Is Gibraltar Worth Visiting?

TLDR: In this guide we look at the question: “Is Gibraltar worth visiting” and aim to cover it for all types of travellers. One size doesn’t fit all, and not every city or destination is right for everyone. So as someone who has spent a great deal of time in the territory, I think I can add a little value to your travel planning decisions. Whether it’s ‘do we get off the ship here’, or should i stop here on a Spanish roadtrip, I’ve got you covered.

But if you do want a quick answer 😉

Jump to: For Families | For Party Animals | For Couples | For Solo Travellers | For Everyone

---

The Quick Yes – Gibraltar ‘rocks’

I’m possibly (completely) biased as a Brit, but the Rock is more than just a curiosity. It is a compact yet enjoyable place to while away a few days. There’s a sandy beach, one of my favourite gyms, some lovely architecture, cute streets, nice views, a ton of history and a good food eating out experience too.

I love me a walkable destination and you can burn off the fish and chips, pints of beer and 99 flake ice creams with the 10-20,000 steps you can square away each day here. Add to that you can do those steps whilst marvelling at wild monkeys with zero language barriers locally and you have a place that English speakers should step foot in if they get the chance.

The Quick No – Gibraltar is meh

If you’re looking for a longer family holiday or demand a world class nightlife then Gib may not be for you. It’s more of a short trip stop and while there is nightlife in the area, it is no Hvar or Ibiza.

Common complaints

• Queues at the border: At peak times, either when ships come and go or around working rush hours, these can get long and overwhelm the available border staff. While this is being worked on with a new border crossing deal; at peak times in the morning or later afternoon heat, it can be a bit much for kids and older travellers.
• Feels like there isn’t much to do: Where the territory is a little smaller, the tourism infrastructure can let itself down. This doesn’t mean there isn’t much to do, but getting to grips with what there is to do, is the issue. The more digitally literate who can use Viator or Getyourguide will overcome this, but those who are not permanently glued to their mobile, may be left wanting. If you like slow travel and just want to find a warmer version of the UK with good views, a beach and access to new places to explore then you won’t find this issue.
  
• Confusing to navigate on foot: A densely populated peninsular, with a lot of high rise property and diverse topography, can make working out where things are that bit trickier. Don’t think your phone’s GPS will save you either. You’ll be permanently re-centreing the map and still be confused. This is a common complaint and if you are only visiting for a short time, you should factor this in so you don’t miss connections while off exploring. 
  
• Expensive and limited accommodation: When you see boats moored up in the harbour as available accommodation, you know things are a bit limited. Thankfully more holiday accommodation is being created as land is reclaimed around Gibraltar but it’s a slow process and that lack of supply keeps room rates high. With that lack of competition for bookings comes a reduced attention to investment in upkeep. This means there are quite a few dated and overpriced places to stay in Gibraltar, leading to a lot choosing to cross the border and sleep in hotels in La Linea. 
  
• The nightlife: More of a daytime pub scene but 2 minutes across the border in La Linea or up the coast (35-45 mins) Sotogrande you have a lot more options. If you land during the MTV music festival or on one of the national holidays you can have a fantastic evening. But it is a fair complaint nonetheless. There was a time when I planned on opening a late night bar in Gibraltar with a business partner for this very reason.
  
  Source: https://www.visitgibraltar.gi/events/gibraltar-world-music-festival

Top reasons to visit Gibraltar

DISCLAIMER: This post might have links to travel services and products that we enjoy. We might make a commission from it at no extra cost to you.

For whatever your reason for considering Gibraltar, there’s fun things to do to make it worthwhile. While every city has a differing level of pull, here’s our list of hidden and not so hidden gems on the Rock.

---

For Families

Whether you’re packing wet wipes and a babe in arms, or ipad addicted tweens, these are the spots recommended by locals and myself, that make Gibraltar worth visiting for families.

#1 Visit the Gibraltar Nature Reserve & Meet the Monkeys

One of the greatest ambassadors for Gibraltar and their most popular destination once here, is the monkey filled nature reserve that occupies the heights of the Rock itself. These are monkeys NOT apes – note the stubby tails, and while they are cute and mischevious too, they smell and they steal. So, keep your hands to yourself and don’t have anything loose sticking out of a bag or a pocket.

