- Duration
- About 12 hours
- Guide
- Live guide
- English
- Access
- Air-conditioned coach
- Steep streets and steps
- Ticket
- Mobile ticket
- QR code on your phone
Free cancellation · Full refund up to 24 h before
- Reserve now, pay later
About this experience
One long day by coach to 3 places: Montserrat's mountain monastery and its Black Madonna, Girona's walled old town and the medieval walls of Tossa de Mar.
- Reach Montserrat's mountain monastery early, ahead of the longest queues for the Black Madonna
- Walk Girona's old town with a guide: painted houses on the Onyar, the Jewish quarter, cathedral steps
- Stroll the ramparts of Tossa de Mar's Vila Vella, the last walled medieval town on the Catalan coast
- Travel by air-conditioned coach, with your guide covering Catalan history between stops
Good to know
- Day
- Pickup 07:15 at Plaça de Catalunya or 07:35 at Plaça d'Espanya; back about 19:30. Around 5 hours on the coach.
- Black Madonna
- The Virgin can be visited 8:00–10:30 and 12:00–18:25, so we aim to queue before 10:30. Queues are longest at weekends.
- Food
- Lunch is free time in Girona, at your own cost. Entry to Girona Cathedral and Montserrat's museum is not included.
- Walking
- Steep streets and steps at every stop, with cobbles in Girona and Tossa. Wear comfortable shoes.
- Weather
- Montserrat is often cooler than Barcelona: bring a layer. Pack swimwear for Tossa in summer.
The story
Oliba, Abbot of Ripoll and Bishop of Vic, founded the monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat in 1025, and it became an independent abbey in 1409. War with the French in 1808–1811 and the sale of church lands in 1835 left it ruined; monks returned in 1844.
La Moreneta, the Virgin of Montserrat, is a 12th-century Romanesque polychrome carving; Pope Leo XIII proclaimed her patron saint of Catalonia in 1881. The Escolania, which sings in the basilica, is one of Europe's oldest boys' choirs, with a music school recorded here since the 14th century.
Girona Cathedral's Gothic vault spans 23 metres, the widest in the world. On the coast, Tossa's Vila Vella keeps walls and 7 towers from the early 1200s: the only fortified medieval town left on the Catalan coast, listed as a monument in 1931.
What you'll visit
What you'll do
- Pickup in central Barcelona1 h 30 minBoard at Plaça de Catalunya (07:15) or Plaça d'Espanya (07:35), then drive north-west to Montserrat as your guide introduces the day.
- Montserrat monastery2 h 15 minSee the basilica and queue for La Moreneta, the 12th-century Black Madonna, then enjoy views from the terraces. Time for a coffee before we leave.
- Drive to Girona1 h 45 minCross inland Catalonia to the north-east, roughly 140 km, with your guide's commentary on the way.
- Girona old town2 h 30 minGuided walk over the Onyar bridges, through the Jewish quarter and up to the cathedral steps, followed by free time for lunch.
- Tossa de Mar1 h 45 minA 50-minute drive to the coast, then free time to walk the Vila Vella walls to the lighthouse or relax on the beach.
- Return to Barcelona1 h 30 minDrive back down the coast, arriving at Plaça de Catalunya at around 19:30.
How it works
- Book your date and timeReserve now and pay later: your booking is confirmed at once and we send a secure payment link within 24 hours.
- Meet the coachBe at your pickup point 15 minutes early: the coach leaves on time to fit in all three stops.
- Show your QR ticketOn your phone at the entrance or meeting point once your booking is paid. No printing needed.
What's included
Included
- Air-conditioned coach from and back to central Barcelona
- Live guide in English throughout the day
- Guided walk in Girona's old town
- Free time at Montserrat, in Girona and in Tossa de Mar
- Pickup at two central Barcelona points
Not included
- Lunch, food and drinks
- Entry to Girona Cathedral, Montserrat Museum and other paid sites
- Montserrat funiculars
- Hotel pickup
Know before you go
- Long day: about 12 hours, with around 5 hours on the coach
- Wear comfortable shoes; every stop has steep streets or steps
- Montserrat is often cooler than Barcelona; bring a layer
- Dress respectfully for the basilica at Montserrat
- Children 4–17 pay the child price; bring ID. Under-4s go free; tell us when booking so we can plan seating
Questions travellers ask
Can I cancel?
Free cancellation. Full refund up to 24 h before.
Where do we meet?
Ronda de la Universitat, by Plaça de Catalunya, 08007 Barcelona. Coach stop on Ronda de la Universitat at Plaça de Catalunya. Look for your guide's Hop on Roues sign. Second pickup at Plaça d'Espanya.
How long does it last?
About 12 hours.
Which languages?
Live guide — English.
What's included?
Air-conditioned coach from and back to central Barcelona; Live guide in English throughout the day; Guided walk in Girona's old town; Free time at Montserrat, in Girona and in Tossa de Mar; Pickup at two central Barcelona points.
Do I need to print my ticket?
No. Your ticket is a QR code that you show on your phone.
When do I pay?
Reserve now and pay later: your booking is confirmed at once and we send a secure payment link within 24 hours.
Pickup points
You choose your pickup point at checkout.
- Plaça de CatalunyaRonda de la Universitat, by Plaça de Catalunya, 08007 Barcelona07:15
- Plaça d'EspanyaAvinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina, by the Venetian Towers, 08004 Barcelona07:35
Where you'll meet
Ronda de la Universitat, by Plaça de Catalunya, 08007 Barcelona
Coach stop on Ronda de la Universitat at Plaça de Catalunya. Look for your guide's Hop on Roues sign. Second pickup at Plaça d'Espanya.
Why book with us
- Flexible Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Cancel or reschedule online from your booking.
- Mobile ticket Your QR ticket appears on your phone once your payment is received.
- Secure checkout Encrypted checkout. No booking fees.