Gibraltar: What to See There and What to Do?

Gibraltar. A territory located on the edge of Spain. An amazing rock overlooking Africa. British overseas territory, located on the southern coast of the Iberian Peninsula. It’s a tiny place: less than 40,000 people live here and it covers 6.8 square kilometers. Its main currency is Gibraltar pound, although you can also pay in British pounds and euros. Languages spoken in Gibraltar are Spanish and English, sometimes a mix of both. So much for the basics.

Why is it worth visiting Gibraltar? What you should know about it? I’ll talk about that in the post, starting with specifics, tour prices, Gibraltar attractions and, of course, famous monkeys!

Gibraltar – How to Get There?

There are several ways to get to Gibraltar: by plane, by sea or by land. We visited Gibraltar during our stay in Andalusia. We drove practically to the Spain-Gibraltar border, parked in a paid parking lot still on the Spanish side and crossed the border on foot. Why this way, why didn’t we enter Gibraltar by car? It’s so much faster in terms of control! At the border we showed our IDs and we were done. Besides, it was easier to find parking in Spain. 

I know that quite a few of you are interested in the restrictions – in February (2022) there were no testing requirements at the border (unless you were in a red-listed country 10 days before your visit) if you enter Gibraltar from Spain by land.

Gibraltar’s Attractions

Although Gibraltar is really small, there is plenty to explore. Gibraltar’s attractions start with a visit to the rock, which measures 426 meters above sea level. The Rock of Gibraltar is incredibly impressive, even rising out of the Mediterranean Sea. It is there that the famous Upper Rock Nature Reserve is located, monkeys (Gibraltar maggots) live there, tunnels are hollowed out in it. The Rock of Gibraltar is a remarkable place in many ways, and it is impossible to visit Gibraltar without climbing/entering the rock. It is worth taking into account that Gibraltar is windy, so better dress warmer or take a hat (I mean in the winter period).

Sightseeing in Gibraltar – Organized Tour

You can visit Gibraltar on your own or with an organized tour. The tour can be purchased right after the document control at the border, for 38 euros/person, the maximum is 8 people in a bus. There are more tours in town, they are a little cheaper, but if you care about time, this is a good option. The itinerary includes a cave, a military tunnel, a point with monkeys and a viewpoint of Africa (Morocco). We chose it and I think it was a good idea, as I know that visiting on my own I wouldn’t have learned some things about Gibraltar that only locals know (we were guided by a Gibraltarian) and I wouldn’t have saved much by going to the various attractions on my own. I would add to this the fact that in Gibraltar many places you won’t get to, because the roads are not accessible to ordinary tourists, and we didn’t want to climb a lot. You can still, yes, go by cable-car, but as I wrote, it is better to have a guide.

Monkeys in Gibraltar 

Gibraltar maggots make up their families there; there are about 300 of them in total. There are different theories about where they came from, one of them says that they came with the Moors and were treated as pets by them. What is worth knowing about them?

Currently, monkeys cannot be fed, you can get a fine of up to 500 pounds for feeding them.

It’s also better to be careful, as they can pull food out of your purse or backpack, and even bite!

One legend is that Gibraltar will be British as long as maggots live there.

Maggots live in herds of up to 20 individuals. There are several groups of them and they occupy particular areas on the rock.

Gibraltar – Airport

Describing the attractions of Gibraltar, you can not forget about the airport. The airport is unusual because of its location: a street runs across the strip! Located on the route from the border crossing to the city. The street is closed every time for 10 minutes during the takeoff and landing of aircraft. Unfortunately, to spot a plane there you have to be lucky – there aren’t too many of them flying around.

Gibraltar – a Vantage Point to Africa

From Gibraltar you can see Africa, or more precisely – Morocco. For this reason, during the tour we stopped at a vantage point from which Africa could be seen! Accidentally, the day was not outstandingly clear, but it was possible to see the continent with binoculars.

Gibraltar Tunnels – Tunnels of the Great Siege

The rock of Gibraltar is good for tunnels and chambers. You’ll find mostly those carved in the last three hundred years, but it’s worth knowing that quite a few were carved during World War II. With Italy’s entry into the war, Gibraltar’s importance increased, and more tunnels were built then. Interestingly, the total length of the entire network of tunnels inside the Rock of Gibraltar is about 55 kilometers (according to other sources, 80 kilometers).

We visited the Great Siege Tunnels, which were built between 1779 and 1783, the time of the Great Siege of Gibraltar by France and Spain, the last siege of Gibraltar. Inside we can see an exhibition about the siege. It is worth knowing that this tunnel was created by the power of hands, possibly aided by explosives of the time. In addition to exploring the tunnel, we can enjoy the views from behind the windows, which were once used to look out for the enemy. How long is the tunnel? As of 1790, its length is 1,200 meters. In front of the entrance, a beautiful vantage point overlooking the airport.

St. Michael’s Cave (St. Michael’s Cave)

Another underground place worth visiting is St. Michael’s Cave. St. Michael’s Cave is not the only cave in Gibraltar, but it is one of two popular ones. Gibraltar’s other popular cave is Gorham’s Cave, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

St. Michael’s Cave is not large, but it is definitely worth a visit. The tour takes about half an hour. Why is it impressive? In addition to the fact that its history is remarkable, for example, a hospital was built inside during World War II (although, fortunately, it was not used), there is a play of lights, combined with music. A beautiful show that is worth seeing! 

Gibraltar – Interesting Facts

Gibraltar is a small country, but full of interesting facts and history. I will cite those that may be of interest to you:

As I wrote, in Gibraltar there are functioning pounds sterling, but this is not quite true. Gibraltar’s official currency is the Gibraltar pound, with a conversion rate of 1:1 to the British pound. 

You may have wondered if Gibraltarians feel a bit like Spanish? On the tour, one lady asked the guide if he felt Spanish. He laughed and said that he liked Spaniards a lot, but Gibraltar is British and closer to the UK than to Spain.

How Long Does It Take to Visit Gibraltar?

A lot depends on what you want to see, do you go on a tour like I did or do you choose a cable car or do you prefer to walk? Our tour lasted about 3 hours, adding lunch and other attractions can make a whole day.

What Is Worth Seeing in Gibraltar?

In addition to the excursion attractions I mentioned above, there is plenty to see. Gibraltar is small, but it is a real mine of places to visit. In addition to the ones I’ve mentioned, places worth visiting include:

Gorham’s Cave

Other tunnels (such as those from World War II)

Lighthouse

Worth taking a boat trip and watching the dolphins 

What would you add to my list? What attractions and places in Gibraltar interested you?

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