Why it’s worth visiting? I don’t think this needs much explaining! For all their sticky fingered, stinky nature; the monkeys are fascinating to watch and it’s a lot like going to a theme park and never going on a ride. What I love the most is the way they inhabit the historic fort ruins. It has a ‘Planet of the Apes’ vibe going on and it’s just a lovely way to cap off a helluva slog up hill.

Quick fact: The locals do tours as a civic duty as opposed to something that they do as a business. Keen to help visitors leave the Rock with fond memories, the Gibraltarians consider this their national service. It doesn’t mean you can’t leave them a tip though 😉

Alternative choice? Accept no substitutions

How/Where to book: You don’t need to, you can find a local taxi driver who will take you to the top, walk yourself or if you are really fixed on having a proper tour, you will find there are some great mini excursion tours on Viator that let you experience more than just the Monkeys for not a lot of money:

Try this: The Gibraltar Rock Guided Tour

#2 Dolphin Safari in the Bay of Gibraltar

It takes a special exception for a youngster to not like spotting dolphins and I think most adults probably fall into that bucket too. This makes dolphin spotting in Gibraltar, a worthwhile reason for a visit. I had a hunt through my own back catalogue of photos and found this was the best I had in terms of photos, but then I’m not a particularly prolific snapper.

My own trips to see the dolphins have been on the back of smaller sail boats, but for families who will naturally be more safety conscious, there are a lot of mini ferry style boats that take visitors out to water too.

It’s a lovely way to spend a couple of hours and while it’s not a guarantee you’ll spot Flipper…you probably will.

Why it’s worth visiting? As the Mediterranean converges with the Atlantic, you find the area stands out globally as a strong spot for dolphin spotting. It won’t just be dolphins either, Gibraltar’s waters include a fair share of Orca and in total there are 7 species of Dolphin and Whale that can be seen. Including Sperm Whales.

Alternative choice? Expect an aquarium showcasing local sealife to be built at Rosia Bay. While it’s not ready as of 2025, it will offer a great alternative choice for visitors when the weather turns poor.
Source: https://www.gbc.gi/news/rosia-bay-aquarium-seeks-full-planning-updated-designs-published

How/Where to book: We recommend the highly rated Dolphin Adventure for families – Click here

---

For Party Animals

Gibraltar isn’t a year round party destination, it’s more of a beer in the sun by the marina kind of place and if that’s your vibe, then you’ll be well provided for. If club nights are your thing, then in all honesty you may find Gibraltar isn’t worth visiting, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t an outlet or two.

#1 Sunset Drinks at The Ocean Village Marina

As a long time shipping port, for cruises and Mediterranean sailors, there are two prominent marinas that are fringed with tapas and wine bars. The Ocean Marina Village is the busier development of the two, flanked with the famous Sunborn yacht hotel which hosts a casino and a lovely rooftop bar with hot tub and infinity pool. Little more than a 10 minute walk from the airport it’s not difficult to find.

Why it’s worth visiting? The village catches sight of the sunset and tends to attract a more international crowd who are on the hunt for a livelier evening. A couple of the bars open till 1am and this means if you want to drink on into the small hours without feeling like you’re trapped in a dive bar, then it can nicely tick that box.

It’s clean, safe and buzzy, just watch you don’t fall into the drink. Stand out spots for later and more livelier drinks here are Sanu ‘Place 2’ and The Hendrix pub. In the daytime for live sports, the Quarterdeck is always popular too.

Alternative choice? Head over to the beach side of the territory and there are a handful of beachside bars such as Cabana, which can also cap a nice day in the sun off. This side of Gibraltar hosts ad-hoc events such as the Terrace Beach Club, with more information on these events found on Instagram.

#2 Cross the Border for La Línea’s Spanish Nightlife

Take a trip across the border with everyone else dressed up in their evening wear and you’ll likely find yourself in one of the more raucous bars over in La Linea. Again, not exactly Vegas but when you merge the young population of Gib and the local Spanish, you have a willing party audience. Some of the more popular spots include Molly Blooms and Tropikal Flayva.

Why it’s worth visiting? Short of hopping in an Uber 45 minutes up the coast to Estepona, it’s the nearest town to Gibraltar and has more bars that open later. It’s cheap, it’s an easy drunk walk back, albeit one that requires you take a passport. But if you do venture into frontier land, Tropikal Flayva is a nice discovery. It’s always lively and one of the few places you’ll find a DJ dropping Hip Hop and Reggaeton this side of a 2 hour round trip.

Alternative choices? If you time it right, you can forget about all these recommendations and get yourself down to Gibraltar Calling.

