stunning vistas and learn about the Basilica and Monastery of Montserrat, the dwelling place of the Black Madonna (la Moreneta). We provide exclusive early access to Montserrat Monastery before it is overwhelmed by the daily influx of tourists. Upon arrival, participate in a 45-minute guided tour that reveals the mysteries of Montserrat, enter the basilica, and lay your hands on the iconic Black Madonna. Following this, during your leisure time (approximately 2 hours), peruse the local farmer’s market, embark on a leisurely stroll to the Saint Miguel cross for an exquisite vista of Montserrat, ride the Sant Joan Funicular, and so much more. The tour concludes with your return to the initial rendezvous point in Barcelona.

  • Wheelchair accessible (Please let us know if this is your case since we need to arrange with the bus in advance)
Location
Placeta de Vicenç Albert Ballester
The tour guide will be waiting at the meeting point, holding a red burgundy umbrella.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(2470 Ratings)
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Isabellabq2297ky
Jun 21, 2024
Wonderful Montserrat Experience - The whole experience was great! Tour guides were very helpful, and had good communication. The views were spectacular, would totally recommend. Thanks again to our tour guide, MK!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dubs573
Jun 20, 2024
Montserrat Full Day - Unbeatable experience. - This was a perfect experience and introduction to Montserrat. Miro was an engaging tour guide. There was never a dull moment, and he has an impressive knowledge of just about everything. My group of friends learned a ton and had fun doing it. I’ve been to my share of holy sites, and Montserrat was the first time I felt God’s presence—pure heaven on Earth. The farmhouse lunch was a delicious experience to round out the day. I appreciate the thoughtfulness around planning and the professionalism exhibited. Miro and David, our driver, took great care of us. Don't hesitate to book!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jrock510
Jun 20, 2024
Miro was great! - Miro was amazing. Knowledgeable, fun, and very engaged! The day sped by and we learned so much as we visited Montserrat and Abadal winery for lunch (and wine).
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Paradise25557602742
Jun 20, 2024
Highly recommend the half day tour - We thoroughly enjoyed our tour to Montserrat! Edu (our main guide), Mark and Felipe were knowledgeable, friendly, and funny. Edu gave great suggestions as to what we could do during our allotted free time. We did the half-day tour and it was just about perfect since we had our young children (9 and 5 years old) with us. Thanks, Edu, for being a great guide!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
E8164vymikea
Jun 20, 2024
Wonderful trip to Montserrat! - Edu, Mark, and Felipe were fantastic guides and we had a wonderfully informative trip to Montserrat and our second trip with Barcelona Local Experiences.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
L5897oidougm
Jun 20, 2024
Edu - Edu was great Educational and funny The guides were really into their presentation and I would highly recommend this guide service
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Robert
Jun 19, 2024
Montserrat in June 2024 - Andrea and Cecilia were wonderful guides. Informative and friendly! The overall trip to Montserrat was great. Must see!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
405davidp405
Jun 19, 2024
Great trip to Montserrat - Excellent excursion to the Montserrat site. The bus was comfortable and spacious, the driver was supurb and the guides were wonderful. We had a group of 19, so we went with 6 others with Oreal while the other 9 went with Angelica. They split between them explanations while on the bus of the history of Barcelona, interesting facts about Catalonia. They were very knowledgible, informative and lots of fun to be with. We were at the site for about 3 hours; 1.5 hours of free time for hiking around, visiting the shops and museum and enjoying the spirit of the place. We spent about an hour waiting for and listening to the Montserrat Boys Choir, although they only sang three numbers, so their recital lasted less than 20 minutes. That was a little disappointing, but it was very good. We did not have time to go up and see the "Black Madonna"... that may be important to some people, however it was not so much for us and while it would have been nice, we did not concern ourselves with it. However, if one of the reasons you are going to Montserrat is to exercise faith in the Blac Madonna and see her, then make sure your guide knows. It seems that would be a highlight for many people and yet, it was not provided for on our tour. However, we enjoyed our stay in Montserrat. The bus ride up and back is about an hour each way... good time to rest.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Acneuville
Jun 19, 2024
Maybe one of the best stores we’ve ever taken! - Maybe one of the best tours we have ever been on and we have been on a lot! Philip, Elana and Brian we’re such a great combination of tour guides. Philip had a degree in history, Elana had been in television and Brian well, he was just an entertainer! We laughed and learned so much! I highly recommend this tour to Montserrat!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bawana_h
Jun 21, 2024
Inspirational visit - We had two guides because our group was larger. They both were very knowledgeable.. The line to enter the chapel took a while which cut into the free time but it was worth the visit. The bus ride back down was very curvy and not for people who tend to get carsick.
Review provided by Viator
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June 2024
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