Barcelona Highlights and Montserrat with Cogwheel Train Guided Day Tour

Barcelona, Spain

Experience Barcelona's highlights on a comfortable air conditioned bus, a cable car, and on a walk through the old quarter of town with a guide. In the afternoon, see the Montserrat Mountains that rise majestically more than 4,000 feet above sea level, and the Benedict sanctuary of Montserrat, founded in 1025 and the mystical setting for the Virgin of Montserrat, the patron saint of Catalonia.

Start with a panoramic bus tour of the elegant Paseo de Gracia, home to Gaudi's most famous buildings.

From there, head toward the Mediterranean coast. Pass the Arch de Triumph, Ciutadella Park, the Olympic Village, the Olympic Port, the beach of Barcelona, and the fishermen’s neighborhood of La Barceloneta, Port Vell (the Old Harbor), Plaza de Colon, and Las Ramblas boulevard, all the way up to the mountain of Montjuïc.

In Montjuïc, make a brief stop at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium, and then travel to the cable car station near the Montjuïc Castle for a funicular ride with views over Barcelona.

Continue the tour through Montjuïc Olympic facilities, up to the Poble Espanyol. Return to the city center, passing through the spectacular Plaza de Espanya, where you can admire the Venetian Towers, the fountains of Montjuic, the National Palace Museum MNAC, and Las Arenas Shopping Mall, built on the old Barcelona Bullring.

In the afternoon, drive on a comfortable air conditioned bus to the mountains of Montserrat. These rocks were formed by natural cement of sand during centuries, shaped by the wind and rain.

Then head up to Montserrat with the cogwheel train. The air conditioned train has panoramic windows, giving you a spectacular view of the mountain during the 15-minute ride.

Visit the Royal Basilica of Montserrat, which holds the famous 12th-century Romanesque carving of Verge Moreneta (Black Madonna). The Benedict sanctuary of Montserrat was founded in 1025, and provides a mystical backdrop for the Virgin of Montserrat, the patron saint of Catalonia, enshrined in the monastery's Royal Basilica. The little monastery soon began to receive pilgrims and visitors that contributed to the spread of stories of miracles and wonders performed by the Virgin. Today, Montserrat has been modernized to continue attending the needs of the pilgrims, one thousand years after it was originally founded.

You will be given some free time to visit the audiovisual exhibition about the history and creation of Montserrat. A tasting of Montserrat's typical liquors is also included.

Traveler Reviews

Review by:   Carolyn M,    November 2017
Surprising to us, this was actually 2 tours split with an hour and half in between each one!! The Barcelona Highlights were ok, not great. You can see as much from the hop on hop off bus. The Montserrat with the Cogwheel Train ride was incredible. As the end of the Montserrat tour we were let off in the middle of the political demonstrations. We tried to discourage this but the bus and tour guide said they couldn't help us. I think this was a very dangerous thing to do and shows no concern regarding the tour group. I don't think Gray Line Tours was very good.

Review by:   Amalia D,    July 2017
Montserrat is a beautiful place. We enjoyed this tour of Montserrat. The guide on the Barcelona Highlights spoke English very well and was very good, knowledgeable and pleasant person. The tour guide to Montserrat had trouble speaking English and we felt she did not explain everything that we would have liked to know, regardless Montserrat is breathtaking and is worth the trip.

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