Montserrat & Cogwheel Train, Gourmet Wine Tasting & Tapas/Lunch
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Barcelona, Spain
+10
- 7 to 8 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Discover Montserrat on a hassle-free day trip from Barcelona that blends transport, sightseeing, and local flavors in one easy package. Travel by scenic cogwheel train to the mountaintop monastery, visit the basilica, and sample traditional liquors and artisanal pastries before customizing the rest of your experience to suit your interests. Choose between a tour that pairs a gourmet wine tasting with tapas and time to explore, an option that includes a full lunch and winery visit with three wine tastings, or a Montserrat-only package without the winery. There’s also a Spanish-language tapas tour available for those who prefer to explore in Spanish.
- Ride the cogwheel train to the mountaintop at Montserrat Monastery
- Round-trip transfers from Barcelona for convenience
- Choose between several different packages and pick the one that best suits your interests
- A local guide provides context and insight you'd miss if exploring solo
Sample Menu
Starter
Lunch Option Only: Seasonal Vegetable Soup with Fresh Local Ingredients
Main
Lunch Option Only: Herb-Grilled Chicken, Served with Velvety Potato Parmentier
and Fresh Asparagus
Dessert
Lunch Option Only: Massini cake
Main
Tapas Tour Sample Menu only: Charcuterie Board, Seasonal Salad,
Spanish Tortilla Pincho, Two Croquettes, Bread with Tomato (Pa amb Tomaquet), and Massini Cake.
What's Included
- Transportation in a comfortable air-conditioned shared bus
- Local English-speaking tour guide (max. 20 people per guide)
- Guided visit to Montserrat Monastery & entrance to the Basilica
- Regional tapas lunch with dessert (tapas option only)
- Multi-course meal with wine (lunch option only)
- Visit a winery located within a 10th-century castle (if option selected)
- Three wine tasting (if option selected)
- Cogwheel train ride up the mountain
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Tips and gratuities (optional)
- Tickets to touch the Black Madonna
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Barcelona North StationCarrer de Nàpols, 68, Eixample, 08013 Barcelona, Spain
Once in Barcelona Nord Bus Station, check-in at our Castlexperience office. Arrive 20 minutes before the tour starts to check in.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Start time.9:45 am
Itinerary
Set out from Barcelona on a comfortable, air-conditioned bus with your English-speaking guide and head toward the landscapes of Montserrat.
After check-in at Estació del Nord, travel through scenic countryside before boarding a cogwheel train, which winds its way up the mountainside to the monastery. Explore the historic complex on a guided visit, step inside the Basilica, and take time to admire panoramic views over Catalonia. Along the way, sample regional treats such as artisanal pastries and traditional liquors that have been made by the monks for generations.
From Montserrat, continue your experience with the option that best suits your interests. Join a tour of Oller del Mas, a centuries-old castle-winery, to stroll through vineyards, discover the wine cellar, and enjoy a tasting of three organic wines paired with tapas. Upgrade to a full lunch experience that includes a multi-course meal at the winery along with wine pairings, or choose a Montserrat-only option if you’d prefer to dedicate your day entirely to exploring the mountain and monastery.
A tapas tour led in Spanish is also available.
Your day concludes with a relaxing return journey to Barcelona, with drop-off at your original departure point.
After check-in at Estació del Nord, travel through scenic countryside before boarding a cogwheel train, which winds its way up the mountainside to the monastery. Explore the historic complex on a guided visit, step inside the Basilica, and take time to admire panoramic views over Catalonia. Along the way, sample regional treats such as artisanal pastries and traditional liquors that have been made by the monks for generations.
From Montserrat, continue your experience with the option that best suits your interests. Join a tour of Oller del Mas, a centuries-old castle-winery, to stroll through vineyards, discover the wine cellar, and enjoy a tasting of three organic wines paired with tapas. Upgrade to a full lunch experience that includes a multi-course meal at the winery along with wine pairings, or choose a Montserrat-only option if you’d prefer to dedicate your day entirely to exploring the mountain and monastery.
A tapas tour led in Spanish is also available.
Your day concludes with a relaxing return journey to Barcelona, with drop-off at your original departure point.
1
Barcelona Nord Bus Station
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Abadia De Montserrat
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
3
Oller del Mas
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Most travelers can participate
- Tours start at 9:45 a.m. Please arrive 20 minutes before the start time because check-in is required at our office before proceeding to the buses area.
- Groups are limited to 20 people per guide, though in rare cases may increase to 22. Transportation is shared with other groups.
