Montserrat Full Day Tour with Castle-Winery Lunch & Wine Tasting
Description
Spend a full day blending spirituality, mountain landscapes and the very best of Catalan gastronomy. Depart from Barcelona to Montserrat, one of Catalonia's most emblematic mountains, a National Park and place of pilgrimage for over a thousand years. Board the iconic cogwheel train (cremallera) up to the monastery, with breathtaking views of the holy mountain. At the top, your guide leads a 45-minute tour of the Benedictine monastery, founded in the 11th century and home to the venerated Black Virgin (La Moreneta), patroness of Catalonia. The visit closes with an exclusive tasting of traditional liquors handcrafted by the monks: ratafía and the famous Aromes de Montserrat. A historic Catalan castle-winery with stunning vineyard views awaits, where you'll enjoy a traditional Catalan tapas lunch with dessert. Your guide leads a walk through the vineyards and historic estate, paired with a tasting of three signature DO Pla de Bages wines, all committed to sustainable production.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Montserrat is a mountain top monastery situated on top of an unusual rock mountain. It is the highest point of the Catalan lowlands. Montserrat monastery hosts “la Moreneta”, also called Black Madonna. The legend says that the benedictine monks found the statue, and they could not move the statue to build their monastery, so they decided to construct it around the statue. Montserrat was designated as a National Park in 1987. Nowadays, it is a site of pilgrimage for people around the world. Once in Montserrat, enjoy a 45-minute small group guided tour, and then you will have 2 hours to explore on your own. You can visit the Museum, taste the monastery’s homemade liquor, go for an easy walk to Saint Miguel's cross for an incredible viewpoint, go up the Sant Joan Funicular, take wonderful pictures, buy local products from the farmer's market, and more.
The origin of the monastery is uncertain, but it is believed that the Virgin of Monsterrat (La Moreneta) was found around 880. (8.30 am and 1.30 pm tours include tickets to La Moreneta). According to the legends, the monks built the monastery around the statue. The monastery still functions to this day with over 70 monks. The basilica of Montserrat began its construction in the 16th century, and now houses an art museum. It is also the place where la Escolania, one of the oldest Boys’ Choirs in Europe, performs during religious ceremonies (you can listen to them on the 9.30 am tour).
Once we finish our Montserrat visit, our transport will take you to a 12th century traditional farmhouse on a family-owned winery in the Bages region. Here, you will delight in a Traditional Catalan tapas lunch
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
- If your party is bigger than 15 people, please make two separate bookings to accommodate everyone.
Reviews(1,222)
The tour people asked if we could do a different day and we couldn’t so they transferred us to their ‘sister company’. I thought we were getting a small personalized tour but we ended up on a bus with multiple tours and guides. The bus trip up caused me anxiety because of the heights and cliffs on the road. We were expecting an 8 our trip and it ended up being 8-7:30 pm. Too long. The tour guides were nice but I felt like it was a little bait and switch. I would not have chosen this if I had known what it was. It was good to experience the monastery and the views. If I had to do it again I would take the train from Barcelona on my own and take the cogwheel train up or hire a local driver. I understand that this is a big tour operation and they got the job done but that’s all it was…a big tour where we were herded around. The winery dinner was an average pre-fix dinner and it felt like I was at a wedding with a hundred and fifty people I didn’t know. Wine tasting was fine.
We’re sorry to hear that the tour did not meet your expectations. While we’re happy that you found the destination itself worthwhile, we understand that the overall experience is shaped by many factors, including the organization, group atmosphere, and itinerary. Thank you for providing such detailed feedback; it helps us better understand our guests’ experiences.
We spent our day with Miro, our guide, and Jesus, our driver. Miro was so knowledgeable about Montserrat and he was a great wine tasting host as well. The transportation was flawless and the wine and food were great! Definitely recommend for those wanting a Spanish vineyard experience, the bright side is you also get to see Montserrat!
Hola Nick! Thank you for such a thoughtful review! We’re glad you enjoyed the combination of Montserrat, local wine, and Catalan cuisine. It sounds like Miro and Jesus helped make the day run smoothly while giving you a memorable experience.
We loved the tour and the fun version of the history of Barcelona on the way up the mountain. But truly what made it special was our guide and his knowledge of the wines when we went to the amazing vineyard for our tasting and lunch! So so good. It was a very small group (12) so no big bus and a very fun group of people.
