Gibraltar

Top things to do & see in Gibraltar

St. Michael’s Cave

This incredible natural phenomenon is an absolute must see during your time in Gibraltar. St. Michael’s cave is said to be bottomless and was first mentioned in the writings of Roman travel writer Pomponius Melia in 45 A.D. Now a major tourist attraction, the cave was also prepared as an emergency military hospital during World War II, but it was never used. Just after Gibraltar's capture by Anglo-Dutch forces in 1704, 500 Spanish troops concealed themselves within the cave overnight after having ascended through a path led by goatherd Simón Susarte. A rather impressive light show plays within the cave and the colors simply dance off the thousand-year-old stalagmites.

Cable car rides

The cable car in Gibraltar was built in 1966 by Swiss manufacturer Von Roll and ascends 1,350 feet (412 meters) above sea level. The cable car is a must for all visitors, but maybe not those who have a fear of heights. The Top Station offers incredible views north toward the Sierra Nevada over the Costa del Sol, east over the blue Mediterranean Sea and south across the Strait of Gibraltar to the Rif Mountains of North Africa. In short, you will view two continents, three countries and the meeting point of two great bodies of water.

Alameda Gardens

The Botanical Gardens in Gibraltar are absolutely stunning and were laid out in 1816 originally. They offer unique plants and trees from across the world and a great respite from the hustle and bustle of city life. If you want to do something different during your time in Gibraltar, then this is certainly a worthy choice. You could even tie in a visit here with the cable car as the gardens are located at the cable car base station.

Shopping

If you're in the mood to purchase alcohol, jewelry, watches and electrical goods, Gibraltar has it. Although prices are not always as cheap as they are in other destinations, it's certainly worth taking a stroll along Main Street and seeing what the vendors have on display.

Europa Point

Europa point is the farthest point away from the frontier and only 15½ miles from Africa – on a clear day you can see Jebel Sidi Musa, the “other” pillar of Hercules. The lighthouse here was built in 1841 and is the only lighthouse outside of the U.K. that is administered by Trinity House. Europa Point also features a stunning mosque that was built in the 1990s with money donated by Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the late king of Saudi Arabia, and the Shrine of Our Lady of Europe church.

Dolphin watching

The Gibraltar Strait is one of the best places in the world to spot dolphins, and I can personally recommend that you go out on a dolphin watching excursion here. The boat trip lasts around one and a half hours and although sightings are not guaranteed, they rarely arrive back in port having not seen anything. During my trip there we spotted hundreds of common dolphin and even an ocean sunfish – it was incredible! You can find the dolphin watching company inside the marina next to the Sunborn super-yacht casino.

Inside tips

• The famed Barbary Macaques (pronounced ma-KAK), Europe’s only free-living monkeys, are fun to watch in the trees and along the trail. About 300 of the Old World Monkeys (they're technically not apes) occupy the area of the Upper Rock. The monkeys are used to humans, but they are still wild animals and if threatened they will bite, so admire their adeptness, but please don’t touch them or feed them. Also, be careful of purses or anything with straps that they can snatch.
• Upper Rock Nature Reserve is a lovely staging post for millions of migrating birds, including raptors.

When you arrive

Docking information

Cruise ships dock at the Port of Gibraltar and are usually accommodated on the Western Arm of the dock, just a 5-minute walk away from Main Street, Gibraltar’s main shopping area.

Getting around

Taxis are readily available from just outside of the terminal building and can take you on a simple cab journey or on a guided tour. Negotiate your price before getting in.

Gibraltar is very small in size, so most of your traveling can be done on foot. If you'd like to take a ferry across the Strait to Tangier, contact Euro Ferrys (34-956-652324) for rates and times.

Free wi-fi

Many of the cafes and restaurants in Gibraltar offer free wi-fi, as does the terminal building.

Need to know

Documents needed: U.S. and Canadian citizens need a passport.

Language: English and Spanish primarily

Currency: The euro and British pound are the official currencies here, but some vendors will accept U.S. dollars.

Safety: Visitors should take standard precautions.

Your take

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