La Cafeteria De Montserrat

This monastery will take your breath away. I got tickets the night before through montserratvisita.com and the audio for a self-guided tour that comes with the ticket is very helpful. Getting there: The info was a bit confusing...if you travel by public transportation, ask for directions on the best way to get there. The subway is great and very efficient if you have a good idea of where you are going as there are hardly any officers or staff to talk to. Checking in: It is worth stopping by the office of tourism by the entrance of the site. I showed them my tickets and they gave me a prayer card and a medallion of Montserrat. It 's beautiful! The site: It 's huge, which is delightful. Even if you have tickets to enter in the afternoon, get there early as there is so much to see and do. I wanted to see the interactive museum and take the cable car but we ran out of time. The cable car is very busy as it is a popular attraction, as well. Eating there: There are plenty of options but pricey. Based on the cost of food in the cafeteria Vs the restaurant, I 'd recommend considering going to the buffet. The food looked really good but we were there late (around 3pm) and they were about to close. Supporting the site: It 's an amazing experience to see La Moreneta of Montserrat, so consider supporting her. There is a spot next to her for donations, so keep a few coins in your pocket. The space is tight and there is a long line behind you so you won 't have time to look for your wallet. There is just so much to see, but the Virgin of Montserrat remains the highlight of the trip.

This is a definite half day trip to take if you're spending some time in Barcelona. I would come as early as you can, to avoid all of the foreign tourists coming from Illinois. You'll avoid the buses and traffic and you'll enjoy the serenity of the serrated mountains (Montserrat). I understand that you can take a train up here and then jump on either the tram or aerial cable car up the mountain. So if you don't want to come by car or bus, you have those options. There's a lot to see with the Basilica, the museum, the architecture and there are monks living onsite but we didn't see any whilst on this trip. Maybe they were up late at night, the night before and decided to sleep in?? There are also restaurants here but we decided to have a heavy, late lunch (Cuitat Comtal) which we deserved due to our 45 minute round trip hike to the Cross. Thus, make sure to wear appropriate shoes and maybe bring a parasol (a light weight umbrella) with UV protection (I know that's an Asian thang). We took the aerial cable car down and that was fantastic and I'm sure that's scary on a windy day. All in all, this is an Awesome trip so make sure to do it. Fun fact Did you know that Sagrada Familia was built using large stones from Monserrat?? And if you don't know, now you know (It was all a dream).

Obviously this is a must do in Barcelona. We went with a tour which ended up being about a half day trip (we were back by dinner). What a breathtaking experience. First, you have the backdrop of the mountains which really elevates everything. Then, you have the abbey itself which was beautiful. So much detail went into every aspect of the decor it can be difficult to describe. Obviously there are a ton of rules as there usually is for religious experiences. I will say, I find the dress code to be a hit or miss. I wore long pants and covered shoulders, but there were other women in a tank top and they got in just fine. Personally, I like to err on the side of caution because you never know. Also, they do not allow tourists in during certain points of the day (I think it coincides with masses). Therefore, our tour felt kind of rushed, but I was still able to see everything and take it all in. Your best bet would be to take a tour as they will time everything for you including the tickets and you can just sit back and enjoy. This is an absolute must though!

It may be the Disneyland of faith, but it's still worth the hour trek by car from Barcelona. The grounds include a hostel and hotel should you decide to stay. It's a great place to hike or bike, but I played tourist instead. The church and surrounding mountains were stunning- so peaceful and serene. It was a great day trip and nice respite from the hustle and bustle of city life in Barcelona.

Simply a unique experience, my college friends and I came here in mid October and it was overcast/rainy so very foggy, but I'm glad we went. Highly recommended.