This guide focuses only on the best viewpoints near Montserrat Monastery. They are not the highest or wildest viewpoints in the mountain, but they are among the easiest and most practical for most visitors.
If you are visiting Montserrat Monastery and want beautiful views without doing a long mountain hike, there are several excellent viewpoints very close to the main sanctuary area.
For a first visit, these four places give you a very good introduction to the landscape around the monastery:
- Viewpoint Mirador dels Apòstols 🚶♂️
- Viewpoint Saint Michael’s Cross / Creu de Sant Miquel 🚶♂️🚶♂️
- Viewpoint Miranda de Fra Garí 🚶♂️🚶♂️🚶♂️
- Viewpoint Miranda dels Ermitans 🚶♂️🚶♂️🚶♂️🚶♂️
They are listed here in order of difficulty, from the easiest to the most demanding.
These are the 4 best viewpoints near Montserrat Monastery, ordered from the easiest and most accessible option to the most demanding one. They are all located close to the sanctuary area, but they offer very different types of views, effort levels, and visitor experience.
The table below compares the main and Best viewpoints near Montserrat Monastery, so you can quickly decide which one fits your time, energy, and type of visit.
| Viewpoint | Difficulty | Location | Best for | Main character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mirador dels Apòstols | ★☆☆☆ Very easy | Very close to the monastery area | Quick visits, families, and visitors with very limited time | The easiest viewpoint near Montserrat Monastery, ideal for a quick scenic stop without doing a hike |
| Saint Michael’s Cross | ★★☆☆ Easy | Above the monastery, on the Sant Miquel path | First-time visitors looking for the classic monastery view | The most iconic short viewpoint from the monastery, with beautiful views of the sanctuary and mountain setting |
| Miranda de Fra Garí | ★★★☆ Moderate | Near the monastery-side mountain paths | Visitors who want a quieter viewpoint with a stronger mountain feeling | A closer, lesser-known viewpoint, perfect for those who enjoy hiking on mountain trails. One of the best and least-known panoramic views of the monastery. |
| Miranda dels Ermitans | ★★★★ Most demanding | Higher monastery-side viewpoint area | Hikers and visitors wanting the most panoramic option in this selection | A lookout point located in the upper part of the town, next to the monastery Hikers and visitors looking for a short hike combined with excellent panoramic views. |
1. Mirador dels Apòstols: the easiest viewpoint near Montserrat Monastery
Best for: very easy views without hiking
Difficulty: very easy
Good for: families, quick visits, first-time visitors, people with limited time
The Mirador dels Apòstols is the easiest viewpoint to include in a visit to Montserrat Monastery.
Mirador dels Apòstols
Location: Near Montserrat Monastery · Style: Scenic viewpoint · Difficulty: Very easy
Best for: Quick views Effort: Minimal Ideal visit: 5–10 min
It is located very close to the main visitor area, so you do not need to follow a proper hiking trail to enjoy it. This makes it the best option if you only have a short time in Montserrat or if you want a simple viewpoint before continuing with the basilica, the Black Madonna, the museum or lunch.
From this area, you can enjoy a wide view of the monastery surroundings, the mountain walls and the landscape below. It is also a good place to pause, take photos and understand how dramatically the monastery is set into the mountain.
This is not the most adventurous viewpoint in Montserrat, but it is probably the most accessible one near the monastery.
2. Creu de Sant Miquel: the classic short walk from the monastery
Best for: the best easy walk with rewarding views
Difficulty: easy
Good for: first-time visitors, couples, photographers, short hikes
Creu de Sant Miquel
Location: Near Montserrat Monastery · Style: Scenic walking viewpoint · Difficulty: Easy
Best for: Iconic views Effort: Moderate uphill Ideal visit: 35–45 min
The Creu de Sant Miquel is one of the classic viewpoints near Montserrat Monastery.
The walk starts from the monastery area and follows the path towards Sant Miquel. It is not a difficult hike, but it does involve some uphill walking, so it feels more like a short walk than a simple viewpoint stop.
The reward is excellent. From the area around the cross, you get one of the most iconic views of Montserrat Monastery, with the buildings framed by the mountain and the valley below.
For many visitors, this is the best balance between effort and reward. It is close enough to the monastery to be realistic for a short visit, but far enough to feel like you have stepped away from the busiest part of Montserrat.
In peak season or on busy days, The Creu de Sant Miquel Lookout. can become one of the most crowded viewpoints near Montserrat Monastery.
If you want to enjoy it more quietly, try to arrive early in the morning, before the main visitor flow reaches the monastery area.
If you only want to choose one proper walk near the monastery, Creu de Sant Miquel is probably the best option.
