Montserrat

• Getting up the mountain is half the trip: take the yellow Aeri cable car or the rack railway (cremallera) from the R5 train at Monistrol
• Sant Joan funicular climbs from the monastery to ridge-top walking trails and lookouts, an easy way to reach the views without a long hike
• Bring sun cover and water, since the rock faces and viewpoints are exposed with little shade, especially in summer

A Benedictine monastery built into a serrated rock mountain about 50km northwest of the city, reached by rack railway or cable car from the R5 train line. The basilica holds La Moreneta, the Black Madonna statue, and the Escolania boys' choir sings here most days. Two short funiculars run from the monastery: one climbs to ridge-top trails and viewpoints, the other drops to the Santa Cova cave chapel.