Montserratat Opinions

Here is such an example of why travel is so subjective and personal! Although it was a couple years before COVID began that I was there in the summer, it was a very easy excursion using public transportation. And you really don't need a guide.
If the goal is only to see the Black Madonna you can do that in a half-day.
But I arranged to stay overnight at the monastery- run lodging. As with many heavily visited sites the atmosphere changed enormously by late afternoon as the crowds began to diminish and it was so peaceful in the evening!
I hiked up the mountain after arriving mid-afternoon. A couple hours later I found a place to eat and by the time I walked back to the hotel across from the Basilica there were few people about.
The next morning, by happenstance, I was able to hear the boy's choir rehearsing while waiting in line (just as it opened) to to see the Black Madonna. Although I'm not Catholic I know she's the patronress of Catalonia and her throne was incredible and the devotion to her was moving- to me- to experience.
I hope this is helpful. Have a wonderful trip!

For us it was a full day affair. There is the train to and back, and the tram or train up and down the mountain. We just bought tickets from metro station first thing in the morning and were back by dinner.

Seeing the choir can be hit or miss; they did not play during our visit. And visiting the monastery/Black Madonna did not take a lot of time.

Part of the attraction is going further up the mountain by the funicular and walking a bit of the trails and enjoying the view.

I suggest that you wait to see what the weather forecast is like before deciding to go. With only 2-3 days in Barcelona, there are so many more things to see or do in the City. Good luck.

Went many years ago. With your short time in Barcelona it would be a complete waste of time IMHO. There is so much to see and do in town.

I did this DIY as a solo traveler earlier this year. I love to hike and thought I would really enjoy the outing.

Bottom line, I didn't have a great time, acceptable, but not the pleasure I expected. The train transport from Barcelona reminded me of the "milk run" commuter train, slow and dull. I was tired before I arrived at the final departure point. I have done multiple aerial tramway rides on multiple continents so skipped the Montserrat "funicular" option as I didn't want to wait in queues. The rack railway was fine. I did enjoy the art museum very much and the Black Madonna, but the "trails" that had been recommended were paved and full of tourists. Fine views, but not the sort of quiet nature hike I prefer. Of course, I many have not found the best trails. The Tourist Info people on site were very helpful, but lines were exceedingly long. There was a lot of confusion when I was there as new charges for the Basilica had just been instituted and many were caught unawares.

No idea what the experience might be like with a guide. I would want to be certain that I could direct the day and not follow a prescribed itinerary and script.

So, based on my experience, I don't think your questioning if the experience is for you is unreasonable. As stated above, we all have our own preferences. Some people have had great Montserrat experiences which I envy! However, if another Barcelona area attraction seems preferable to you, I wouldn't hesitate to take that option.

We did Montserrat in May almost 10 years ago and it was crowded then and it sounds like it’s gotten worse. It was easy to do on our own with public transport, except we missed the first train and that put us back time and crowd-wise. We got to hear part of the choir, but I’m short and couldn’t see anything. There was a line to see the Black Madonna, but you basically shuffled by. We took went further up the mountain and the views were nice, but there were still a lot of people. Maybe if we were true hikers and had gone deeper into the trails we’d have had a different experience. We found it easy to do and spent a little more than half a day, but after going to Barcelona this past May, there were so many things we loved more.

Thanks for all the replies. I'm going with my gut feeling that we'll have more fun navigating in Barcelona. We're doing g a 2 day stop in Zaragoza and will have finished the RS Basque tour.

We were in Barcelona back in May for 2 weeks, and the trip to Montserrat was a highlight of our trip. But if you only have 2 or 3 days, I would skip it, because it takes a whole day.

Monserrat is one of my favourite places I've visited ever, because the views are so spectacular. I absolutely loved it, while I didn't care much for Barcelona, which was horribly crowded. Barcelona has some fantastic sights, to be sure, but they are spoiled by the crowds.

It wasn't a whole day excursion, and it was fairly quick and easy to get to/from Montserrat by public transportation. We didn't have a tour guide.

We had the experience of travelling down the funiculair and along the path to the chapel with a bunch of unruly boys who eventually passed us. When we arrived at the chapel, this group of hooligans had transformed into little angels, singing beautifully as they rehearsed. LOL.

I think you’ve made the right call given your short time in Barcelona, but you don’t really have to plan a Monserrat daytrip in advance anyway if you get to Barcelona and decide it’s not your vibe. You can buy tickets the same morning.

Yes all good things to know. Thanks to everyone for their input. I'm looking now at what seems realistic for a schedule in barcelona. Looking to stay somewhere around the gothic quarter. Want to make sure that we're in a good Transit area. Haven't gotten the Rick Steves book yet going to see if we can get it because we have signed up for the Basque tour but I do like to make my plans by the beginning of the year. So any Barcelona input is welcome

For me, Barcelona highlights were the Gaudi/Modernista sites and eating tapas. You might have a different bucket list. I did really enjoy Nick Lloyd’s civil war tour. The rise of popular fascism is a really relevant these days and Spain was an early “laboratory”

I've stayed at the H10 Racó del Pi twice, and it was a winner both times. It is in the Barri Gòtic near the Plaça del Pi.

As for Montserrat, I would skip it. I was there 10 years ago and remember very little about it. If you want to get out of the city, take the train to Girona or Tarragona.

You'll have a great time in Zaragoza! I was there in 2022, and it's an easy town to navigate by foot. 2 days is the right amount of time. We stayed at the Hotel Pilar Plaza, which is right across from the Cathedral-Basilica.