How to Spend a Day in the City of Gibraltar
There are many attractions to see on the Rock of Gibraltar, including the famous Gibraltar monkeys, St Michael’s Cave and the Old Town. Gibraltar is also a popular shopping destination, owing to its tax-free prices and well-known British shops.
Gibraltar is easy to reach for a day trip from several Spanish destinations including Málaga, Cadiz, Marbella and Seville. Whilst it can be reached by car or public transport, there are several tour companies that specialise in day trips to Gibraltar.
Despite having City status, Gibraltar is not very big, the population is just 32,000 and it is just 2.6 square miles. A single day is therefore enough to see the main sights of this British Territory. I have set out a number of suggestions and tips to help you plan your day in Gibraltar.
Table of Contents
How to Climb to the top of The Rock of Gibraltar
Europa Point, Gibraltar’s Southern-Most Tip
The Moorish Castle in Gibraltar
About Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula. The territory is dominated by the iconic Rock of Gibraltar, with the main city being located at its foot.
The city of Gibraltar is an interesting fusion of British and Spanish cultures. There are British post boxes, pubs and shops, yet the proximity to Spain is evident in some of the architecture, the weather and scenery. Another quirk of Gibraltar’s culture is the language. It is fascinating to hear the locals interchange between English and Spanish within the same sentence.
In August 2022, Gibraltar discovered that it is in fact a city. Recent Government research of the National Archives found out that Queen Victoria had actually awarded Gibraltar city status in 1842, but it was omitted from the official list of recognised cities.
How to Get to Gibraltar
Gibraltar Border Crossing
The land frontier between Gibraltar and Spain is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week both for vehicles and pedestrians. It doesn’t take very long to get through border control, but make sure you have your passport with you.
The walk from the border into the centre of Gibraltar takes about 15 minutes. You will need to walk across the Gibraltar Airport runway.
Gibraltar By Car
La Línea de la Concepción is a Spanish city located directly opposite to Gibraltar. You will need to pass through this city to reach the border control. You can reach La Línea de la Concepción by car, by taking A-7 and turn off at San Roque.
You can drive into Gibraltar and there is parking there. But, traffic in Gibraltar can be very busy, with some restrictions on certain roads, limiting their use to resident traffic only. As such, it is recommended that visitors park in La Línea de la Concepción and walk across the frontier, and then use public transport when in Gibraltar.
Gibraltar By Train
Neither Gibraltar or La Línea de la Concepción has a train station. You would need to get a train to Algeciras Station. The bus terminal opposite this station has buses every 30 minutes to La Línea de la Concepción and from there, you can walk across the frontier.
Gibraltar By Tour Bus
There are several day trips to Gibraltar organised from nearby cities, such as from Málaga, Marbella, Cadiz and Seville.
These tours will often provide a coach bus service to the border, and then you will be required to walk across the border to the Old Town. Whilst in Gibraltar, they will often arrange local transport for the remainder of the tour.
The Rock of Gibraltar
The Rock of Gibraltar is the large 426 metre landmark on the south-western tip of the Iberian Peninsula that marks the entrance into the Mediterranean from the Atlantic Ocean.
The Rock of Gibraltar has been an important landmark throughout history, being one of the Pillars of Hercules, and defining the edge of the known world during Greek and Phoenician times. More recently, it is associated with its role as a British Territory, and its position as a British naval base.
From the top, the Rock of Gibraltar rock offers fantastic views of Africa, Spain, the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.
How to Climb to the top of The Rock of Gibraltar
There are a number of ways to climb and reach the top of The Rock of Gibraltar. These include:
Cable Car
The cable car is located alongside the Alameda Gardens at the southern end of Main Street in the town centre. There are often long queues, so it is worth booking in advance.
The cable car travels up the steep side of The Rock to the Cable Car Top Station, and is a great experience, providing fantastic views. At the top you will find the Rock Café and the Mons Calpe Suite Restaurant.
The cable car costs £18 for adults and £8.50 for children and is open daily between 9.30am to 7.45pm.
