Gibraltar travel guide

Getting there

Gibraltar International Airport (GIB) has flights from the UK, and its runway famously crosses the main road into town. Most other visitors fly to Málaga and continue by road, entering on foot or by car across the land border with Spain.

Best time to visit: Apr–Jun and Sep–Oct – warm and sunny without the peak heat.

Flights: see the cheapest month to fly to Gibraltar, with live one-way and return fares from your nearest airport.

Tougher months: No bad time – but July and August can be hot and crowded, and December to February is the rainiest period.

Weather by month in Gibraltar

• 16°J●●
• 17°F●●
• 18°M●●
• 20°A●
• 22°M●
• 25°J
• 28°J
• 28°A
• 26°S●
• 23°O●●
• 19°N●●
• 17°D●●

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: Europe/Gibraltar. Compare with your local time.

Stay

Most trips to Gibraltar are based around Upper Rock Nature Reserve, Main Street & Casemates Square or Europa Point. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$70–100 for a backpacker and US$170–280 mid-range, per person.

Connect

Plug types: C, G. Voltage: 240 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +350.

Mobile data: set up a travel eSIM or check your roaming plan before you fly, so data works as soon as you land.

Do

• Upper Rock Nature Reserve (The Rock · nature & history): Home to the macaques, caves, tunnels, viewpoints and walking trails across the top of the Rock.
• Main Street & Casemates Square (Town centre · shopping & cafés): The heart of Gibraltar, with British-style pubs, historic buildings and lively squares.
• Europa Point (Southern tip · lighthouse & views): The southernmost point of the Rock, with a lighthouse, a mosque and sweeping views of Africa.
• Gorham's Cave Complex (East side · UNESCO site): Sea caves where Neanderthals lived; viewable from a platform or on limited guided tours.
• Catalan Bay (East coast · beach village): A colourful former fishing village with a sandy beach beneath the cliffs.
• Ocean Village (Marina · dining): A modern marina area with waterfront restaurants and bars.

Things to do

• Ride the cable car up the Rock. Glide to the top for views across the Strait to Morocco's Rif Mountains on a clear day.
• Meet the Barbary macaques. See Europe's only wild monkeys lounging at Apes' Den – but keep food out of sight.
• Explore St Michael's Cave. Wander through a dramatic cavern of stalactites that also hosts concerts in its natural auditorium.
• Walk the Great Siege Tunnels. Follow galleries hand-dug by British soldiers in the eighteenth century, with cannon pointing toward Spain.
• Cross the Windsor Suspension Bridge. Test your nerves on a bridge spanning a deep gorge high up in the nature reserve.
• Climb the Mediterranean Steps. Hike a steep, spectacular path around the Rock's eastern cliffs.
• Go dolphin watching. Take a boat into the Bay of Gibraltar, where several dolphin species are seen year-round.
• Stroll Main Street. Browse shops and pubs along the busy pedestrian street, then relax in Casemates Square.

Eat and drink

• Calentita – baked chickpea-flour flatbread, the national dish
• Rosto – pasta with meat in tomato sauce
• Panissa – fried chickpea-flour slices
• Fish and chips – a British pub classic

Money and safety

Currency: Gibraltar pound (GIP). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: Around 10% in restaurants.

Emergency numbers: 112 or 999 police, fire & ambulance.

• The Gibraltar pound is pegged one-to-one to the British pound; UK sterling is accepted, but Gibraltar notes can't easily be used in the UK.
• Euros are widely accepted, though change is usually given in pounds and the rate may not be favourable.
• Gibraltar is very safe, but keep bags closed and food hidden around the macaques, which grab snacks.
• Never feed the monkeys – it is illegal and can result in a fine.