Waiting at the ramps while an airplane crosses the road is not an experience you’ll have just anywhere. We’re talking about British Gibraltar, which you can easily reach from Malaga Airport. Down below, there’s a lively buzz, but when you take the cable car to the “Rock of Gibraltar,” you’ll find yourself in wild nature with Barbary macaques. After a moderately challenging hike, you can cool off on the sandy beaches on the eastern coast.
Detailed Google map with attractions
Detailed map of our points of interest[/caption>
Practical information
- Accommodation – if you don’t want to stay in expensive Gibraltar, the most suitable option is the town near the border – La Linea de la Conception. We found accommodation here through Airbnb by Santa Barbara beach, where you have a beautiful view of the Rock of Gibraltar. Apart from the transparent water, you could also collect plenty of shells.
- Documents – for crossing the Gibraltar border, an ID card was sufficient – but BEWARE, after Brexit it might not be anymore.
- Border Crossing – Gibraltar is most easily accessible by car or on foot across the border – you could also cross with an ID card. If you want to go by car, make sure to check with the car rental if crossing the border is allowed. Overall, be prepared for higher prices here. The currency is the Gibraltar pound (GIP), but they will also accept British pounds (GBP). Supposedly, it doesn’t work the other way around, so better try to spend them.
- Gibraltar Airport – check the flight schedule on the airport website of Gibraltar, there are only about 10 flights per day. It would be a shame to miss this theater where you give way to the airplane.
- Jellyfish – jellyfish are common in Malaga and Gibraltar, so it’s better to swim with goggles (or they will be signaled by a red flag).
- Toll Sections – there are toll sections from Malaga to Gibraltar, but you can avoid them by taking 20-minute longer routes.
- Speed – be careful with speed in Spain. Even if you have a rental car, the fine may come to your home in Slovakia. We received a 100€ fine like this.
- Read also a related article about Andalusia 🙂
Public Transport in Gibraltar
- In Gibraltar, bus lines 1 to 9 operate, the bus station is a short distance past the airport.
- Tickets are purchased only in cash from the driver – a single ride costs 1.80 GBP, but it’s more cost-effective to get a day pass for 2.50 GBP (you can also pay in euros, but at less favorable rates).
- Buses number 4 and 8 run to the eastern beaches (Sandy Bay and Catalan Bay).
Top attractions in Gibraltar
1. Rock of Gibraltar
The Gibraltar Rock with its inhabitants, the monkeys – Barbary macaques, is undoubtedly the most famous attraction. Legend has it that Gibraltar will remain British as long as the monkeys inhabit the rock. When at the top of the Rock of Gibraltar, it’s advisable to carry your backpack in front of you, as the monkeys are known to jump from behind, open it, help themselves to your food on the go, and might even start chasing you (personal experience). Holding a stick can also be helpful, as they fear it, mistaking it for a gun.
Prices and ways to get to the top of the rock:
- Round trip by cable car for 15.50 GBP
- Up by cable car for 13.50 GBP and walk down – our recommendation
- Walking both ways – the cheapest option, but it might be a bit warm 🙂
- By minibus – if you’re tired of waiting in line for the cable car, you might consider this option, price was around 30 GBP
Optional add-on prices:
- Walkers ticket for 5 GBP – includes Skywalk (views of the eastern cliffs from a glass platform), O’hara’s Battery (huge gun with a view of Africa)
- Nature Reserve for 10 GBP – includes Skywalk, St Michael’s Cave, Windsor Suspension Bridge, Great Siege Tunnels, City Under Siege Exhibition, Moorish Castle, 100 Ton Gun
TIP: You can buy cable car tickets in advance online, in which case you will go through a faster priority line and a bus will take you from the border. Online prices are the same as on-site prices.
You can get inspired by our route – cable car up, main viewpoint, walk to Skywalk, Douglas path and lookout, detour to O’hara’s battery, where two monkeys jumped on our backpack and started chasing us, huge cannon with a view of Africa, back down around St Michael’s Cave and Ape’s Den, at the end near Moorish Castle there were even escalators – GPS routeTIP: At O’hara’s battery, you can turn off to the stone steps Mediterranean Steps (better ask the guard not to miss them)
2. Sikorski Memorial
Memorial of Polish General Władysław Sikorski at the southern tip of Gibraltar. A very pleasant spot for relaxation with views of the sea.
3. Gibraltar Botanic Gardens & Alameda Wildlife Park
A very beautiful botanical garden with a small ZOO in the middle of the park. We definitely recommend visiting and taking a stroll there.
