Funicular Montserrat: Guide to Mountain Transport for First-Time Travellers

Thinking of visiting Montserrat, Spain, but unsure about the mountain transits? I had the same questions before my trip to Barcelona, so I understand the confusion! That’s why I’ve put together this definitive guide to help you navigate Montserrat transportation, covering everything from the Funicular Montserrat to the rack railway and cable car.

In this article, you’ll find all the essential details on how to get to Montserrat—whether you’re travelling from Monistrol, the small town at the base of the mountain, or looking for transit options between Montserrat Monastery, Sant Jeroni, and Santa Cova.

Whether you’re planning an independent day trip or a half-day visit from Barcelona, this guide ensures you have everything you need to choose between the funicular vs. rack railway vs. cable car. Plus, I’ll share some best-rated Montserrat tours that guarantee an unforgettable experience at one of Spain’s most iconic destinations. No need to search elsewhere—this post has you covered!

About Montserrat: A Brief Overview

Montserrat, Spain, is one of the most extraordinary places in Catalonia and a must-visit destination for its stunning landscapes and deep spiritual significance. Located 60 km from Barcelona, this striking mountain range is famous for its jagged rock formations, which resemble the teeth of a saw. This unique shape gives Montserrat its name—derived from “Mont Serrat,” meaning “saw-tooth mountain.”

Apart from its natural beauty, Montserrat is renowned for the Benedictine Monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat, home to the revered wooden statue of Our Lady of Montserrat, discovered in the Holy Grotto. This makes Montserrat Monastery not only a top tourist attraction in Spain but also a major pilgrimage site for visitors from around the world.

Whether you’re drawn to its breathtaking views, religious significance, or incredible hiking trails, Montserrat mountain is an unforgettable destination worth exploring.

Montserrat from Barcelona: How to Plan Your Trip [Personal Experience, Why This Guide Is Useful]

Montserrat is one of the best day trips from Barcelona and is easily accessible, especially if you’re travelling independently. However, once you arrive, choosing the right Montserrat transportation can be a bit confusing—should you take the Funicular Montserrat, the rack railway, or the Montserrat cable car?

I faced the same challenge while researching my trip to Montserrat in winter. I wasn’t sure which was the best way to reach Montserrat Monastery from the base of the mountain. Plus, once at the monastery, I wanted to know if there were other transport options to explore Montserrat mountain, such as getting to Sant Jeroni or Santa Cova.

To make things more confusing, I noticed that many sources seemed to use funicular, rack railway, and cable car interchangeably, even though they are different. So, after experiencing Montserrat’s transportation first-hand, I decided to write this guide to simplify the options for first-time travellers to Montserrat.

Getting to Montserrat from Barcelona

Planning a visit to Montserrat from Barcelona is easier than you might think. When I first researched my trip, I was a bit confused about the transport options, but I’m here to simplify the process for you.

To start your journey to Montserrat, you can easily reach the base station from Barcelona city centre. The R5 train from Plaça Espanya takes you directly to Monistrol de Montserrat or Montserrat Aeri Station. From there, you can board the funicular or cable car to explore the mountain and reach the Montserrat Monastery.

This guide will help you navigate your options of funicular, cable car as well as rack railway and ensure you have a seamless experience as you explore Montserrat’s scenic beauty.

Read my complete guide to Montserrat for one day from Barcelona that tells you all about the highlights, the hiking trails along with where to stay and eat.

Funicular Montserrat, Cable Car & Rack Railway: Understanding Your Options

When planning a trip to Montserrat, Spain, many visitors find themselves confused about the different Montserrat mountain transportation options. In total, there are four main transit systems to reach and explore Montserrat:

Cable Car, Funicular, and Rack Railway — What Are They?

If you’re unsure about the differences between these transport systems, here’s a quick breakdown:

• Funicular Railway — A cable-powered railway where two passenger cars move up and down the mountain in a counterbalanced system.

• Rack Railway (Cremallera) — otherwise known as cog wheels are used on steep gradients and have a toothed rail in addition to the two usual rails. The trains are fitted with one or more cog wheels to interlock with the rails.

• Cable Car (Aeri de Montserrat) — A suspended aerial tramway, pulled by continuously moving cables, offering breathtaking panoramic views.

Montserrat: The Montserrat Rack Railway also known as Cremallera Rack Railway

The Cremallera de Montserrat, also known as the Montserrat Rack Railway, is a scenic and comfortable way to ascend Montserrat Mountain from the Monistrol de Montserrat Station. Unlike the Aeri Cable Car, which offers a steep and thrilling ascent, the rack railway provides a gentler, panoramic journey, making it a great choice for those who prefer a relaxed ride.

