Advance train ticket combo for Montserrat in late June necessary or possible?

No, they don't sell out... note these are not timed tickets and the train line is a regular commuting line so worst case scenario you'd have to wait for the next train which, if you check schedules is just half an hour away. For the rack train, there's one every hour. Note that even if you were to purchase online in advance the TransMontserrat ticket (that's the combined ticket you want, only transportation, no lunch), it does not tie you up to any specific schedule.

• Regular train: line R5, dep:Pl Espanya in Barcelona to:Monistrol de Montserrat, for the rack train
• Rack Train ('cremallera', it's the name in Catalan, the local language)
• Weather: This is the local weather station "at" Montserrat. Be aware that weather is very variable in the mountain of Montserrat, be informed at all times, especially if you plan to venture outside the pathways. Even in summer, a light jacket might be required in early morning or in late afternoon.

Thank you, this is very helpful!

The day before we went up to Montserrat, we stopped in at the TI in Barcelona and bought the transportation tickets. Be sure to specify rack railway or cable car. It was all very easy and a wonderful trip!

Wise idea to skip the lunch. We got it and it wasn't great.

Eating in Montserrat can result in a bit of a disappointment. If you’re visiting by public transportation -hence not able to move about the area by car- you’re stuck with a couple of restaurants: a very large one (seats +1200 people) located on a vantage point by the monastery at the Mirador dels Apòstols building and it’s appropriately named Restaurant Montserrat, and the other is part of the Hotel Abad Cisneros (the only accommodation in the monastery for overnight stays) and it’s a small restaurant located in the old 16th-century stables of the monastery with an appealing stone arch ceiling. Both are a bit overpriced, the food -especially in the first one- is rather mediocre and the quality-price ratio is, to my humble opinion, way low. Yet if you plan to eat in any of both, it’s best to book in advance to ensure availability during your visit noting that Montserrat can be very busy on certain dates. For bookings: reserves@larsa-montserrat.com. There are also a self-service restaurant and a couple of coffee bars serving sandwiches and basic dishes.

So, why don’t you have a picnic instead? Not only there’s a picnic area -by Restaurant Montserrat- but venturing in any of the trails can be a good excuse to find the perfect and most beautiful place to have a bite while admiring nature and the landscape: http://infocatalonia.eu/w/Guw7G Make sure you visit one of the many delicatessen shops in the city/town you’re staying in to procure some of those delicious ingredients that make a picnic memorable. Alternatively, there’s a small supermarket near the monastery in Montserrat and opposite the Mirador dels Apòstols building you will find a row of stalls of local suppliers selling regional specialities in an open air market. The market stalls do not have formal opening times, however, they are generally there from 9:30/10am to 5/6pm.

It’s worth mentioning that, being a Natural Park, the area is constantly monitored and it’s strictly prohibited to start any fire anywhere in Montserrat and that littering can result in heavy fines, so be civilised and help us to maintain it clean and beautiful .

A picnic lunch is a great idea. That is what we did and it worked out very well.