Montserrat, the serrated mountain with a Benedictine monastery wedged into it, is about 60 km from Barcelona. Getting there on your own is straightforward: one train from Plaça Espanya, then a short ride up, by cable car or rack railway. The questions that trip people up are which ride to choose, which ticket to buy and where to get off, since the same train serves both. This guide covers the journey only. If you'd rather book a tour, see which Montserrat excursion to choose.
Your options at a glance
| Option | Total time | Approx. cost | Frequency | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R5 train + Aeri cable car | 1 h 15 – 1 h 30 | Train + €15 return for the Aeri | Train hourly, Aeri every 15 min | Views and speed |
| R5 train + rack railway | 1 h 30 | €20.80–32.60 return, combined | Train hourly, railway 2–3 an hour | A calmer ride, kids, strollers |
| Trans Montserrat ticket | 1 h 30 | €50 | Same as the train | Riding the Sant Joan funicular too |
| Car + rack railway from Monistrol Vila | 1 h 15 | Fuel, free parking + €15 | Railway 2–3 an hour | Families and groups |
| Guided tour Book | 6–10 h, all-in | From €47 | Daily | No planning at all |
The R5 train from Plaça Espanya
The Montserrat train is run by FGC (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya), not Renfe. It leaves from the FGC station under Plaça Espanya (metro L1 and L3). Take the R5 towards Manresa. Trains run hourly, and the ride to Monistrol de Montserrat takes about an hour.
The train stops at both ways up, one after the other:
- Aeri de Montserrat: get off here for the cable car.
- Monistrol de Montserrat: the next stop. Get off here for the rack railway.
Buy tickets from the FGC machines at Plaça Espanya; they have an English option. If you've already bought your ride up, make sure you get off at the matching stop. A Barcelona T-casual metro card doesn't cover this trip.
Option 1: the Aeri cable car
The Aeri de Montserrat climbs 1,350 m of cable in 5 minutes, with departures every 15 minutes. It's the most dramatic way up.
- 2026 adult fares: €10 one way, €15 return. Children 4–13, €5.25 / €7.50; over-65s, €8.75 / €12.50. Return tickets are valid for three days from first use.
- Parking: free, by the lower station on the C-55 (km 11.5).
- Wind: as with any cable car, it can stop in strong wind. On a very windy day, take the rack railway.
Option 2: the rack railway (Cremallera)
The Cremallera de Montserrat starts at Monistrol de Montserrat, where it connects with the R5, and stops at Monistrol Vila before climbing to the monastery. The ride takes 15 minutes.
- 2026 adult fares: €9 one way, €15 return. Children 4–13, €4.50 / €7.50; over-65s, €8.10 / €13.50. Valid until 31 December 2026.
- FGC train + rack railway combo: €20.80 to €32.60 return per adult, depending on your starting fare zone.
- Timetable: first departure 8:35, with 2 or 3 trains an hour depending on the season. The last one runs between 6:15 PM (low season) and 8:15 PM (high season). Check the calendar on cremallerademontserrat.cat the day before.
It's the easier choice with small children or a stroller, or if heights bother you.
Combined tickets: Trans Montserrat and Tot Montserrat
- Trans Montserrat (€50): metro, return FGC train from Plaça Espanya, the ride up and down, the Sant Joan funicular, the Santa Cova funicular when it's running, and the Audiovisual Space. No child or student discounts. Buy online or at the Plaça Espanya FGC station. Valid any day until 31 December.
- Tot Montserrat (€71.50): the same, plus the Montserrat Museum and a buffet lunch.
Is it worth it? The Sant Joan funicular up to the hiking trails costs €17.50 return on its own. If you'll ride it, the Trans Montserrat pays for itself. If you only want the basilica and the Black Madonna (La Moreneta), the train and rack railway combo is cheaper. The Santa Cova funicular is out of service until further notice, according to the official site.
Driving
From Barcelona, allow about an hour via the A-2 or AP-7 to Martorell, then the C-55 towards Manresa. You have three choices:
- Park at Monistrol Vila (about 1,000 spaces, free for rack railway customers) and take the train up. The best plan at weekends.
- Park at the Aeri (free) and take the cable car.
- Drive up to the monastery. The road is winding, and the car park at the top costs about €6.50 a day. It can fill up on high-season weekends.
Prefer a guided tour?
A tour takes care of transport and adds a guide. The cheapest full-day option is Montserrat with the rack railway, Black Madonna and a winery€47 · 4.8 (from €47). Short on time? The half-day small-group tour€59 · 4.9 (from €59). For hotel pickup and a taste of Barcelona too, try Barcelona and Montserrat in a small group€149 (from €149). To go with just your own group, Montserrat by car, private or semi-private€121 · 4.8 (from €121). All the options are compared in which Montserrat excursion to choose.
Common mistakes
- Going to Sants or Plaça de Catalunya. The Montserrat train leaves from the FGC station at Plaça Espanya, not from a Renfe station.
- Getting off at the wrong stop. Aeri de Montserrat is for the cable car; Monistrol de Montserrat, the next stop, is for the rack railway. The tickets aren't interchangeable.
- Missing the hourly train. Check the R5 times on fgc.cat and leave some margin.
- Cutting the return too fine. In low season the last rack railway down can leave at 6:15 PM. Check before heading up to Sant Joan.
- Planning on Santa Cova. Its funicular is closed until further notice.
- Dressing for Barcelona. It's 5–8 °C cooler at the top, often misty in the morning.
The short version
To get to Montserrat from Barcelona, take the R5 from Plaça Espanya, then the Aeri for views or the rack railway for an easy ride. Buy the Trans Montserrat (€50) only if you'll use the Sant Joan funicular. To compare guided options, read which Montserrat excursion to choose, and to fit it into your trip, see Barcelona in 3 days.
