Montserrat--how vital to my Barcelona experience?

[quercus alba]

Trying to plan for our disembarkation day in Barcelona--we're not flying out until the day after, and should port soon enough to have a full day. Just wondering if booking a day trip to Montserrat is a "must-see" or might be skipped in favor of Ramblas-ing around Barcelona instead. At first look it seems interesting, but we will have had port days in Italy the week before, so maybe we'll have had enough churches and statues by then?

 

Mrs.Q and I are art & history, food & wine types, not shopping types, when it comes to our interests. We'll have the better part of a day in town pre-cruise also, but might be jet-lagged a bit.

[Jacky01]

Trying to plan for our disembarkation day in Barcelona--we're not flying out until the day after, and should port soon enough to have a full day. Just wondering if booking a day trip to Montserrat is a "must-see" or might be skipped in favor of Ramblas-ing around Barcelona instead. At first look it seems interesting, but we will have had port days in Italy the week before, so maybe we'll have had enough churches and statues by then?

 

Mrs.Q and I are art & history, food & wine types, not shopping types, when it comes to our interests. We'll have the better part of a day in town pre-cruise also, but might be jet-lagged a bit.

 

Skip Montserrat, that was a beauty to see 25 years ago, now its commercialized.

Go on the HoHo bus both north and south line and enjoy the city. Barcelona is wonderful. Go to Parc Guell and walk through it, Gaudi lived there, his house is still there to see. Go to La Sagrada Familia and breath the atmosphere. Walk on the Ramblas and look around.

if you are a soccer fan, go to Barcelona Stadium, worth it.

Barcelona is a city where yoiu can spend days walking around :)

 

Have fun and a great cruise!

[Bet & Peg]

In 2008 we embarked at Barcelona and took the ship excursion to Montserrat and then the bus let us off in City Center just a few blocks form our hotel. It was a fabulous trip - BUT we were staying Barcelona for 3 more days!

 

If my time was limited I think I'd drop my luggage at the hotel and then walk around or take the HoHo bus. Walk on the Rambles, stop at the food market, walk down to the port and have some tapas. It's a fabulous city! Just be careful as in any big city!!

[Got2Cruise]

Since you are only there for one day, I would say skip it unless you were a deeply religious person. It is really not an art and history place. The locals of Barcelona still consider it a special place, I don't think it is commercialized at all. I thought it was a sacred, well respected place, despite the tourists. :)

[Jacky01]

Since you are only there for one day, I would say skip it unless you were a deeply religious person. It is really not an art and history place. The locals of Barcelona still consider it a special place, I don't think it is commercialized at all. I thought it was a sacred, well respected place, despite the tourists. :)

 

You have not seen it before the big parkingspace, shops, hotels, conference centers and such, I guess.

 

I have been there over 25 years ago when monks where still there, and the silence was deafening.

 

Been back 5 years ago and was shocked how it looks now.

[Got2Cruise]

Yes, but inside the sanctuary is the same. . .we waited to touch the black Madonna and light a candle. . . You do know that the monks are the ones who own hotel and cafeteria, etc? It must have been wonderful to visit it "untouched", but the scenery is still wonderful to most of us. . .definitely worthwhile to visit. . .

You have not seen it before the big parkingspace, shops, hotels, conference centers and such, I guess.

 

I have been there over 25 years ago when monks where still there, and the silence was deafening.

 

Been back 5 years ago and was shocked how it looks now.

[Jacky01]

Yes, but inside the sanctuary is the same. . .we waited to touch the black Madonna and light a candle. . . You do know that the monks are the ones who own hotel and cafeteria, etc? It must have been wonderful to visit it "untouched", but the scenery is still wonderful to most of us. . .definitely worthwhile to visit. . .

 

I guess if you have not seen it "before" and "after" it is a pretty place. To me it is definately no longer worth the trip.

[Kerry's Girls]

We went to Barcelona twice last year and visited Montserrat on our second visit. It was lovely, but especially with the travel time involved, it would not be something I'd make an effort to see until I'd finished seeing all I want to see in the city. After two visits, we still haven't seen all we'd like to - and there are so many places worth lingering.

 

Best,

Mia

[caripoo]

It was WELL worth seeing, but not in the limited time you have. We were just there in September post cruise, but we had 4 full days. Enjoy Barcelona, and some day maybe you will be back;);)

[ab0si]

If you are interested in architecture, a trip to Montserrat is almost a requirement if you want to understand Gaudi's vision .. the hills surrounding the monastery are clearly reflected in all of his work.

 

No comment on its importance from a religious stand point (the holiest places in the world to me are the Niels Bohr Institute in Denmark and the better gelateria in Northern Italy).

 

If neither a pilgrimage nor a study of architectural inspiration are important to you, I'd suggest spending your limited time in the city.

[DVC Annie]

We are in a similar situation but we have our debarkation day + 1 more full day before we head home... I was debating about going but wasn't sure which day would be best - debarkation day is on Saturday and with the next day being on a Sunday I was worried about crowds being worse?! Any thoughts about which day would be better?? If we go early can it be done in 5 or 6 hours if we just want a quick look?? Would you include it if you had 2 days?!

[sk84fungirl]

We are in a similar situation but we have our debarkation day + 1 more full day before we head home... I was debating about going but wasn't sure which day would be best - debarkation day is on Saturday and with the next day being on a Sunday I was worried about crowds being worse?! Any thoughts about which day would be better?? If we go early can it be done in 5 or 6 hours if we just want a quick look?? Would you include it if you had 2 days?!

