COMBO TOUR: Montserrat Half-Day Afternoon Small-Group Tour PLUS Tapas and Flamenco Tour

Montserrat Afternoon Half Day Small Group Tour PLUS Tapas and Flamenco Tour

Highlights:

• Small-group tour from central Barcelona to Montserrat 
  
• Take a guided tour of Santa Maria de Montserrat basilica, home to the Virgin of Montserrat
• Small-group tour ensures a personalized experience with your guide
  
• 3-hour evening Barcelona tapas and flamenco tour
• Visit places where the locals eat and shop: a tapas bar in Eixample and a
  ham shop in Born
• Sample Catalan classics like pa amb tomàquet, Manchego cheese and
  locally cured serrano ham
• Walk past Barcelona Cathedral and explore the Gothic Quarter
• Watch a fiery flamenco show starring the very best rising stars of the
  genre
• Small-group tour with a maximum of 20 ensures a more intimate
  experience
  




Overview

Capture the heart of Catalonia on this tour to the iconic Montserrat and it's Royal Basilica, and combine it with an exciting tapas and flamenco tour.  

At Montserrat you’ll be able to explore the monastic centre of Catalonia, home to the famous black virgin & la Escolania (children’s boy choir). You’ll also have time to explore the magnificent natural park & mountains with spectacular views over the plains of Catalonia.

Full Description

A tour from Barcelona to Montserrat is a must for the majority of visitors to Barcelona. It's probably the one place that they have heard all about before they arrive. The advantage of taking one of our small group day tours from Barcelona is that we can avoid the crowds and stay well clear of the other larger tour operators.

Our day starts at 1.45pm from our office opposite the Palau de la Musica building. From here, the journey to Montserrat takes us about an hour or so. One of the main reasons people book with us is that they want the intimacy of a small group, but like to have somebody there to explain things.

Keeping to our philosophy of giving you plenty of free time to explore on your own, but guiding you in the right direction, the first thing we do on arrival is explain the various options. A visit to the sanctuary where the ‘Moreneta’ is housed is a must.

The sanctuary has been in use for almost 1000 years for those pilgrims and other visitors who have climbed this spectacular mountain. You’ll also have the opportunity to visit the fascinating Museum of Montserrat, with its five collections, ranging from Archaeology from the Biblical East to Modern Painting and Sculpture.

Besides these cultural possibilities, there are numerous walks around Montserrat, ranging from easy strolls to serious hikes. Each trail offers a different perspective on the stunning views over the surrounding landscape, many of which are peppered with small chapels and hermitages.

You'll easily find a route to suit your taste and energy levels. But whether they're fairly strenuous treks or gentle walks, they all give you fantastic views to marvel at the unspoiled beauty of this protected natural park. If you'd rather not walk at all, then another option is to take one of the two rack railways, or the cable car, offering yet more views of the area.   

After your Montserrat tour, or on another evening of your choice, you can enjoy our tapas and flamenco  tour. You'll visit a Modernist-style tapas bar in the heart of Barcelona’s Eixample neighbourhood, a typical local's bar, and then finish the night in an emblematic flamenco bar in the heart of the Gothic Quarter in famous Plaça Reial. 

This exciting 3-hour evening experience includes a stroll around Eixample to sample authentic Catalan tapas such as ‘pa amb tomàquet,’ and a visit to a ham delicatessen in Born. Finish your evening with a 45-minute authentic flamenco show featuring some of the genre's newest rising stars performing this dance to traditional Spanish music! Numbers are limited to 10 on this small-group tour, ensuring you’ll enjoy personalised attention from your guide.

After meeting your guide in central Barcelona, near Palau de la Musica, take a leisurely stroll to the edge of the Eixample district  to discover a tapas gem and one of Barcelona’s best Modernist-style bars. 

The bar serves up delicious small plates of Catalan favorites such as pa amb tomàquet (bread with olive oil and tomatoes) and patates braves (potatoes with oil, red pepper and chili, served with aioli). Watch the chef prepare the food, and then sit down to savor a plate and a drink while hearing tales about Catalan cuisine.

Walk off your snack with a stroll to Born, listening to your guide talking about Barcelona’s history, food and culture as you go. Your destination is the neighborhood's locally loved ham shop, where huge legs of serrano ham hang in the windows. Head inside and sample some of the best meats, made from acorn-fed pigs, and sample popular cheeses such as Manchego.

Continuing your stroll through Born, pass Barcelona Cathedral (Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia) and the old Roman city walls, and then wind your way to the heart of the Gothic Quarter to Plaça Reial, a bustling nighttime square near La Rambla, where the highlight of your evening awaits -- a flamenco performance inside one of the oldest flamenco bars in Barcelona!

Please remember to call the office ahead of time to organise your tapas and flamenco tour.