Montserrat Funicular: Prices, Timetables and Status

There are two Montserrat funicular lines. Both depart from the path leading to the Creu de Sant Miquel and serve opposite purposes. The Sant Joan funicular takes you to the Sant Joan area, where much of the mountain’s trail network begins. The Santa Cova funicular takes you to the sacred cave, saving you the legwork on the return climb.

They are not the same thing as the rack railway or the cable car, and people mix them up constantly. The rack railway and the cable car bring you up from the valley. The funiculars only move you around the mountain once you are already at the monastery. This page has the current fares, the timetables, the status of each line and which one is actually worth the money.

The Sant Joan funicular: the one that takes you to the top

Funicular de Sant Joan

Running all year

9:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. €11.40 one way · €17.50 return

The lower station is a short walk from the monastery square, at an elevation of 722 meters. The upper station, Sant Joan Superior, is located at an elevation of 970 meters, on a slope that reaches 65.2% at its steepest point.

Once at the top, you’ll find yourself in a whole new world: You can visit the Aula de la Natura exhibition, the Sant Joan viewpoints, and the starting point of the hiking trail to Sant Jeroni, the highest point in Montserrat. This is the funicular that completely transforms what a day in Montserrat can be like.

During peak season, the first ascent is at 9:30 a.m., the last ascent is at 6:00 p.m., and the last descent is at 6:30 p.m. In the off-season, the service closes earlier, with the last ascent around 5:00 p.m. The funicular runs every 12 minutes in every season. In addition, the FGC takes it out of service for an annual inspection, usually in January.

The Santa Cova funicular: currently out of service

Funicular de la Santa Cova

Out of service

Closed until further notice €4.55 one way · €7.00 return

At the time of writing, both the rack railway operator and the sanctuary list the Santa Cova funicular as out of service for maintenance work, with no reopening date announced. Plan to reach the Santa Cova on foot and check the official page again shortly before your visit.

Santa Cova Funicular out of service: We inform you that the Santa Cova Funicular will remain out of service due to a breakdown. At this time, we cannot specify the duration of the incident. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Notice published by Montserrat Monastery

The walk down to the Santa Cova is a fantastic alternative and, for most people, is in any case the best option for getting a chance to see the sculptures of the Monumental Rosary. Did you know that Antoni Gaudí contributed to the first mystery of glory in the Monumental Rosary? The complete route, what you’ll see along the way, and the duration of the trip are described in the guide to the Santa Cova de Montserrat.

Montserrat funicular prices

These are the official FGC fares. Children are 4 to 13 years old and seniors are over 65.

The cheapest way to ride both funiculars

If you’re coming from Barcelona and already know you want to visit the mountain—not just the basilica—combo pass is the ideal option to ensure the funiculars aren’t an extra expense. The Tot Montserrat pass includes funicular rides, as well as round-trip train travel from Barcelona and the rack railway or cable car. Tot Montserrat starts at €72.00. Tot Montserrat also includes admission to the museum, the audiovisual space and catalan lunch.

Funicular or cable car? They are not alternatives

This is the most common source of confusion about Montserrat, and it’s due to the names. The “Aeri de Montserrat” cable car and the rack railway are two modes of transportation that compete with each other to cover the same route: from the bottom of the valley to the monastery. You have to choose one of them. The funiculars come later—from the monastery up to the Sant Joan area and down to Santa Cova. They compete with nothing but your own legs.

So the real question is not “funicular or cable car”, it is “cable car or rack railway, and then how much of the mountain do I want”. I answer the first half in the rack railway or cable car comparison.

Is the Sant Joan funicular worth €17.50?

My honest answer, as someone who lives at the foot of this mountain: yes, if you plan to hike once you’re up there. Hiking to the hermitages of Sant Joan or Sant Onofre and continuing on to Sant Jeroni lets you discover half of Montserrat that most day-trippers never see.

If you’re short on time and only interested in the basilica, skip it and save your money. If you have a few hours to spare, it’s the best €17.50 you can spend on the mountain. On the Sant Joan viewpoints page, you’ll find detailed information about what’s up there, as well as the hiking trails that start from the upper station—which are also listed in the Montserrat hiking guide.

Where are the Montserrat funicular stations?

The two stations of the Montserrat funicular are located at the lower part of the monastic complex, on the path leading up to the Creu de Sant Miquel. On the interactive map, they are marked as points 17 and 18.

Montserrat funicular FAQ

Continue exploring Montserrat

Read my Ultimate Guide to Hiking in Montserrat