On the other hand, if you want to save money, a good option is to buy the Trans Montserrat ticket, which includes all transfers (train, funicular, metro) and also access to some of the attractions on site.
Once there, you'll have the biggest challenge: choosing the ideal hiking route. This is not easy, but there are certainly some options that are highly recommended.
Circuit of the Summit of Sant Jeroni
The route to Sant Jeroni is 7 and a half kilometres long and can be completed in between three and four hours. This is one of the most popular hiking routes in Montserrat as it leads to Sant Jeroni, the highest peak of the mountain, at 1236 metres above sea level.
From the summit you can enjoy the most impressive views of the area, which range from the Pyrenees mountains to the Massís dels Ports, the mountain massif par excellence of southern Catalonia.
The route from the Monastery of Montserrat to Sant Jeroni has two possible paths that can be used for hiking. We suggest going up the Sant Miquel path and the Plà de les Taràntules (following the Camí Nou de Sant Jeroni) and then going down the Camí Vell de Sant Jeroni, passing by the hermitage of Santa Anna and the Pas dels Francesos. In the area you can find some of the best rural hotels in Spain, without a doubt.
Camell de Sant Jeroni
The Way of the Hermitages and Santa Magdalena
This is a very easy and panoramic hiking route that passes through some of the hermitages of Montserrat. In case you don't know, hermitages are small buildings that serve as chapels in places that are generally uninhabited.
The route has a similar distance and duration to the previous one (about 7 kilometres that can be crossed in 3 hours) and offers beautiful views of the Llobregat valley and Barcelona.
It begins by following the Sant Miquel route, which then leads to the Sant Miquel Cross, the best viewpoint of the Monastery of Montserrat. From there the path continues to Plà de les Taràntules and passes the hermitages of Sant Joan and Sant Onofre.
From this point the ascent begins to the ruins of the hermitage of Santa Magdalena, one of the most beautiful viewpoints of Montserrat. The route continues down Jacob's ladder and returns to the monastery via the hermitage of Santa Anna and the Pas dels Francesos.
The path of the Santa Cova
The previous recommendations require a great deal of physical effort, but many people prefer more leisurely walks. If you belong to this group, the Santa Cova trail is undoubtedly ideal for you.
This is one of Montserrat's most famous trails and can be completed in less than an hour, as its three kilometres are easier to walk. The destination is the Santa Cova, the place where the Black Virgin of Montserrat was found and who, according to legend, had been hidden by the Christians during the Muslim invasion.
Although it is not very challenging, as you can see it is a path full of history, especially because it has been used for centuries by pilgrims who came to Montserrat to venerate the Black Virgin. Nowadays it is an easy route as it is no more than 100 metres high.
The path starts from the Monastery of Montserrat and, although it is not as high, it does not offer the same panoramic views, it does allow you to observe the immensity of the mountains and their walls, where the contrast in the colours of the stones allows you to appreciate the years of life that the marvellous reliefs of the area have.
Monasterio de Montserrat