Expect household names, busy events with thousands of visitors and a chance to get some of that warm sun festival experience. Sadly no information was released for a 2025 event; so it’s not always a guarantee, but as we wrote in our guide Malta – “Is Malta worth visiting“; these boutique festivals tend to be fabulous events to experience. There’s a sense of gratitude and exuberance you get in these smaller locations where it’s not taken for granted.

Keep an eye on: MTV Presents Gibraltar Calling

---

For Couples

Having visited Gibraltar twice as a couple (two different partners!), I think I can speak with a bit of authority here. If you’re active and like a walk about, it’s great for a couple of days. I don’t think the accommodation choices lend itself well to romantic, relaxation trips – so you may not want to spend too long here. But if you have 72 hours to invest, it’s definitely worth checking the fares on Skyscanner.

#1 Cable Car to the Top of the Rock at Sunset

Not for the faint of heart, but not as terrifying as Barcelona’s cable car, share a moment of adrenaline and million mile views with your special someone. The cable car starts at the foot of the Rock on the waterside of the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens and then runs every 10 minutes right up to 7:30pm every day.

Why it’s worth visiting? It’s a sweat free way to get to the top of the Rock and ideal on a sweltering day. The views are impressive, the experience isn’t without a sense of thrill and it doesn’t cost the earth. As of 2025, the rates are £19/$25 for a return for adults, and £9/$12 for kids (5-11 years).

How/Where to book: Official Gibraltar Cable Car Ticket Site

Alternative choice? If you want to yomp up the Rock instead you can opt for the Skywalk and cap it off with the nerve-wracking Windsor Suspension Bridge. If you think the Cable Car is scary, you may want to opt out of this also!

How to book a tour? Suspension Bridge / Skywalk / Caves & Rock Tour

#2 Keep it simple…hike, beach and a boho dinner

Some romantic weekends don’t need a whole lot of ‘extra’, just a nice visual break from a dreary home country is all that’s needed. With warm weather a handful of beaches that are less busy in the September/October months as the world goes back to work, you’ve got some of the simple things to do that still make for a great reason to visit.

The beaches on the east of the territory are the sandy ones, and where you’ll want to head for, while tucked in just off of Main Street and Casemates Square you have a weaving network of your traditional European style tapas bars and restaurants. From Asian Fusion to Italian there is a really good food scene in Gibraltar, if you want to explore beyond cod and chips twice.

Why it’s worth visiting? If you’re a fan of the simple things as a couple, such as hiking, eating out, posing next to classic red post boxes and catching some rays together, then Gibraltar is well worth considering. Add to this, the weather here is amongst the latest cooling regions of Europe, meaning a trip in September and October is usually still really balmy but a lot less busy than peak cruise ship season.

My Tip: Splash out on the Sunborn Yacht Hotel if you can and opt for Eastern Beach or Catalina Bay.

Alternative choice? St. Michael’s Cave Light & Sound Show – for couples who like to wander around the galleries or bohemian art installations of Europe, this experience is a real draw.

---

For Solo Travellers

Is Gibraltar worth visiting for solo travellers? I tend to think this is possibly where it comes into its own. It’s a good walking destination for a small place, is accessible to the rest of Europe and backpacker adventures over to Morocco, while also being safe and equipped with all the facilities you likely value.

Good digital nomad infrastructure, some good gyms (Peak and Physique are solid shouts), nice places to eat, a hospital, 6 beaches and an airport. You can’t really rag on it.

But if you come here – what can you do to fill your time? Here’s a couple of starter suggestions.

If you’re a sociable solo traveller and fancy something to read next, try this: How to make friends while solo travelling.

#1 Hike the Mediterranean Steps

Starting out from Casemates square, head down Castle Road where you will find a number of stepways that lead you up the Rock. It can feel a bit like a rabbit warren at times so I can’t even recall the exact route I would take, but you can generally trust in the gradient and heading toward the Rock visually.

As the roads get steeper and providing you are on a route toward the summit, you will find you converge on to the correct path. The Mediterranean Steps route includes about 700-800 actual steps as well as thousands more normal walking steps. It is not the easiest walk and is best done on a light breakfast before the sun hits its peak and you can expect the up and down of it all to occupy a good few hours.

Why it’s worth visiting? A hard walk that earns you a good lunch, topped off with wildlife and stunning views. It’s an active travellers perfect half day.

