Home > Barcelona > Viator Exclusive: Early Access to Montserrat
USD $49.00
Viator Exclusive: Early Access to Montserrat
Barcelona, Spain
Discover the jewel in Catalonia’s crown before the crowds arrive on this 6-hour early-access visit to Monserrat. With this Viator Exclusive tour, available nowhere else, visit the Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey with your guide. Admire the abbey’s impressive gothic and renaissance architecture, and gain insight into the role it plays in Catalonia’s rich culture.
Relax on route to Montserrat, the famous multi-peaked mountain in Catalonia. With your Viator Exclusive ticket in hand, avoid the crowds and enjoy early access to Montserrat Monastery — widely considered the mountain’s top attraction.
Follow your guide on a tour of the Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey before the crowds arrive, and admire the beautiful gothic and renaissance architecture. Gain insight into the spirituality for which the abbey is famous and hear how it ties in to Catalonia’s colorful culture. See the beautiful atrium and sacristy, get an appreciation of the talents of the singers, composers and teachers through the explanatory audiovisual showing the choir line.
Discover ancient history and rich heritage during a visit to the Museum of Montserrat. Explore the galleries and hallways, and learn of the losses the region felt during the Napoleonic War. Discover archaeological styles influenced by Cyprus, Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Palestine, and marvel at 13th- to 18th- century paintings by famous by artists including Berruguete, Caravaggio, El Greco and Morales. Afterward, travel back to your hotel in Barcelona to conclude your tour.
Viator Exclusives combine unique experiences and great deals — from traditional tours to once-in-a-lifetime experiences — and are not available from other 3rd party online sellers.
Couldn't be more thrilled about this tour. It was a great deal for the money. We arrived well before other groups, so we were able to see everything without hoards of tourists. I even had enough time to do a small hike. Well worth the price, and I couldn't recommend it more!
Review by: appusersg, August 2018
Simply spectacular tour, going early in the morning is the way to go. You will see the fog lift slowly and have the place to yourself with amazing commentary from your guide. We stopped off along the way for some coffee and a pastery. Ample free time later to explore and take the extra ride to the top when it opens.
Review by: Jacque L, August 2018
This is perfect to avoid crowds. We were able to hit all aspects of our trip and still be in Barcelona in the early afternoon. You do need to get up early, but it was well worth it when we saw the crowds when leaving. You could spend more time that is allocated, but if that's your choice options are available. There are public transportation options when you get there if you realize that you don't want to come back with the tour and want to spend time hiking for example. Our tour guide offered great information and kept us on schedule.
Review by: aggienogimmicks, August 2018
This is such an amazing venue - it is worth getting up early and the views are absolutely spectacular!!!_br/_ I would highly recommend!!! It is a MUST-SEE place :o_br/_ ps: the only negative is that it I was overcharged at the 'main' souvenir shop, so check your receipts before leaving
Review by: MARIA TERESA I, July 2018
its really better to do it early to avoid the lines and the crowds. if you are not into paintings then dont do the museum and do the fonicular instead. you will not have time for both. the guide will not be with you when you go around. its a do it your own thing but you can ask all your questions before you separate. it you are a catholic, like me, the Black Madonna itself is worth the early morning trip
Review by: Jenny J, July 2018
Such a great idea getting the early access. We virtually had Montserrat to ourselves for an hour before the other tours arrived. We were able to touch the black Madonna without having to queue and there were a number of options to do other activities with the spare time. Some people went and walked some trails, we decided to visit the art museum which was very interesting and try a local wine tasting with a brief lunch before heading back. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable. Worth doing
Review by: ShelleBelle007, July 2018
Get the Early Access b/c we were the first ones there. Our guide was friendly and knowledgeable. I can't wait to go back!
Review by: Geraldine O, July 2018
We got up really early to do this tour. The monastery was beautiful and so was the black madonna. The scenery was lovely. However the funicular railway was not working and so the early start was not worth it for us.
Review by: Takobi, June 2018
Montserrat was terrific and I am happy we got there before the crowds. However, we could have departed a half hour later because we had to wait for some of the facilities to open. The fact that this was an English and Spanish-speaking tour also meant that we wasted some time listening to the description in the alternative language. Our tour guide's advice to get on the funicular as soon as it opened at 10:00 was well worth it. From the top, we hiked to the Saint Joan monument, and by the time we got back down, we only had 15 minutes to rush through the gift shop. We did not have time to go to the museum. I think we would have had time had we not done our hike, but the scenery was just too spectacular to miss! If this tour started a half our later, we could have spent some of that waiting time when we ran out of time at the end. If you take this tour, be aware that your hotel and other coffee shops may not be open prior to your departure at 6:50 and the Montserrat bakery does not open until 9:00. Great day though!
Review by: Cathy A, June 2018
This is a great tour. You do have to wake up early, but you get there well before the tourists and you get plenty of free time to explore. I would definitely recommend this tour.