- Comfortable clothes and walking shoes are recommended. Montserrat and the winery may have more extreme temperatures than Barcelona—check the forecast and dress accordingly. Bring water, especially in summer.
- The tour is not wheelchair accessible, but service animals are allowed. For reduced mobility, contact us before booking to discuss arrangements.
- Infants (3 years or younger) join free of charge but are not provided with car seats or meals.
- Dietary restrictions or allergies are accommodated without advance notice.
- We often work with boutique, family-owned wineries. Due to logistics, the winery may vary from Oller del Mas.
- Tour timings are approximate and may vary due to traffic, weather, or unforeseen events. We recommend avoiding scheduling other activities immediately after the tour to allow for potential delays.
- We follow all health and safety guidelines issued by authorities to ensure a safe environment for guests and staff.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Excellent experience!! Our guide Hector was so sweet and accommodating. He answered all of our questions and gave great recommendations. We enjoyed exploring the ground of the monastery, the shops, and the farmers market. The basilica was breathtaking! So glad we were able to go inside and witness an ongoing mass. Guillem did a fabulous job explaining the history of Barcelona and Montserrat while on the bus. Went with my family (two preteens) and there was something for everyone to enjoy. Shoutout to our bus driver for his exceptional driving. Would definitely do this again!
Reviews
4.9
based on 8,092 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Firstly, you will be very lucky if you get Lesly as your tour guide. She was absolutely fantastic! Lesly is extremely knowledgeable and has an excellent understanding of the area's history. She provided fascinating information throughout the tour.
Both parts of the tour were excellent, from the Basilica to the visit to the local winery. The Basilica is in a beautiful location, and I only wish I could have stayed there longer. The winery was equally lovely, and the wines were delicious. I ended up buying a bottle of the sweet wine to take home.
This tour was definitely one of the highlights of my time in Barcelona, and I would happily do it all over again, especially the Basilica visit.
Many thanks to Lesly for her expertise and to the coach drivers for their safe and diligent driving.
We had a fantastic experience on the Montserrat and cogwheel train tour, including the winery visit. Luca was an outstanding guide—knowledgeable, friendly, and engaging. He made the history and sights come alive while keeping the day relaxed and enjoyable. The tour was very well organized and offered a great mix of scenery, history, and wine. Bring your hiking shoes so you can make the trek to St. James Cross—it’s absolutely worth it! Highly recommend Luca and this tour!
long bus ride, long line for black Madonna, short free time. We would love to have more time to stay.
Transportation was very comfortable. Overall a beautiful experience. Loved the wine but did not care much for the tapas. Monserrat was stunning. Tour guide (Isa) was really good and entertaining and very helpful
This was a truly amazing experience!!!
Ancys was the perfect guide! We learned plenty and experienced the mystique of Monserrat. She explained history, shops, and helped each one of us to experience this magical place on our own best terms, be it religious, athletic, or just touristy, she provided us with the information to make the best of our time on this special mountain.
The winery was the icing on top of this beautiful day! Ancys taught us so much about the wines and the family that has produced these wines for the past 900 years!!! Totally mind blowing!!!
I would recommend this tour as a top ten Barcelona must!!!
A thoughtfully planned experience with a knowledgeable, enthusiastic guide. Carla sincerely knows her wine! The bus was easy to find and included a nice narration of the city's history without trying to fill all the time between Barcelona and the train station. The cogwheel is charming and had amazing views. Carla was very good at making sure our group stayed together and had access to the Black Madonna with plenty of time to admire the cathedral. I would have preferred more time in town to explore, but that was on me. There was just so much more to do in Montserrat than I had anticipated. The lunch was hearty and delicious, and the wine tasting was informative, but the real treat was the VIP access to the wine cellar. That was really special. Again, I wanted more time! I could've spent days in that area of the country. I look forward to going back. Kudos to a wonderful tour company and an unforgettable experience.
What a great experience this was! Our tour guide, Delph was amazing! So knowledgeable and great humour. Would definitely recommend!
Fantastic day exploring Monserrat. Great mix of history and stories from our knowledgeable and entertaining guide Vince and time to explore by ourselves. Loved the cog wheel train ride to the top. Topped off with a wine tour to end the day. Comfortable bus journey. Thank you Susan & Ross
Fantastic trip to Montserrat and Oller del Mas vineyard. The history talks on the bus there and back were interesting, and Luca was a great tour guide. All the guides were friendly and helpful. Had a lovely walk to Creu de Sant Miguel with a fantastic view.