Guided Bus Tour
Naturanda Turismo provides a bus tour through the narrow streets of Gibraltar, and up the steep roads around The Rock of Gibraltar before heading back to the city. This tour includes stops at Europa Point, St Michael’s Cave and other key vistas along the Rock. You will also see the Moorish Castle.
The Naturanda Turismo Rock Tour meets on Level 2 or 3 of the Midtown Coach Park, Queensway Road, Gibraltar. For further details visit The Nauranda Turismo website.
Tours cost €39 for adults and €38 for children, for tours starting in Gibraltar itself. Prices will vary if arranged as a day-trip from other locations such as Malaga, Marbella, Cadiz or Seville.
Walk up The Rock of Gibraltar
Walking to the top of the Rock of Gibraltar will be a challenge, but it will be well-worth it for the views and sense of achievement. I would suggest allowing for 2 to 3 hours to reach the summit, depending on your level of fitness.
I would recommend doing the walk on a clear day, if possible, to make the most of the views. However, The Rock of Gibraltar does have its own micro-climate and it is not unusual for a cloud to form around it, when everywhere else nearby has clear skies. The changing weather can add to the experience.
The walk to the top begins near Trafalgar Cemetery, and it is from here you will need to walk up Europa Road, until you find Engineer Road. The roads are not well sign-posted, so stay alert.
Engineer Road will take you to the base of Mediterranean Steps, which is a path and nature trail within the Gibraltar Nature Reserve that zig-zags its way up to the submit.
Mediterranean Steps was originally built by the British military, but is now a well-used pedestrian route, that offers stunning views over the Strait of Gibraltar, Europa Point, Gibraltar's east side beaches, and the Mediterranean Sea.
CC Image courtesy of Visit Gibraltar on Flickr
The Gibraltar Nature Reserve
The Gibraltar Nature Reserve (formerly the Upper Rock Nature Reserve) is a protected nature reserve at the upper reaches of the Rock of Gibraltar. It is here that the famous Barbary Macaque (Gibraltar monkeys) live. It is also home to hundreds of migrating birds, wildlife and fauna.
The Gibraltar Nature Reserve ticket costs £16 for adults and £10 for children between 5 and 11 years old. The Nature Reserve ticket can be purchased at the Cable Car or Jew's Gate or the Moorish Castle entrance to the Nature Reserve.
The Gibraltar Nature Reserve is open between 9.30am and 7.15pm during the summer months.
This ticket will also give you access to St Michael’s Cave, Great Siege Tunnels, City Under Siege Exhibition, World War II Tunnels, O’Hara’s Battery, Skywalk, Windsor Suspension Bridge, and the footpaths, including Mediterranean Steps and Moorish Castle. There are further details about some these attractions below.
Gibraltar’s Monkeys
For many people, the biggest draw to Gibraltar is to see the roaming Gibraltar monkeys in person.
The Gibraltar monkeys are actually a tailless monkey called a Barbary Macaque (Macaca Sylvanus). They are the only wild monkey population in Europe.
The monkeys are generally quite friendly and it is possible to get up close to them. However, they are wild, so caution is recommended. They have been known to pick-pocket possessions, such as, jewellery and sunglasses from tourists, but be especially careful if you are carrying food. They will quite happily take your sandwiches from you !!
Apes’ Den in the Upper Rock nature reserve is the best place in Gibraltar to see or get close to them, although you will find them throughout the rock.
St Michael’s Cave, Gibraltar
St. Michael's Cave is a network of limestone caves located within the Upper Rock Nature Reserve, and is one Gibraltar’s most visited tourist attractions.
The cave formations are lit up in vibrant colours to show off the mesmerising shapes created by numerous stalactites and stalagmites.
The largest of the cave’s chambers is also used as an auditorium, due to its natural acoustic properties. St. Michael's Cave has hosted a variety of different performances, such as theatre plays, ballet, and music concerts.
During World War II, St. Michael's Cave was ready for use as a military hospital, although it was never actually needed.
St. Michael's Cave can be reached by taxi or tour bus, cable car or by foot. You will also find the Gibraltar monkeys waiting at the entrance and exit to the caves.
