Breathtaking vistas abound while hiking Montserrat Spain and the Sant Jeroni Trail. During my solo trip to Barcelona I hiked around Montserrat trails one afternoon. Enjoying the outstanding views and rock formations so much I returned again to hike Sant Jeroni trail.
Whether you are traveling alone or with a group Montserrat Barcelona is some of the best hiking in Spain.
You get to see beautiful panoramic views of Catalonia Spain as well as the Montserrat Monastery.
Even if you don’t go inside the monastery it makes for a stunning view while on the cable car trip up and down the mountain. In springtime the wildflowers in Montserrat are also beautiful.
Getting to Montserrat – Barcelona
You can easily get to Montserrat from Barcelona by bus, train, or car.
To get to Montserrat from Barcelona by train it takes about one hour. See more information on options for how to get from Barcelona to Montserrat at the bottom of this post.
Before beginning your excursion to Montserrat be sure to check the train or bus schedules if you are taking public transportation to get there.
Consider the weather before you set out on your hiking trip and plan accordingly.
LEARN MORE: 9 Best Day Trips from Barcelona
Cable car or rack railway to Monastery of Montserrat
First you need to get from Barcelona to the rack train or the cable car station. Since these are not at the same location decide which one you want to take beforehand.
I took the cable car Aeri de Montserat to the Monastery but you could take the rack train Cremallera de Montserrat if you don’t like riding in cable cars.
Note that if you are taking the train from Barcelona get off at the Monistrol de Montserrat station to take the rack train (Cremallera de Montserrat) to the Montserrat Monastery.
This is one stop after the Montserrat AERI station which is the one you want for the the Aeri de Montserat (cable car) to the Monastery of Montserrat.
Cable car or funicular from Monastery to Montserrat
Plan to arrive early if you want to visit the Monastery of Montserrat and hike the mountain. Sundays are very busy for mass at the monastery.
Once you are ready to go up the mountain you will need to decide again if you want to take a cable car or take another funicular.
The views along the way to Montserrat Spain are extraordinary! Starting with the trip up the mountain in a cable car – offering a grand vista looking back down to the Monastery of Montserrat.
Alternatively you could take the Sant Joan Funicular from the Monastery to the top of Montserrat.
If you are hiking or walking back down be sure to buy the one-way ticket and not the return ticket.
Apparently a lot of people get nervous about being in a cable car – that heavy cable car filled with people and all that weight hanging on one little cable. I love cable cars!
Hiking trails at Montserrat Spain
You will find a board with a map and list of all of the hiking trails at Montserrat Spain. There is also info for how long the Montserrat hikes take, amount of elevation gain, and difficulty rating.
Sant Jeroni is rated as an easy hike with an elevation gain of 525 meters (1,722 feet) and estimated time to complete is 1 hour 10 minutes.
I enjoyed spectacular vistas all along the Sant Jeroni hiking trail.
It’s an easy 1-hour 10-minute hike but took me 2 hours, stopping to take photos and enjoying the picturesque views of the Catalonia region.
I meant to change my shoes before I left the apartment in central Barcelona but I forgot and so I wore rather inappropriate footwear for hiking!
My favorite hiking shoes are by Ahnu because they are waterproof shoes and have a wide toe box so they are comfortable for long hikes.
I saw several climbers while hiking at Montserrat. It’s a popular location for mountain climbing and I would love to try it some day! I need to take a class and get some basic training first.
Rock climbing looks to be an exhilarating and challenging experience. For now I will enjoy hiking the trails.
Finally you will know that you are getting close to the Sant Jeroni summit when you see the flight of stairs shown below.
There are several sets of stairs on the Sant Jeroni hiking trail.
Chatting with some other hikers we surmised the stairs were put in place for stability – to keep the trail at the summit from crumbling from the thousands of hikers that visit Sant Jeroni trail every year.
Summit of Sant Jeroni Montserrat Spain
Enjoy spectacular views from Sant Jeroni summit.
Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy at the summit of Sant Jeroni hike while you enjoy panoramic views of Catalonia.
I highly recommend a trip to Montserrat for anyone visiting Barcelona. The panoramic views while hiking in Montserrat Spain are amazing!
It is a one-hour train ride from Pl Espanya metro station in Central Barcelona. More info on getting around in Barcelona here.
You can watch my youtube video of the Aeri de Montserrat cable car here
How to get to Montserrat from Barcelona
Barcelona to Montserrat by bus
There is one direct daily bus to and from Montserrat, leaving from the bus station next to Estació Sants train station in Barcelona. You can find the exact times on the company’s website, AutoCars Julia.
Barcelona to Montserrat by train
- From the Plaça Espanya train station, take the FGC’s R5 train to either Aeri de Montserrat or Monistrol de Montserrat.
- Which stop to get off depends on whether you choose to take the cable car or the rack train to the mountain.
- You can purchase combination tickets (called ToT Montserrat ticket) at the train station in Barcelona.
