Day Trips from Barcelona

We took the regional train from Plaça d'Espanya and then the cogwheel train up to the monastery complex. It is important to exchange this voucher for a valid ticket for free at the specially designated tourist counter on the lowest level of the platform. The friendly employee then sent us up one level to the correct platform. It's not very simple, so make sure to arrive at the station in good time, as the train / cogwheel train only runs once an hour. For the audio guide and information materials, stop by the tourist information first; the staff member was extremely nice and helpful, and given the many different options, every bit of advice is important. We had booked with the Escolania choir. It was very crowded, so here too, getting to the basilica early guarantees the best seats. The performance was beautiful, moving, and well worth the extra charge. After that, we joined the queue for the Black Madonna, then took the upper funicular up to the summit. There is a loop trail up there, but the best view was actually from this steep mountain railway itself. There is a reasonably priced self-service bistro in the monastery complex and a semi-shaded path to the viewing platform, which you should definitely take because the view is phenomenal. All in all, a strenuous but rewarding excursion into the mountains if you are good on your feet and prefer your own pace and time management.

Everything was very beautiful and it wasn't too crowded. The climb up with the cogwheel train is impressive. The views are incredible. We will be back.