Review by: Maria R, June 2018
It was worthy to wake up early and go to Monserrat...We got there with no crowds and we were able to see the Monastery, Church and the Black Virgen. _br/_ It was wonderful to be by ourselves in this amazing place._br/_ I recommend this tour to everybody who wants to visit Monserrat.
Review by: Bill, June 2018
It was nice being there early, but because of the fog, we never got to do many of the things that we wanted to and really never saw the exterior of the buildings to their greatest extent.
Review by: Derrick C, May 2018
Early access - no crowds in the morning and walked straight to Black Madonna without hassle and with ease._br/_ Great to take pictures and enjoy the Monastery with minimal people in the background.
Review by: LaLeesha H, May 2018
Early access is the only way to go!
Review by: Surang S, May 2018
This tour was a present drive and have beautiful scenery outside of Barcelona. We get to relax and enjoy the view up on the mountain. This tour is good if you want relax.
Review by: Amie B, May 2018
Great tour and great day trip! Amazing place - so glad we saw it! Our tour guide was informative, interesting, and kept a nice pace. The tour bus left on time and was comfortable. We enjoyed touring the monastery, but also loved walking to the cross and seeing all around the area. We took the cable car up and walked back down to the monastery. Wonderful tour. Bring snacks because it is a long tour and there is no time for lunch until after the tour ends.
Review by: Natalie B., May 2018
A must for people who are fond of taking pictures.. if you get the early access, you would have momtserrat all to yourselves...
Review by: Natalie B., May 2018
This tour makes you feel like a VIP, you have Montserrat all to yourself... easy to take photos without a crowd blocking your view... its worth waking up early for...
Review by: John R, April 2018
This was an excellent tour with an excellent guide. The mountain ride was awesome. Unfortunately the early arrival did not allow us to use the aerial tram as it opened an hour laterm. Reasonable amount of time to walk around on our own. Unfortunately the boys choir was not present as it was Easter weekend, however our tour guide had the bus driver play their CD on the way back.
Review by: Katrina T, April 2018
We really enjoyed this tour. The meeting location is very easy to find and we left right on time. Montserrat was beautiful. The tour was good, the tour guide was very informative. It was a very cold morning, but we'll worth a few extra layers! There was free time to use as you pleased, we decided to take the funicular to the top of the mountain and go for a walk, this was a great choice. The only thing we would change is more free time is needed, there isn't enough time to see everything with such a limited schedule.
Review by: Pam R, April 2018
Do the early access tour if you have a chance. Montserrat is a beautiful sight but to be there before any crowds, the sun had just come up and there was a mist in the valley. So peaceful and so worth getting up early for.
Review by: Margaret R, April 2018
Early Access is the way to go ... we had the Monastery to ourselves for the first hour. Dont miss out on this magical place.
Review by: jksanlee, March 2018
So beautiful and breath taking. Our tour guide gave us the basic tour which was great but being on our own was awesome to go at our own pace. I recommend this tour also because you get there before all the buses and tourists so you are able to avoid the crowds.
Review by: Manisha M, March 2018
Stunning views near Montserrat.
Review by: Yvonne E, March 2018
This is an awesome tour.
Review by: Romika W, January 2018
Amazing trip with an excellent guide! Plenty of time to see everything and take in all of the views. We got there just in time go for the earliest trip you can. The choir wasn't performing during our visit, but I picked up a few CDs at the gift shop and continue to enjoy their music. Breathtaking views!!!
Review by: Laureano P, January 2018
Very comfortable and exciting tour. They did not mention the caves at Manresa where St. Ignatious of Loyola spent quite a bit of time. it would have been good to hear about it.
Review by: Joseph, January 2018
Excellent tour, I highly recommend it, especially if your time is limited. We arrived early morning to see an amazing sunrise at Montserrat and had time to see all the highlights monastery, museum, grounds and visit the gift shop. By the time we were leaving, hordes of tour busses were arriving along with the crowds. Our tour guide Elizabeth was excellent and very knowledgeable. We were back at Plaça de Catalunya about 1:30pm, which gave me the rest of the day to hit the beach and enjoy my last day in town.
Review by: med_villaverde, December 2017
Our tour guide was fantastic and perky! She had a lot of stories to tell, very knowledgeable about the place and its history. The views are majestic, scenic and soulful!
Review by: Stav, December 2017
As others have mentioned here this tour to Montserrat is a must simply because you get to experience this beautiful place without the crowds. You get to see the Black Madonna without waiting in line, the church was empty. Our group was the 1st one on the funicular and my friend and I were virtually the only ones hiking around the mountain. By the time we came down the line up to get on was unbelievably long. And it was packed with tourists by the time we were ready to leave which ruined the tranquil atmosphere we experienced when we arrived. It's worth getting up early to gain the best experience for visiting Montserrat.
Review by: debcooke, December 2017
Well worth getting up early for. Saw everything easily without having to line up.
Review by: Paul W, December 2017
Fantastic trip to a beautiful part of Spain. The views were spectacular and the ride up to the summit brilliant. Highly recommended. The tour guide knowledgeable and fun.
