The Upper Rock & the Barbary Apes: A 2026 Guide (Cable Car Update)
How to visit Gibraltar’s Upper Rock Nature Reserve in 2026 — meeting the Barbary apes, St Michael’s Cave, the Skywalk and the siege tunnels — plus the honest word on the closed cable car and how to get to the top instead.
The Upper Rock is the reason most people come to Gibraltar — and it lives up to it. In a single reserve you get Europe’s only wild monkeys, a cathedral-sized cave, tunnels hacked out during an 18th-century siege, a glass skywalk over a 300-metre drop and views across the sea to Africa. Here’s how to do it well in 2026, including the big change every visitor needs to know about.
What’s in the reserve#
One Upper Rock Nature Reserve ticket (around £30 for adults, £22 for children) covers all the sites below. Buy it online or at the entrance.
| Sight | What it is | Status 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Apes’ Den & summit | The best spots to see the wild Barbary macaques | Open |
| St Michael’s Cave | A vast limestone cavern; the upper chamber is a 600-seat auditorium with a light-and-projection show | Open |
| The Skywalk | A glass-floored platform 340 m above the sea, with 360° views | Open |
| Windsor Suspension Bridge | A 71 m footbridge over a gorge on the Upper Rock trails | Open |
| Great Siege Tunnels | Galleries cut into the North Face during the 1779–83 siege | Open |
| WWII Tunnels | A vast wartime network that turned the Rock into an underground city | Open |
| O’Hara’s Battery | A restored summit gun battery near the Rock’s 426 m peak | Open |
| Moorish Castle | The 14th-century Tower of Homage, Gibraltar’s oldest fortification | Closed (works) |
| Mediterranean Steps | A strenuous cliff-face hiking trail to the summit | Closed (rockfall) |
Approximate prices/status for 2026 — confirm with the Gibraltar Nature Reserve before visiting.
How to get to the top (with the cable car closed)#
In a normal year the cable car whisks you up in six minutes. With it closed until about 2027, you have two good options — and one for the fit.
- 1
Take a licensed Rock Tour
Official taxi and minibus tours leave from the frontier and the town throughout the day, driving you up to the main sites with a guide. It’s the easiest way up right now and splits well across a group.
- 2
Or walk up from Jews’ Gate
Fit walkers can hike up via Jews’ Gate — a steady climb with wonderful views. (Note the classic Mediterranean Steps route is currently closed after a rockfall.)
- 3
Start high and work down
However you get up, begin near the top — the Skywalk, O’Hara’s Battery and the summit apes — then descend through St Michael’s Cave and the tunnels.
- 4
Allow half a day, or a full one
A focused visit takes about half a day; to see the caves and both tunnel networks properly, give it a full day.
Meeting the Barbary apes#
Gibraltar’s Barbary macaques are the only wild monkeys in Europe — around 230 of them, living in troops across the Upper Rock. They’re used to people and utterly unbothered by you, which is exactly why the rules matter.
Make a morning of it#
The Upper Rock is the centrepiece of day one of our three-day plan. Go early to beat the day-tripper coaches, bring water and closed bags, wear proper shoes for the trails, and keep an eye on the summit — if the Levanter cloud has capped the Rock, it’s often clearer lower down or the next morning.
Frequently asked questions#
Is the Gibraltar cable car open in 2026?
No. The cable car closed in November 2025 for a complete rebuild and is expected to reopen around 2027. In the meantime, reach the Upper Rock by licensed Rock Tour taxi or minibus, or on foot via Jews’ Gate.
How much does it cost to go up the Rock of Gibraltar?
The Upper Rock Nature Reserve ticket is approximately £30 for adults and £22 for children in 2026, covering the apes, St Michael’s Cave, the Skywalk and the siege tunnels. A guided Rock Tour by taxi or minibus is charged separately.
Are you allowed to touch the Gibraltar apes?
No. It is illegal to feed or touch the Barbary macaques, and fines apply (reported up to £4,000). Keep your distance, keep bags closed and food out of sight, and never get between an adult and its young.
How long do you need at the Upper Rock?
Allow at least half a day for the highlights and a full day to explore St Michael’s Cave and both tunnel networks at a relaxed pace. Go early to beat the midday coach crowds.
Can you walk up the Rock of Gibraltar?
Yes — fit walkers can hike up from Jews’ Gate. Note that the popular Mediterranean Steps trail is currently closed after a rockfall, so check which routes are open before setting out.