Montserrat from Barcelona: how to get there and which ticket to buy
Montserrat, the mountain monastery an hour north-west of Barcelona, is the most popular day trip from the city. Getting there is easy by train; the only real decisions are rack railway or cable car, and how much of the visit you want in one ticket.
Getting there by train
- Metro to Plaça d'Espanya (lines L1 and L3).
- FGC train R5 towards Manresa. Trains leave every hour; the ride is about 60 minutes.
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The last stretch up the mountain, two ways:
- Get off at Montserrat-Aeri for the Aeri cable car, about 5 minutes to the top.
- Stay on to Monistrol de Montserrat for the rack railway (Cremallera).
You take one of the two ways up: the Trans and Tot Montserrat tickets include either.
Door to door from Plaça d'Espanya it is about an hour and a half. At the top, two funiculars climb further: Sant Joan, the start of several walking routes, and Santa Cova, down to the Holy Cave. They are not always running, they cannot be booked, and you queue for them.
Your Barcelona travel card does not get you there. Montserrat is outside zone 1, so neither the T-casual nor the Hola Barcelona covers the trip. You need a Montserrat ticket.
Which ticket
| Trans Montserrat | Tot Montserrat | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 50,00 € | 71,50 € |
| Metro to Plaça d'Espanya and back | ✓ | ✓ |
| R5 train there and back | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rack railway or Aeri cable car | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sant Joan and Santa Cova funiculars (when running) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Basilica and the Virgin of Montserrat | ✓ | ✓ |
| "Montserrat Behind Closed Doors" audiovisual | ✓ | ✓ |
| Museum of Montserrat | – | ✓ |
| Lunch at the buffet | – | ✓ |
Trans Montserrat is the one most people need: every bit of transport from Barcelona and back in one ticket. The Tot adds 21,50 € for the museum and lunch, which pays off if you would eat at the top anyway. Neither includes a guide or priority access to the Virgin, so expect a queue at busy times.
Buy the Trans Montserrat · €50 Official Turisme de Barcelona shop.
Buy the Tot Montserrat · €71.50 With museum and lunch.
How the tickets work
- No fixed date. Both are open tickets, valid until 31 December 2026.
- Exchange the voucher first. You book online, then swap the voucher for the card at a Turisme de Barcelona information point or the Montserrat point at Plaça d'Espanya before you travel.
- No refunds once exchanged.
- Under-4s travel free.
- Dress for a church. Appropriate clothing is required to enter the monastery.
Or go with a guide
If you would rather not handle trains, the official shop also sells guided excursions from Barcelona, from 56,00 €. They cost more per person than the Trans Montserrat but include the transfer and someone to explain what you are looking at.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Barcelona to Montserrat?
Take the FGC R5 train from Plaça d'Espanya (metro L1 and L3) towards Manresa. Get off at Montserrat-Aeri for the cable car or at Monistrol de Montserrat for the rack railway. Trains run every hour and the whole trip takes about an hour and a half.
Rack railway or cable car?
The Aeri cable car is the quicker ride, about 5 minutes. The rack railway leaves one stop further on, at Monistrol de Montserrat. Both combined tickets let you choose either at the same price.
Can I use a T-casual or the Hola Barcelona to get to Montserrat?
No. Montserrat is outside zone 1, and the T-mobilitat card cannot be used for the Montserrat journey or its funiculars. You need a ticket for the trip, such as the Trans Montserrat.
Is the Tot Montserrat worth it?
It costs 21,50 € more than the Trans Montserrat and adds the Museum of Montserrat and lunch at the buffet. If you would eat up there and want the museum anyway, yes; if you are bringing a picnic, the Trans Montserrat is enough.
Do I need to book a date?
No. Both are open tickets with no fixed date, valid until 31 December 2026. You exchange the voucher for the card before you travel, and you can come back on a later day within a week; the funiculars have to be used on the day you go up.
Checked 23 October 2026. Sources: FGC (Cremallera de Montserrat) · Aeri de Montserrat · Turisme de Barcelona (Trans and Tot Montserrat)