How do I get the Trans Montserrat ticket?

Maybe I’m missing something. You just buy it from a machine at the Plaça España station. There is no need to buy it in advance.

You can buy at the tourist information center at plaza Catalunya. We bought the day before when we were nearby. There are several package options and the one we bought included metro fare to the train station (and return). Which was nice to have when setting out the next morning. We were there April 2023.

This page shows the machines. You just walk up, select ENGLISH, and chose your ticket. https://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/faq/towns/montserrat/ticket-types-to-montserrat-train-journey-with-either-the-cable-car-or-rack-railway.html

There are various ticket combos because you have the round trip (or one-way if a person wasn’t coming back) train combined with either the Gondola or the Rack railway for the trip from the base of the mountain up to and from the actual monastery complex. On top of that, there’s 2 more Funiculars that depart from the Monastary complex and go even higher up the mountain.

I think the way they sell the various combo tickets is overly complicated but it’s not rocket surgery. Plus, there is frequently someone standing there to help you. There are machines and ticket windows up in the monastery complex, so you don’t have to decide everything in advance. It’s just a bit cheaper.

Ideally, I think you want round trip train + Aeri gondola UP + Cremallera rack loco DOWN. That allows you to experience both and you have the added advantage of getting on the return train to Barcelona one stop before most of the day trippers. You can get a seat together where you want. If you’re traveling during a slow time, this is less important.

what about this one?
https://bcnshop.barcelonaturisme.com/shopv3/en/product/616/?o=h&w=4960-1870#tab-test_tab

I have not used it but seems legit.

Yes, the bcnshop.barcelonaturisme.com is as legit as it gets... since it's the Barcelona Tourism Information Office :))

You could purchase it in advance, at the TO office link mentioned, but there's no need. As explained earlier, you just buy it on the day of the trip to Montserrat at FGC Plaça Espanya station in Barcelona, either at the ATMs (available in several languages) or at the booths.

Thanks so much everyone for the clarity and reassurance that I don’t need to purchase the tickets in advance!

For those who are afraid of heights, which one should I choose among those options? And if you were height-phobic and ended up taking that more difficult route, was it tolerable? ;)

Thanks again!

I have a follow-up question.
I see some comments about the two restaurants in Monserrat are quite overpriced and underwhelming.
While doing some search, I encountered this website (https://thetourguy.com/travel-blog/best-restaurants-in-near-montserrat/ ) suggesting restaurants 20-30minutes away.
Excuse my silly question — if I am going by public transportation, is there any shared ride like Bolt or Uber around the area to go to other restaurants?

If you are around Monserrat, where did you eat?

Thanks in advance!

Sure the restaurant and shop are overpriced for Spain, but nothing like you typically see at American tourist sites. And why waste valuable Montserrat time chasing an ultimately forgettable lunch?

Pack a lunch from Barcelona or just suck it up, knowing that the view more than compensates for a few extra euros at the cafeteria.

As to heights - if Gondolas scare you, just do the rack railway. On the train from BCN, You’d get off at the Cremallera stop just after the Aeri stop. If some wanted to do one or the other, it’s easy to meet up top if you have cel phones or chose a meeting spot.

The hikes around the complex aren’t particularly exposed so I can’t imagine those would bug you.

You can eyeball the funiculars once you get to the monastery site.

Hello!
I apologize in advance if these are dumb questions. There will be 6 of us going to Barcelona at a very busy time, the last week in May, and I want to make sure I don't leave buying tickets to the last minute in case they get sold out.
1) I noticed the previous information mentions there's no need to buy tickets ahead of time, and to just buy the Trans Montserrat tickets the day before at the train station. Does it matter whether it's the middle of winter when the crowds are less, or height of tourist season? Don't they sell out? I assume they need to limit the number of people going there all at the same time?
2) We will be staying a long way from the Placa Espana train station and would rather not have to go all the way there just to buy tickets. Is there any other place to physically buy the tickets? Or buy them online? Somewhere online I read there's an option to buy them at a ticket office in Placa de Catalunya. Is this true? I also read that if you buy tickets online, you need to exchange the vouchers you get for an actual ticket at Placa Espana. I would appreciate any clarficiation.
3) This ticket seems to be just for the transport. Is there a separate ticket to get into the buildings?
4) I also read on a Barcelona FB page that there are long lines for the cable car, like 1 1/2-2 hours, and to take the rack railway for a faster trip. Any truth to this?
Thanks in advance for any advice or guidance.
Houry

You do not need to buy train tickets in advance; even in May. You don’t need to go to the train station a day ahead. The R5 is a regular commuter line. It runs hourly all day.

Yes, there’s usually a line for the Aeri gondola; maybe 30-45 minutes early in the AM and then fading. If you didn’t buy a train/aeri combo ticket from the machine at Plaça Espanya, You can just buy your ticket right here now and hop in line for the ride up. The only disadvantage is a couple euros of combo price savings.

Yes, new for 2024 Montserrat apparently requires an entrance ticket. This is new since my last visit but I assume you buy that when you get to the top. They also likely have it added as an option to buy as a combo from the machines in the Plaça Espanya station.

If getting up to the Monestary quick is more important than riding the Aeri cable car gondola, just stay on the train one more stop and take the never crowded Cermallera rack rail up to Montserrat. Again, if you didn’t do a combo ticket, it’ll take 90 seconds to buy your ticket from a machine.

Summary of tickets you need:
Round trip R5 Train between Plaça Espanya and the base of the mountain
Either the Aeri Gondola or the Cremallera rack railway up to the monestary
An entrance ticket (I assume this also includes the Madonna, but I don’t know. It’s new)
Either the Aeri Gondola or the Cremallera rack railway down from the monestary

Other Ticket options: Sold from the Plaça Espanya machines or at the attractions)

Funicular de Sant Joan - which takes you even higher above the Monestary. Tickets sold up at the Monestary
Funicular de Santa Cova - which takes you even higher above the Monestary. Tickets sold up at the Monestary
Combo tickets- way too many options in various combos.

3) This ticket seems to be just for the transport. Is there a separate ticket to get into the buildings?

You can purchase tickets online. I did this while standing outside the basilica last month. Obviously, they could also be purchased earlier than that. Or, although I didn't check on it, I was told you can purchase tickets at the Tourist Info near the entrance to the basilica area.

https://tickets.montserratvisita.com/en

Thank you both so much for the information!