Montserrat is a famous mountain an hour away from Barcelona, with over a dozen hiking trails. Using a clear rating system, I share my honest review of hiking it, along with firsthand tips.
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🍀 Lukiih’s Verdict
I recommend hiking in Montserrat if you want a change of scenery from the bustling city of Barcelona.
- The mountain is most famous for the Benedictine monastery, but it also has hiking trails with panoramic views, like the Sant Jeroni Summit Loop.
- Hiking there is affordable because you only need to pay for transportation if you’re not hiring a guide (I hiked it solo).
- Moderate preparation is required, as you need to research transportation and the available trails in advance.
🏆 Where Does It Rank?
Hiking Montserrat ranks as the #3 experience I had in Spain. Here’s how it compares to other things I did on my trip:
My Barcelona itinerary features the above experiences.
✈️ About My Trip
For context on my review, here’s what to know about my trip:
- I finance my trips and don’t receive sponsorship; this review reflects my honest opinions.
- This post has updated 2024 information, but I hiked Montserrat in 2022.
- My Barcelona trip was in May when it was more crowded and expensive.
- Hiking Montserrat is an uncommon experience. I estimate that fewer than 50 comparable hikes exist worldwide. The hiking trails start at the same area as Montserrat Monastery, a major pilgrimage site and the home of the revered Black Madonna.
- The Sant Jeroni Summit Loop, the trail I recommend, has a panoramic view that makes it more memorable.
- Other famous hikes near monasteries exist worldwide, including the Meteora Monasteries hike in Greece and the Paro Taktsang hike in Bhutan.
- It’s called “serrated mountain” in Catalan because of its jagged multi-peak backdrop. While this is a unique rock formation, several other hikes worldwide also have it.
- Although the mountain is famous and touristy because of the monastery, the trail was less visited and incredibly peaceful and quiet, making it enjoyable.
- The length of the trail makes it a perfect hike for a day trip. The loop I recommend is a moderate to challenging route, making it a rewarding escape from Barcelona.
The mountain is also a popular place for rock climbers. While hiking the trails, you might see some of them climbing up the face of a mountain.
- Parts of the trail are less clearly marked than I thought they would be for a mountain close to a city, so I took the wrong turn a few times, which decreased my enjoyment.
- Others can reach the top more easily by taking the funicular de Sant Joan to a high observation deck, making hiking less rewarding.
See below for tips on hiking the Sant Jeroni Summit Loop.
Hiking Montserrat costs about $30. The main thing you need to pay for is round-trip transportation from and to Barcelona. The exact transportation cost varies depending on how you get there.
If you’re a less experienced hiker and prefer a hassle-free experience, consider booking an organized Monsterrat hiking tour.
- The trail I recommend is considered a moderate to challenging hike that requires some experience, as not every part of the trail is clearly marked. The trail is 6.4 miles long and takes about 4 hours, so moderate fitness is required.
- If you want to spend a night at Montserrat for a longer hike and visit all the attractions, note that the mountain has accommodations.
- Monsterrat is located in Catalonia, Spain, about 20 miles northwest of Barcelona. Public transportation takes about 90 minutes and is the best way to travel from Barcelona to the mountain. Scroll down for details on how to get to Montserrat.
- The hiking trails are free, and you don’t need to reserve transportation tickets in advance, but you should know how to get there. Also, pack accordingly for a medium-level hike. There are no water fountains on the trail. I packed cold water in my insulated water bottle and brought a sports drink. You’ll walk on well-maintained paths, stone stairs, and dirt roads, all of which are doable in running shoes. I wore my Asics running shoes.
How To Guide & Tips
Interested in hiking Montserrat after reading my review? Below is a practical how-to guide and firsthand tips.
Sant Jeroni Summit Loop
Montserrat has over a dozen hiking trails ranging from easy to hard. The Sant Jeroni Summit Loop is one of the best-rated moderate trails and the one I recommend for several reasons:
- 🤩 Panoramic view – The loop takes you to the highest point, from which you can get a panoramic view of the area.
- ⏰ Ideal length – At 6.4 miles, the loop takes 3.5 to 4 hours to hike, making it the perfect length for a day trip from Barcelona.
- 🎶 Tranquility – It’s a relatively quiet hike where you’ll see a few people, giving you a nice break from Barcelona’s city atmosphere.
Essential Tips
Here are my firsthand tips for hiking the Sant Jeroni Summit Loop:
- 🗺️ Download the map – There’s no cell service on the loop, so download the Alltrails map ahead if you’re not with a Monserrat hiking guide.
- 📍 Check the trailhead’s location –The trail’s starting point is here. You should be walking up a slight incline at the start and pass St. Miquel’s Cross within 20 to 30 minutes.
The trailhead is not clearly marked and can be tricky to find, so double-check the start with the tourist office.
- 👟 Budget time for the panoramic view – You’ll have to climb steep stairs to reach the summit, which I thought was well worth it. I stayed at the view for about 30 minutes to have lunch and enjoy the surrounding area.
- ⏰ You can shorten the hike – You can cut this hike in half by taking the funicular de Sant Joan to a high observation deck, from where you can continue the hike to the summit.
How To Get There
There are several ways to get to Montserrat from Barcelona. No matter which method you take, note that:
- Step 1 – You first have to travel from Barcelona to the base of the mountain.
