During my short stay in Barcelona, I took a day trip to Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey, an important religious site in Catalonia. This is a great solo and family trip as it incorporates many forms of transportation to reach the top of this site. 

How to get there:

From Barcelona, you will go to the train station named Espana Station and look for Line R5 with directions heading to Manresa.

The train ride is about an hour long, and the stop at Monserrat depends on whether you want to take the Teleferico (cable cart) or the monorail. In front of the R5 line, the ticket counter sales individual tickets to ride on the Teleferico or the monorail. 

I prefer the teleferico as this is a great way to see the views from the mountain. 

Tips for the Day Trip to Monserrat:

This is an all-day excursion; make sure to pack your lunch and many snacks, as there will be plenty of walking and hiking around the site. There is a cafeteria for you to eat, but with the long lines and wait, you are looking into an hour or more of your day. 

The hikes are beautiful; wear the proper shoes for long walks and hikes.

Out of all the things that I did in Barcelona one of my favorite places to visit was Montserrat where I went up a mountain and found the Black Madonna.