Only one free day? · Day trip from Barcelona
Montserrat or Girona?
| Field | Montserrat | Girona |
|---|---|---|
| Travel time | 1 h 30 train + rack railway, door to door | 40 min |
| Transport | Train + rack railway | High-speed train |
| Self-guided | € 50 | € 25.40–42.30 |
| Tour | € 50.15 | € 49.68 |
| Time needed | 4–6 h | 5–7 h |
| Closed | None (throne closed 10:30-12:00 daily) | None (cathedral closed 25 Dec, 1 Jan, Good Friday) |
| Best time | Clear days, Mar-Nov; arrive before 10:00 | Year-round; Sundays the cathedral opens at 12:00 |
| Verdict | Worth a full day | Worth a full day |
Our verdict
Montserrat, unless the mountain is in cloud.
Pick Montserrat. Barcelona already gives you a medieval quarter and a cathedral, and nothing in the city looks like that mountain. It costs more, € 50 against about € 42 for Girona by Avant with the cathedral ticket, and the journey is longer, 1.5 hours against 40 minutes. Pick Girona when the forecast is cloudy, when you want a slow lunch and a town to wander for five to six hours, or when you would rather not queue for the Black Madonna. Girona also combines with the Dalí museum in Figueres, 15 minutes further up the line.
Last checked: · Train times and fares from Renfe, Rodalies de Catalunya and FGC; coach times from the operators; opening days and ticket prices from each attraction's official site.