- Step 2 – Once at the base, you’ll have to reach the top of the mountain where the basilica and most trailheads are located.
When people say “Montserrat” or “Montserrat Monastery,” they mean the top of Montserrat.
🚆 Option 1: Train & Cable Car
I took the train and cable car and found them convenient but a bit tricky to figure out. The train costs about $14 round-trip, and the cable car costs another $14.
- Step 1 – Take the Barcelona Metro to Plaça d’Espanya station.
- Step 2 – At the station, buy an R5 line train ticket to Aeri de Montserrat (see the R5 line timetable). You cannot buy this ticket online; you must buy it at the station.
At a station kiosk, you can buy: 1) just the train ticket or 2) a combined train and cable car ticket (see ticket prices). Credit cards are accepted.
- Step 3 – From Plaça Espanya, take the R5 line to Aeri de Montserrat towards Manresa. The R5 line (look for teal color) is run by FGC, and the train ride is roughly an hour long. If you get lost in the train station, look for a lime-green square symbol with a chain.
Google Maps tells you to take the R5 line to Monistrol de Montserrat. Do not get off there if you want to take the cable car. Make sure to get off at Aeri de Montserrat station.
- Step 4 – Once you get to Aeri de Montserrat, you’ll see signs to take the yellow cable car.
- Ticket: If you didn’t buy the combined train and cable car ticket earlier, you can purchase a cable car ticket at the station.
- Duration: The cable car ride itself lasts 5 to 10 minutes. If many others are waiting in line during peak times, the wait can take 30 minutes.
- Timing: The cable car comes about every 15 minutes, but during the high season, it will leave whenever there are enough passengers. Make sure to know the time of the last cable car so you don’t get stranded.
🚆 Option 2: Train & Rack Railway
If you’re uncomfortable with heights, an alternative to the cable car is the rack railway, also known as the “funicular” or “cremallera de Montserrat.” It costs the same as the cable car but takes 5 to 10 minutes longer.
- Step 1 – Take the Barcelona Metro to Plaça Espanya station and buy an R5 line train ticket to Monistrol de Montserrat.
At a station kiosk, you can buy: 1) just the train ticket or 2) a combined train and rack railway ticket (see prices here). The rack railway and cable car tickets are not interchangeable, so make sure you buy the correct ticket.
- Step 2 – From Plaça Espanya, take the R5 line to Monistrol de Montserrat towards Manresa.
- Step 3 – At the Monistrol de Montserrat, follow the instructions to take the rack railway, which is a 15-minute ride. There’s a ticket kiosk at the station.
🚙 Option 3: Rental Car
If you rent a car and drive to Montserrat from Barcelona, you will have two parking options once you arrive:
- Option 1 – You can park at the base of the mountain at Monistrol-Vila. The parking lot is free and sizable (about 1,000 car spaces). But you’ll have to pay for and take the rack railway or hike to the top, which takes 90 minutes.
- Option 2 – You can also drive up the mountain and park near the monastery. The parking lot has space for about 400 cars. Be aware that parking can be expensive and is calculated by time and the kind of car you have, but it’s open 24 hours.
🚐 Option 4: Organized Tour
If you find getting to Montserrat overwhelming or inconvenient, you can also book a small group tour or hire a passionate local guide to take care of transportation. You’ll find that there are various types of Montserrat tours from Barcelona. Here are a few highly-rated ones:
- 🍷 Wine and tapas tour, which my friend did and recommends for a more relaxing day trip.
- ⛪️ General Montserrat day tour, if you’re more interested in exploring the monastery.
- 🥾 Guided Montserrat hike, which I considered doing initially, but decided I was up for the challenge of hiking it alone.
- ⭐️ Private Montserrat tour with only five-star reviews if you want a more customized experience.
🚌 Option 5: Bus
Autocares Julia operates a bus from Barcelona to Montserrat (see their timetables). The journey takes approximately 75 minutes and costs about $5.50 USD. The bus is a great budget option, but most people take the train because it’s more comfortable.
Itinerary
Below is a great way to spend a day trip in Montserrat while hiking the Sant Jeroni Summit Loop. I’ve included my actual timestamps to give you an idea of how long you might need for each activity and how to sequence them efficiently.
| Morning | |
| 9 am | Start leaving Barcelona; get to Plaça Espanya station |
| 9–10 am | Take the R5 train and arrive at Aeri de Montserrat |
| 10–10:30 am | Take the Montserrat cable car and look around the monastery; visit the tourist office to get a map |
| 10:30–11 am | Start the Sant Jeroni Summit Loop and enjoy the view at St. Miquel’s Cross |
| Afternoon | |
| 11 am–12:30 pm | Reach the Sant Jeroni summit and enjoy your lunch/snack |
| 12:30–2 pm | Finish the loop |
| 2–4 pm | Explore Montserrat if you have free time: – Visit the Monastery of Montserrat and see the Black Madonna – Visit the art museum |
| Evening | |
| Head out 4–6 pm | Catch the cable car and take the train back to Barcelona |
Barcelona Trip Planner 2024
To make your travel planning easier, download the trip planner below and use it as a starting point. The planner has country-specific travel information, an itinerary, a packing list, and a map with key places pinned.
The trip planner is built on Notion, which I use for all my travel planning (I genuinely love this tool). If you don’t have Notion, creating an account is free.
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