Experience Montserrat through privileged access to a part of the monastery not available to regular visitors. This small-group tour from Barcelona takes you beyond the usual visit, with exclusive access to the Sacristy and the private area behind the Basilica of Montserrat. Travel from Barcelona to Montserrat by minivan or minibus and arrive directly at the monastery area, surrounded by the mountain’s striking rock formations. This over 1,000-year-old mountain sanctuary is one of Catalonia’s most important spiritual and cultural landmarks.

With your guide, begin exploring the monastery area, including the main square, the mountain views, and the exterior of the Basilica, while learning how the sanctuary is arranged and what makes this site so unique.

You’ll then enter the Basilica of Montserrat, a richly decorated sanctuary with gilded details and side chapels which create a powerful first impression. After the Basilica visit, the experience continues with one of the tour’s main highlights: a private guided visit to the Sacristy and the restricted-access area behind the Basilica, normally closed to the general public. Accompanied by a private Montserrat guide, you’ll step away from the busy public areas and enter a quieter, more intimate part of the monastery. Here, you’ll learn about daily monastic life, and gain insight into the community of monks and the traditions that continue to shape the sanctuary today. You may also see important liturgical vestments preserved inside the Sacristy, including pieces connected to Pope John Paul II’s visit to Montserrat. Your guide will also share the story of the Escolania, Montserrat’s famous boys’ choir, explaining how the children live, and train during the week.

After the Sacristy visit, continue to the Black Madonna, known locally as La Moreneta. Your tour includes skip-the-line access, joining the route near the final section and avoiding most of the regular queue. Dating back to the 12th century, this revered statue is one of Catalonia’s most important religious symbols and has drawn pilgrims to Montserrat for generations.

If the Escolania choir option is selected and available on the day of your visit, you may return to the Basilica to hear the boys’ choir sing.

Next, you’ll enjoy free time in Montserrat with enough time to have lunch, take in the mountain views, browse local products, take photos, or simply experience the sanctuary at your own pace before returning to Barcelona.