If you are ex-forces (or serving) then you can get free entry through the nature reserve, otherwise there is a small fee payable up near the top to keep the place ‘rock like’ and support the local economy. It’s about £19/$24 for adults and half that for kids. It also gives you access to the attractions on the Rock too, such as the caves.

But with a host of curiosities up there you can easily lose close to an entire day. Not bad when you consider the price. If you’re a history nerd, then it’s a Wartime Extravaganza and if you just want a good hike and look at the monkeys, you’re quid’s in also. When you travel, you can lose track of good eating habits, so for me, if I can burn calories while doing something pleasant – it’s a big win. If you’re that person too, then consider it a daily ‘to do’. More importantly, if you’re travelling alone, then hiking is something you probably are already a fan of. When I’ve spent a fair amount of time in Gib, I would do this hike daily while taking in a podcast, or just hearing the daily bustle.

You’re not lonely when you have a gang of monkeys watching your every move.

Alternative Choice? Avoid the incline and walk around the Rock, starting from Casemates Square, through HMS Victualling and bringing you out round to Europa Point for a spot of brunch. From here, walk back along the Eastern edge of the territory. Admittedly this side of the island is a little less scenic but is a good walking option for those who can’t hack walking uphill in the summer heat.

#2 Learn to sail

It was lockdown and my usual wanderlust was a little impacted. So, with the discovery that Gibraltar being British meant I wasn’t breaking any rules by visiting; I hopped on the plane and decided to do something I’d always wanted to. Learn to sail.

But it’s not just that historic moment which made me head to the Rock, it’s also a fantastic place to learn to sail. There’s no point only learning easy if you plan on sailing alone at some stage, and Gibraltar’s waters gives you a good variety of conditions that make learning here a really good decision.

As a solo traveller, it’s a great way to make friends, and of course explore the local coastline while you’re at it.

Most sailing courses plot charts for Ceuta, Estepona and clutch of Spanish and Moroccan enclaves in between.

Personal tip: Make it worthwhile and get the whole day-skipper course and ‘RYA Competent Crew’ in one if you opt for it. That’s two weeks of fun, dolphins and experience, plus plenty of beer stops in between.

Who to book with? I went with Tralfagar Sailing and can’t recommend them enough.

---

For Every Traveller

While some suggestions of what can make a trip to Gibraltar worthwhile, are best suited for a specific type of visitor, here’s a couple of ideas that can work for any guest. From older legs, to mobility impaired.

#1 Europa Point & Lighthouse

For a nice place to grab a cake and an ice cream with spectacular frontier-like views, you can do worse than visiting Europa Point and its adjacent lighthouse. Looking every bit the classic British lighthouse, but overlooking a stretch of water generally a lot more predisposed to heat; this southern tip of Gibraltar is a bit of a feast for the eyes.

From the stunning Minarets of the Mosque, to the old stadium, there is a lot to look at it in this calmer spot. While the north of the territory can feel a bit manic, with its tall buildings and narrow streets; there is a lot more tranquillity down here.

Why it’s worth visiting? If you’ve been aboard a cruise ship and surrounded by people for days on end, then plonking yourself down on a bench with a nice book is a lovely way to decompress. It’s probably my favourite spot in Gib for the sense of space it creates.

#2 Duty-Free Shopping on Main Street

The Main Street shopping parade of Gibraltar is not the only duty free shopping location in the territory outside of the airport, but it’s probably the best equipped spot. During peak cruise arrival months it can get a bit packed here, but fortunately there is a good spread of ice-creameries and cafes to give you somewhere to stop for a while.

Starting at Line Wall Road and running all the way south to Upper Town; Main Street is a 1.1 km long part pedestrianised route that includes everything from your conventional stores, to perfumeries, jewellers, designers and horologists.

Why it’s worth visiting? Duty/tax in the UK on retail sales is 20%, meaning if you can get the Rolex AD to sell you something (likely only going to be their less favourable items), you’re going to walk away with a good discount vs buying the same item in the UK, mainland Europe or US potentially. Another upside vs buying in London, you’ll probably not get it robbed off of you as you leave the store. Double win!

Alternative choice? Consumerism not your thing? Head to the Alameda Botanical Gardens and check out the wildlife enclosure there. See even more monkeys than the Rock’s Ape’s Den.

So, when’s best to go to Gibraltar?

For me heading to Gibraltar has a special charm in the shoulder seasons. This means avoiding the peak cruise ship disembarkation crowds and the highest temperatures of the Summer months. May and September are the big winners for me, for a better accommodation rate and still lovely weather.

