Monastery of Montserrat with Kids: The Best Day Trip from Barcelona
- minna
- 3 days ago
- 7 min read
If you’re visiting Barcelona with kids and want a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, then I would highly recommend a day trip to Montserrat! I wasn't sure how child-friendly it was going to be beforehand (a full day involving trains, a rack railway, funiculars, mountain hiking trails, etc) but it was all surprisingly easy and my then 2-year-old daughter loved it!
The Monastery of Montserrat is located about an hour outside Barcelona in the dramatic Montserrat Mountains. The Benedictine monastery has been here since the 9th century, and while it remains an active religious site, it's also become one of the most visited places in Catalonia (and for good reason!). There's a lot to do here beyond the basilica itself, and it was a great day trip for he whole family.
And if you're visiting Barcelona - make sure to check out my guide on the top 7 activities for young kids.
Getting to Montserrat from Barcelona with Kids
This is the part that requires a little planning, but once you've figured it out, it's actually very straightforward. You depart from Plaça de Espanya station in Barcelona, which is well served by metro (Lines 1 and 3). The FGC train (line R5) runs every hour and takes you out towards Montserrat, and from there you have two options for getting up to the monastery itself: the cable car (Aeri de Montserrat) or the rack railway (Cremallera de Montserrat).
We chose the rack railway, which I would highly recommend if you're travelling with kids as it is more spacious than the cable car and therefore a lot easier logistically, especially if you're bringing a pram. You get off the FGC train at Monistrol de Montserrat and board the Cremallera from the same station (it's well signposted and the connection is easy). The rack railway slowly climbs the mountainside along the old railway route, which is very impressive and kept our daughter entertained for the whole journey up.
You book your tickets directly from the machines at Plaça de Espanya and the combination return ticket (train from Plaça de Espanya + rack railway) costs €26.30 for adults, €19.30 for children aged 4–13, and is free for children under 4. We booked our tickets on the day when we went off-season (end of October), but if you're visiting in peak season I would recommend buying them beforehand as I've heard the trains do fill up. The whole journey from central Barcelona to the monastery takes around an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes and you can easily bring a pram the whole way.
If you'd rather take the cable car up, you'll need to get off earlier at Aeri de Montserrat. A return ticket for the cable car is approximately €14.00 for adults and €7.00 for children (4–13), with under 4s travelling for free. Note: The cabins are standing-room only and usually require you to fold your pram before boarding. There are also several flights of stairs at the Aeri stations without lift access, so if you're bringing a pram, the rack railway remains my recommendation for ease and accessibility.
A note on when to go: Montserrat is open year-round, but I would avoid going on a Sunday if you can help it, as it gets very busy with both tourists and locals attending mass. We went on a weekday and it felt very manageable!
What to Do at Montserrat with Young Kids
The Basilica
The Basilica de Montserrat is the centrepiece of the monastery complex, and while it's a functioning religious site, it's open to visitors throughout the day (outside of mass times). Inside, the main draw is La Moreneta, the Black Madonna of Montserrat, a 12th-century Romanesque statue that pilgrims come from all over the world to see.
We didn't think that our daughter would appreciate exploring the inside so we settled for the views from outside instead. The whole complex has a slightly surreal quality when you look up at the rock formations above it and the monastery looks almost like it's growing out of the mountain.
The Montserrat Boys Choir
If your timing works out, the Escolania de Montserrat (one of the oldest boys' choirs in Europe) only performs at the basilica at 1pm Monday to Friday and 12pm on Sundays (they don't perform on Saturdays), and it lasts around ten minutes.
To view the performance, you must book a timed entry ticket online in advance as they no longer allow walk-in visitors during the choir's singing. This is usually sold as a "Basílica + Escolania" package (approximately €10–€12). If you want access to the Basilica, the choir performance, and the museum you can buy tickets here Montserrat Monastery Ticket with Escolania Boys' Choir.
The Playground and Market Stalls
Just outside the basilica, there's a small playground, a museum, souvenir shops, and a row of market stalls selling local produce. The goat's cheese sold by local farmers, Mató, was delicious - it's a fresh, mild cheese served drizzled with dark honey from the mountain. The hard goats cheeses were also - perfect to bring back home!
The playground is quite small but was great for burning off a bit of energy (though we did have a slight dog poo situation that cut things short a little bit... so watch your step!). The small museum covers the history of the monastery and also has a collection of art.
