Barcelona: Montserrat Day Trip & Castle Winery Lunch

Summary

Montserrat’s wild peaks, monastery echoes and a vineyard lunch

You’ll start your day breathing in Montserrat’s crisp mountain air before exploring its monastery and trails with a local guide. After free time for hiking or catching the boys’ choir, enjoy a multi-course Catalan lunch at a medieval castle winery near Barcelona and taste organic wines straight from their cellars. It’s an escape that lingers long after you’re back in town.

What’s the experience like?

"You hear that?" our guide Marta asked as we stepped off the bus at Montserrat — it was early, but already the mountain air felt sharper than Barcelona’s. There was this low hum from somewhere inside the basilica, like voices warming up. I’m not religious, but something about those stone walls and the way sunlight spilled through the high windows made me pause. Marta pointed out carvings I’d have missed, little faces in the rock, and told us how pilgrims still climb up here — some barefoot, which honestly sounded wild to me.

I wandered off for a bit during our free time (you get more if you go with the earlier group — worth it if you’re like me and want to poke around). The trail up to St. Michael’s Cross is steeper than it looks; my shoes slipped on loose gravel once or twice. The view though — clouds snagged on jagged peaks, Barcelona just a faint smudge in the distance. I sat there longer than planned because it was just so quiet except for wind and birds. When I finally made it back down, I caught part of the boys’ choir echoing through the basilica halls. Didn’t expect goosebumps from that.

Lunch was at this family-owned castle-winery that dates back to 964 AD — Oller del Mas. The stones felt cool under my hand as we walked through the old courtyard. Our host (I think his name was Jordi?) poured us three different organic wines; he joked about Catalan pronunciation when I tried to repeat their names. The meal itself was all local stuff — crusty bread rubbed with tomato, slow-cooked meat, olive oil that tasted green somehow. If you do the VIP wine tasting add-on, you get into this aging room where it smells like oak barrels and earth; one woman in our group said it reminded her of her grandfather’s cellar back home.

I didn’t buy any bottles (carry-on only), but they ship if you want. On the way back to Barcelona, everyone got quiet for a while — maybe sleepy from wine or just thinking about those mountains. I still picture that view above Montserrat sometimes when city noise gets too much.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Montserrat visit and winery tour

• Depart early from Barcelona North Station
• Tour Montserrat Monastery highlights
• Enjoy free time in Montserrat
• Have traditional Catalan lunch
• Visit 10th-century castle winery
• Taste local wines at winery
• Experience VIP winery barrel cellar tour
• Taste premium wines from barrels

Top questions

How long is the day trip from Barcelona to Montserrat?

The tour lasts a full day, starting at either 8:30 am or 9:45 am and returning in the late afternoon or early evening.

Is lunch included on this Montserrat & wine tour?

Yes, a multi-course traditional Catalan lunch is included at a family-owned castle winery near Montserrat.

Do I need to book tickets for the boys' choir performance?

No tickets are included for the boys' choir; performances are public but not guaranteed every day.

Are wine tastings part of this day trip?

Yes, you'll taste three organic wines at the winery after touring their estate and cellars.

Is hotel pickup included for this Montserrat tour?

No hotel pickup; tours depart from Barcelona North Station after check-in at their office nearby.

How much free time do we get at Montserrat?

If you choose the 8:30 am departure you get over two hours; with 9:45 am it's about 1.5 hours free time.

Can dietary restrictions be accommodated during lunch?

Yes, dietary restrictions or allergies are accommodated even without advance notice.

Is transportation between Barcelona, Montserrat & winery included?

Yes, all shared transportation by comfortable air-conditioned bus is included throughout the day trip.

What’s included

Your day includes shared transport from Barcelona North Station with an English-speaking local guide, guided visit of Montserrat Monastery with plenty of free time to hike or explore on your own (especially if you pick the early departure), entry to a boutique castle-winery dating back centuries where you'll enjoy a multi-course Catalan lunch paired with three organic wines—plus exclusive cellar access if you opt for VIP tasting—before heading back to Barcelona in comfort.