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
Supplied by
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 8,044 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
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
Alejandro, aka. Ale, was awesome and made this tour enjoyable and fun. The bus ride was pleasant and included a brief history of Barcelona and Monserrat on the way. Ale informed us if the best places to sit for the best views on the train ride up to the monetary. The views were great, and the activities during our free time were perfect. Would recommend.
Essentially 2 tours in one. Montserrat & Cogwheel Train was one and the other was the Gourmet Wine Tasting & Tapas/Lunch.
Montserrat monastery was beautiful. There was a "farmers" market, but we were not that impressed. It was recommended that we try the cottage cheese with honey. Meh. Ok, but not wonderful as portrayed. The monastery itself was what was most impressive. Due to time, various suggestions were offered. 1) The funicular for additional fee; 2) walk to the cross; 3) Church with optional "touch the black Madonna". We had opted for the monastery alone and it was worth it. The line for the Madonna was quite long.
We had plenty of time to tour the church, do a bit of shopping, look through the farmers market, etc before meeting back up for the second portion of the tour - wine tasting.
Drove to the winery for a delicious meal and an option of red or white with lunch. After lunch we had additional wine tasting in the castle. Although the wine wasn't to everyone's taste, that's was the tour was about. Trying different wines and learning the history of the winery.
We did not choose the option for additional cellar tasting and chose to sample additional fare at the wine bar. (Additional cost per glass).
Had to wait on the group in the cellar tasting, but were able to find seats and shade.
Laia was a very knowledgeable guide, both at the monestary and the winery and made sure we were taken care of.
So happy that we chose this tour! Easy walk to the bus station for pick up and drop off! Our guide Guilmo was funny, interactive and a 10 star +! If trying to decide what to do .. this is a MUST!
Guides were very knowledgeable and entertaining. Mountain View is amazing and the history was as well.
Well executed timely and guide,Thais, was great. Guides went above and beyond normal giving mini history lessons that help put tour into perspective
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$64.94
per personWas $68.36(-5%)
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Montserrat & Cogwheel Train, Gourmet Wine Tasting & Tapas/Lunch
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