Montserrat & Wine Tour: Cogwheel Train, Tapas Lunch & Castle Cellar

Summary

Montserrat day trip with train ride, wine tasting and Catalan lunch

You’ll ride a cogwheel train up Montserrat Mountain with a local guide, explore the monastery’s quiet corners and taste handmade cheese. Then stroll vineyards at a 10th-century castle winery near Barcelona for an award-winning wine tasting and relaxed Catalan lunch—all included in your day.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I remember is the light—how it bounced off those jagged Montserrat peaks as our bus wound out of Barcelona. Our guide, Marta, waved us over at the station (she had this bright scarf I could spot from a mile away), and before I knew it we were on that old cogwheel train. The sound it made climbing up the mountain was oddly soothing—kind of like a slow heartbeat—and every window flashed a new angle of those wild rocks. Someone behind me gasped when we rounded a bend and saw the monastery clinging to the cliffside. I didn’t blame them. It’s not what you expect after leaving a busy city an hour ago.

Marta led us through Montserrat Monastery, weaving in little stories about monks making cheese and how locals come here for quiet moments (she said her grandmother still lights candles here every year). There was this faint scent of beeswax inside the basilica—mixed with something herbal from the mountain air. We had some free time to wander; I tried this crumbly cheese from one of the stalls outside (salty, sharper than I thought) and just sat for a bit watching clouds drift past those crazy rock spires. It’s hard to explain but there’s this hush that settles over everything up there.

Afterwards, we headed to Oller del Mas—the castle winery is only about 30 minutes away but feels like another world. The stones are rough under your hand, and vines stretch forever across red earth. Our host, Jordi, poured us three wines (the white was my favorite—tasted almost like wildflowers), and told us his family had been here for 36 generations. He laughed when someone asked if he ever got tired of wine—“Only during harvest!” he said. Lunch was all local stuff: tomato bread, jamón, olives that tasted like sunshine somehow. I probably ate too much but no regrets.

I still think about that view from the castle terrace—sun dipping behind Montserrat in the distance, glass in hand. It’s not fancy or dramatic; just honest and kind of grounding. If you want a day trip from Barcelona that mixes history with good food and actual people who care about where they’re from… well, this is it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Montserrat visit and wine tasting

• Check in at Castlexperience office
• Guided tour of Montserrat monastery
• Free time to taste traditional foods
• Visit Oller del Mas winery
• Stroll vineyards and learn wine making

Top questions

How long does the Montserrat & wine tour take?

The tour starts at 9:45 a.m. in Barcelona and lasts most of the day; allow extra time for possible delays.

Is pickup included for this Montserrat day trip?

No hotel pickup; you meet at Barcelona Nord Bus Station for check-in before departure.

Are meals included on this tour?

Yes—a regional tapas lunch with dessert or a multi-course meal (depending on option) is included along with wine tastings.

Will we visit Oller del Mas winery every time?

Usually yes, but sometimes another family-owned boutique winery may be visited due to logistics.

Is this tour suitable for children or infants?

Infants under 3 join free (no meal or car seat provided); all ages welcome but bring water and dress comfortably.

Are dietary restrictions accommodated?

Yes—dietary needs or allergies are handled without advance notice; just tell your guide on arrival.

How many people are in each group?

The group size is usually up to 20 per guide (sometimes up to 22); transport may be shared between groups.

Is transportation air-conditioned?

Yes—the bus used for transfers between Barcelona, Montserrat, and the winery is air-conditioned.

What’s included

Your day includes check-in at Barcelona Nord Bus Station before heading out by comfortable air-conditioned bus with your English-speaking local guide. You’ll get entry to Montserrat Monastery and its basilica, ride the cogwheel train up the mountain, enjoy free time to sample local foods made by monks or farmers, then travel on to a boutique winery set inside a medieval castle for three wine tastings plus either a regional tapas lunch or multi-course meal with dessert before returning to Barcelona in the evening.