3. Mirador de Fra Garí: a quieter viewpoint with a stronger mountain feeling
Best for: a more local and less obvious viewpoint
Difficulty: moderate
Good for: walkers, repeat visitors, people who want something quieter
Miranda de Fra Garí
Location: Near the Sant Miquel area · Style: Isolated scenic viewpoint · Difficulty: Moderate
Best for: Aerial views Effort: Moderate Ideal visit: 35–50 min
The Mirador de Fra Garí is a more demanding option than Mirador dels Apòstols or Creu de Sant Miquel, but it is still close enough to the monastery to be included in a short mountain route.
This viewpoint feels more natural and less “visitor-area” than the first two. It gives you a stronger sense of being inside the mountain rather than just looking at it from the main monastery surroundings.
It is a good choice if you want to go slightly beyond the standard viewpoint route, especially if you enjoy walking and want a quieter spot with a more authentic Montserrat atmosphere.
If you want some of the best aerial views of Montserrat Monastery, Miranda de Fra Garí is the viewpoint to choose.
It feels quieter and more isolated than the main monastery viewpoints. The short climb takes a little extra effort, but the view over the monastery area is absolutely worth it.
The path requires more attention than the route to Creu de Sant Miquel, so I would not recommend it as the first option for visitors with very limited time, mobility issues or unsuitable footwear.
But if you are comfortable walking on mountain paths, Fra Garí is one of the most interesting viewpoints near Montserrat Monastery.
4. Miranda dels Ermitans: the most demanding viewpoint in this selection
Best for: stronger walkers looking for a more panoramic viewpoint
Difficulty: moderate to demanding
Good for: hikers, mountain lovers, visitors with extra time
Miranda dels Ermitans
Location: Sant Jeroni path, after Pas dels Francesos · Style: Mountain viewpoint · Difficulty: Moderate
Best for: Mountain views Effort: Moderate Access: Stairs + trail
The Miranda dels Ermitans is the most demanding viewpoint in this short list.
It is still part of the monastery-side area of Montserrat, but it should be treated more like a real mountain viewpoint than a simple scenic stop. The terrain and effort are more serious than the previous options, so it is better suited to visitors who are used to walking in the mountains.
The name itself already connects this area with the old hermit tradition of Montserrat. For visitors interested in both landscape and history, this viewpoint adds a deeper layer to the visit.
The views are excellent, but this is not the viewpoint I would recommend to someone who simply wants a quick photo before returning to the monastery.
Choose Miranda dels Ermitans if you have more time, proper shoes and want a viewpoint with a more adventurous feeling.
Which best viewpoints near Montserrat Monastery should you choose?
If you want the easiest option, choose Mirador dels Apòstols.
If you want the best short walk with iconic views, choose Creu de Sant Miquel.
If you want something quieter and more local, choose Mirador de Fra Garí.
If you want the most demanding and mountain-like option in this selection, choose Miranda dels Ermitans.
For most first-time visitors, I would recommend this simple order:
Creu de Sant Miquel + Mirador dels Apòstols
That combination gives you two very different views without turning your visit into a long hike.
Best viewpoints near Montserrat Monastery: quick comparison
| Viewpoint | Difficulty | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Mirador dels Apòstols | Very easy | Quick views near the monastery |
| Creu de Sant Miquel | Easy | Best short walk and classic monastery view |
| Mirador de Fra Garí | Moderate | Quieter viewpoint with a stronger mountain feel |
| Miranda dels Ermitans | Moderate / demanding | Hikers and more adventurous visitors |
Are these the best viewpoints in all of Montserrat?
Not exactly.
These are the best viewpoints near Montserrat Monastery. They are ideal if you are staying close to the sanctuary area and do not want to take the Sant Joan funicular or do a longer hike.
Montserrat has many other spectacular viewpoints, especially around the Sant Joan area and in higher or more remote parts of the mountain.
This article is part of a viewpoint series:
- Best viewpoints near Montserrat Monastery
- Best viewpoints in the Sant Joan area
- Other mountain viewpoints
If this is your first visit and you only have a few hours, start with the Best viewpoints near montserrat monastery showed in this guide. They are the easiest way to enjoy the landscape without moving too far from the monastery.
Final recommendation
For most visitors, the best viewpoint near Montserrat Monastery is Creu de Sant Miquel.
It is close, scenic and easy enough for many travellers, while offering one of the most memorable views of the monastery and the mountain. In busy periods, try to visit early in the morning to avoid crowds.
But if you want the simplest possible option, start with Mirador dels Apòstols. And if you enjoy walking, continue towards Fra Garí or Miranda dels Ermitans for a more complete mountain experience.
Related Montserrat guides
If you are planning your visit to Montserrat, these related guides can help you choose what to see next and how to organise your day.
Montserrat Monastery guide
How to get to Montserrat from Barcelona
Montserrat Day Trip from Barcelona
If this guide helped you plan your visit, then it has done its job.
Sergio López Prieto · Local Montserrat Expert
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