Plucked straight from an epic fantasy movie, the otherworldly mountain range of Montserrat, Spain is one of my favourite places I’ve ever visited. Striking mountains, verdant greenery and an epic monastery wedged between its peaks? Ugh, what a show-off.

And while it’s often done as a day trip from Barcelona, I believe the best way to enjoy Montserrat is staying for at least one night, giving you the rare opportunity to take in the views at sunrise and sunset. Thick day trip crowds can often erode Montserrat’s magic, but you’ll see a fraction of the people when you stay overnight.

So what is there to actually to do in Montserrat? In this post, I’ll be sharing the unmissable must-dos, from stunning viewpoints and photo opps to high-reward hikes. I hope you find it helpful!

First: Getting to Montserrat

Before we dive into the list of Montserrat must-dos, I want to clarify a confusing thing about Montserrat.

While Montserrat is a general name for the mountain range itself, when talking about ‘Montserrat’, most travel guides (including mine) are referring to the part up the mountain that contains Montserrat Monastery. This should not be confused with the small town at the base of the mountain known as Monistrol de Montserrat.

Monistrol de Montserrat is where you get off when you take the train from Barcelona. From Monistrol de Montserrat, you then continue your journey onwards to the monastery in one of two ways:

• Rack railway (AKA the Cremallera) | Buy Tickets: A little green train that brings you up to the monastery on rails specially designed for steep journeys – I’d recommend getting one of their combo tickets which includes the train tickets to/from Barcelona, as well as the rack railway up, funicular rides & more.
• Cable car (AKA the Aeri de Montserrat Cable Car) | Buy Tickets: A quick 5 minute ride that brings you up to the monastery, covering 5 metres per second.

Those two activities above are often listed among the best things to do in Montserrat, but honestly they’re inevitable because they’re the modes of transport that actually get you up to the iconic monastery. So, keep this in mind when planning your trip to Montserrat.

Okay, with that all cleared up, let’s move onto the best things to do there!

1. Explore at sunrise

To see Montserrat at its best, be there for sunrise.

In fact, many pilgrims travel from across the world to do exactly that… a sunrise hike with the most rewarding views ever at the top, ethereally glowing as the sun peeks over the horizon.

… but you don’t need to hike at sunrise to see it. Just stay over in Montserrat and roll out of bed! There’s not many options for accommodation in Montserrat, so I’d suggest booking early if you can. I stayed in a private room at this hotel and while it was the definition of no-frills, it was super affordable and (most importantly) steps away from views like this:

2. Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey (AKA Montserrat Monastery)

Now of course, we have to talk about the most famous attraction that Montserrat has to offer, the Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey.

This stunning mountain monastery has been a site of pilgrimage for for nearly a millennium. The origins of the abbey date back to the 9th century when small hermitages were first established by monks seeking solitude, but the actual Benedictine monastery was founded in 1025 by Abbot Oliba.

Now, why is the monastery so popular with pilgrims? Apart from the epic & rewarding views?

Well, the tradition of pilgrimage to Montserrat dates back to the 12th century. This was when the statue of La Moreneta, or the Black Madonna, became widely venerated. The legend surrounding the discovery of the statue in a cave by shepherds or monks helped establish Montserrat as a significant pilgrimage site, a status it has held onto for centuries.

Today, visitors can visit many different parts of the monastery, including of course the special chapel within the basilica that houses the statue of the Black Madonna.

3. Watch a performance by the Escolania de Montserrat

For a unique experience at the monastery, you can time your visit for a performance by l’Escolania Montserrat, the famous boys’ choir that performs daily at the Basilica.

This is one of the oldest boys choirs in all of Europe; operating since the 14th century as a religious and musical institution. The boys in the choir, called “Escolans,” come from all over Catalonia and beyond. They usually join when they’re about nine or ten years old and stay until their voices change in their early teens (which sounds like a cruel byproduct of puberty to me, but hey, I’m no choir expert).

You don’t need to feel too sorry for them though – during their time at the Escolania, they not only sing but also receive a top-notch education, including the study of two musical instruments.

How to see them: The choir performs Monday to Friday at 1pm in the Basilica, and Sundays at 11am, unless they’re on school holidays or performing around the world! They sing a mix of traditional Gregorian chants, classical pieces, and even some modern compositions. Tickets cost €10 for adults but make sure you book well in advance as they’re very popular. You can also watch them perform live online if you can’t get tickets.

4. See the inside of the Basilica

One special highlight of the Montserrat Monastery experience is the Basilica of Montserrat, a gorgeous building that’s a blend of Gothic and Renaissance styles.

When you first walk in, you’re greeted by the high ceilings and beautiful stained glass windows that let in a kaleidoscope of colours. At the heart of the basilica is the revered statue of La Moreneta, or the Black Madonna. This 12th-century wooden sculpture is the focal point for many pilgrims who come to seek her blessings. Housed in a special alcove above the main altar, the statue is accessible via a dedicated path that allows visitors to approach her up close.

The basilica also has several chapels and side altars, as well as an atrium adorned with stunning mosaics and sculptures. Even if you don’t catch a performance of the choir, the basilica is well worth a visit.

5. Enjoy the monastery courtyard

One of the more underrated parts of the Montserrat Monastery experience was (for me) the courtyard, which was filled with gorgeous arches, walkways, and greenery. This area can be found in the ‘main square’ just before entering the monastery.

The courtyard is surrounded by beautiful architecture, with the basilica on one side and other private monastery buildings on the others. Sometimes, you might even catch a glimpse of the monks going about their daily routines, which adds to the sense of living history. It’s the perfect spot if you need a rest between all the epic sightseeing.

