Gibraltar
DisputedAdministered by: United Kingdom — claimed by Spain
“A limestone monolith with macaques, tunnels and a runway you drive across.”
Gibraltar is a limestone ridge 426 metres high at the southern tip of Iberia, British since 1713 and claimed by Spain ever since. It occupies about 6.7 square kilometres, which is why the airport runway crosses the main road into Spain — traffic stops for landings, and you walk or drive across the tarmac to reach the town. On a clear day the Rif mountains of Morocco are visible 25 kilometres away across the strait.
The Rock itself is a nature reserve: Barbary macaques, the only wild monkeys in Europe, live on the upper slopes, and the interior is honeycombed with tunnels dug during the Great Siege of 1779–83 and again in the Second World War — more than 50 kilometres of them, considerably longer than the road network. St Michael's Cave holds a chamber used as a concert hall, and Gorham's Cave at sea level is a UNESCO site with the last known Neanderthal occupation in Europe.
Highlights
The Upper Rock nature reserve
Barbary macaques — Europe's only wild monkey population — the Skywalk and Windsor suspension bridge, and views across the strait to Morocco. Reached by cable car, on foot up the Mediterranean Steps, or by taxi tour.
The Great Siege Tunnels
Galleries hacked out of the north face during the 1779–83 siege to mount guns where no gun could otherwise reach, later extended in the Second World War into a subterranean network longer than the territory's roads.
Gorham's Cave
A UNESCO World Heritage site at sea level on the east side, holding evidence of Neanderthal occupation as recently as 24,000 years ago — among the last anywhere — including engravings on the cave floor.
The airport runway crossing
Winston Churchill Avenue crosses the active runway at grade; barriers come down for every landing and departure. A tunnel now takes most road traffic, but the pedestrian crossing remains one of the odder walks in Europe.
Entry requirements for Gibraltar
Checking your passport…
We don't hold entry details for this passport group yet.
Before you fly
The detail
- Passport validity
- Most destinations want validity beyond your stay, and some want six months. Check yours against the return date.
- Onward travel
- Airlines may ask for a return or onward ticket at check-in.
- Health
- UK-standard healthcare with a hospital in the territory; GHIC arrangements apply for UK visitors. No particular hazards.
- Money
- Gibraltar pound, pegged to sterling, with both circulating. Euros accepted at a poor rate. Cards everywhere. VAT-free status makes electronics, spirits and tobacco noticeably cheaper than in Spain.
When to go
BestMar–May, Sep–Oct. AvoidJul–Aug.
Spring raptor migration across the strait.
The band above each month is our editorial verdict - it weighs crowds, prices and access as well as weather. The line is average daily temperature, the bars are monthly rainfall. Select a month for the figures. Climate figures: ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2005–2024 normals.
What it costs
A day in Gibraltar
Comfortable · sample day
≈ $151
Line items are real prices we track. The daily budget is an editorial estimate for this level, not their sum.
Where this sits among 244 countries we have costed
Hotel supply is very limited for the territory's visitor numbers, so rates stay high year-round and spike whenever a conference or a cruise coincides.
Updated Aug 2026 · Editorial synthesis — Gibraltar Tourist Board tariffs and accommodation sampling (2025–2026) · confidence high
Excludes international flights - they depend on where you fly from.
Regions to know
5The town
Main Street's shops, Casemates Square, the Moorish Castle above and the Trafalgar Cemetery.
The Upper Rock
The macaques, St Michael's Cave, the Great Siege Tunnels, the Skywalk and the Mediterranean Steps.
Europa Point
The southern tip with the lighthouse, the mosque and Africa across the strait.
The east side
Catalan Bay and Sandy Bay beneath the cliff, the water catchments and Gorham's Cave complex.
The north and the border
The runway crossing, the frontier with La Línea and the marinas at Ocean Village and Marina Bay.
Practical guide
Getting there
Gibraltar International is served by British Airways, easyJet and Wizz from London and Manchester. Many visitors fly to Málaga and take the bus or drive the 130 kilometres. Walking across from La Línea de la Concepción is the standard land route.
Getting around
The territory is walkable end to end. Buses run frequently and cheaply. The cable car goes to the top of the Rock; taxi tours cover the Upper Rock sites in a set circuit. Driving is more trouble than it is worth given the parking.
Money & costs
Gibraltar pound, pegged to sterling, with both circulating. Euros accepted at a poor rate. Cards everywhere. VAT-free status makes electronics, spirits and tobacco noticeably cheaper than in Spain.
Safety
Very safe. The realistic issues are macaques taking possessions, traffic in narrow streets and the border queue eating a day. Do not attempt to take a macaque anything, including out of the territory — it is a serious offence.
Health
UK-standard healthcare with a hospital in the territory; GHIC arrangements apply for UK visitors. No particular hazards.
SIM & internet
Gibtelecom and Shine. UK roaming arrangements vary by operator and Gibraltar is often excluded from EU-style roaming bundles — check before arriving, and beware of your phone latching onto a Spanish network on the Rock.
Driving
Right-hand traffic, unlike the UK — Gibraltar switched in 1929 to match Spain. Streets are narrow and parking is genuinely difficult; most visitors leave the car in La Línea and walk across.
Rules change - verify with an official source before you rent.
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GibraltarFrequently asked questions
What is the border situation like?
The land border with La Línea can involve long queues, particularly on Spanish public holidays and at weekends — occasionally hours. Walking across is usually much faster than driving. Post-Brexit arrangements for Gibraltar's relationship with the Schengen area have been under negotiation for years; check the current position before relying on a quick crossing.
Which currency should I use?
The Gibraltar pound is pegged one-to-one with sterling and both circulate; euros are widely accepted but at a poor rate. Gibraltar pounds are not accepted in the UK, so spend or change them before you leave. Cards work everywhere.
Are the macaques a problem?
They are wild animals accustomed to people and will take bags, phones and food from your hands. Feeding them is illegal and carries a substantial fine. Do not make eye contact, do not carry visible food, and keep bags closed and in front of you.