The Montserrat Monastery, not far from Barcelona, is a hub of religious and spiritual learning and expression. This monastery is often a pilgrimage site for those around Europe as well as the Americas.
It is surrounded by beauty and even Barcelona can be seen in the distance while here.
A tour of this sacred place not only shows you how important spirituality is to the Spanish but also gives you insight into the culture of the region as it has changed over hundreds of years.
There are many different things to see here and you may be surprised by just how large the monastery is once you arrive.
Best Montserrat Monastery Tours
| Extended Montserrat Tour with Tapas & Wine from Barcelona | Montserrat Tour, Monastery & Optional Wine/Lunch | Montserrat Tour with Lunch and Gourmet Wine Tasting | |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Half Day Tour | Best Small Group Tour | Best Full Day Tour | |
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| Departure: | North Bus Station, Central Barcelona | Estación de Autobuses Barcelona Nord | Carrer d'Alí Bei, 78, 08013 Barcelona |
| Start: | 8:45 AM | 9:45 AM | 8:45 AM |
| Duration: | 7 hours (Approx.) | 5 - 9 hours (depends on options selected) | 10 hours |
| Includes: | Choice of mid-day tapas meal, visit to the Montserrat Monastery, liquor tasting, wine tasting, tour guide, small group | Air-conditioned bus, small group, tour of Montserrat Monastery, liquor tastings, tour of wine cellar and vineyard at Oller de Mas, opportunity to purchase wines, bottle of water | Tour of many monastery highlights, Boys’ Choir performance, independent time to explore, guided tour of the vineyards and wine cellars at Oller del Mas Chateau, lunch and wine tasting |
Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated Montserrat Monastery Tours From Barcelona
- Best Half Day Tour: Montserrat Half-Day Wine and Tapas Trip
- Best Small Group Tour: Montserrat Tour, Monastery & Optional Wine/Lunch
- Best Full Day Tour: Montserrat & Wine Full Day Small Group Tour
- Best Budget Tour: Montserrat Monastery Afternoon Tour with Cog-wheel Train from Barcelona
- Best Combination Tour: Highlights Barcelona and Montserrat Sightseeing Tour
We’ve chosen these top rated Montserrat Monastery tours because they offer a wide range of experiences and will fit into everyone’s budget.
Montserrat Monastery Tour Reviews
1. Best Half-Day Tour: Extended Montserrat Tour with Tapas & Wine from Barcelona
- Departure Point: North Bus Station, Central Barcelona
- Departure Time: 8:45 AM
- Duration: 7 hours (Approx.)
- Includes: 1-Hour guided visit to Montserrat Monastery plus free time to explore, choice of mid-day tapas meal, winery tour , 3 wine tastings, tour guide, small group
If your dream vacation includes enjoying tapas and wine during a served brunch at a Chateau in Spain… here’s your chance. After meeting with your group, you will travel in an air-conditioned bus to Montserrat. The cog-wheeled train offers spectacular views as you head up to the monastery.
Once there, your expert guide will go through the significance of the Montserrat Monastery, its history, and its legends. You will also be able to taste liquors and chocolates that are made in the village.
By bus, you will head to Oller de Mas Chateau. An expert winemaker will take you on a tour of both the wine cellars and the vineyards while you learn about the process of making organic wine, and how it’s been done here for centuries.
After the wine tasting, you’ll be offered tapas and wine at the Chateau or a 3-course lunch at a close-by restaurant. There are many opportunities at the places you stop at, to enjoy more than what is included in the tour.
For example, you have time at Montserrat Monastery to take in a performance by the Boys’ Choir and you can even purchase wines at the Chateau, having them shipped to your home.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
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2. Best Small Group Tour: Montserrat Tour, Monastery & Optional Wine/Lunch
- Departure Point: Estación de Autobuses Barcelona Nord
- Departure Time: 9:45 AM
- Duration: 5 – 9 hours (depends on options selected)
- Includes: Air-conditioned bus, small group, tour of Montserrat Monastery, liquor tastings, tour of wine cellar and vineyard at Oller de Mas, opportunity to purchase wines, bottle of water
Both the Montserrat Monastery and Oller de Mas Chateau are significant to the culture and spirituality in Catalonia and of Spain. Here, you will get to see the best of both with an expert guide. This guide will tell you the history of each site, as well as the legends that have formed over the centuries.
