Gibraltar is a unique destination where history, culture and stunning natural landscapes converge. Although the territory is small, it offers plenty of fascinating things to see and do. Of course, the main attraction is the iconic Rock and its Nature Reserve. Check out our dedicated page to find out more.
Beyond the Rock, Gibraltar boasts a variety of points of interest and activities that cater to history buffs, nature lovers and culture enthusiasts alike. Our guide will take you through the top attractions for a one-of-a-kind experience.
What’s the best way to get around?
Tip: Gibraltar has a good bus network plus a convenient bus tracker. This allows you to easily check the real-time location of buses and see when the next one will arrive.
If you plan to visit a number of Gib’s attractions in one day, Hopper bus tickets are a convenient, flexible and hassle-free way to see all the top sites. The ticket allows unlimited travel on all Gibraltar bus routes operated by Gibraltar Bus Company and Citibus (a private urban transport company) for the day you redeem it. Board a bus, hop off at the attraction you would like to visit, and simply hop back on the next bus when you want to continue! A Hopper ticket costs £6.60 for adults and £4.40 for children under 12.
BuyTickets.gi is another go-to website. It is Gibraltar’s convenient ticketing platform, offering a comprehensive selection of mobile tickets for attractions and activities, as well as musical, theatrical and sporting events in Gibraltar and the surrounding area.
Old Town
To get your bearings, it’s a good idea to take a stroll down Main Street, which runs through the heart of Gibraltar’s old town. Irish Town runs parallel to Main Street, and is a maze of historic alleyways and stairways. The street acquired its name in the 19th century when Irish merchants and soldiers settled in the area. Their presence played an influential role in shaping the street’s character, contributing to Gibraltar’s commercial growth and social life. You will notice that the street’s architecture features Georgian and Victorian buildings with elaborate facades and intricate ironwork.
The Gibraltar National Museum
To learn more about the rich history, culture and natural history of Gibraltar, a visit to the Gibraltar National Museum is a must. Founded in 1930, the museum features displays exhibiting Gibraltar’s prehistoric, Moorish and British periods.
Highlights:
- The remains of a 14th-century Moorish bath house, one of the best-preserved in Europe
- The Neanderthal exhibition with fossils and Neanderthal skulls
- Rooms dedicated to the Great Siege of Gibraltar (1779-1783)
- An 8-metre long 1865 scale model of Gibraltar with historic photographs.
The £15 entry fee includes access to all special exhibitions, the archaeological excavations in the garden, and the Natural History Museum at Parson’s Lodge. For £1 extra, you can also access the Gorham’s Cave Complex Viewing Platform (see below).
Address: 18-20 Bomb House Lane, Gibraltar
Phone: +350 20074289
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-6pm; Sat 10am-2pm
Website: www.gibmuseum.gi
Gin Distillery
Don’t miss Spirit of the Rock Gin Distillery at 8 George’s Lane (just off Main Street). Discover handcrafted, small-batch gins distilled right here in Gibraltar, including their signature Campion London Dry Gin. The Gibraltar Gin Experience is a must: learn about the history and art of distilling, how gin is made and its place in Gibraltar’s history, before tasting exceptional gins created by the Spirit of the Rock team. £25pp, book online here.
Address: 8 George’s Lane, Gibraltar
Phone: +350 54067487
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-6pm; Sat 10am-4pm
Website: www.spiritoftherock.gi
Trafalgar Cemetery
A key landmark in Gibraltar’s military history, Trafalgar Cemetery commemorates the famous 1805 Battle of Trafalgar. Despite its name, only two casualties from the battle are actually buried there. Each year, on the Sunday closest to the 21st October, the Royal Navy holds a ceremony here to commemorate the Battle. The majority of the cemetery’s internments belong to victims of yellow fever epidemics in Gibraltar between 1804 and 1814, and casualties from the sea battles during the Napoleonic wars.
Address: Trafalgar Road, Gibraltar
Opening Hours: 9am-5pm
Gibraltar Botanic Gardens
Located at the base of the Rock, the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens (also known as Alameda Gardens) offer visitors an oasis of tranquillity. The gardens were commissioned in 1816 by the British Governor of Gibraltar, General Sir George Don, to provide a shady recreation area for British soldiers stationed on the Rock.
The lush gardens have an impressive collection of plant species, including Mediterranean, subtropical and exotic. Stroll along the shady, winding paths and admire palm trees, cacti, succulents, Dragon Trees, hibiscus, bird of paradise, bougainvillea and plenty of butterflies. In spring, don’t miss Gibraltar Candytuft (Iberis gibraltarica), Gibraltar’s national flower and the symbol of the Nature Reserve. Gibraltar is the only place in Europe where it is found growing in the wild. The beautiful perennial produces abundant clusters of lilac-coloured flowers with a slightly darker centre.
Tip: The handy What’s Flowering section of the Botanic Gardens’ website tells you which flowers are blossoming each month. Keep your eyes peeled during your visit!
Address: Red Sands Road, Gibraltar
Phone: +350 20041235
Opening Hours: Free Admission, 8am – Sunset
Website: www.gardens.gi
Alameda Wildlife Conservation Park
Nestled in the beautiful Botanic Gardens, the Alameda Wildlife Conservation Park is home to a collection of both exotic and native species. The park is a sanctuary for wild animals rescued from illegal trafficking. It also raises awareness about the illegal animal trade, endangered species and local wildlife conservation.