Europa Point, Gibraltar’s Southern-Most Tip
Europa Point is located at Gibraltar’s southernmost point along the coastline, and is where you will enjoy expansive views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. On a clear day, it is possible to see Morocco and the African coastline from here.
This location contains The Europa Point Lighthouse, a 19th Century lighthouse, Hardie’s Battery, a gun installation and Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque, which itself was built at the end of the 20th Century. This area also contains Europa Sports Park, which is a multi-purpose stadium in Gibraltar.
This is a popular drop-off spot for the tour operators and taxis in Gibraltar, to allow the tourists to take photos and enjoy the views.
The Skywalk - Gibraltar
The Skywalk is a very impressive glass viewing platform that was completed in 2018.
This viewing platform is located in the Gibraltar Nature Reserve, on a base of a former World War II installation and stands at 340 metres above sea level. The views from the top are incredible, with panoramic views of the European and African continents, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea.
Windsor Suspension Bridge
CC Image courtesy of Visit Gibraltar on Flickr
The Windsor Suspension Bridge is another relatively new tourist attraction in Gibraltar, having been opened in 2016.
This bridge is not for those with a fear of heights. The bridge extends over 70 metres across a 50-metre deep gorge. There are fantastic views of the city and the Old Town and Strait of Gibraltar.
The cost to walk across the Windsor Suspension Bridge is included in the Nature Reserve Ticket.
The Moorish Castle in Gibraltar
CC Image courtesy of Visit Gibraltar on Flickr
The Moorish Castle is an important historic building and symbol in Gibraltar. Its walls enclose a large area, with numerous buildings, and extends down from the upper part of the Rock of Gibraltar to the sea.
The Tower of Homage is particularly impressive. This tower was the highest tower constructed during the Islamic rule.
The Moorish Castle was built in the early 700s, following the early Moorish Conquest of Spain. Gibraltar was used by the Moors as a stepping stone into the Iberian Peninsula and the Moorish Castle formed an important part of that, being used for its strategic importance in the area. The Moors then controlled Gibraltar for over 700 years before the Spanish led a conquest against them in the 15th Century.
More recently, the Moorish Castle was used as the prison of Gibraltar.
The Moorish Castle is open on Monday to Sunday between 9am and 7.15pm. The entry is included in the Nature Reserve ticket.
The Great Siege Tunnels of Gibraltar
CC Image courtesy of Visit Gibraltar on Flickr
The Great Siege Tunnels are a labyrinth of tunnels that have been manually carved out with sledgehammers and gunpowder.
The Great Siege of Gibraltar took place during 1779 to 1783 when the British were defending against Spanish and French armies trying to recapture Gibraltar.
Between 1779 to 1783, and during the war of American Independence, the France and Spain resumed hostilities against the British and sought to capture the prized and strategic Gibraltar. This led to the Great Siege of Gibraltar.
During the period the Governor General initiated the works to get guns on to the northern face of the Rock. This exercise was achieved through tunnelling. The tunnels would be extended during World War II, to provide further defences of the Rock.
Duty Free Shopping in Gibraltar’s City Centre
Gibraltar is a popular destination for day trippers from Spain who wish to make the most of its tax free shopping in its bustling city centre, which contains a number of familiar British high-street stores, like Marks & Spencer.
The city centre has a strong British character, albeit with Mediterranean weather.
The city centre begins at Casemates Square, which is lined with restaurants, bars and shops. It is a good place to find traditional British fish and chips.
Casemates Square is just a 15 minute walk from the border crossing and airport and is reached by walking past the Couvreport Battery and through the Landport Tunnel, a discreet tunnel in the city wall.
Gibraltar’s Main Street, which heads away from Casemates Square, is full of shops.
You will find a lot of jewellery shops along this road, and it is a popular place for engaged couples to purchase rings. There are also a number of pubs and tea houses dotted along its length.
The shopping area along Gibraltar’s Main Street extends about 800 metres in length. The cable car entrance will be found a little further along this road.
I have included some opening times and prices that are correct at the time of writing this blog post, but please check the latest information before your visit.
I hope you have found this blog post useful. If you have visited Gibraltar, I would love to hear your thoughts or if you feel anything is missing from the list, please email me and let me know at [email protected].