Barcelona to Montserrat by car
Maps, directions, and information on car rentals and parking can be found on this Montserrat Tourist Guide website.
Barcelona to Montserrat tour
There are many tour companies offering a guided tour to Montserrat from Barcelona.
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Your beautiful photos make me want to VISIT.
It’s worth the trip – extraordinary place!
You know, that VALLEY where the building is located looks like a giant V!
ROG
V for vista viewing valley :)
So breathtaking.
I don’t think my knees could survive but I guess I can dream.
Dream BIG :)
Near the summit there are stairs but most of the hike is not so steep.
OMG! If only I could hike up to see those vistas! I will have to be satisfied either looking at your photos or if I ever get there, look waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyy up!
Leslie
Just bring some binoculars and you’ll feel like you are way up there too!
i’m looking forward to visiting montserrat, dunno if i’d hike thou’. prolly will just take the cable car :)
It’s an easy hike especially at the beginning so you could just hike a portion of it – you will love it :)
It’s a great day trip from Barcelona.
People who put in the work are very fortunate to see vistas like these. Beautiful…
I wholeheartedly agree – I’m very grateful for all the wonderful travel experiences I have enjoyed over the years.
It’s great to see your photos of places we will probably not able to visit! I admire you for your courage to hike and climb there. You are very enterprising!!
Have a great week!
Wil
Wil, I had to work off all the croissants I was eating every day for breakfast :)
Thanks for visiting – hope you have a wonderful week!
Looks like the cable car ride and hike were all worth it. What amazing vistas you’re sharing with us. What an incredible spot for a monastery!
Yes totally worth it!! I recommend Montserrat to anyone visiting Barcelona – extraordinary views and a real nice way to spend a day. The monastery is beautiful as well – there is also a boys choir that sings there and I missed them this time but would love to go back and hear them sing.
Your vistas are much higher and more elaborate than mine. I am so lucky to live in a place where every hill or mountain gives me pleasure. – Margy
Hi Margy! You get to enjoy nature year round in your area – that’s a big plus! Every summer when the heat gets so intense here in Austin I start weighing the pros and cons of moving up to the Pacific Northwest. Enjoy!
Beautiful vistas. I’m planning to go to Dubai next year and if I stay longer, I may visit Europe as well. Will keep this in mind.
Amazing pics! My daughter and I are going in a couple of weeks. She’s 11. We’re in average shape and have been going on hour-long walks lately. Do you think she’ll be ok? Did you see any kids on the trail?
How exciting for you and your daughter! I did see a few kids along the trail and the beginning of the trail has gorgeous views so you could just hike out a half hour or so and then return. Keep in mind it will be much hotter weather now compared to when I was there in May so be sure to bring plenty of water and some snacks/lunch. I hope you and your daughter have an extraordinary time at Montserrat! Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Cheers,
Susan
Hi Susan,
I’ve been looking around the Montserrat website, and lists has hikes under the ‘nature lovers’ section from 10-12 euros, but they don’t mention this hike. What was the cost for this trail, or was there a cost at all? It looks amazing.
Best,
Char
Char, I did the hike on my own so there was no fee for the actual hike. The only costs would be the subway and the tram or cable car. Hope you enjoy Montserrat if you do go there, Sant Jeroni has magnificent views and it’s an enjoyable day trip from Barcelona.
Wonderful! I leave for Barcelona this coming Thursday. My friends and I will definitely be taking the day trip and that hike. Thank you for sharing your experiences and for your timely response!
Best wishes,
Char
Have fun Char!!! So excited for you :)
Hi Susan! I am planning to do the hike also by myself. Thanks for the pictures and info! Very helpful. Although I want to ask if you bought the train and cable tickets online or in the station? I’m glad I found your site!
Jam I bought my tickets at the station. Have a wonderful hike, enjoy the views, I hope you have a great experience visiting Montserrat.
Hello Susan. I plan on driving from Girona to Monterarat for some solo hiking and site seeing. Do you think 2 night stay (1 1/2 day) too much time spent there? Thanks!
Hi Joaquin, You could easily visit Montserrat for hiking and sightseeing within a day trip and that is what I would recommend. Get an early start so you have a full day to spend there, and enjoy!
Hello Susan,
I booked my flight in Barcelona Feb 2019. Just to visit the beautiful Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia cathedral. I will be there for 4 days only. I would like to visit Monserrat too,is it possible for a day trip by commuting? Any advice greatly appreciated. Thanks
Teresita, Yes definitely visit Montserrat as a day trip from Barcelona. It’s easy to get there by train. Just follow the instructions at the bottom of this post for getting to Montserrat. Let me know if you need more info. I used the metro in Barcelona, then train trip to Montserrat. You can also take a bus there but I really prefer train travel.
Cheers,
Susan
Heading here in a few weeks, and your post was SUPER helpful! Thank you!
Thank you, Allison! I’m glad I could help you out with planning your trip to Montserrat, it is a remarkable place, enjoy!