Overview

The tiny British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar is unlike anywhere else in the world. Tucked onto the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula, just steps from Spain, Gibraltar feels like a piece of the UK transplanted into the sun-drenched heart of Andalusia. Fondly referred to as “Gib” by locals, this compact enclave spans just 2.6 square miles, most of which is dominated by the iconic Rock of Gibraltar, and is home to around 32,000 residents and more than 300 free-roaming Barbary macaques, its most famous non-human inhabitants.

Despite its strong British identity, Gibraltar's history tells a far more layered story. The name itself derives from the Arab general Tariq ibn Ziyad, who led the Muslim conquest of southern Spain in 711 AD. He named the site Jabal Tariq, Tariq’s Mountain, which over time evolved into Gibraltar. The Moors would rule much of the Iberian Peninsula for more than eight centuries, until the Christian Reconquista restored Spanish control. However, in 1704, during the War of the Spanish Succession, Gibraltar was captured by Anglo-Dutch forces and has remained under British rule ever since.

Today, Gibraltar is a fascinating cultural crossroads. While surrounded by the Spanish charm of Andalusia and influenced by neighboring Morocco across the strait, Gibraltar is unmistakably British in character. English is the official language, the currency is the Gibraltar pound (on par with the British pound), and familiar red post boxes, British-style traffic lights, and shops you can find in the UK make it feel like a miniature London basking in the Mediterranean sun.

With its rich tapestry of cultures, dramatic scenery, and compelling history, Gibraltar offers a travel experience that is both surreal and unforgettable, a true meeting point of worlds.

Things To See & Do

The vast majority of the fortifications seen all over Gibraltar date from at least 1704, when Britain took control of the peninsula. Walls were built through the 19th century, while underground tunnels were dug inside the Rock of Gibraltar through the 1960s. The only part of Gibraltar that doesn`t have heavy fortifications is the east side, since the Rock of Gibraltar takes up most of the eastern side, and the Rock was considered impenetrable.

The best way to experience the Rock of Gibraltar is to take a tour led by a professional guide. These are available to book before you arrive in Gibraltar and also while you are there. A typical two-hour tour will take you many places. You will get to see the southernmost point on the Rock (and of the Iberian Peninsula), Europa Point, and nearby is the historic Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque. Then, you will most likely get to go to the Gibraltar Nature Reserve, where you will get to see Europe`s only wild monkeys, the Barbary macaques, in their natural habitat. In the nature reserve, there is the legendary St. Michael`s Cave, which starts 200 feet below the surface and rises nearly 1,000 feet inside the Rock. It has existed since prehistory and is one of the most popular sights in Gibraltar, visited by over a million tourists each year. Some tours will also offer tours of the nearly mile-long tunnel system called the Great Siege Tunnels, dug in the 18th century in a place called the Upper Galleries.

If you have time afterwards, you can reach the top of the Rock of Gibraltar by taking a number of paths: the easier Douglas Path and Royal Anglian Way, or the steep and rocky (but very striking, noteworthy, and historic) Mediterranean Steps carved directly into the Rock. If you take the Mediterranean Steps, you will see a historic marker that denotes the Rock of Gibraltar as the northern Pillar of Hercules. This tour, guided and on your own, should take a few hours, so it should occupy much of your first day in Gibraltar. Go to Ocean Village and Leisure Island toward the end of your day. There are many bars, restaurants, and even a casino there, so you will be able to get something to eat and unwind and have fun on your first night in Gibraltar. Return to your accommodations at the end of the evening.

Explore the city center, called ’Westside’ by locals. You can see some of the walls as you walk around, such as the Charles V Wall, King`s Bastion, and Casemate Gates, near the town`s major taxi stand, so you can take a taxi or bus from here and explore all points of the peninsula after you`re done in town. Explore Main Street and the side streets branching off from here: you will be able to see such important Gibraltar landmarks as the Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned and the Gibraltar International Museum. Also, while you`re on Main Street, take advantage of the great shopping opportunities Gibraltar offers as a duty-free haven! You can buy everything from cheaper consumer goods available in the United States to locally-produced arts and crafts. If you`re hungry in the morning, head to either Chatham Counterguard or go back to Ocean Village, and get something to eat from a restaurant or bakery.

After you take in the sights of the city, head south to Rosia Bay, where you can see the Armstrong 100-ton gun, a key piece of Gibraltar`s fortifications in the 19th century. Take Keightley Way past Camp Bay and Little Bay, where there are quiet beaches, and go through the underground tunnel to Europa Advance Road. Head up the eastern coast to Gorham`s Cave. Gorham`s Cave, a cave complex inside the limestone as it meets the Alboran Sea, is the last known place the Neanderthals lived in Europe before dying out, and is Gibraltar`s sole UNESCO World Heritage Site. While Gorham`s Cave is the best-known cave, the complex includes three other caves: Vanguard Cave, Hyaena Cave, and Bennett`s Cave.

Afterwards, head up the eastern coast, taking the Dudley Ward Tunnel that bridges Europa Advance Road and Sir Herbert Miles Road. There are three beaches on the northeastern side of the peninsula, which is far less populated than the northwestern side. The most popular beach on the northeast side is Catalan Bay Beach, with Eastern Beach sitting just to the north, and is almost as popular. Take some time to sun yourself on the beach before heading back to the city for the evening.

Use any extra days to combine two cities across the border that are very close by: La Linea de la Concepcion and Algeciras. La Linea (as the locals call it) is home to very popular beaches such as Playa de Poniente (on the west side of the peninsula) and Playa de Santa Barbara (on the east side). Be sure to tour the ruins of Fort St. Barbara near the eastern beach, and the Museo Cruz Herrera, featuring the works of noted painter and portrait artist Jose Cruz Herrera (1890-1972). In Algeciras, you must visit the town square, the beautiful Plaza Alta, where the essence of the city can be felt most strongly. Other sites in the city that you should see include the 17th-century Baroque Our Lady of Europe Chapel, and the British-Colonial Hotel Reina Cristina. Nearby, there are two natural parks, the cork oak forest Los Alcornocales Natural Park, and El Estrecho Natural Park, the southernmost marine reserve in mainland Europe.