Below is a quick overview on what to expect price and weather wise for each part of the year.

Sources: Weather – UK’s Met Office | Accommodation Pricing – Budgetyourtrip & Statista

Summer (June to August)

Hotel Pricing: £240/$291 (July), Ave: £140-170/$181–191/per night
Big Events: If you arrive around the end of August (30th), take part in the Rock El Kasbah Street Parties that coincide annually with the National Day celebrations. Book ending this at the other part of the summer in June is the World Music Festival which brings live music and a reason to party nearly every day.
Weather: 25–30 °C / ~15–21 °C. You’re on the southern tip of Europe, expect it to be warm and very dry.

Spring (April to May)

Hotel Pricing: £125-£160 / $158–$204 – Source: Hotelscombined & Kayak
Big Events: The Gibraltar Classic Car Rally is one of the key events in late Spring – but the territory is a little quieter at this time of the year in preparation for the Summer. Making it just a good time to visit really.
Weather: ~17–23 °C / 12–17 °C. Some cooler afternoons and mornings but generally t-shirt weather for the most part.

Autumn (September to November)

Hotel Pricing: Ave: £160/$210/per night
Big Events: This month sees the big event in the annual calendar – National Day. Taking place on the 10th September and celebrating the locals victory in the ‘Stay British’ referendum.
Weather: ~22 °C. The heat starts to taper off from September, and the evenings can get a little cooler. You’re still going to have some lovely sunshine filled days but you may want to pack a raincoat on the off chance. Much of Southern Europe experiences some heavy rainfall this time of the year.

Winter (December to March)

Hotel Pricing: Ave: £125/$160/per night
Big Events: If chess and backgammon are your thing, the Rock hosts international tournaments for both in the winter months. Meet some of the big names in chess or try your hand with the Sicilian against a Grand Master. See: Gibraltar Chess Festival
Weather: ~11–13 °C / ~9 °C. More UK like weather, a chillier visit and wet. But that said, it’s still about 10 degrees warmer than the motherland.

My own travel experience with Gibraltar

I first came to Gibraltar in 2008 on my way to an overland trip through Morocco. I had always wanted to visit as someone with a fascination for British Imperial history, but also why wouldn’t I want to see the warmer parts of my own country?

It’s changed a good deal between that first visit and my most recent adventures here, and in other ways it hasn’t changed a jot. Accommodation options in traditional hotels are still a bit meh, but with the advent of Airbnb style holidaying, you have a deeper stock of modern places to stay. Ocean Village wasn’t there when I first came, nor the Sunborn Hotel and these two additions certainly modernise the North of Gibraltar for tourists and locals alike.

I think I’d like to see at least one solid rave cave – one place where young people can let their hair down properly each week without having to walk drunk across the border. As I mentioned earlier in the article, a business partner and I were close to pulling the trigger on a bar here once, and to this day I still think it could work. Who knows, on my next trip here I may pick that back up.

Services have also improved, the airport is better equipped, there are modern gyms and a deeper choice of international cuisine. In the 15+ years between my first and more recent trips, nothing has been lost that would make me think it’s not worth visiting. I go again in 2 months, and I am looking forward to it as much as I ever do.

My favourite places to stay:

Budget: Emile Hostel – 9/10 Hostelworld (Approx £30/$40 Dorm Bed in peak months)
Mid-range: E1 Suites & Spa Aparthotel – 9/10 Booking (Approx £140 / $180 p/n in shoulder months)
Luxury: Sunborn Gibraltar – Boatel/Hotel – 5 Star (Approx £180-200 / $220-250 p/n in shoulder months)

And that’s why Gibraltar is probably worth a visit

And there you have it, an (kind-of) insider’s guide to the question – is Gibraltar worth visiting. Would you want to spend a week or two here? Probably not, not unless you are a fan of slow travel, but if you are sailing past on a cruise or spot the flights for cheap from the UK, and have a few days free, don’t sleep on this place.

Currency: His Majesty’s absolutely Sterling GBP
Language: English & Gibberish
Time Diff to NYC: 6 hours
Flight Times: London to Gibraltar – 2 hrs 30 mins; No direct US to Gibraltar flights.

Common Gibraltar Travel Questions (FAQs)

For everything I haven’t covered, here’s the common Q&As on what to think about before visiting Gibraltar….or deciding if you should.