Alberg Abat Oliba

The Alberg Abat Oliba is the hostel of the Montserrat sanctuary. It occupies a 1952 building inside the precinct, completely renovated in 2018, and is the most flexible accommodation on the mountain: it has bunks for those travelling alone or in a group, private rooms for couples and almost forty family rooms with kitchens. Sleeping here lets you see the sanctuary when the last rack railway has gone, and as a guest you enter the basilica without paying the tourist ticket.

Bunks below, families above

The building is divided by floor. On the first and second floors is the hostel part: a studio for one or two people without a kitchen, rooms for 4, 6 and 10 with bunks and a private bathroom, which can be shared with other travellers or booked whole, and an 8-bed room with bunks and a kitchen. From the third to the sixth floor are the 38 family rooms: studios for one or two people, doubles and rooms for 4, 6 and 8 with beds and bunks; some have an open-plan kitchen.

There is free wifi throughout the building. There is also a public kitchen, a dining room for groups, a common area, bicycle parking, a children's play area, a lift and adapted access for people with reduced mobility.

Sheets, towels and kitchen, for a supplement

Bed linen and towels are not included: you either bring them or ask for them for a supplement when you book. Also paid separately are the cot, use of the kitchen, laundry and clothes drying, and the luggage service for groups, with prior booking. Under-3s do not pay. The sanctuary's listing does not publish prices per bed or per room: they are given by the booking engine on its website or the central office, on 938 777 701 and at [email protected]. Payment is by AMEX or VISA card. Animals are not allowed.

Check-in from 13:00, check-out before 10:00

You can check in from 13:00 and must leave the room before 10:00. Unlike the hotel and the sanctuary's cells, the hostel does not include the rack railway ticket: if you come by car, park free at Monistrol-Vila and buy the ticket there, or go up on the Aeri from its free car park on the C-55. Without a car, the R5 from plaça d'Espanya connects with both.

The Path of the Hermitages starts opposite

The Path of the Hermitages by Sant Miquel and Sant Joan begins opposite the hostel and climbs to the Sant Miquel viewpoint and the hermitages. For meals, the Cafetería de Montserrat opens at 8:45 and the precinct's grocery shop, the Queviures, until 17:45 on weekdays and 18:45 at weekends: shop before closing if you are going to cook. If you are looking for an apartment with a kitchen that admits dogs, the Cel·les Abat Marcet are in the same precinct.