6. Sant Joan Funicular

One of my favourite things I did in Montserrat was a ride on the Sant Joan funicular, an efficient service that brings you from the monastery up to a sublime viewing deck that makes the perfect starting point for many trails.

This 6 minute ride whisks you up 814 ft, with amazing views along the way, and is often included in combo tickets for the rack railway.

For nature enthusiasts, a small museum called Aula de la Natur can also be found here, with displays about the flora and fauna you might encounter as you explore the Montserrat National Park.

PS: Do what you need to do to get a spot by the window facing down. The views are unmatched.

7. Go hiking

As you might have gathered from the surrounding landscapes seen in every photo, the hiking in Montserrat is incredible, with various trails and options for every fitness level. You can even book guided hiking trips like this one if you’re not confident in your own navigation skills.

One very popular option is the hike to Santa Cova (more on this later), a secluded chapel nestled in a rocky cove located just 20 minutes away on foot from the Funicular de Santa Cova station. Learn more about it here.

Another popular pick is the hike to Sant Miquel’s Cross, which involves a short 20-30 minute walk up a gentle ascent to one of the best viewpoints over the monastery. To get there simply follow the gravel road past the Sant Joan funicular towards the cross that you’ll be able to see in the distance. 

I personally enjoyed a short walk up and around the trails by Sant Joan Funicular’s Observation Deck. Those with more time can do a 3 hour roundtrip hike here that brings you to the highest point of Montserrat – Sant Jeroni, but I just followed the signs that day (there are many!) to find one that fit my time and fitness constraints. Easy peasy.

8. Santa Cova Funicular and Chapel

As I mentioned earlier, one of the most popular hikes in Montserrat is to the Santa Cova chapel, accessible through a quick 20 minute walk after you take the Santa Cava Funicular down to the start of the ‘trail’.

Why so popular? Well, the Santa Cova Chapel was built next to the cave where the famous Black Madonna of Montserrat was found… and today, there’s a reproduction of the virgin in the chapel (since, as you’ll recall, the original is now in the basilica of the monastery).

Luckily, the hike to get there is quite beautiful! The trail winds through the beautiful Montserrat mountain landscape, with its unique rock formations and lush greenery and along the way, there are several sculptures and monuments that tell the story of the Black Madonna.

NOTE: This funicular has somewhat inconsistent opening hours, so be sure to verify their times before you make your plans. You can also hike the entire way by skipping the funicular, but that will make it at least 45 minutes each way.

9. See the ‘Stairway to Heaven’

Once upon a time, Montserrat’s ‘Stairway to Heaven’ sculpture by Josep Maria Subirachs was one of the most famous Instagram hotspots, with thousands of travellers posting snaps of them on top of this epic concrete structure.

And while you’re no longer able to get close to it (at least not during my visit), this sculpture remains one of the most interesting landmarks to see in Montserrat, especially for keen photographers.

It’s official name is actually the Stairway to Understanding, but based on its location and design, most people refer to it as the Stairway to Heaven instead. Josep Maria Subirachs was a very well-known Spanish artist, and he designed this piece to categorize the subjects of creation. On the bottom block you can see (in Spanish) the names of what each block represents, which are (from bottom to top) stones, flame, plants, beasts, men, heaven, angels and God. It’s been standing there since 1976.

Granted, there’s not much to do here besides look at it, but I personally think it looks pretty cool.

10. Photograph all the amazing views

And hey if you’re in the market for just ‘looking at cool stuff’, then another Montserrat must-do is getting photos everywhere. Of everything. It honestly couldn’t be easier, with the landscapes themselves doing most of the heavy lifting.

The photos I took in Montserrat are honestly some of my favourites I’ve ever taken, because every corner of this place is just so absurdly photogenic… so here are some photo spots you don’t want to miss:

• Terrace in front of the Sant Joan Funicular (seen in the photo below)
• Open square/courtyard area with arches in front of the monastery front entrance
• From the top of the Sant Joan Funicular

11. Dine in the monastery

You already know by now that Montserrat’s monastery is a top must-do, but I’ll add another fun activity there for your list – a delicious meal!

There’s not many food spots up at Montserrat, but Restaurant Abat Cisneros is by far the best option if you want a tasty sit-down feed. At 35 euro for 3 courses it’s a little pricier than your average meal, but considering the cozy environment (and frankly, the lack of the other options), I’d say it’s worth it.

Plus, look at how nice it looks:

12. Montserrat Museum

Of course, while most people come to Montserrat for spiritual or nature-related reasons, there’s a little something for culture lovers too – the Montserrat Museum which houses an impressive collection of art, including works by renowned artists like Caravaggio, El Greco, and Dalí.

Opened in 1911, the museum’s original collection consisted of items that the monk Dom Bonaventura Ubach had brought back to the monastery after travelling in the Middle East. Other items on display include artworks of the Black Madonna, an Egyptian sarcophagus, liturgical objects and paintings by many famous artists.

Sadly, this museum was closed during my visit, but I’d love to hear what you thought of it if you happen to go 🙂

13. Espai Audio Visual Museum

Finally, it’s worth noting that there’s a new audio-visual experience available at Montserrat, the Espai Audio Visual Museum which shows visitors what day to day life at the monastery is like.

This unique attraction immerses you inside different aspects of Montserrat, with sections on Mountain, Presence, Monastery, Sanctuary and Culture. You get to see images and videos of many aspects of the history of the area, along with glimpses of parts of the monastery that are usually only accessible to the monks.

This sadly wasn’t open yet during my visit, but let me know your thoughts if you’ve been!

Did I miss any of your favourite things to do in Montserrat?

Let me know in the comments so I can add more of the best Montserrat activities to the list. Happy and safe travels! 🙂