Horseback Riding in Montserrat from Barcelona: 1h ride

Ride the mountain yourself, then walk inside the working monastery

A full-day activity from Barcelona combining a 1-hour guided horseback ride through Montserrat's Natural Park with a cultural visit to the Montserrat Monastery and its basilica. The experience includes hotel-area pickup, a professional mountain guide in English or Spanish, monastery entrance, and a short riding briefing. Minimum age is 12. Weight limit is 95 kg. Weekend visits may see longer queues at the monastery.

Step-by-step itinerary

Montserrat Monastery and Horse Riding

• Meet guide at World Experience offices
• Drive through Diagonal avenue and countryside
• Arrive at ranch and get horse riding briefing
• Start 1-hour horseback ride in Natural Park
• Visit Montserrat Monastery and Basilica
• Enjoy free time at market and souvenir shops
• Return to Barcelona and end experience

The experience

Seven hours total, starting with pickup near Barcelona's Diagonal avenue. The drive takes you through the city's outskirts and into the countryside, where the multi-peaked Montserrat massif comes into view: a landscape of needle-shaped rock formations that rises abruptly from the plain. You'll enter the Natural Park and climb toward the ranch where the riding begins.

At the ranch, a monitor gives you a short briefing on handling the horse, then you're fitted with a helmet. The 1-hour ride follows trails through the park with views of the mountain the whole way. The pace suits all fitness levels. The guide leads and the experience is designed for riders of any background. After you finish, the group heads up to the Montserrat Monastery itself: a working Benedictine community built into the rock face. A guide walks you through the Basilica of Santa Maria de Montserrat, explains the monks' daily life, and points out the views from the monastery grounds. The visit to the Moreneta (a revered statue inside the basilica) depends on queues and season. It's not guaranteed.

Free time follows for the farmers market, cafeteria, or souvenir shops. Then the drive back to Barcelona ends at Av. Diagonal, 359. On Saturdays and Sundays, expect delays at the monastery due to visitor volume. Groups larger than 8 are split into two, alternating the riding and monastery order.

What’s included

• 1-hour guided horseback ride with helmet and riding briefing.
• professional multilingual mountain guide in English or Spanish.
• Montserrat Monastery entrance ticket.
• guided cultural visit of the basilica and monastery grounds.
• pickup from the Barcelona meeting point.
• free time at the monastery for the market, cafeteria and shops.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SundayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with back problems

Operated by World Experience

Is this one for you?You ride the horse yourself for the full hour (not a walk or a demonstration), so choose this if you want to be in control of the animal and the pace, within a guided group. The shared format keeps the cost down and the group under 8 riders. If you prefer privacy or a different language, ask about alternatives at checkout, as non-English and non-Spanish groups require a minimum number to run.

Traveler reviews

4.85★★★★★★★★★★

678 verified traveler reviews

5 ★614

4 ★43

3 ★8

2 ★6

1 ★7

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How does the horseback riding work if I've never ridden before?

A monitor gives a short briefing at the ranch before the 1-hour ride, covering how to handle the horse. The experience is designed for all fitness levels and all riding backgrounds. You get a helmet and ride with a guide leading the group through the park.

What is the Montserrat Monastery visit like?

The visit is a guided cultural tour of the Basilica of Santa Maria de Montserrat, where you learn about the monks' lifestyle and the monastery's history. The basilica is still a working community, and you'll see the views from the monastery grounds. Access to the Moreneta statue inside depends on queues and season and is not guaranteed.

Is there a weight or age limit for the riding?

Riders must be at least 12 years old and weigh no more than 95 kg. These are safety restrictions set by the horse handlers.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to bring?

The price includes the 1-hour guided ride with helmet, the monastery entrance ticket, the guided monastery visit, and pickup from the Barcelona meeting point. You don't need to bring riding gear. The monitor provides a helmet. Food and drinks are not included, though a cafeteria is available during free time at the monastery.

What happens if the weather is bad or the group is too small?

The activity may be cancelled or rescheduled if weather turns inclement. If the group doesn't meet the minimum number of people required, you'll be offered an alternative date, another tour of equal or greater value, or a full refund.

When should I arrive, and where do I meet the guide?

Arrive 15 minutes before departure at the World Experience offices at Carrer Martí i Franquès 15, Barcelona. The return point is Av. Diagonal, 359, L'Eixample. On weekends, the monastery visit may run longer due to crowds.