Review by: Lau, November 2017
When we arrive, few people were there. When we visited Black Madonna, we found no queue. On our way out, there was already a long queue. The tour guide mentioned the important times for us to remember if we ride the funicular which we did. So we were able to visit the church, touch Black Madonna, eat breakfast, buy souvenirs, and went up the mountain via funicular.
Review by: Mark R, November 2017
What a gem! We took the cable car St Juan up to the top of the Mt. Then hiked to St Michael chapel. Awesome views of the valleys below. This a must see from Barcelona. The early access is worth the early departure from Barc. We arrived before anyone else. By the time we left, it was very crowded.. Our guide was very well informed and helpful..
Review by: Sarah M, November 2017
After booking through Viator and receiving what we assumed was all of the conformation we required, the guide did not have us on her printed out list. Being 6.30am on Saturday, she continually tried calling a booking office which I would think is likely closed and refused for us to get on the bus with the other guests until she got confirmation, which she eventually gave up on. Montserrat was absolutely stunning, but although she was knowledgeable, the guides demeanor could have been far better, there was also some unnecessary singing on the return trip which was quite off putting.
Review by: Grace, November 2017
The three of us got up very early in the morning to take the bus to Montserrat. It was worth the effort of getting up so early. While the tour bus was climbing up the mountains and approaching the site, we started to see sun lights creeping out of the dark clouds. This was a perfect time to see sunrise - so beautiful and worth the effort of getting up early in the morning.
Review by: Diana L M, November 2017
Early access is the only way to go! We beat the incredible crowds that were still lined up coming up the mountain as we left and, best of all, going in October, we arrived in time to see the sunrise! It was fabulous!
Review by: John C M, November 2017
Fabulous. Well worth getting up early. Could not believe the number of tour buses in the parking lot by the time we were finishing our time there. Definitely take the trip to the top of the inclined railway and the walk form there up even higher.
Review by: Kathleen S, November 2017
What an amazing place. We had early access tickets which was definitely worth the 6:30a.m. meeting time. Make sure to take a snack to eat on the bus on the way up. The food vendors don't open until 9am, even on weekends. Our guide was super helpful and a wealth of information on the history of the Monastery though she did present the information from a very secular point of view. The 4 of us traveling together decided to take the funicular on up the mountain. Well worth the money spent to get a head start on the hiking. Peaceful, serene, and beautiful views from the Chapel of Sant Joan.
Review by: cat1tpa, November 2017
Excellent tour. Worth getting up early to beat the rush at the Monastery. We got to view wonderful sunrise once upon arrival. If you have limited time this is the tour to take to visit Montserrat, if you have more time I would suggest a longer trip. All in all I enjoyed this tour and would recommend it.
Review by: Amanda O, November 2017
My husband and I really enjoyed this tour. I had read that it might be more appropriate for people of faith. I am not and was amazed by the beauty of this monastery and its surroundings. Arriving early was the best way to see it. Our tour group was the only group in the church to see the black Madonna. By the time we left at 11:45am, there was an 1 1/2 hour line to get in. Keep in mind that we visited in late October. I can't imagine what it would be like in season. Amigo Tours was prompt, friendly and informative. This is a perfect way to get out of the city and enjoy the mountain air.
Review by: Abby H, November 2017
I highly recommend this tour. The bus drive was very smooth and comfortable. The Monastery is a master piece along with the actual masterpieces contained in their museum. The views of the Pyrenee Mountains from the Monastery in particular watching the sunrise shortly after we arrived was magical. You will not regret taking this tour. Visited Oct 17, 2017.
Review by: Yan Yan Grace M, November 2017
A bit rushed.
Review by: Chris M, October 2017
This tour was a highlight of our trip to Barcelona. I can recommend it 100%. _br/_ Our tour guide ( Amelia I think her name was ) was knowledgable, professional and fun . _br/_ The views at sunrise , no crowds! , the comfort of the coach, our photos made the early start well worth the effort. Glad we did it!
Review by: Andrea S, October 2017
This tour was better than I expected. We arrived at Monserrat in time to watch the sun rise over the valley. Our Guide, Elizabeth was very professional and knowledgeable. It was nice to also have tickets for the Museum and liquor tasting. I especially liked the monks’ walnut liquor. Recommend.
Review by: Marilena P, October 2017
Very good tour, it was worth the early rising. Visited 10/22/17
Review by: Shayne V, October 2017
We highly recommend this tour, very informative guides and you get to Montserrat before everyone else to enjoy the tranquility and history that oozes from this serene location. Then easy coach trip back to town Barcelona with still plenty of the day left to explore/shop.
Review by: pq55, October 2017
The place was just amazing. Go! Early acces is a good pan because later in a day you have to many people in the place, not that pleasant.
Review by: Sandra B, October 2017
Wonderful place to see.
Review by: Michael R, October 2017
Go early. You will see gorgeous panoramas when the sun is rising, and skip what become very lengthy lines by late morning. Stunning views, awesome place.
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