Sant Joan Funicular and the Mountain Trails
This was definitely the highlight of our visit! The Sant Joan Funicular departs from just above the monastery complex and takes you up to a viewpoint above the monastery, which is also the starting point for several hiking trails. Return tickets cost €17.50 for adults and €8.75 for children aged 4–13 (free under 4). It's not cheap, but I would say it's absolutely worth it because the views from the top looking down over the monastery and out towards the plains of Catalonia are extraordinary. On a clear day you can apparently see as far as Mallorca, though it wasn't that clear for us.
Our daughter was asleep in the pram when we arrived at the top (classic), but she woke up just in time for us to show her the view before heading back down. To our surprise, the mountain trails at the top were actually pram-friendly, at least for the sections closest to the funicular. We walked a stretch in both directions to get views from different angles, and it was completely doable with a stroller. Once you go further along the trails it would likely get too rough, but for a good 20–30 minutes of walking near the top, you're fine with a pram (I'd still bring a carrier, especially if you're wanting to explore a bit more at the top).
Where to Eat at Montserrat with Kids
There are a handful of cafés and a restaurant in the monastery complex, including a self-service cafeteria which is the most practical option with young kids. The food is fairly standard (hot dishes and sandwiches) but the queues can get long at lunchtime, so if you're there on a busier day, I'd suggest eating early (around 12pm) or bringing your own food. A packed lunch eaten on one of the benches with views of the mountains is a perfectly good option, and honestly one of the nicest ways to do it!
Practical Tips for Visiting Montserrat with a Toddler
It's a full day trip, especially if you do everything (train, rack railway, basilica, choir, funicular, trails, lunch, etc). By late afternoon, we were quite tired and ready to head back, so I would recommend starting early (aim to leave Barcelona by 9am) so you have time without feeling rushed. Children under 4 travel free on both the train/rack railway combination and the Sant Joan Funicular, which makes it great value as a family day trip.
The monastery complex itself is largely accessible with a pram - there are slopes and lifts in most of the key areas, though some of the older stone paths can be uneven. I'd say it's manageable but not seamless, and you'll be grateful for a carrier for certain sections. The funicular in particular is not huge, so a fold-up pram is easier.
Pack layers. The mountains are noticeably cooler than Barcelona, especially at the top of the funicular, and the weather can change quickly.
Where to Stay if You're Making a Weekend of It
Most people visit Montserrat as a day trip from Barcelona, like we did. But if you want to wake up on the mountain before the day visitors arrive, or you'd rather base yourself in the area and do Barcelona as the day trip, there are some good options nearby at different price points.
Budget & Mid Range:
If you want to stay right at the monastery itself, Hotel Abat Cisneros is the one to consider. It's operated by the monks and you're staying steps from the basilica. It's not fancy (simple rooms compact showers) but it's a unique experience being there after the day visitors leave.
Down in the village of Monistrol de Montserrat (where you'd board the rack railway) is Hotel Guilleumes, about a 15-minute walk from the rack railway station. It has free parking if you're driving, it's clean, well-located for an early start up the mountain, and good value for what it is.
If you're looking for something with more character, Casa Camí de les Aigües is a small guesthouse also in Monistrol with excellent reviews. It has a kitchen, which is always useful with young kids, and is right next to the trailhead if you fancy walking up rather than taking the rack railway.
Splurge:
If you're turning this into a longer trip to the Catalonian countryside and want something a bit more special, there are two rural wine estate hotels in the area that I'd have on my radar. Can Bonastre Wine Resort in Masquefa is located in the vineyards with views of the Montserrat range, has a spa, and from the reviews sounds like the kind of place you could arrive at on a Friday and not really feel like leaving until Sunday.
Masia Can Canyes in Sant Llorenç d'Hortons is similar - a rural Masia (farmhouse) with a pool, excellent food, and a small farm with goats and ducks on the property (basically free entertainment for your kids!). Both are around 30–40 minutes' drive from the monastery.
Final Thoughts
Our day trip to Montserrat was one of the highlights of the entire week, and I was surprised at how easy it was to do with young kids.
If you're planning a trip to Barcelona with young children, I'd also recommend reading our guide to Toddler-Friendly Barcelona: Top 7 Things to Do with Kids for everything you need to know about the city itself from Barcelona Zoo to Park Güell and the best areas to stay.
Recommended Tour: Barcelona: Montserrat Tour with Transport & Basilica Option
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