10 MUST DO THINGS IN GIBRALTAR
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I'll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.
This post is all about what to do and see in Gibraltar
Gibraltar, on the southern tip of Spain, is a British Overseas Territory. It’s often known as the ‘Rock of Gibraltar’ due to the huge land mass thats rises out of the sea. To get to Gibraltar from Spain you walk/drive across Gibraltar airport runway as it’s connected to Spain by a narrow strip of land.
Gibraltar is a tiny country covering only 4 square kilometers with the town itself lying to the west side of the rock and not much lying to the east.
Even though it’s small in size there are so many tourist attractions and fun things to do during your time in Gibraltar.
With the following list of the best attractions and best things to do in Gibraltar you will be able to plan your Gibraltar sightseeing adventures.
NO TIME TO READ NOW? 📍PIN FOR LATER
This post is all about why you should visit the UK oversees territory of Gibraltar and what to see and do when you get there.
WHERE IS GIBRALTAR ON THE WORLD MAP?
The British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar is located at the southern edge of the Iberian Peninsula in south western Europe.
Gibraltar is bordered by Spain in the north.
The territory overlooks the Strait of Gibraltar which connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
GIBRALTAR HISTORY
Gibraltar is steeped in history which is noticable all over this tiny stretch of land. There have been many sieges and battles over the centuries.
Over the years it has been fought over by France, Spain and the UK with each taking possession at one time or another.
Gibraltar was captured by a British Fleet in 1704 during the war of the Spanish Succession.
In 1779 the Great Siege began as the Spanish attacked from both land and sea. The siege lasted 3 years and during this time Gibraltar came under heavy bombardment by the Spanish.
The British had between 5500 and 7000 men and only 96 guns during the Great Siege and the Spanish had 40,000 men and 246 guns but the British held their own and didn’t surrender.
In 1968 a Referendum was taken on whether the people of Gibraltar wanted to remain with Britain or with Spain. 12,762 voted to stay with Britain and only 44 voted for Spanish sovereignty.
WHAT TO DO AND SEE IN GIBRALTAR
What are the best things to see and do in Gibraltar? The following list will explain the top attractions and the must do things in Gibraltar.
EUROPA POINT
Europa Point is at the most southern point of Gibraltar.
It’s worth a visit for great views across the Algeciras Bay and over to Africa which is only 14 miles away. You can see the mountains in northern Morrocco.
There’s an historic 19th century Trinity Lighthouse and the impressive Mosque of the Custodian of the Holy Mosques.
The impressive restored fortification of Harding Battery which was built in 1859 is located here.
THE UPPER ROCK NATURE RESERVE
The Upper Rock Nature Reserve is really where most of the attractions are in Gibraltar. It offers fantastic views from the top of the Rock over the rest of Gibraltar and over to Spain and Africa.
The Nature Reserve emcompasses over 40% of the whole of Gibraltar which shows you just how big the area is.
The attractions at the upper rock nature reserve include St Michael’s Cave and the Skywalk.
You can walk up to the upper nature reserve and get tickets on the way up or you can get the cable car and buy a joint ticket for the cable car and nature reserve.
It costs:
£37 for entrance to the Nature Reserve and a return cable car ride (£21 5 - 11 y/o)
£34.50 for entrance to the Nature Reserve and a single cable car ride (£21 5 - 11 y/o)
£18 for entrance to the Nature Reserve (£12 5 - 11 y/o)
In addition to the other attractions there are many reminders of the island’s military importance including many Batteries and informative displays educating you on the island’s history.
The Upper Rock Nature Reserve attractions included in the ticket price are:
– Apes’ Den
– City Under Siege Exhibition
– Great Siege Tunnels
– Med Steps
– Military Heritage Centre
– Moorish Castle
– O’Hara’s Battery
– Skywalk
– St Michael’s Cave
– Windsor Suspension Bridge
– World War II Tunnels
SEE THE MONKEYS
Gibraltar is famous for the Barbary macaques which is a species of monkey native to Morocco and they are the only monkeys living wild anywhere in Europe.
Legend has it that if the apes ever leave Gibraltar so will the British. The population dropped to around 6 during World War II so Winston Churchill put plans in to increase the population and these days there’s around 200.
The place to see the monkeys is in the Upper Rock Nature Reserve and they tend to stay up high on the rock although they have been known to wander down in to town so keep an eye out as they may try to steal your bag!
