The 18 Best Things to Do in Gibraltar
The best things to do in Gibraltar — from the Barbary apes and the Skywalk to dolphin trips, beaches, the Old Town and day trips into Spain — ranked and mapped by how long each takes.
Gibraltar squeezes an improbable amount into 6.8 square kilometres. Here are the eighteen things we’d make sure you do — grouped by where they are, and cross-linked to our detailed guides so you can go deeper on the ones that grab you.
The top 10, at a glance#
| # | Thing to do | Where | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meet the Barbary apes on the Upper Rock | Upper Rock | Half-day |
| 2 | Stand on the Skywalk, 340 m up | Upper Rock | 30 min |
| 3 | Explore St Michael’s Cave | Upper Rock | 45 min |
| 4 | Go dolphin watching from the marina | Marina Bay | 1–1½ hr |
| 5 | Walk the Great Siege & WWII Tunnels | Upper Rock | 1–2 hr |
| 6 | Stroll Main Street & Casemates Square | Old Town | Half-day |
| 7 | Relax at Catalan Bay or Sandy Bay | East side | Half-day |
| 8 | Cross the Windsor Suspension Bridge | Upper Rock | 20 min |
| 9 | Take in Europa Point & the lighthouse | South tip | 1 hr |
| 10 | Wander the Alameda Botanic Gardens (free) | Town | 1 hr |
Times are rough guides for planning.
On the Rock#
The Upper Rock Nature Reserve is the headline act — the apes, the caves, the tunnels, the Skywalk and views across three countries. It’s the centre of our full Upper Rock guide (including the 2026 cable-car update).
- Meet Europe’s only wild monkeys — the Barbary macaques at the Apes’ Den and summit.
- The Skywalk — a glass floor 340 m above the sea, with a 360° panorama.
- St Michael’s Cave — a vast cavern with a light-and-sound show in its auditorium.
- The siege & WWII tunnels — miles of galleries cut through the Rock.
- The Windsor Suspension Bridge and O’Hara’s Battery near the 426 m summit.
By the sea#
- Dolphin watching from Marina Bay — resident pods, year-round (full guide).
- The beaches — sandy Catalan Bay, Eastern Beach and Sandy Bay on the east; the Camp Bay lido on the west.
- Europa Point — the southern tip, with a lighthouse, a mosque and views to Morocco.
- A swim at the residence — the Marina Club pool and jacuzzi if you’d rather not travel.
In town#
- Main Street & Casemates Square — shopping, plazas and pavement cafés (Old Town guide).
- The Gibraltar Museum — from the Neanderthals to the Great Siege, with Moorish baths beneath.
- The Great Synagogue — founded 1724, among the oldest on the Iberian Peninsula.
- The Alameda Botanic Gardens — free, shady and lovely, at the foot of the Rock.
- Eat your way around the marina — the boardwalk on our doorstep (dining guide).
Further afield#
With Spain on the doorstep and Morocco across the water, Gibraltar is a brilliant base for a day trip — La Línea on foot, Tarifa and Ronda by road, or a ferry across the Strait to Tangier. We map them all in the day-trips guide.
Frequently asked questions#
What are the top things to do in Gibraltar?
The Upper Rock Nature Reserve is the must-do — the Barbary apes, the Skywalk, St Michael’s Cave and the siege tunnels. Beyond it, go dolphin watching from the marina, walk the Old Town and Main Street, relax on the east-side beaches, and visit Europa Point.
What can you do in Gibraltar in one day?
Focus on the Upper Rock: the apes, the Skywalk, St Michael’s Cave and the tunnels fill a busy day. If you have an afternoon spare, add a stroll down Main Street or a quick dolphin trip from the marina.
Is Gibraltar good for families?
Very — the apes, a dolphin-watching trip, the Skywalk and sandy beaches like Sandy Bay make it a hit with children, and everything is close together and walkable.
What is there to do in Gibraltar when it rains?
Head underground and indoors: St Michael’s Cave, the WWII and Great Siege Tunnels, and the Gibraltar Museum all work well in poor weather, as does a wander round the covered parts of the Old Town.