Montserrat
Montserrat is a mountain abbey about an hour from Barcelona, and most people go for the Black Madonna in its basilica and the walks above it.
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Montserrat is a mountain of jagged rock about an hour from Barcelona, in Catalonia. On its slopes stands a Benedictine abbey. The basilica holds a wooden statue of the Virgin known locally as La Moreneta, the Black Madonna. Monks have lived here for centuries, and the Escolania, the boys' choir school, still sings at the abbey.
Most visitors come for a day. The basilica and the museum take a few hours, and the trails above the abbey fill the rest of the day. The trip from Barcelona takes about an hour by train, then a rack railway or a cable car for the last stretch up the mountain. The visit suits people who want a break from the city and like walking on rock. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons for hiking. Allow at least half a day, or a full day if you plan to walk the trails.
Montserrat in five
- Take the R5 train from Plaça EspanyaThe R5 regional line runs from Barcelona Plaça Espanya to the foot of the mountain, with one stop for the Cremallera rack railway and another for the Aeri cable car. Check which stop your ticket uses.
- Choose the rack railway or the cable carBoth lift you from the valley to the monastery plateau in minutes. Check operating days and any weather or maintenance closures on the official sites before you travel, as one may be down.
- Arrive early or late to avoid the coachesTour coaches fill the plaza and the basilica queue between late morning and mid-afternoon. A first train up, or a late-afternoon start, gives you quieter lanes and a shorter wait.
- Queue for the Black Madonna with patienceThe statue of La Moreneta is in the basilica, reached by a line that can be long on weekends and holidays. Check opening hours and any dress or behavior rules on the abbey's site.
- Walk a trail above the monasteryMarked paths climb to viewpoints and toward Sant Jeroni, the highest summit. Wear sturdy shoes, bring water and turn back if the cloud drops, because the rock is slick when wet.
Things to do in Montserrat
See all attractions in Montserrat
Need to know
- Airport
- Barcelona-El Prat (BCN), then train via Plaça Espanya
- Getting there
- R5 train and rack railway or cable car; or road from Barcelona
- Getting around
- On foot on the plateau; funiculars and marked trails
- Best base
- Barcelona; Montserrat works as a day trip
- Time needed
- Half a day; a full day with a trail
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- JanuaryClear4 rainy daysHigh13°Low3°Cold, mistJanuaryClear
Good
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 40 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, mist
- FebruaryClear6 rainy daysHigh15°Low4°Cold, clearFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 36 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, clear
- MarchPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh17°Low6°Cool, springMarchPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 70 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, spring
- AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh19°Low8°Mild, flowersAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 83 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, flowers
- MayPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh23°Low12°Mild, walksMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, walks
- JuneClear9 rainy daysHigh29°Low17°Warm, busyJuneClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- JulyClear7 rainy daysHigh32°Low20°Hot, busyJulyClear
Good
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 43 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- AugustClear7 rainy daysHigh32°Low20°Hot, crowdedAugustClear
Good
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 61 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, crowded
- SeptemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh27°Low16°Mild, walksSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, walks
- OctoberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh22°Low13°Mild, colorOctoberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 103 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, color
- NovemberClear7 rainy daysHigh16°Low7°Cool, mistNovemberClear
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 52 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, mist
- DecemberClear5 rainy daysHigh13°Low4°Cold, mistDecemberClear
Good
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 27 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, mist
Average daily high and low in Montserrat, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Montserrat
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
8
- Feels like
- 8°
- Humidity
- 80%
- Wind
- 5 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 8%
Montserrat
09:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today13°7°8%Monday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Tue8°6°83%Tuesday: Rain. High 8°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 83%.
- Wed11°3°30%Wednesday: Rain. High 11°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 30%.
- Thu12°3°19%Thursday: Rain. High 12°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 19%.
- Fri12°4°11%Friday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 11%.
- Sat9°2°11%Saturday: Rain. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 11%.
- Sun13°7°42%Sunday: Rain. High 13°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 42%.
Updated 09:30 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- Feb–MarCarnival of Vilanova i la GeltrúSitges, a day trip
- Mar–AprDansa de la MortGirona, a day trip
- May–JunPrimavera SoundBarcelona, a day trip
- JunSónarBarcelona, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Barcelonaabout 1 hour by trainThe base for the R5 train, the airport and a hotel at the end of the day.Read the guide
- Sitgesabout 1.5 hours via BarcelonaA beach town reached by train from Barcelona; a calm evening after the mountain.Read the guide
- Tarragonaabout 1.5 to 2 hours via BarcelonaA Roman amphitheater and a seafront, an easy rail trip.Read the guide
Before you go to Montserrat
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Rules for Montserrat, checked
- Spain is in the Schengen Area. Check the entry rules for your passport on the Spanish Foreign Ministry site (exteriores.gob.es) before you fly.Source
- Non-EU travelers may be fingerprinted and photographed at the border under the EU Entry/Exit System. Check the European Commission's EES page for current rules.
- Montserrat is a working monastery. Dress modestly in the basilica and keep quiet during services.Source
- The mountain is a natural park. Keep to marked paths and carry your trash back down.
Plan around Montserrat
The city base, the airport and the R5 train
Read the guideSitges travel guideA beach town an hour south of Barcelona
Read the guideTarragona travel guideRoman ruins and a coast, south of Barcelona
Read the guidePalafrugell travel guideCosta Brava coves and fishing villages
Read the guideThe Catalan PyreneesHigher peaks and valleys in the north
Read the guideAll of SpainBeyond Catalonia: cities, islands and entry rules
Read the guideMontserrat FAQ
Is Montserrat worth visiting from Barcelona?
Yes for the setting, the basilica and the walks, which differ from anything in the city. It is a half-day trip, or a full day with a trail, and weekends and holidays are busy.
How do you get from Barcelona to Montserrat?
By the R5 regional train from Plaça Espanya, then the rack railway or the cable car up the last stretch. Guided tours with transport are another option, and a car works too, but parking is limited.
How long do you need at Montserrat?
Three to four hours for the basilica and the plateau, plus travel. Add another two to three hours if you walk to a viewpoint or toward Sant Jeroni. Leave early for the return train.
Can you hear the Montserrat boys' choir?
The Escolania sings in the basilica on most days when it is in session, but schedules and exceptions change. Check the official Montserrat site for the calendar before you plan your day around it.
What is the best time to visit Montserrat?
April, May, September and October for comfortable walking and clearer light. July and August are hot and crowded, and winter can bring mist and cold on the plateau.