If you go to the top of the rock in search for the monkeys beware: yes they can be pretty cute but remember they are wild animals and they do bite.
My sister was bitten by a huge Barbary macaque and she had to go to hospital in Gibraltar and when we returned to the UK she spent almost 3 weeks in hospital with a bad infection.
Tips for avoiding monkey attacks and staying safe around the Gibraltar Barbaray macaques:
leave your bag at home if you can
if you have a bag wear it on your front
don’t take any food or try to feed the monkeys
walk slowly and don’t make any sudden movements
avoid leaning on railings and walls where it’s easier for monkeys to jump on you
don’t try to touch them
don’t approach them or make them feel cornered
You can join a Gibraltar Rock Tour as a great way to see the monkeys. You will set off from the town centre and head to the southernmost point in Gibraltar, Europa Point. The next stop is spectacular St. Michael’s Cave, which during World War II the cave was converted into a military hospital. Then you travel to the Apes' Den, where the famous Barbary Apes may be observed in their natural habitat – the only apes roaming wild in Europe. Your tour will end at Casemates Main Square, where you can enjoy shopping, eating and relaxing.
RIDE THE CABLE CAR
Everything that you can enjoy at the Upper Rock area can be accessed via the Gibraltar Cable Car.
You can purchase a return journey for £19 for adults, £9 for 5 - 11 year olds and 4s and under are free.
It was constructed in 1966 and can carry groups of 30 passengers at a time up the 412 meters to the ‘Top of the Rock.’
It’s a 6 minute journey with some great views as you go up.
There’s an interesting audio guide that explains what can be enjoyed at the top and gives you safety advice regarding the monkeys you will come in to contact with at the top.
There’s a half way point station that is in use part of the year. In the height of summer only the top and bottom stations are utilised.
When you arrive at the upper station you can enjoy a wonderful restaurant with spectacular views over the Mediterranean. I had the vegan breakfast from there and it was THE best breakfast I think I’ve ever had.
When you’re finished exploring the top you can either wander down the rock taking in other attractions like the Mediterranean Steps or Great Siege Tunnels or you can get the cable car back down.
MEDITERRANEAN STEPS
This is not for the faint hearted and it’s a pretty hard slog! If you’re feeling particularly adventurous and are reasonably fit you can access the ‘Top of the Rock’ on foot by taking a steep staircase that was built by the British Army in the 18th century.
It’s a spectacular climb that takes around an hour with beautiful views from the south side of the rock.
If the climb up seems a little too much for you, you could always do the reverse and walk down the steps after taking the cable car up.
ST MICHAELS CAVE
St Michael’s Cave was one of the highlights for me!
It’s the largest of the islands 150 caves and lies 274 meters above sea level.
The first record of the caves exsistance is 45 AD and it sheltered Neanderthals more than 40,000 years ago.
It is said that there are secret tunnels that connect through to Africa and that’s how the Barbary macaques gained access to the island many years ago.
It is a spectacular cave with the largest area, the Upper Hall connected via five passages to a smaller, lower hall. There are a number of small chambers with depths of 76 meters that can be accessed via small holes.
There is currently an immersive light and sound show in the caves called ‘The Awakening’.
The show illuminates different sculptures and hidden forms in the rock including a huge angel.
For a unique experience you can take in a concert in Cathedral Cave where there are performances of music, ballet and drama for up to 400 people.
WATCH THE VIDEO IN GIBRALTAR
COMING SOON
GIBRALTAR SKYWALK
The Skywalk is a new attraction completed in 2018 and has quickly become one of the most popular things to do when visiting the Gibraltar Nature Reserve.
It’s a glass platform 340 meters above the sea right at the top of the Gibraltar rock. It offers stunning uninterrupted views over the Mediterranean sea.
You will often find monkeys sitting on the bars around the Skywalk and jumping around up there.
WINDSOR SUSPENSION BRIDGE
The Windsor Suspension Bridge is accessed via some windy paths and staircases. It is another new attraction on the rock and is a 71 meter bridge that stretches over a 50 meter gorge.
There are stunning views over the Strait of Gibraltar. If you’re not feeling brave enough for a walk along the suspenion bridge there is a walkway that hugs the edge of the rock you can take instead.
MOORISH CASTLE
The medieval Moorish Castle is an imposing sight that looks over Casemates Square.
It was originally built in the eighth century and rebuilt in the 14th century after severe damage.
Lots of the castle has been destroyed over the years but many parts do still remain including a huge gatehouse and Tower of Homage.
