Historical Montserrat Half-Day Hiking Tour from Barcelona

Barcelona, Spain

Get a dose of history, culture, and nature during this 6.5-hour tour to Montserrat from Barcelona. With your guide and small group of 8 or fewer people, explore the Basilica of Montserrat, take the glass-top St. Joan funicular to the middle part of the Montserrat mountain range, then spend a pleasant 2-hours hiking past authentic "hermitages" (retreats) where the first inhabitants of Montserrat gathered more than a thousand years ago. The tour ends at the monastery and a drive back to central Barcelona.

Begin the tour at 8:05am, when your driver/guide picks you up from central Barcelona. Drive north into the mountainous countryside for about an hour in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle as you take in the striking rocky scenery around you. Upon arriving at the ancient religious site of Montserrat, skip the lines to see Santa Maria de Montserrat – the mountain’s Benedictine monastery – and its 12th-century wooden carving La Moreneta ("The Black Madonna").

With your small group of 8 or less people, ride the glass-topped St. Joan funicular railway and take in spectacular views of the monastery and the mountain on your way up. Hike for 2 hours at Montserrat Natural Park; different routes can be selected depending upon the group's preference. Pass thousand-year-old hermitages and hear stories about the important roles they played became during the Spanish Independence War in the early 19th century.

After hiking back down to the monastery you'll have the opportunity to taste a variety of natural food products from local vendors, and to purchase lunch before your drive back to Barcelona around 2:30pm.

Elevation Gain/Loss: +180 m (+600 ft)/ -400 m (-1.300 ft)
Duration: 6.5 hours
Active Hiking Time: 2 hours
Total distance hiked: 6 km (3,7 mi)