Gibraltar Local Attractions

The Upper Rock Nature Preserve is accessible from Jews' Gate and here you will find St Michael's Cave, the Apes Den, the Great Siege Tunnels and the ruins of the old Moorish Castle. All of these attractions are open daily from 9:30am to 6:30pm. You can get a cable car to take you there with the departure point near the eastern end of Main Street in the centre of Gibraltar. They depart every 10 minutes from 9:30am to 5:15pm with the last return at 5:45 pm.

First stop is the Apes Den which is along Old Queen's Road and from here you can see the famous Barbary apes on the sides of rocks. They are cinnamon coloured tail-less monkeys and legend has it that the first monkeys were either brought into Gibraltar by the Moors or that they found their way through a tunnel that linked St Michael's Cave with Africa. The monkeys are looked after and protected by the British; and there is a saying that "When the apes leave the Rock, so will the British." The monkeys are fed daily at 8am and 4pm by a member of the Gibraltar Regiment.

Two other major attractions are located in opposite directions from the Apes Den. To reach St Michael's Cave you have to walk east along Queen's Road. They are a natural grotto with a magnificent auditorium which is used for concerts and live performances. The lower cave and lake are connected to the Upper Cave by a passage spanning the 15 to 45m difference in depth. A labyrinth of passages has formed naturally in the porous rock and you can travel literally miles underground.

 

The Great Siege Tunnels are at the western end of the Nature Preserve and to reach them walk west along Queen's Road, bypassing the Apes Den. There are some fine observation points along the road with views over the harbour and Spain. At the end of the road you reach the Upper Galleries or Great Siege Tunnels which are large tunnels cut into solid rock. They were created in 1779 and used as vantage points for large guns to protect Gibraltar from Spanish invasion.

Directly south of the tunnels are the ruins of the Moorish Castle, which was constructed by the descendants of Tariq who captured the Rock in 711. All that remains of the original castle are its outer walls running between the castle, the harbour and the ancient Moorish Pier. Close by the Tower of Homage dates back to 1333 and dominates the only land entrance to Gibraltar. The tower and adjoining walls are floodlit at night creating a spectacular sight for cruise ships sailing through the Straits.

Attractions in the centre of town include the Gibraltar Museum in Bomb House which is in a 14th century Muslim bathhouse and anyone interested in the origins and history of Gibraltar will find this a fascinating place to visit.

The Convent and King's Chapel on Main Street, is the official residence of the Governor of Gibraltar, with the changing of the guard taking place every Monday at 10:30am. This is a ceremonial occasion with a full band and the Governor and his family appear on the balcony to take the salute.

In the large square at the top of Main Street you will find an impressive Roman Catholic cathedral which is a converted mosque and one of the first buildings on the Rock.

For a final look at Gibraltar head out to Europa Point also known as "the end of Europe." The most southerly point in Europe is Tarifa in Spain which can be seen in the distance. Europa Point was one of the two ancient Pillars of Hercules with the other (Ceuta to Jebel Musa) 23km across the Straits of North Africa. There is a lighthouse here which was built in 1841.

If you head back toward the town east of the Rock you will find the small catholic Chapel of Our Lady of Europa which was once a mosque. Now it is a small museum with a statue of Madonna dating back to 1462 and some artefacts. It is often saluted by passing vessels because before the lighthouse was built it kept a light burning day and night to warn vessels of the treacherous passage surrounding the Rock.

If you are planning to explore the area outside of the city centre and play some golf or go to some of the more out of the way beaches then you might consider hiring a car. There are car hire firms based at Gibraltar Airport who will be pleased to have a vehicle awaiting your arrival. This also cuts down on transfer costs for you and your family.

We live in Spain and often visit Gibraltar to shop and therefore have good local knowledge. To assist you we have written a Gibraltar Area Guide which includes the best Shops in Gibraltar, Gibraltar Golf Courses, the different types of Gibraltar Beaches, recommended Gibraltar Restaurants, details of Amusements in Gibraltar for family days out and Gibraltar Local Attractions.