At Montserrat Monastery, you will be able to view the “Black Madonna.” This statue was carved from wood in the 12th-century and has been called by many named. There will be stops at the cloister that dates back to the 15th century and also Santa Maria Square.
You’ll head to Oller de Mas Chateau aboard your air-conditioned bus. Not only will you be able to stroll the beautiful vineyards, but your expert guide will give the history of the Chateau and explain how the wines are made here, the same way for centuries.
A winemaker will offer samples of the wines made there. You can enjoy the samplings and even purchase a glass to enjoy with your tapas lunch. You can purchase bottles and have them shipped home to you so they are there when you get home.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
Search For Other Top Rated Barcelona Experiences You May Enjoy:
3. Best Full Day Tour: Montserrat Tour with Lunch and Gourmet Wine Tasting
- Departure Point: Carrer d’Alí Bei, 78, 08013 Barcelona
- Departure Time: 8:45 AM
- Duration: 10 hours
- Includes: Tour of many monastery highlights, Boys’ Choir performance, independent time to explore, guided tour of the vineyards and wine cellars at Oller del Mas Chateau, lunch and wine tasting
Even along the one-hour ride by air-conditioned coach, you will enjoy the beauty of Catalonia. Once at Montserrat Monastery, you will be taken on a guided tour of the Montserrat Basilica as well as the Monastery. During free time, you can choose other places to tour, such as the museum.
Before heading to the Chateau, you can enjoy a Boys’ Choir performance. This is one of the oldest boys’ choirs in Europe and not to be missed.
Be sure to research any days they may not be performing and schedule this tour around that if the choir is something you want to see.
At Oller del Mas Chateau, you will be taken on a tour of both the wine cellar and the vineyard by an area expert. While there, you will have the opportunity to taste several local wines as well as a multi-course lunch in the chateau restaurant.
Spend time sharing your experience or even photos you’ve taken during the tour while on your way back to Plaza Catalunya.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
4. Best Budget Tour: Montserrat Monastery Tour from Barcelona w/ Cog-Wheel Train Ride
- Departure Point: Carrer de Balmes, 5
- Departure Time: Nov to Mar – 2:15 PM, Apr to Oct – 3:00 PM
- Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes (approx.)
- Includes: Air-conditioned travel, cogwheel train ride up the mountain, bilingual guide as well as audio tours, audio/visual presentation 3 liquor tastings, discounted tickets, independent exploration
Take advantage of this large-group tour of the Montserrat Monastery with a maximum of 50 travelers. All travelers will be couriered to the base of Montserrat Mountain via an air-conditioned coach bus.
The 15-minute ride up to the monastery is done by cogwheel train, a feature that makes this monastery, and especially this tour, unique.
The ride up the mountain is a great time for photographs of the mountain, the area of Catalonia, and even Barcelona in the distance.
After sitting for a short audio/visual presentation about Montserrat Monastery and the role it has played in shaping the culture of the area along with the religious importance of the location, you’ll be able to tour several areas.
Your tour ticket also comes with discounted rates for several other areas that can be toured at the monastery. You’ll also receive discount coupons for the gift shop, museum, and restaurant. Independent exploration to do experience these things on your own is provided.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
5. Best Combination Tour: Highlights Barcelona and Montserrat Sightseeing Tour
- Departure Point: Central Barcelona, near Placa de Catalunya
- Departure Time: 8:45 AM
- Duration: 10 hours, 30 minutes (approx.)
- Includes: Visits to Montserrat, the Barcelona Cathedral, the Olympic Village, the Gothic Quarter, Montjuic Castle – cable car ride, cogwheel train ride, liquor tasting, and more
When vacationing in Barcelona, with so much to see, do, and experience it can be difficult to plan for all of it during a short stay. One option is to plan for a longer vacation, but that isn’t always feasible. You could also plan an additional trip later on, but that could take a while.
If you want to see as much as possible in just one day, this combination tour is the ticket. It is two separate tours, however, when you purchase and attend them together, you receive a discounted price. This is the perfect way to pack as much Barcelona into one day as possible!
