Montserrat Tour from Barcelona: Is it Worth It in 2026?
Planning a trip to Montserrat from Barcelona? We break down whether a guided tour or independent travel is best, including a review of our Montserrat & Sitges experience.
A Montserrat tour, a popular day trip from Barcelona.
You don't necessarily have to go just because everyone else does,
but Montserrat Monastery is one of the most memorable places in Barcelona,
and definitely a place I'd recommend.

So,
Do you really need to do a Montserrat tour?
What kinds of tours are there?
What was my Montserrat tour like, which I paid for myself?
For those curious, I've neatly organized everything into one post :)
* Also, check out the discount coupon in the main text! *
Should I definitely go to Montserrat on a tour?
✅ Prefer flexible travel and sightseeing ▶Self-guided Trip
✅ Find scheduling stressful and want to visit other cities ▶Tour

Of course, Montserrat isn't a place you can only visit with a tour,
you can certainly go on a self-guided trip.
However, even though I love independent travel, I chose a tour because:
① You need to plan the schedule for the train/funicular/monastery entrance.
② Transfers are a hassle when going back and forth.
③ With a tour, you can also visit Sitges or Girona.
Category | Self-guided Trip | Tour |
How to Get There | Train + Funicular | Private Vehicle |
Travel Time | Approx. 2-3 hours round trip | Approx. 2 hours round trip |
Cost | Approx. ~$34 round trip | Approx. ~$52-~$67 |
Pros & Cons | Flexible travel possible Need to align schedules for train/funicular/monastery | Can visit Sitges or Girona together Can utilize on departure day if airport transfer option is chosen Less flexibility and more expensive than self-guided travel |
Recommended For | Those who want a flexible trip with good value for money Solo travelers, backpackers | Those who want to visit other cities or make the most of their departure day Family trips |
Even though I usually love independent travel,
Barcelona already has so much to research and book,
so I decided on a tour for Montserrat to make it easy!
Types of Montserrat Tours
There are broadly 4 types of Montserrat tours.
* Click on the tour name for more details *
Montserrat in the morning Arrive at airport by 4 PM | Approx. ~$49 | |
Montserrat in the morning Sitges in the afternoon * Coastal town | Approx. ~$56 | |
Montserrat in the morning Girona in the afternoon * Medieval town | Approx. ~$70 | |
* Recently added | Transportation only, no guide for the above routes | Approx. ~$37-~$52 |
If we rank them by the number of reviews,
Montserrat Sitges > Montserrat Girona > Montserrat Half-Day Tour
You can find a more detailed comparison in the post below 👇
Just so you know, the **Transit-Only Tour** is a recent addition,
It's exactly like the other tours, but it **excludes the guide**.
The advantage is comfortable transportation and being **~$7 to ~$15 cheaper**.
Going to Montserrat Monastery by public transport costs ~$34,
but the Montserrat & Sitges bus costs ~$41,
so for just **~$7 more, you can visit two places at once**.

As luck would have it, MyRealTrip is offering
**50% and 10% discount coupons** specifically for Spain tours,
so if you're planning to book a Montserrat tour, grab your coupon from the link below!
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Get Your Spain Tour Discount Coupon Here
📌
P.S. If you're seeing this post after the promotion has ended,
you can still get a small discount coupon from the link below at any time!
Get MyRealTrip Always-Available Coupon
Montserrat & Sitges Tour Review
Among these options, I chose the Montserrat & Sitges tour!
The tour company I booked with was **NomadBenz**,
✅ The only tour with over 5,000 reviews
✅ The most affordable Montserrat & Sitges tour
**✅ Guide + Mercedes-Benz bus for ~$56**
At this price point, I felt it offered **great value for money**,
so I booked it without hesitation.
**👇 The Montserrat Tour I Booked 👇**
Having actually experienced it, I found there was **plenty of free time and many choices**,
which even satisfied someone like me who loves independent travel!
I've summarized the review, focusing on what you might be curious about.
We started at a not-too-early **7:40 AM** for a tour,
and traveled comfortably to Montserrat aboard a **Mercedes-Benz bus**.
Thanks to that, even on winding roads, we enjoyed **a smooth ride and spectacular views** : )
They even played fitting music on the way to the monastery, which was a nice touch.




The Montserrat tour offers choices from entering Montserrat Monastery,
**seeing the Black Madonna, attending the choir performance, and museum entry**, meaning
the itinerary naturally provides **plenty of free time**!
Of course, they provide plenty of explanations about Montserrat beforehand,
so even those who prefer independent travel can enjoy it without feeling rushed.


My sister and I love nature,
so we only saw the interior of Montserrat Monastery and the Black Madonna,
then hopped on the **funicular**.
The **magnificent scenery you can't see from Barcelona city** and
the taste of Montserrat trekking still stand out in my memory.
If you're not particularly interested in the choir, I highly recommend the funicular.
Even after that, we had some time left, so we strolled to the **Sant Miquel viewpoint**
and captured photos of Montserrat Monastery perched on the cliff.
A **50-minute round trip** is plenty of time to visit :)

If you've had your fill of the mountains at Montserrat,
then in Sitges, you can fully embrace the tranquil beaches.
While this place is also accessible independently,
its location, more than an hour away from Montserrat Monastery,
makes me think I wouldn't have made it to Sitges if I were traveling solo.


It's also famous as a filming location for the drama <Legend of the Blue Sea>,
and the town itself, with its white, modest charm, was just delightful to walk through.
During a packed Barcelona trip,
it was a joy to find a place where I could relax calmly while enjoying the sea breeze :)

Actually, when I visited, there was a major protest going on,
and the tour almost got canceled.
But thanks to our experienced guide, I remember we were able to complete the tour without a hitch.
It doesn't have to be the exact tour I took,
but if you're planning a trip to Barcelona, I highly recommend making time for the magnificent and beautiful Montserrat Monastery and Sitges : )
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main differences between a self-guided trip and a tour when visiting Montserrat?
A self-guided trip uses a train and a funicular, takes approximately 2-3 hours round trip, and costs around ~$34. In contrast, a tour uses a private vehicle, takes about 2 hours round trip, and costs approximately ~$51 to ~$66, but allows you to visit other cities like Sitges or Girona.
What are the four types of Montserrat tours mentioned in the article and their respective costs?
The Montserrat half-day tour costs approximately ~$48, the Montserrat Sitges tour costs approximately ~$55, and the Montserrat Girona tour costs approximately ~$69. A transportation-only tour without a guide costs approximately ~$36 to ~$51.
What are the features and cost of the NomadVentz Montserrat Sitges tour chosen by the author?
The author chose the NomadVentz tour, which has over 5,000 reviews, is the most affordable among Montserrat Sitges tours, and includes a guide and a Mercedes-Benz bus for ~$55. This tour departs at 7:40 AM and visits Montserrat and Sitges in one day.
What activities can one choose from at Montserrat Monastery during a Montserrat tour, and what did the author do?
You can freely choose to enter Montserrat Monastery, see the Black Madonna, attend a choir performance, or enter the museum. The author visited the interior of the monastery and the Black Madonna, then took the funicular for a taste of trekking, and walked to and from the Sant Miquel viewpoint for 50 minutes.
What kind of place is Sitges, which is visited during the Montserrat tour, and how far is it from Montserrat?
Sitges is a small coastal town where you can enjoy quiet beaches, and it is also famous as a filming location for the drama <Legend of the Blue Sea>. It is located more than an hour's drive from Montserrat Monastery, making it a good place to relax and unwind during a trip to Barcelona.
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