This trip to Montserrat was wonderful.
Our guide, Vince was extremely knowledgeable about the monastery, its history and its significance in the history of Barcelona. He
did a wonderful job of discussing that history, the religion and politics of Spain and many cultural aspects.
He injected many stories and humor in his discussion. Lastly, his knowledge of the local wine industry was appreciated and unexpected.
Great tour, I highly recommend it.
We had issues finding the place for the tour. But Thais was very professional and attentive throughout the tour. She was very informative and friendly. The tour went very smoothly and she was very knowledgeable on wine which was nice. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone coming to Barcelona.
Hector was the best tour guide, I am gluten free and my allergy was accommodated. The history I learned really helped me appreciate the culture of Catalona. great wine. I bought a bottle.
This was wonderful. Vince was beyond phenomenal. One of the best guides we have encountered. Perfecto in all aspects
This is a terrific experience and should not be missed. It is incredibly well-organized and everything ran seamlessly. Both the trip out and the monastery were truly stunning. Our tour guide, Kyra, was the absolute BEST! She was informative, upbeat and was truly a delight! I travel often and I think she deserves a Gold Star! One side note: You have the option to do a hiking trail, so if that is your thing, dress appropriately. Otherwise, you’re fine with your regular footwear. You should definitely put it on your list of attractions!
What a fantastic day and tour. Although a long day there was so much to see and do. You must go the whole hog and include the meal/wine lunch then the wine tour. Kyra was a superb guide and nothing was too much trouble. Highly recommended.
Carla was extremely friendly, informative and fun. Carla made this tour amazing. We had a wonderful time. I highly recommend this tour.
Leslie and her team went above and beyond! She educated us, made us laugh and made us feel at home. Here’s to the amazing Leslie..! I’ll cheers to you when I open my “special” wine bottle.
Our tour guide Thais was excellent and was extremely patient with some of the other guests. Read carefully the description of this tour. We loved it but others felt it too short. Not enough free time despite it being clearly described.
Highly recommend a visit to Monserrat. Beautiful.
Very organized. Great views. Short hike if you like hiking. Wonderful winery with tasting and a great meal.
Great half day experience with Luca to see Montserrat. We thought about going up ourselves via train but it was so much easier. We got a little history, a little free time — perfect for spending half a day at the Basillica.
It is a good day trip but felt very rushed the place itself is very beautiful but I felt we didn’t have enough time there we were supposed to reach back to Barcelona at 3.30pm but we arrived back at 3pm so the 30mins we missed out on could of been a extra 30minutes at the actual place but our quite Caroline was excellent
Luca was our guide. He was extremely knowledgeable and communicative. He shared all the most important stuff without going down rabbit holes. One of the best tour guides we have had. I would recommend this tour and hopefully you get Luca! Happy Travels!!!
There is so much to love about this experience. So much that it’s hard to describe. The drive to the mountain and the train ride up the side of it are incredible. Our guide Johana was outstanding and was very thorough in describing the architecture and the history of the monastery. The heart of the trip is the church and the Black Madonna. The procession to the Madonna is very solemn. The final steps to the statue and the opportunity to touch the globe and say a prayer is very emotional. Don’t forget to turn and look down to the altar and the church, that view is breathtaking.
The bus was brand new and very comfortable. The tour was informative and gave us a great overview of Montserrat. One of the highlights was seeing hang gliders soaring over the mountains—the views were absolutely breathtaking. As an unexpected bonus, we got to witness a wedding at the monastery, which made the visit even more memorable.
The wine and tapas were excellent and a perfect way to end the day. Overall, this was a beautiful experience, well organized, and worth every minute. I highly recommend this tour!
This was our very favorite tour! Anthony, our guide, was exceptionally knowledgeable and told us so much about Montserrat, the surrounding areas and the wine tasting with the delicious lunch. It was truly a wonderful day! I would highly recommend this store and highly recommend Anthony! Thank you so much!
We enjoyed this tour from start to finish! Vince was excellent, very knowledgable and entertaining. We highly recommend this tour!
Don't book with castelexperience team... guides are in so much hurry to finish the trip in less than 5 hours
I am so glad I signed up for this tour. It was very well planned and Carla our host was very funny and knowledgeable. I had no clue how green and forest-y Barcelona could be or that it had lots of mountains. So glad I got to see a different side of Barcelona.
The guide was great and very knowledgeable.The tour was good with great experience. Would recommend this tour
Vince was phenomenal, and clearly passionate about the tour and information he provided. He was the perfect blend of humorous and interesting
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