Not only will you visit the Montserrat Monastery and the Barcelona Cathedral, which are two spiritually and culturally significant locations, but there are also many more stops. Your bilingual guide will relate both the history and the legends of each location you go to.
On both the cogwheel train ride and the cable car ride, you will enjoy stunning views of the area, even seeing La Sagrada Familia in the distance.
You may just want to go there next! When a coach ride is necessary, your guide will continue telling of the amazing history of this location of Spain with the comfort of air-conditioning.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
Your Travel Guide to Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona is a city of extremes and everything in between. You can keep your visit low-key or go all out with clubbing and enjoying the decadent dishes of Spanish cuisine. Whatever you want your stay in Barcelona to be, it can be.
However, it’s important to be prepared before you arrive. Knowing where to go, what to enjoy, and how to get around can help make your vacation in Barcelona less stressful and more fun.
Airports & Entry
Most people headed to Barcelona will land at the Barcelona International Airport. This is the closest airport to the bustling city-center and it also receives most of the inbound, international flights. Getting transportation from the airport to any of the local hotels is usually very easy by bus or the Metro.
Another airport that sees a lot of tourist traffic into the city is Girona Airport. Even though it is about 100 kilometers, or about 62 miles, away from the city, transportation to Barcelona is fairly easy. The best way to travel from Girona Airport to the center of Barcelona is by coach. Several coaches are free.
Planning Tips
It’s not pleasant when you’ve found you’ve packed for cooler weather than you experience once you arrive. It can also be frustrating if you are trying to figure out how to get around the city once you’ve already arrived. These are our top 5 tips for those visiting Barcelona.
Tip #1: Take the Time to See Each Neighborhood of Barcelona
As we mentioned, Barcelona is a city of extremes. The style and flavor of each neighborhood is vastly differently than the others. There’s no real blend of culture in any one neighborhood. This is why it’s important to see and experience each neighborhood.
Here are just a few of our favorite Barcelona neighborhoods:
- The Gothic Quarter – this area of Barcelona is home to many examples of beautiful, European gothic architecture. You’ll want to keep your camera ready when walking through this neighborhood.
- El Born – the art galleries and museums line the streets in El Born. This neighborhood has a very modern, trendy, and artistic vibe that’s hard not to miss.
- Gracia – this neighborhood rarely has the large crowds of tourists like many other neighborhoods, which makes it a great place to spend a day living like a local. The views are fantastic as well!
Tip #2: Purchase Tickets in Advance
Especially in the summer when the tourist crowds are larger, it can be especially important to purchase your tickets for many attractions in advance. This can save you a lot of time waiting in lines to purchase tickets.
This may not apply only to tours, like those we feature above, but also for museum entry fees and other locations that may not be included in the Barcelona tour that was best for you.
If you are thinking of taking a hot air balloon ride or a helicopter tour of Barcelona, be sure to book these long in advance as they sell out and should be booked a month in advance.
Tip #3: Plan Your Meal Times
In Barcelona, it’s not just the food that is unique. It’s also the times that meals take place. Many restaurants are closed when most of us are used to eating our dinner.
When the restaurants close between 2 and 4pm, they are getting ready for the dinner rush. That often doesn’t happen until after 8pm.
Be sure to call or research online the restaurants you want to visit to make sure you know when they’re open.
Tip #4: Bring Comfortable Walking Shoes
Barcelona is a city made for walking. There are many tours that rely soley on your feet for transportation. While this can help you cut transportation costs if you are vacationing on a budget, it also means you’ll be getting a workout. Bring comfortable shoes.
Tip #5: Get the Most Out of Your Visit
Many of the museums ran by the city are free to visit on Sundays between 3 and 8pm. If you’ll be there on that day, be sure to locate the museums that will be operating free of charge and make the most of that time.
There are also many free walking tours located around the city. These tours usually run only on tips and donations. While these may be fun if you’re waiting for something else and have a few minutes, many of the tour guides for these free walking tours of Barcelona won’t be very knowledgeable about the places they take you.
If you are celebrating or just looking for an enjoyable way to see Barcelona from the water, consider taking a sailing cruise, especially a sunset one. There is no better way to see the city!
