15 Best Things to Do in Gibraltar (2026)

Gibraltar is the kind of destination where you start with “I’ll spend a day here” and end up wishing you had a week. At just 6.7 square kilometres, this British Overseas Territory at the tip of the Iberian Peninsula manages to contain ancient caves, WWII tunnels, Europe’s only wild monkeys, world-class diving, views of Africa, duty-free shopping, and a food scene that mixes British, Spanish, Moroccan, and Genoese flavours. Here are the 15 things you absolutely must do.

1. Ride the Cable Car to the Summit of the Rock

The Gibraltar Cable Car lifts you from Grand Parade in the town centre to the summit at 412 metres in just six minutes. At the top, you are standing at the point where Europe almost touches Africa — Morocco’s Rif Mountains are clearly visible just 14 kilometres across the Strait. On exceptionally clear days, you can make out the Atlas Mountains over 200 km away.

The top station opens onto a viewing terrace and café, plus direct access to the Barbary macaque colony. Return tickets cost approximately £16 for adults.

Tip: The first and last rides of the day offer the best light and smallest crowds. The Rock’s western face catches golden light beautifully in the late afternoon.

2. Meet the Barbary Macaques at Apes’ Den

Around 300 Barbary macaques inhabit the Upper Rock in several social troops. They are the only wild primate population in Europe, and they have lived on the Rock for centuries — possibly millennia. The main viewing area is Apes’ Den on Queen’s Road, where a troop regularly lounges on walls, cars, and unsuspecting tourists.

They are fearless around humans and supremely photogenic, but keep your wits about you: bags should be zipped, food hidden, and sunglasses held firmly. They have been known to swipe items directly from hands.

Important: Feeding the macaques is illegal under Gibraltar law, with fines up to £500.

3. Walk Through St Michael’s Cave

Deep inside the Rock, St Michael’s Cave is one of the finest natural limestone cave systems in southern Europe. The main Cathedral Cave chamber — discovered thousands of years ago — features stalactites and stalagmites up to 12 metres tall, illuminated by coloured lighting that shifts the atmosphere from cathedral to alien landscape.

The cave has served as a hospital, a storage facility, and — since 1960 — an auditorium for concerts and performances. The acoustics within the natural rock amphitheatre are extraordinary.

For adventurers, the Lower St Michael’s Cave offers guided caving experiences (approximately £25, booking required) involving headlamps, scrambling, and underground lakes. This deeper system was discovered accidentally in 1942 during WWII military preparations.

4. Explore the Great Siege Tunnels

During the Great Siege of Gibraltar (1779–1783) — the longest siege in British military history — Sergeant Major Henry Ince proposed an audacious solution to the problem of defending the Rock’s northern face: tunnel into the limestone itself.

What began as a ventilation shaft became a kilometre-long network of gun galleries. Today you can walk through these tunnels, past original 18th-century cannons still positioned in their embrasures, aimed across the isthmus toward Spain. The ingenuity is staggering — everything was carved with hand tools and gunpowder, in brutal conditions.

5. Stand on the Skywalk

The Skywalk at Royal Anglian Way, opened in 2018, is a glass-floored viewing platform jutting from the Rock’s face at 340 metres above sea level. Looking down through transparent panels to the sea far below is not for the faint-hearted. The Strait of Gibraltar, the Spanish coastline, and — of course — Africa spread before you.

It is included in the Upper Rock Nature Reserve ticket and is the single most popular photo opportunity on the Rock.

6. Go Dolphin Watching in the Strait

The Bay of Gibraltar and the Strait are home to three resident dolphin species: common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, and striped dolphins. Boat trips depart from Ocean Village Marina — right next to Victory Suites — and sighting rates exceed 95%.

Trips last approximately 75 minutes. Pods of 20–50 dolphins regularly surf the bow wave, leap alongside the boat, and put on an acrobatic display that children and adults find equally mesmerising.

Between April and September, you may also spot pilot whales, fin whales (the second-largest animal on Earth), and occasionally orca (killer whales) migrating through the Strait.

Prices: From approximately £25 per adult, £15 per child.

7. Visit the WWII Tunnels

While the Great Siege Tunnels get more attention, the World War II Tunnels are equally compelling. During WWII, the British military expanded the tunnel network to over 50 kilometres — creating an underground city with barracks, a hospital capable of holding 1,000 patients, ammunition stores, a telephone exchange, water reservoirs, and a generator.

Gibraltar was the headquarters for Operation Torch — the Allied invasion of North Africa in 1942. General Eisenhower operated from a small, spartan office carved inside the Rock, planning one of the war’s most significant campaigns. You can visit that office today, preserved as it was.

