Trans Montserrat
Round-trip transport, both funiculars and basilica access — flexible enough to fit any opening window. Pick a Cremallera variant if you plan to stay past 18:00.
From €50
See Trans Montserrat →Montserrat opening hours — basilica, Throne, museum and transport
Every part of Montserrat runs on its own schedule — the basilica stays open longer than the museum, the Throne of the Black Madonna closes for a 90-minute window, and the funiculars stop earlier than you might expect. Here is the full picture, updated for the current season.
- Basilica: 07:00 to 20:00, every day
- Throne of the Black Madonna: closes 10:30 to 12:00 — plan around it
- Last Aeri cable car down: around 18:00
Updated June 2026
Sourced from the official sanctuary and FGC
Seasonal notes included
Sanctuary opening hours — basilica, Throne, museum and information
The sanctuary covers five separate areas, each with its own hours. The table below is the official schedule for the current season — minor changes happen on religious holidays.
| Area | Monday to Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basilica | 07:00–20:00 | 07:00–20:00 | 07:00–20:00 |
| Throne of the Black Madonna | 08:00–18:25 | 08:00–20:00 | 08:00–20:00 |
| Audiovisual room | 09:00–18:45 | 09:00–18:45 | 09:00–18:45 |
| Museum of Montserrat | 10:00–17:45 | 10:00–17:45 | 10:00–17:45 |
| Tourist information | 09:00–14:40 | — | 09:00–17:00 |
Important: The Throne of the Black Madonna closes between 10:30 and 12:00 every day. If you arrive in that window you cannot enter it — plan to visit before 10:30 or after 12:00.
Transport up the mountain — opening hours
The Cremallera and the Aeri reach the monastery from the valley. The Sant Joan and Santa Cova funiculars connect the sanctuary square with the viewpoint and the holy cave on top.
Cremallera (cog railway)
Runs roughly every hour, with the first train leaving the valley around 08:48 and the last train down at about 20:30 in high season and earlier in winter. Ride time about 15 minutes.
Aeri (cable car)
Runs every 15 minutes during the day. The first cabin from the valley goes up around 09:40 and the last one down is at about 18:00 most of the year. Ride time about 5 minutes.
Funicular Sant Joan
Connects the sanctuary square with the upper viewpoint at about 1000 metres. Runs roughly every 20 minutes from 10:00 to 17:00, with extended hours in summer. Included in Trans, Tot and Mountain Ticket.
Funicular Santa Cova
Goes down to the Holy Cave below the sanctuary. Operating hours are similar to Sant Joan, but the service is regularly paused for maintenance — check on the day before you plan the descent.
Escolania boys choir — performance schedule
The Escolania, one of the oldest boys choirs in Europe, sings in the basilica several times a week. Attendance is free with any basilica ticket. Arrive 15 minutes early for a standing spot near the altar.
- Monday to Friday: short performance at 13:00 (Salve Regina and Virolai).
- Saturday: no performance — the choir takes the day off.
- Sunday: midday Mass at 12:00 with full performance.
- Summer break: late June to mid-August the choir does not perform. School holidays and religious feasts can also affect the schedule.
Seasonal notes — when hours change
- High season (April to October) extends most transport hours by 30 to 60 minutes. The Aeri keeps its 18:00 last service almost year-round, but the Cremallera runs later in summer.
- Christmas Day and New Years Day: the basilica and Throne open at 08:00; the museum and audiovisual room are closed; the Cremallera and Aeri run a reduced timetable.
- Major Catalan and Catholic feasts (Easter, Assumption, All Saints) keep the basilica open, but transport runs a reduced timetable and the sanctuary can be very busy.
- Funicular Santa Cova closes for maintenance several times a year — sometimes for weeks. If the cave is a priority, check the sanctuary website the day before.
Opening hours — frequently asked questions
Early morning. Catch the 08:36 or 09:36 R5 from Plaça Espanya and you reach the monastery before the tour buses. Most areas open from 09:00 or 10:00, the basilica even at 07:00, so an early arrival means short queues and quiet viewpoints.
The monks need the time for daily liturgy and cleaning. The 10:30 to 12:00 closure is the most-missed detail on the mountain. Visit before 10:30 if you arrive on the first trains, or after 12:00 if you take the 09:36 from Barcelona.
Around 18:00 most of the year. The Cremallera runs later — typically until 20:30 in summer. If you want to stay on the mountain for sunset, pick the Cremallera for the way down.
It depends. The service is paused for maintenance several times a year, sometimes for weeks. Check the official sanctuary website on the morning of your visit. If it is closed, the cave can also be reached on foot via a 30-minute trail with stations of the cross.
No. The Escolania does not perform on Saturday. The reliable slot is 13:00 on weekdays and 12:00 on Sunday. The choir also takes a summer break from late June to mid-August.
No. Major feasts keep the basilica open but reduce the transport timetable and shut some areas. Christmas Day and New Years Day are the most reduced. For day-to-day accuracy, check the sanctuary website the evening before your visit.
Tickets that work around the schedule
Tot Montserrat
Everything Trans covers, plus the museum and a Catalan lunch buffet at the monastery. The museum closes at 17:45, so plan it for the early afternoon.
From €71.50
See Tot Montserrat →Mountain Ticket
Train, Cremallera and both funiculars — Cremallera-only, so you keep the longer evening service if you want sunset on Sant Joan.
From €46.70
See Mountain Ticket →Book a ticket that fits your timing
With opening hours this layered, a pre-booked transfer matters. Trans Montserrat bundles every transfer into one voucher and gives you free cancellation up to 24 hours before — flexible enough to shift your plans if a funicular closes for maintenance.
Book Trans Montserrat