Restaurants & Eating Out
In such a big city, it’s hard to point out just a few places you should visit when grabbing a bite. However, there are several types of food and drink that you should enjoy while on vacation in Barcelona.
Tapas are smaller versions of the larger meal that would be considered lunch or dinner. Not only is it fun to eat such small dishes, it also offers a great opportunity to try more local dishes since they are smaller in size.
Cava is a sparkling wine. It is a specialty in Barcelona and one of their most famous drinks. Many tourists mistakenly ask for Sangria in Barcelona. Sangria is common in southern Spain and not very popular in Barcelona. Do yourself a favor and try the cava! If you really enjoy wine, take a Barcelona winery tour. See the city by visiting wineries!
Because Barcelona is right on coast of the Mediterranean Sea, seafood is fresh. If you love seafood, try making reservations at Marisqueria Esthvan or Gouthier.
Nightlife & Entertainment
Some would say that Barcelona only truly comes to life once the sun goes down. Not only is it common to eat dinner very late, even past midnight, the nightclubs rarely open before 10pm and are usually open until sunrise. Barcelona is a great place to party.
However, if clubbing isn’t your style, there are also many low-key bars or late-night cafes that offer great drinks, a quiet atmosphere, and a fun experience.
If you want to sample the true flavor of Barcelona, why not stop and enjoy a Flamenco show? Some of these shows include a meal and others may include a free lesson.
Getting Around
A single ride on the Metro can be over 2 Euros. However, for just 10 Euros, you can get 10 one-way rides. If you are going to be in town for several days, you can also get a day pass for up to 5 days that allow you as many rides as you need.
If you’re a first-time tourist in Barcelona, you may want to invest in a Barcelona Tourist Card. This card not only provides you with unlimited public transportation uses, even on the Metro, you can easily get to and from the airport. Depending on the season, this card can also come with free entry to several museums or other attractions.
An alternative is renting a scooter or take a segway tour. Bother are fun and unique ways of getting around.
Accommodations
Once again, Barcelona is a city of extremes when it comes to accommodations, but you will never find a lack of options. Not only can you stay in a hotel or hostel, but holiday apartments and “aparthotels” are also available. Your choice will usually depend on how long you will be staying and your budget.
If you’d like to enjoy the luxury that Barcelona has to offer, there are two 5-star hotels near the coast that are not to be missed. The Arts Hotel offers views of both Barceloneta Beach or the Port Olimpico marina. The Eurostars Grand Marina is situated near the place that many cruise ships dock.
The Monte Carlo, a 3-star hotel closer to the center of the city can put you right where you need to be for tours, eating, and even partying. However, the Hostel One Sants and Sant Jordi Garcia are affordable accommodations that put you right in the middle of the action.
Weather
Although the Summer is the most popular time to visit Barcelona, if you have an option to travel during another season, it may give you a better experience. The humid heat along the Mediterranean coast can be miserable in the Summer months.
The winters are very mild in Barcelona, with high’s usually in the mid-50’s, but it can be rainy much of the time. Late Spring and early Fall are the ideal times to travel to Barcelona. The temps are mild, there’s less chance of rain, and the crowds aren’t quite so… crowded.
Attractions
While tours can take you to many of the most popular attractions in the city, such as Sagrada Familia, you’ll want to take some time at a few of the many museums in Barcelona.
The Museu Picasso is one of the most popular, with over 1 million visitors each year. The maritime museum focuses on the ships and discoverers hailing from Barcelona, including Christopher Columbus.
If you enjoy football, called soccer in Europe, you may want to stop by Camp Nou. You’ll learn the history and statistics of the Barcelona FC. Be sure to schedule your stay appropriately if you’d like to attend a game.
You simply cannot discuss Barcelona attractions without mentioning La Rambla, also called Las Ramblas. This street is closed to motorized traffic. There are restaurants and shops that line the street and street performers always ready to make you laugh or create the perfect photo op. If you’re near La Rambla, check out the Magic Fountain of Montjuic, too!
Sites Seen
Tour Guides
Value
The Montserrat Monastery Tour from Barcelona Including Cog-Wheel Train Ride is our top pick with its combination of sites seen and tour guides.