 

We arrive to Barcelona on a Friday. We are going to visit Montserrat Saturday. We are hoping to catch the 8:36 am train. We will enjoy the hour trip up and down, stay for a couple hours, and head back. We will be participating in a small group tour of Barcelona Sunday then we will board our ship Sunday afternoon about 4:00. Ship sails at 7.

 

If it is what YOU want to do, then go for it. We are going to enjoy it as we do not know when we will have the opportunity again.

[rlse9]

Besides the church, the hiking up at Montserrat is great if you're interested in that. The views are amazing as long as it's a clear day. The day we went it was foggy in the morning and we could literally see not much more than 20 feet, I was a little disappointed at first. But within an hour the fog lifted and the skies cleared, it was amazing how drastically the weather changed. Once it cleared up the views were amazing, I wish we had all day to spend there.

 

If you search I'm sure you can find the thread here with the recommendation of how to best see Montserrat so that you avoid the crowds, the biggest thing being getting there early.

[Desert Cruizers]

We will be in Barcelona for the 1st time , arriving on Oct 26th, 2011 and leave on our cruise, the 29th, so will take the 26th & 27th to see what we can in the city then have a Pre Cruise Tour to Montserrat. Since this will be our first trip, we wish to see as much as we can and make the most of it.

[4774Papa]

Trying to plan for our disembarkation day in Barcelona--we're not flying out until the day after, and should port soon enough to have a full day. Just wondering if booking a day trip to Montserrat is a "must-see" or might be skipped in favor of Ramblas-ing around Barcelona instead. At first look it seems interesting, but we will have had port days in Italy the week before, so maybe we'll have had enough churches and statues by then?

 

Mrs.Q and I are art & history, food & wine types, not shopping types, when it comes to our interests. We'll have the better part of a day in town pre-cruise also, but might be jet-lagged a bit.

Monserrat is a great day trip, but you don't have the time. There is much to see in Barcelona. See the Ramblas and Gothic area downtown and try to see Sagrada Familia.

[radsailor]

We were in Barcelona for 5 days back in 2002. We went to Montserrat and it was well worth seeing. We also saw the black Madonna and lit a candle. We are not deeply religious people, but I am sure glad that we went.

[Dorset Cruiser]

We visited Monserrat a couple of years ago and it was a wonderful trip organised by the cruise company to occupy us before being taken to the airport for our trip home.

 

Although it is commercialised, as are many other tourist sites such as Pisa, it is still a 'holy' place. I lit a candle to my recently departed father and it was a very emotional moment for me.

 

In October the air up in the mountains was cold and clear and I would much rather have been there than walking up and down Las Ramblas and shopping:eek:

 

It all depends if you have the time to fit in a trip; if you do, you will not regret it. I would do it again in a heartbeat:D

[porsena]

I was at Montserrat for a Good Friday mass this spring, not because I'm religious but partly because I like music and the boys' choir there has a good reputation. The site was more impressive than the music but, even with two days in Barcelona, I'd not think it the best use of your time to make the trip.

 

If you're not churched out, there's a pretty, simple Romanesque church with a nice interior on the first (?) cross street to the right off the Ramblas, assuming you're headed down towards the water. Barcelona's mainly 14th century cathedral is also worth a visit.

[4774Papa]

Monserrat is worth visiting, but not compared to the sites in Barcelona.

[wcook]

Just got back from Barcelona and was *overwhelmed* at the amount to see in the city. While I've never been to Montserrat... given how little time you have I can't imagine giving up any of it to travel out of the city.

 

And I know this will go against most advice, but I'd give the touristy Ramblas a pass as well in favor of seeing more of the art and architecture.

[quercus alba]

Just got back from Barcelona and was *overwhelmed* at the amount to see in the city. While I've never been to Montserrat... given how little time you have I can't imagine giving up any of it to travel out of the city.

 

And I know this will go against most advice, but I'd give the touristy Ramblas a pass as well in favor of seeing more of the art and architecture.

 

Agree totally with that last statement. We never did make it to Montserrat, but felt very fulfilled by our time in Barcelona, especially enjoyed the Gothic Quarter.

[Honso]

Montserrat is a must see. But obviously, Barcelona is first. Notice that montserrat in not only the black madonna and the boys choir. Montserrat is a natural park and you will not see this kind of mountains anywhere in the world.

[4774Papa]

Montserrat is a must see. But obviously, Barcelona is first. Notice that montserrat in not only the black madonna and the boys choir. Montserrat is a natural park and you will not see this kind of mountains anywhere in the world.

Yes, the mountains alone are worth the trip.

[Emma1]

Our first trip to Barcelona and arriving 3 days before a cruise. We are opting to be picked up at 9am at the airport for a 5 hour tour to Montserrat to arrive back at our hotel at 2. We are 5 and had to get 2 taxis from the airport so we opted to do this instead. This will leave us 2.5 days in Barcelona. Does this make sense? Is it worth doing or do we opt for a 5 hour tour of Barcelona instead? We have 3 teens and thought this would be an easy way to see Montserrat as we did not want to do it on our own.

Should be at Montserrat at 10 to about 1. So if we miss the Black Madonna before 10:30 ( it is closed 10:30 to 12) then we can see it at 12.

What is everyone's thoughts? It seemed like something unusual to do in a relaxed manner. Hotel is not available until 2 anyway.

[CruisinGerman]

I think that to land in a city for the first time, and directly do an excursion outside of the city takes the wow factor out of landing in a new city.

 

I personally, would want to see the main city first and then, perhaps, as a last minute decision, if I tired of seeing the sights in the main city, then do the excursion to Montserrat mid-way through the stay in the city.

 

Just my personal preference. Sort of like landing at JFK for the first time in your life and, instead of going right to see Manhattan, taking some side trip to Long Island first.

 

Kind regards,

 

Gunther and Uta