Species in the park include green iguana, tortoises, turtles, cotton-top tamarin, macaques, parrots, lemurs…
Opening Hours: Thursday-Tuesday 10am-4:30pm; Wednesday 10am-4pm
Phone: +350 20064273
Tickets: £8 for adults; £5 for children and seniors
Website: www.awcp.gi
Gorham’s Cave Complex
Situated on the east side of the Rock, the Gorham’s Cave Complex is the name given to the 28-hectare site rising from sea level to the top of the Rock. It includes four distinct caves (Gorham’s Cave, Vanguard Cave, Hyaena Cave and Bennett’s Cave) that provide evidence of Neanderthal occupation over a span of more than 100,000 years. The complex was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2016.
The caves themselves are subject to an annual quota of visitors. The viewing platform at 1st/2nd Europa Advance Batteries offers excellent views of the whole World Heritage Site. There are also interpretation panels with information about Neanderthals, the Gorham’s Cave Complex, and the Strait of Gibraltar.
Address: Europa Advance Road, Gibraltar
Viewing platform: Open Monday to Friday 10am-2pm. Talks are given by staff on site every 30 minutes. Tickets: £5 for adults; £2.50 for children
Website: www.gorhamscave.gi
Dolphin Adventure organise weekly boat trips to view the Gorham’s Cave Complex World Heritage Site from the sea. Departures from Marina Bay.
Pre-booked guided walking tours to Gorham’s Cave are available, but are subject to a strict annual quota and favourable weather conditions. To book a tour email neanderthals@gibmuseum.gi
Most of the Mediterranean Steps path in the Gibraltar Nature Reserve is within the inscribed World Heritage Site of the Gorham’s Cave Complex. Find out more here.
Europa Point – Gateway to the Mediterranean
The Trinity Lighthouse at Europa Point is situated at Gibraltar’s southernmost tip, offering a spectacular view across the Strait of Gibraltar to North Africa on a clear day.
The iconic red and white lighthouse has been helping sailors navigate the Strait since 1841. Standing at 49 metres above sea level, it is the only lighthouse outside the British Isles that is still operated by Trinity House.
Europa Point is also notable for the large Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque, built as a gift from King Fahd of Saudi Arabia to Gibraltar’s Muslim community. Other sites include the restored artillery battery known as Harding’s Battery, and the Roman Catholic Shrine of Our Lady of Europe.
Culture
Throughout the year, Gibraltar hosts a variety of cultural events and festivals, including the Gibunco Literary Festival in November, Calentita Food Festival in summer and National Day celebrations in September. Check out the full calendar here.
Art lovers will enjoy visiting Gib’s various art galleries. Art is For Everyone is housed in Gibraltar’s historic old police station, and the Fine Arts Gallery is in Casemates Square. Don’t miss the Mario Finlayson National Art Gallery in City Hall which showcases the works of six deceased Gibraltarian artists. www.culture.gi/art-galleries
You can also download a Gibraltar Street Art Walk here.
Outdoor Activities
Despite the rugged coastline, Gibraltar has several beaches, each offering a different experience.
- Eastern Beach is the largest and most popular because it receives sunshine for most of the day.
- Catalan Bay is a charming fishing village with a laid-back vibe and picturesque pastel-coloured houses set against the sheer cliffs.
- Sandy Bay has sand imported from the Sahara, and its frontal breakwater and groynes provide protection from strong tides and high waves- what better place for stand up paddle? In2Adventures delivers an amazing SUP experience. Enjoy seeing the Rock from a different perspective!
- Camp Bay is a small rocky beach at Gibraltar’s southwestern end, facing the Atlantic side. It is popular with families thanks to its two salt-water swimming pools and small beach club. At the south end there is a small cove with a pleasant bathing area called Little Bay.
Gibraltar is a fantastic destination for diving, offering wrecks and reefs teeming with marine life in clear waters. Contact Dive Charters Gibraltar (www.divegib.gi) for more information.
Other activities include dolphin-watching tours and boat trips.
Where to Stay in Gibraltar – Top Hotels
Gibraltar offers a range of accommodation options to suit all budgets. Here are a few recommendations:
• Sunborn Gibraltar: A luxury 5-star floating yacht hotel, perfect for a memorable stay.
Address: 35 Ocean Village Parade, Gibraltar
Website: www.sunborngibraltar.com
• The Rock Hotel: A historic hotel on the foothill of the Rock with panoramic views of the Mediterranean and the Strait. Discover the hotel’s long celebrity guest list on the Wall of Fame!
Address: 3 Europa Road, Gibraltar
Website: www.rockhotelgibraltar.com
• The Eliott Hotel: A centrally-located 4* hotel with stylish rooms, gym, rooftop pool and superb views.
Address: 2 Governor’s Parade, Gibraltar
Website: www.eliotthotel.com
• Holiday Inn Express Gibraltar: An affordable option with modern amenities, ideal for business travellers and families.
Address: 21-23 Devil’s Tower Road, Gibraltar
Website: www.holidayinn.com
In conclusion, Gibraltar offers a unique blend of captivating history, vibrant culture and natural beauty, making it an ideal destination for all types of visitors. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, nature lover, or enjoy doing outdoor activities, Gibraltar has something for everyone. And thanks to the territory’s compact size, you can make the most of your time to enjoy its diverse range of attractions and experiences.
Last Updated on April 4, 2025 by Vanessa Kingwell