Day Trip to Montserrat & Hot-Air Balloon Ride, Barcelona

This activity combines the best of the Montserrat region. You'll start with an exciting early-morning hot air balloon ride and enjoy views of the Montserrat Mountains, vineyard-laden countryside, and even coastal vistas. Then, follow your guide with a visit to the historic Monastery of Montserrat, which appears built into the mountains. End with a typical tasting at a picturesque farmhouse surrounded by rocky peaks.

Make the most out of your time in the Montserrat region with this full-day excursion combining hot air balloons, monasteries, and lunch. For the best weather and views, your excursion begins early in the morning with a 40-minute transfer to the flying zone. After a safety briefing and learning a bit about hot air ballooning, you can help the crew inflate your balloon.

You'll then fly over the Pla de Bages, a Spanish Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) for Catalan wines, for a bird's-eye-view of this uniquely shaped mountain range and its surrounding valleys and vineyards. Toast to the experience with a glass of bubbly while in the sky. After a little over one hour, you'll land and transfer back to the flying zone for a snack as you receive your flight certificate and photo story.

Next, your driver will take you to the Montserrat Monastery, a complex founded in the 11th century that still functions to this day to house over 70 monks. Sitting atop the mountain at 4,055 feet (1,266 m), the views from the monastery are unbeatable, and you'll have plenty of time to take photos. Your highlights tour will include these vistas, plus a guided walk through the site's 16th-century basilica, which features a statue of the Virgin of Montserrat (the Black Madonna) hanging from the altar—though it's not on permanent display. If available, you'll also listen to the boys' choir singing their famous Escolanía de Montserrat.

After the tour, you'll have an hour to explore the monastery a bit on your own. You can choose what to do with the rest of your time, though one popular option is to ride the funicular to Santa Cova, also known as the "Holy Grotto." This mountain cave is an important pilgrimage site housing a religious shrine. You could also visit the Museum of Montserrat, which features archeological items and paintings by famous artists like Caravaggio, Dalí, and Picasso. Other ways to pass the time include checking out the farmers market or grabbing a coffee in the café. (Friendly note that you'll enjoy lunch on Spanish time, meaning around 2:30 or 3:00 pm, so enjoy a snack now if you need something to tide you over.)

You'll make your way down the mountain via a cable car, then head to a beautiful farmhouse setting to enjoy a tasting of the typical Catalan desert. The farmhouse, set in a valley, features unique vistas of the Montserrat Mountains and fields filled with thousands of trees cultivated for hundreds of years. 

Before returning to Barcelona, enjoy perusing the farm by visiting the resident animals, learning about the historic olive press, or walking through the gardens. In the end, you'll have enjoyed a memorable day in the Catalonian countryside.