Cremallera Rack Railwayhas also been referred to as Montserrat funicular, which can be rather confusing. To avoid confusion, I will refer to Cremallera as ‘rack railway’.

The Montserrat Rack Railway has been in operation since 1892 and is one of the most popular railways in Catalonia. Back in the day, the journey from Monistrol to Montserrat Monastery took 65 minutes! It is a lot quicker these days.

The rack railway departs Monistrol train station every 20 minutes. The journey up to the Monastery takes 15 minutes. The panoramic windows offer a scenic ride along the side of the mountain which you will absolutely enjoy.

The rack railway is designed to handle the steep ascent by using a toothed cogwheel system, ensuring a smooth and stable ride. Along the way, you can enjoy breathtaking views of Montserrat’s rugged landscape, with opportunities to spot rock formations, lush valleys, and the famous monastery in the distance.

When Travelling to Montserrat by Train and Car

When travelling by train from Barcelona, there is an option to purchase a ticket to get to the Monastery. You can choose either the rack railway or Aeri cable car. You need to decide which option at the time of purchase and stay with the selected option when you get to Monistrol.

If you choose the rack railway, you cannot use it on the cable car. You must also decide if you need a round trip ticket on the rack railway or cable car. Your train journey from Barcelona to Montserrat is usually scheduled to coincide with a departure from Monistrol.

If you are driving, you can park your car at either Montserrat Monastery or Monistrol Vila. If you park at Monistrol Vila, then you will need to take the rack railway from this stop.

Tickets for the Rack Railway

Tickets for the Rack Railway cannot be purchased online. They are available at Placa d’Espanya railway station in Barcelona or at the Rack Railway stations at Monistrol, Monistrol Vila and Montserrat.

Prices single journeys start from Euro 8.10 for an adult (14-65 years), Euro 4.05 for a child (4-13 years) and Euro 6.30 for 65+

The Montserrat Rack Railway operates a seasonal timetable and times vary. Visit their official website for the latest information before your travel dates.

Stops on the Rack Railway

• Monistrol de Montserrat: This is the railway station at the base of Montserrat. You are most likely to begin your rack railway journey from here if you are taking the train.

• Monistrol Vila: You are most likely to board the rack railway here if you have parked at the nearby car park. Some guided tours also prefer to take their group here. This is also a great stop for some nice photos of the valley, from just below the Montserrat Monastery.

• Montserrat Monastery: This is the final stop on the rack railway journey. Upon exiting the station, you are within metres of the Monastery.

Sant Joan Funicular, Montserrat

Sant Joan Funicular is a service that runs from the Monastery to higher up the mountains. It takes you on a steep ride and gives an opportunity to hike to the highest point in Montserrat mountain, Sant Jeroni. The panoramic windows affords spectacular views of the Monastery and valleys. Once you reach the Sant Joan Funicualr station there are several viewpoints allowing for spectacular views of Catalunya and other activities.

This part of Montserrat is a hikers paradise. There are several walks in the nature park here which you can undertake including one that leads to the very tip of Sant Jeroni. Some parts of the hiking trail to Sant Jeroni are said to be challenging. Most visitors to Montserrat who aren’t confident hikers take an experienced guide along to navigate the treks. A round trip to Sant Jeroni will typically take a little over 2 hours with a guide but longer if you are attempting on your own.

Here are some guided hiking tours that you can join:

• A one-day trip to Montserrat from Barcelona with a guided hike: includes off-beat, nature park, rack railway and lunch.

• A 6-hour tour of Montserrat: includes hiking, transfer from Barcelona, a snack and insurance. Led by an experienced guide.

• One day in Montserrat and vineyard visit with an experienced guide: includes transfer from Barcelona, Monserrat Monastery tour, 2-3 hours of hiking and a visit to a vineyard.

Sant Joan Funicular

Taking this Montserrat mountain transit is a popular activity for visitors as it offers spectacular views over the Catalan area in this region.

Operating schedules for Sant Joan Funicular vary, depending on time of year. Generally, the service starts at 10:00, runs every 20 minutes, and ends at 16:30 (non-peak) or 18:20 (peak times).

Tickets to ride the Sant Joan Funicular can be purchased online or at both the lower and upper funicular stations. Single and round-trip journey tickets are available. There is a limit of 20 people at a time per cable car.

‘FUNICULAR MONTSERRAT: THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO MOUNTAIN TRANSPORT’ was first published by Timeless Travel Steps in March, 2023. The last update was April 1, 2025, by Georgina.