Montserrat & Cogwheel Train, Gourmet Wine Tasting & Tapas/Lunch
Description
If you really want to get to know Barcelona and Catalonia, a visit to Montserrat is a must. This day tour combines a visit to this magical site with a wonderful food and wine experience. Ride a cogwheel train to the top of Montserrat Mountain while admiring its spectacular views. Explore a winery set in a 10th-century castle owned by the same family for 36 generations. Tasting top-quality wines and enjoying local gastronomy will be highlights of your trip.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Once in Barcelona Nord Bus Station, check-in at our Castlexperience office.
Enjoy a guided tour in Montserrat and visit all the highlights of the monastery by the hand of your local tour guide. You will then enjoy some free time to a palate some traditional foods made by Montserrat monks or farmers, as well as soaking in this special place where nature, culture and spirituality meet. Meet your tour guide again to get on board for the second part of the tour. Oller del Mas cellar awaits!
Set within a 10th-century castle, Oller del Mas is not a common winery – its superb ecological wines have earned plenty of awards in the recent years. In fact, one of its wines won the “Best Wine in Catalonia” award in 2018. But the cellar is not only special for its wines. You will take a stroll by the vineyards, learn how the wine is made, and discover all of its secrets. The winery has revived ancient local grape varieties, providing a unique glimpse into the region's heritage. *We work daily with different low-production, family-owned boutique wineries. Due to logistic reasons, you might visit another cellar instead of Oller del Mas.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- 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.
Reviews(7,412)
Ivan our tour guide was Excellent and the bus drivers were good and safe. The bus going up was gross! We were afraid to sit On the seats or touch anything! Others on the bus felt the same. The return bus was much much better! Clean bright and welcoming. That first bus should be retired from service. It gives a poor first impression. The overall tour was very good! Ivan was extremely personable, accommodating and very knowledgeable about the history!
Had a great time with Mariana, our guide. Full of information and very passionate about what she does. The whole day was active and enjoyed the running commentary on our bus to and from Montserrat from one of the other guides. Couple of negative comments/observations. Not sure how Tripadvisor can advertise the tour starting from $62 and then when the link is pressed shoots up to $99. For the tour operator, the wine tasting and tapas was excellent. The two glasses of wine afterwards at 37 euros was ridiculous. Some prior warning of the cost of the wines would be helpful. It spoilt what was otherwise an excellent experience.
We had an amazing experience in this tour with Mariana making the tour fun with her cheerful storytelling ! The wine tasting experience was wonderful with Mariana sharing intricate details around each wine pick ! Overall a great experience with an amazing guided tour by Mariana and team!
We LOVED our time on this tour. It was a much needed break from the city; just so relaxing~ Our guide, Alberto, was fantastic! He was attentive, well spoken, and has a great attitude. He had plenty of stories and guided us through a great experience!! We felt lucky to have him Note there are a couple pockets of free time. One in Monserrat for exploring and the other at the winery where you can buy more wine 🍷! You can have a great time without spending more on the trip, but I would reccomend picking something up from the farmers market or an extra drink, cheers!
The tour was fabulous and the wine tasting experience was out of this world. I highly recommend this tour
Excellent! Highly recommend! Don’t miss this tour! Loved Monserrat- wish we knew about the choir in advance to book a ticket. We were told there was a virtual choir in the art gallery but after paying a lot extra to enter we were told that option was no longer. Would have been nice to hear from a person from the vineyard but our guide was clearly knowledgeable! More wine please! It was a fantastic day overalll! Our guide was awesome!
Dear Angela, Thank you so much for your enthusiastic review! We’re really glad to hear you had a fantastic day and loved Montserrat, and that your guide made such a strong impression with their knowledge. We also appreciate your feedback about the choir information and the wine portion of the experience. Comments like yours help us keep improving what we offer. Warm regards, Castlexperience Team
Amazing tour with an amazing tour guide Ivan! Such a good time. There was a minor medical emergency during the tour but unrelated to it and all of the guides immediately jumped in to render aid and secure transfer for the traveler back to Barcelona. True professionals and all were so kind and knowledgeable.
We had Ale as our Tour Guide. He was excellent, energetic &kept the group in good spirits. We were on time, on schedule for everything. Ale shared his experience and excitement with us. He found common experiences w/ every group member. Also, he’s very knowledgeable & compassionate about his work. He went over & beyond just being a tour guide: he was serving lunch; acting as Sommelier; bussing our wine glasses & educating us on finer points of wine-making. Ask for Ale as your guide. Promise, you will not regret it. Jesus & Maria Angela
Dear traveler, Thank you so much for your amazing review! We’re really happy to hear you had such a great day with Ale. He truly puts his whole heart into what he does, and it’s lovely to know his energy, care, and knowledge made such an impression on your group. It sounds like he helped turn the day into something really special from start to finish. Warm regards, Castlexperience Team
Marianna and her team were so knowledgeable about Monserrat and the wine at Oller de Mas. It was a fabulous day! I travelled with my adult daughter and my 18 yo son and wu ALL had a wonderful experience 🥰
Dear Stephanie, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re really happy to hear you and your family had such a great day together at Montserrat and Oller del Mas. It’s lovely to know Marianna and the team helped bring everything to life for you. We hope to see you again soon! Warm regards, Castlexperience Team
Montserrat excursion was amazing. The history shared on the way was delightful and entertaining, provided by Lesly. On site, the transitions were smooth. Our tour guide, Lesly, was wonderful with providing access to the basilica, ensuring that nothing was missed. The winery was beautiful and simple. The tapas were tasty, and the information shared was delightful in how wines are described, aged, and the tastes associated with them. Thank you for a wonderful trip!
Dear history lover, Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re really glad the day at Montserrat felt so enjoyable and well put together, and that Lesly helped bring the experience to life along the way. It’s great to hear everything from the basilica visit to the winery added up to a memorable trip. Warm regards, Castlexperience Team