Part of the castle was used as Gibraltars prison until it was relocated in 2010.
GREAT SIEGE TUNNELS
The Great Siege Tunnels in Gibraltar are an incredible feat of engineering. They were carved out of the north face of the rock using just manual labour in only 6 weeks.
The British used them as a defense against the French and Spanish when they tried to recapture Gibraltar from the British.
There have been many sieges on the island over the years as the Spanish and British have fought over the land. The Great Siege was between 1779 and 1783 and the British victory is thanks mainly to these tunnels as they mounted many cannons here as they defended the island.
More tunnels were added in World War II, aptly named the World War II tunnels, which brings the total length of the tunnel network to a massive 51 km.
Admission to the tunnels is included with the entrance to the Nature Reserve.
THE BEST TIME TO VISIT GIBRALTAR
Gibraltar enjoys a hot-summer Mediterranean climate.
The yearly average maximum temperature in Gibraltar is 20°C (ranging from 14°C in january to 27°C in august). Annual rainfall is 860mm, with a minimum of 4mm in july and a maximum of 135mm in november.
The best months for good weather in Gibraltar are May - October with August being the hottest month with an average daily maximum temperature of 31 C and an average low of 23 C.
August is the summer holidays in Europe when all children are off school so as well as the hottest, it’s also the busiest and most expensive time to visit.
Instead of the height of summer, if you don’t mind slightly coolder temperatures you may enjoy visiting during early autumn - September or October.
DOES GIBRALTAR HAVE AN AIRPORT?
Gibraltar does have it’s own airport with direct flights from Bristol, Manchester, London Heathrow and London Gatwick.
If you want to fly from somewhere else you could fly in to Malaga which is 127km away and takes around 1 hour 45 minutes to get to Gibraltar if you hire a car.
There are buses that operate between Malaga airport and Gibraltar.
I recommend renting a car through RentalCars.com as they search the biggest brands in car rental, have flexible rentals and no hidden fees. Book your rental car here.
HOW TO GET AROUND GIBRALTAR
Gibraltar has a great public bus network that is the perfect way to get around. You can check out the bus routes and timeables here.
You can get an all day hopper ticket from Citibus for £6 for adults and £4 for children where you can have as many journeys as you want on the day of purchase.
You can prepurchase your ticket online and show it to the bus driver or you can buy it from the bus driver when you get on.You will need to pay in cash and have the correct change.
Walking is a great way to get around Gibraltar. It’s not a very big place so it’s pretty easy to get to most places on foot.
If you’re going up the rock pack a good pair of walking sandals to make the walk easier.
If you’re driving, there are lots of car parks in Gibraltar that are all close to the center that are decently priced. Rent your car from RentalCars.com
WHERE TO STAY IN GIBRALTAR
Old Town
The Old Town is definately very ‘Britain in the sun’ with English pubs and shops with a hint of Spanish architecture. Old Town is also located just a 15-minute walk from the airport so you won’t need to get a taxi to reach your accommodation making it a super convenient spot.
Stay here if it’s your first time in Gibraltar.
Hotels in Old Town
The Elliot Hotel with incredible views and a rooftop bar and pool.
Ocean Village
Gibraltar’s swanky waterfront neighborhood of Ocean Village is a pretty cool area to stay in Gibraltar. There is a great selection of upper class bars, restaurants and a gorgeous harbour.
Stay here for habour views.
Hotels in Ocean Village
Ocean Spa is a luxury hotel with beautiful pools and stunning views of the rock.
East Side
The East Side is the quieter and more relaxed area of Gibraltar and has recently become one of the most sought-after regions in Gibraltar. Full of pristine beaches with beautiful backdrops of the famous Upper Rock Nature Reserve, it has some of the best views in Gibraltar.
Stay here if you’re after a quiet holiday.
Hotels on the East Side
Caleta is a spectacular beachfront duplex in a quieter area of Gibraltar.
West Side - Sandpits/Reclamation Area
The Sandpits is a modern neighborhood in Gibraltar just south on the coastline from Ocean Park. Not only is the area home to great activities, including boat trips and watersports, there are great bars and a few clubs to dance the night away
Hotels in the West Side
Eurocity is a luxury apartment with 2 bedrooms close to Ocean Village.
GIBRALTAR GUIDE BOOKS & GOOD READS
Where else can you visit in this area?
Did you know that …
When you purchase something through my links I earn a small fee. However, you still pay the same. Win-win!
