We have 3 nights in Barcelona at the end of February. Is it worth giving up one of those days to go to Montserrat? I understand it’s an hour away? Best ways to get there? I admit I’ve done only a little research. Appreciate insights. I’m sure it’s beautiful.
Posted by
BC, Canada
36 posts
I thought this was the best thing about Barcelona so it was definitely worth the day trip. Just google the route - it was straight forward by train.
Posted by
NorthCarolina
1212 posts
We just booked a day trip there with TOURS BY LOCALS because everyone we know loved their visit there. We only have 3 days in Barcelona (and I was in the same boat, thinking we needed to stay in Barcelona), but we have a Gaudi tour set up one day with TOURS BY LOCALS, a tapas food tour thru the Gothic area one evening with Devour food tour - and we have a day to walk and explore the markets. I know we may need to return one day, but I feel we have a good plan to see the highlights of Barcelona and I'm glad to be going to Montserrat.
Posted by
OP
16 posts
Thank you! So helpful!!
Posted by
Midwest
636 posts
We did a tour half the day at the Abbey and half at a winery. We enjoyed the day but had some issues with our tour. While our group was fairly small you were combined with others for the bus. We were delayed over an hour at the Abbey just waiting for them. There was another tour company that was more money with smaller groups. Also went to a winery. I wish we would have done that one.
Wondering what weather will be like when you are there? It was pretty crowded when we were there late Oct but very cool to see.
Posted by
768 posts
Monserrat will eat up a whole day pretty much. I think it's a pretty special place but there is plenty to keep you busy in Barcelona.
If you had 4 days, I'd say "absolutely". With 3 days, you need to make the call about whether what you're eliminating from Barcelona is a good trade.
As someone upthread said, it's simple to do on your own. You don't need a tour. You go to Plaça Espanya, buy your combo ticket from the machine (train + entrance + either cog loco* or gondola to the site). There are other tickets if you want to go higher on the mountain, but you can buy those on site.
- Normally during busy times, it can be worth it to chose the cog loco because the return train to Barcelona stops there first and you can snag a seat before the busy gondola stop, but February should be pretty lightly crowded.
Posted by
Jacksonville, Florida
240 posts
We were in Barcelona for 2 weeks in 2024, and Montserrat was a highlight. Definitely worth going. We did some research, so we knew how to get there, and what to do when we were there. We did not take any kind of guided tour. We tried to buy tickets from the machine, which did not seem to want to work, and wound up getting in line at the info booth like everyone else and got our tickets there. While in Montserrat, we got in line to see the Black Madonna and rub the orb, after which we accidentally got seated in the front row to see and hear the boys' choir sing, and took both rack railways to the walking trails. I enjoyed the walking trails the most. One of them led to the place where the Black Madonna was found. They have built a little chapel there. We took a picnic lunch and spent the whole day there.
For me, personally, if, like you, I only had 2 days in Barcelona, I think I would devote them to Sagrada Familia, especially the inside, and Montserrat.
The key to your enjoyment of Montserrat is to do some research beforehand. I don't like guided tours. They're usually telling me stuff I already know and pushing me along when I might want to stop and look at something.