From Barcelona to Montserrat DIY, by train or bus, and other day excursion info?

[gam888]

We are getting off the ship by 9:30am and have booked a hotel in Barcelona before flying home the next day. We have been to Barcelona several times and would like to get out of the city to see Montserrat this time. We have to take a taxi from the port to our hotel near the old town, east of the Ramblas area to drop off our luggage. So we figure by the time we are ready to head out again, we would have missed the organized morning coach tour to Montserrat. Since it will get dark by 6pm in November, we don`t want to take an afternoon tour (not even sure if it's offered). So we would like to take a train or bus and do it ourselves. Searched online and find out there are two different types of tickets you can buy for this Monastery, could anyone please share their experience on how to get to Montserrat from Barcelona city centre, how much is the fare and how long it takes to get there. How much time would be sufficient to spend seeing this place? Also, any other day excursion for about 6 to 7 hours would be helpful, just want to do something different than going to see the same places in Barcelona that we have seen a few times. Thank you in advance.

[mskaufman]

Girona is a possibility.

 

https://markandkareneurope2012.shutterfly.com/pictures/362

 

Another possibility is to not DIY Montserrat. When we went we took the ship tour on the day of embarkation. We were at Montserrat by 9am and back at Placa Catalunya by 1pm. We didn't have to go to our hotel and get them to hold our luggage before we started. The luggage was with us. Also, we had Montserrat almost to ourselves as we were there before the crowds arrived.

[gam888]

Thanks for your reply. Great pictures as well!

[Quilting_Cruiser]

We are getting off the ship by 9:30am and have booked a hotel in Barcelona before flying home the next day. We have been to Barcelona several times and would like to get out of the city to see Montserrat this time. We have to take a taxi from the port to our hotel near the old town, east of the Ramblas area to drop off our luggage. So we figure by the time we are ready to head out again, we would have missed the organized morning coach tour to Montserrat. Since it will get dark by 6pm in November, we don`t want to take an afternoon tour (not even sure if it's offered). So we would like to take a train or bus and do it ourselves. Searched online and find out there are two different types of tickets you can buy for this Monastery, could anyone please share their experience on how to get to Montserrat from Barcelona city centre, how much is the fare and how long it takes to get there. How much time would be sufficient to spend seeing this place? Also, any other day excursion for about 6 to 7 hours would be helpful, just want to do something different than going to see the same places in Barcelona that we have seen a few times. Thank you in advance.

 

Thanks for asking about this. I'm in a similar situation so will be following to see what answers you get. :D