This sounds like the perfect combination of culture, food, and wine! We’re happy that the experience felt personal and that you enjoyed learning more about the area while sharing the day with a great group. Thank you for choosing to join us!
The tour was a great experience, and our guide, Miro, made it even better. He shared a lot of interesting information in a relaxed, entertaining, and humorous way, which made the whole day enjoyable. You could tell he was passionate and knowledgeable, and he kept everyone engaged. Montserrat was beautiful and definitely worth visiting. My only regret is that I didn't take the funicular (Funicular de Sant Joan) all the way to the top. I'm sure the views would have been amazing! I also enjoyed trying some traditional Catalan specialties, especially mató, which was delicious. The visit to the winery was interesting as well, and it was nice to learn more about the local wines and the winemaking process. Overall, it was a very well-organized tour with a perfect mix of sightseeing, local culture, and great storytelling. I would definitely recommend it, especially if you have Miro as your guide!
What a fantastic way to experience Catalonia! We’re delighted that the tour gave you the chance to explore Montserrat, taste local specialties, and discover more about the region’s wines. Thank you for the recommendation and for highlighting Miro’s contribution to your experience.
We went on the Monserrat with tapas and wine tasting- booked on get your guide. Our tour guide Miro was great! He knows so much about Barcelona and the Catalan experience and I learned a lot about Catalonia and the history of Spain, Galacia, and modern day Barcelona. He was attentive, interactive and very personable. He also was very aware of the needs of those on the tour and made sure to check if people were falling behind or needed water. Miro was very helpful in helping us find different things and experiences in Monserrat. Monserrat was beautiful and the ride up and down was very scenic and picturesque. Miro was great in letting us know great photo spots and opportunities! We hope we get to your with him again next time we are in Spain! Mona and Jasmine 7/04/26
Hola Mona and Jasmine! What a wonderful reflection on your day with us! We’re thrilled that Miro helped you connect with the history, culture, and beauty of Catalonia while also making sure everyone felt comfortable throughout the experience. Montserrat is truly a special place, and we’re so glad you both enjoyed both the scenery and the stories behind it.
Such a fantastic tour. Xavi is very knowledgeable and personable but the best bit is that he ‘reads the room’ and adjusts the tour to the needs of the group. We had a great time at the monastery with the perfect balance between ‘tour time’ and ‘free time’. The winery tour was fabulous and the tapas and wine tasting utterly outstanding. Overall… spectacular scenery, wonderful food, excellent wines and good commentary. Thanks Xavi… A++++ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #4x50SomethingsAdelaide
Hola Melissa! What an incredible review; thank you for sharing such a detailed experience! We’re thrilled to hear that Xavi was able to create the right balance of storytelling, exploration, and time to enjoy each stop at your own pace. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to him. It’s wonderful to know the monastery, winery, tapas, and scenery all came together for such a memorable day!
We had an incredible day with Miro as our guide! We did the monastery with wine/lunch option and thought it was a really great deal for everything included. The vineyard was beautiful, lunch was a good variety, and the wines were great as well. I enjoyed the set itinerary and also felt we had enough free time to do what we’d like. I learned so much about Barcelona from Miro and he made the day trip so enjoyable!
It’s wonderful to hear you had such a well-rounded day exploring Montserrat and the vineyard experience. We’re really glad the combination of structure, free time, and Miro’s guidance helped make everything feel both informative and relaxed, and that you enjoyed the food and wines along the way.
Miro is a fun, entertaining, and informative guide to Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey, the history of Catalonia and Spain, and the culture, food, and wine of the region. The winery was a highlight. This is a real review and I am not Miro’s mother. Seriously, I highly recommend this tour and this guide.
It sounds like the mix of storytelling, cultural insight, and wine made for a strong overall experience. We’re glad Miro’s guidance helped tie everything together in a way you enjoyed.
Miro was our guide and he was great. He was very knowledgeable and knew a lot of interesting information!
A knowledgeable guide can make all the difference, and it’s great to hear Miro was able to share so many interesting insights throughout your experience!
Miro was an amazing tour guide during the montserrat tour, and the wine and lunch was great.
Great to hear Montserrat, the wine, and lunch all made the day enjoyable, and that Miro helped bring it all together. Thanks for sharing your experience!
