Prepare for peace and panoramic views at Montserrat Monastery.
Montserrat Monastery Tickets
Montserrat Museum & Mountain Experience Ticket
Discover Montserrat at Your Own Pace
Enjoy access to Montserrat’s Museum, Basilica, Audiovisual Space, and Open-Air Museum. Perfect for first-time visitors who want to explore the art, history, and stunning mountain views.
Montserrat Cable Car: Ascent & Descent
Ride Up & Down Montserrat with Stunning Views
Take the cable car from the base up to Montserrat and back. Enjoy panoramic views over the Catalan landscape, an experience not to miss!
Benefits
Tickets and Prices
Several ticket options are available for Montserrat Monastery:
Tickets
Explore Montserrat your way, visit the basilica, museum, audiovisual room, and even enjoy the Escolania boys’ choir or Throne of Our Lady.
ungorf/DepositphotosMontserrat Museum and Monastery Entry Ticket
Discover Montserrat museum, Basilica, La Moreneta and audiovisual room in one easy visit.
GetYourGuide/GetYourGuideMontserrat Monastery Ticket with Escolania Boys’ Choir
A well-rounded experience featuring the Basilica, Museum, La Moreneta and audiovisual room, plus an Escolania performance.
Transport Pack
Enjoy a hassle-free trip to Montserrat with scenic rides on the cable car and cogwheel train.
bloodua/DepositphotosMontserrat Tour with Cog-Wheel Train
Experience Montserrat with round-trip transport, a scenic cogwheel train ride, and access to the Black Madonna.
alzamu79.hotmail.com/DepositphotosMontserrat Small Group Tour with Train and Cable Car
Ride from Barcelona to Montserrat by train, take a cable car up, enjoy priority access to the Basilica on a walking tour, and return by cogwheel train.
fotokon/DepositphotosMontserrat Cable Car
A breathtaking ride to Montserrat by Aeri de Montserrat Cable Car.
From Barcelona
Take a round-trip from Barcelona and choose the Montserrat experience that suits you best.
taratata/DepositphotosHalf-Day Montserrat Experience
Join an early-morning tour to Montserrat with round-trip transport and free time to explore.
gitanna/DepositphotosMontserrat Tour with Transport & Basilica Option
Escape bustling Barcelona and explore Montserrat’s stunning mountains and historic monastery.
bloodua/DepositphotosMontserrat Monastery, Easy Hike, Cable Car
Visit Montserrat’s monastery, take the cable car up, and enjoy an easy hike with stunning views.
Plan Your Visit
The Montserrat Monastery welcomes visitors daily, from 7:30 to 20:00, but each attraction has different hours:
| Area | Days | Opening Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Basilica | Daily | 7:00 – 20:00 |
| Throne of Our Lady | Daily | 8:00 – 10:30 & 12:00 – 18:25 |
| Santa Cova & Holy Grotto | Daily | 10:30 – 17:00 |
| Museum of Montserrat | Monday – Friday | 10:00 – 17:45 |
| Weekends | 10:00 – 18:45 | |
| Audiovisual Space | Monday – Friday | 9:00 – 18:45 |
| Weekends | 9:00 – 20:00 | |
| Escolanía Boys’ Choir | Monday – Friday | 13:00 |
| Monday – Thursday | 18:45 |
Tip:
Arrive early to enjoy the quiet morning atmosphere at the Basilica and Throne of Our Lady, and plan your visit around the choir performances.
Getting to Montserrat Monastery is easier than you might think. Here’s how to get to Montserrat from Barcelona:
The main entrance is right at the top of the mountain, easily accessible from the cable car and rack railway stations.
Montserrat Monastery is mostly accessible for visitors with mobility challenges, featuring ramps, elevators, and adapted transport options. The Cremallera rack railway is fully accessible, while the cable car is not, and designated parking is available for those driving.
Inside, the basilica, museum, and open-air museum can be reached easily, and wheelchair users can view the Black Madonna from the bottom of the stairs. While the funiculars are inaccessible, a free shuttle train runs between Mirador dels Apostols and the basilica. Accessible restrooms are also available.
What to See & Do
Here are the monastery’s must-see highlights.