8. Walk the Mediterranean Steps

The Mediterranean Steps trail is the finest walk on the Rock and one of the best coastal hikes in southern Europe. Starting from Jews’ Gate near the southern end of the Nature Reserve, the trail follows the sheer eastern cliff face upward via over 1,400 steps to O’Hara’s Battery near the summit.

You pass through dense maquis vegetation, past abandoned WWII gun emplacements, with the Mediterranean stretching endlessly to your left. On clear mornings, the coast of North Africa forms a continuous line along the southern horizon.

Allow: 60–90 minutes for the ascent. Bring water, sunscreen, and proper footwear. The trail is steep in places but well maintained.

9. Explore the Moorish Castle

The Moorish Castle complex dates primarily to the 14th century, built on the foundations of a much older 8th-century fortification. The Tower of Homage — its most prominent feature — dominates the western skyline and is visible from across the border in Spain.

Gibraltar was under Moorish rule for over 700 years (711–1462), and the castle is the most powerful physical reminder of that era. Climb to the top for panoramic views across the border to La Línea, the neutral ground, and the Spanish hills beyond.

10. Shop Duty-Free on Main Street

Gibraltar charges no VAT, no sales tax, and no import duty on most consumer goods. Main Street — 600 metres of pedestrianised shopping from Casemates Square to Southport Gates — offers genuine savings:

Perfume: 20–30% cheaper than the UK
Spirits: significant savings, especially premium brands
Jewellery and watches: competitive pricing at established dealers
Electronics: modest savings on phones and cameras

Stop at Sacarello’s Coffee House (est. 1820) for coffee and pastries — a Gibraltar institution.

11. Discover Gorham’s Cave Complex (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

Gorham’s Cave, on Gibraltar’s eastern coast, is one of the most significant archaeological sites in the world. It was the last known dwelling place of Neanderthals, who lived here until approximately 28,000 years ago — thousands of years after they disappeared from the rest of Europe.

The cave complex was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016. While the caves themselves require special permission to enter, the viewpoint above the site is accessible and offers context about this remarkable chapter of human (and pre-human) history. The Gibraltar Museum on Bomb House Lane has an excellent exhibition on the Neanderthal discoveries.

12. Visit Europa Point

Gibraltar’s southernmost tip — where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic — offers a 180-degree panorama of the African coast. Morocco is just 14 kilometres away. Key landmarks at Europa Point include the Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque (one of the largest in a non-Muslim country), the Trinity Lighthouse (operational since 1841), and the Sikorski Memorial.

Take the Number 2 bus from the town centre (15 minutes) or walk along the coast path from Camp Bay (30 minutes).

13. Swim at Catalan Bay

On the eastern side of the Rock, Catalan Bay is a charming Mediterranean fishing village with a sandy cove, pastel-coloured buildings, and calm turquoise water. It feels more like a Ligurian hamlet than anywhere in Britain.

Grab a table at Both Worlds for fish and chips on the sand, or walk south to quieter Sandy Bay. For serious water sports — diving, kayaking, paddleboarding — Catalan Bay’s sheltered waters are ideal.

14. Take a Day Trip to Tangier

Africa is visible from virtually every high point in Gibraltar. Why not visit? Ferries run daily from Tarifa (40 minutes’ drive from Gibraltar) to Tangier in just 35 minutes. Breakfast in Europe, lunch in Africa — then back for dinner at the marina.

See our complete Gibraltar to Tangier Day Trip Guide for ferry schedules, costs, and what to see.

15. Eat Your Way Through Gibraltar’s Unique Cuisine

Gibraltar’s food scene is unlike anywhere else — a collision of British, Spanish, Genoese, Maltese, Moroccan, and Indian kitchens within a few square blocks. You must try calentita (chickpea flour bake), rosto (Genoese pasta with meat sauce), and torta de acelga (spinach and chickpea pastry).

For waterfront dining, tapas bars, and hidden local gems, see our Best Restaurants in Gibraltar guide.

Where to Stay for Easy Access to Everything

All 15 of these experiences are within easy reach of Victory Suites at Ocean Village Marina. The Cable Car is a 5-minute walk. Dolphin boats depart from the marina at your doorstep. Main Street shopping is 10 minutes on foot. And after a day conquering this list, the heated rooftop pool — Gibraltar’s only hotel pool — is the perfect place to watch the sunset with a cold drink.

Studios from £120/night | Executive Studios from £140 | One Bedroom from £160 | Two Bedroom Family from £200

Every suite includes a full kitchen (stock up on duty-free wine), smart lock entry, and access to the 24/7 gym and personal concierge service. Whether you are here for a 3-day break, a wedding, or business, Victory Suites is the best base on the Rock.

Ready to tick off the list? Book your stay at Victory Suites and start your Gibraltar adventure.