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The British overseas territory of Gibraltar is packed with historic sites, attractions and activities. At just 3 miles (5 km) long and 0.75 miles (1.2 km) wide it’s a tiny relic of the former British Empire, but it has more than enough to keep a family entertained for several days. For those visiting for just a day, here are my suggestions of what to see and do.
arrival:
If you are planning to travel to Gibraltar by car it is best to leave it in the Spanish border town of La Linea. There are several large car parks available but I would recommend this one. Marina car park Which is reasonably priced at €13 (£10.96) per day and is located just a five-minute walk from the border.
You will need to show your passport when crossing the border, so don’t forget to take it with you. After entering Gibraltar, the fun begins as you walk along the airport runway. Vehicles cross the runway through an underground tunnel, but pedestrians have to cross the runway (Winston Churchill Avenue) that connects Gibraltar to Spain. When a plane is about to take off or land, the barriers are closed a few minutes beforehand to keep the runway clear. If this happens when you are about to cross, think of it as a bonus, as it is very interesting to watch.
ocean village
A short walk from the airport runway will take you to the beautiful Ocean Village Marina where you can stroll along the boardwalk and admire the boats moored there and check out a few bars and restaurants along the water. Gibraltar is a very popular destination for yacht enthusiasts as it is the gateway to the Mediterranean Sea.
Grand Casemates Square
Exiting Ocean Village, cross the street and go through the arch that leads into Grand Casemates Square. Find fresh produce and local cuisine here Gibraltar Bazaar Head to the bars and restaurants overlooking the square to enjoy morning coffee and delicious pastries.
main road
Refresh yourself after your caffeine fix and continue down Main Street, which is a shopper’s delight with its VAT-free prices and a mix of British High Street names, including local stores such as Marks & Spencer. In addition you’ll find small independents, Spanish retailers, Moroccan greengrocers as well as a number of charming bars and cafes.
Above the shops, Gibraltar’s rich heritage can be seen with decorative Portuguese tiles, Genoese shutters and elegant British wrought iron balconies. This is the main street stretching for about 1 km through the city and is beautiful with its shady trees and traditional British red post boxes and telephone kiosks.
stands a short distance from the city gate ConventThe official residence of the Governor of Gibraltar since 1728. The building is so named because it was originally a convent of Franciscan monks. Between 1903-1943 it was known as Government House, until King George VI restored the name Convent during World War II.
Facing the convent Convent Guard House At Number 6 Convent Place. This is Gibraltar’s answer to 10 Downing Street in London and is the headquarters of Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar and houses the office of the Chief Minister.
Alameda Botanical Garden
A short climb from the end of Main Street is the Alameda Botanic Gardens, which you can visit for free and is spread across an area of 15 acres. These beautiful gardens were established in 1816 when the British Governor General built a park for the soldiers stationed in the area to relax while on duty.
At the bottom of the stairs leading up to the Garden is a stone mosaic that pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to the Garden in May 1954, when she was accompanied by Prince Philip. The Garden contains a variety of tropical trees, plants and shrubs, including dragon and palm trees, and is a very relaxing place to stroll in the shade of the trees.
Ride the cable car
The cable car station is just a five minute walk from the Alameda Gardens. Take the cable car to the top of the Rock, it’s a wonderful 6 minute journey and then walk around the Upper Rock Nature Reserve. The views from the cable car are stunning and you’ll probably encounter a troop of Barbary monkeys when you reach the top station.
Look down in wonder at the city below, as you stand on the edge of two continents and are almost within touching distance of both Spain and Morocco. Gibraltar Cable Car
Upper Rock Nature Reserve
Upper Rock Nature Reserve (Entry fee £19) includes entry to a number of attractions, unfortunately there aren’t that many places that can be seen in one day so I would recommend focusing on the following main attractions.
St. Michael’s Cave – Explore the cave on a self-guided tour, whose largest chamber has been transformed into a concert hall. The cave feels like a magical experience with its glowing red, white and brown stalactite columns that resemble a cathedral with pulpit, chancel and organ pipes.
Windsor Suspension Bridge – A 71 meter long bridge suspended over a 50 meter deep trench, offering spectacular views of the city and the Bay of Gibraltar.
Great Siege Tunnels – Explore the Great Siege Tunnel, once a secret military base built to defend Gibraltar. The Great Siege Tunnel was a secret military base built by hand with hammers and gunpowder. Soldiers dug the 36-meter-long tunnel in just six weeks to defend Gibraltar. The Rock was under siege between 1779 and 1783, with both Spanish and French troops advancing and trying to recapture Gibraltar from the British.
Dare the Skywalk – Dare to follow in Luke Skywalker’s footsteps and step onto the Skywalk – a glass viewing platform 340 metres above sea level where you can see even more spectacular views. It’s not scary at all and its floor and side panels are made of four layers of laminated glass, strong enough to withstand the weight of 11 Range Rover vehicles.
Dine in the Mons Calpe Suite
After following the paths to all these sites, which involve a lot of walking up and down, you will undoubtedly get hungry and need food, so I recommend Mons Calpe Suite Close to the upper cable car station. This restaurant is located at the top of the cliff and has some of the best views of the city from its 360 degree windows. Mons Calpe means ‘hollow mountain’ as the rock has a network of tunnels dug over time to protect the historic fortress. The ambiance and setting of this iconic restaurant combines with the delicious food and friendly service to create a memorable experience. With views worth seeing and being able to spot the Barbary macaques from the floor to ceiling windows, I had no difficulty rating this as my favorite Sky High restaurant! If you prefer a lighter meal there is a cafe/bar on the floor above the restaurant which provides equally dramatic views.
South Bastion
Return down the hill by cable car and enjoy the dramatic harbour views once more, then wander back through the old city walls to the South Bastion, one of three 16th-century Southport Gates.
Climb the steps of the Union Jack
These stairs, located on Devil’s Gap Road (close to Main Street), were originally painted in 1967 to celebrate Gibraltar’s first sovereignty referendum.
Gibraltar Garrison Library
Established in 1793 as a military library, it became a reference library and research centre in 2011. Recently, the Gibraltar International Literature Festival chose the library as its base and hosted world-class authors and speakers there. The colonial building has been beautifully preserved and is filled with rare books and manuscripts stored in antique glass-fronted cabinets. Each room is furnished in colonial style with high ceilings, comfortable chairs and large fireplaces. It feels like stepping back in time when HM officers used to relax near the fire with one of the leather-bound books. Gibraltar Garrison Library
Irish Town
Parallel to Main Street is Irish Town, this is not a town but a narrow street with a good selection of bars and cafes. SaccarelloThere is a coffee shop/coffee roasting business in a former merchant’s house on the corner of Tuckies Lane where you can have a snack. This should leave you enough time to have another look around the shops before heading back across the border.
I hope you find this guide to spending a day in Gibraltar useful and if you are lucky enough to spend more time in this beautiful British overseas territory the following posts might be of interest to you too.
The start of a week in Gibraltar
During our visit we were guests of Visit Gibraltar And as always, all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
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