Basilica of Montserrat
Gelia78/DepositphotosStep into the heart of Montserrat at the stunning basilica. Marvel at its Gothic and Renaissance architecture, ornate hanging candles donated by Catalan towns, and wood-carved prophets lining the central nave. Don’t miss the chapels along the edges, each with unique artworks, and the famous Black Madonna (Throne of Our Lady or Throne of the Virgin), framed in an ornate window above the altar.
The open-roofed Atrium of Abbot Argerich greets visitors with intricate murals showing Montserrat’s history and the world’s major shrines. Look down at the marbled floor inspired by Michelangelo’s design in Rome and spot the iron sculpture of St Benedict.
Museum of Montserrat
ungorf/DepositphotosExplore six fascinating collections spanning ancient Egypt to modern art. Temporary exhibitions, guided tours, and an audiovisual room reveal the monastery’s history, culture, and spiritual significance.
Escolania Boys’ Choir
Catch one of Europe’s oldest boys’ choirs in action, performing Gregorian chants and hymns daily (Monday to Friday) in the basilica. These talented singers train in music, academics, and social skills, creating a truly magical experience.
Funiculars
fotokon/DepositphotosRide the Sant Joan funicular upward for panoramic clifftop views, or the Santa Cova funicular downward to the Holy Cave and Santa Cova Chapel.
Hiking
There are three main hiking trails:
Lux Splendens
End your visit with the immersive Lux Splendens video mapping, where lights, music, and imagery transform the basilica into a 360-degree sensory spectacle.
Did You Know That? Facts
- “Montserrat” means “serrated mountain” in Catalan, inspired by the mountain’s jagged peaks. Legend has it that angels carved it with a golden saw.
- The monastery is home to the Virgin of Montserrat’s statue, affectionately called “La Moreneta” or the little black lady, reportedly discovered by shepherds in the 9th century.
- Montserrat hosts the Escolania, one of Europe’s oldest boys’ choirs, dating back to the 14th century. Boys aged 9 to 14 must show musical talent, academic skills, and social adaptability to join.
- The monastery has ancient origins, with a religious community on the mountain since the 9th century, and a Roman temple to Venus once stood on the site.
- Montserrat’s library holds over 300,000 books, many from the 14th and 15th centuries.
Insider Tips
History
9th century
Shepherds reportedly discovered the statue of the Virgin of Montserrat.
10th century
A small religious community established itself on Montserrat Mountain.
1025
Abbot Oliba officially established the Santa Maria de Montserrat monastery.
13th century
The Escolania de Montserrat is founded.
1409
The monastery became an independent abbey.
1811
Napoleon’s troops damaged and looted the monastery during the Peninsular War.
1881
Pope Leo XIII proclaimed the Virgin of Montserrat the patron saint of Catalonia.
1920s to 30s
Significant restorations and expansions occured, including construction of modern museum facilities.
20th century (Barcelona Olympics era)
Montserrat became an established tourist and pilgrimage destination, with improved transport links like the rack railway and cable car.
FAQs
What can I do in Montserrat?
Explore the Basilica, visit the Throne of the Virgin Mary, enjoy the museum and audiovisual space, listen to the famous Escolania boys’ choir (Monday to Friday), ride the funiculars, or hike. See more »
Do I need to pay an entrance fee?
A tourist ticket helps preserve the monastery and supports its social activities. Religious service attendees, residents of Spain and EU countries, and guests staying at monastery accommodations are exempt.
How do I book tickets?
Residents should book through the Abbey’s website to attend Mass, the choir, or revere the Virgin Mary. Non-residents can buy tickets online up to one month in advance through the Montserrat visitor website.
Where do I pick up tickets with transport from Barcelona?
If your package includes the train, cable car, or rack railway, collect your tickets at Plaça Espanya station in Barcelona between 8:00 and 14:00.
What is the difference between transport options?
The rack railway and cable car bring visitors from the mountain base to the sanctuary. Once there, the funiculars let you explore higher viewpoints and the surrounding area.
What should I wear?
Cover shoulders and knees for the Basilica, and layer for cooler mountain temperatures.
Is there food available?
You’ll find self-service restaurants, local eateries, and a small food shop.