Home / Destinations / Gibraltar
Gibraltar travel guide
A towering rock, playful monkeys and views to Africa.
Gibraltar is a tiny British Overseas Territory on the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula. It is dominated by the Rock of Gibraltar, home to wild Barbary macaques, caves and old military tunnels.
Travel tools
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.
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.
Source and more: Gibraltar travel facts on RoamSun
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.
Source: RoamSun Gibraltar page · Browse hotel guides
Connect
Plug types: C, G. Voltage: 240 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.
Calling code: +350.
Mobile data: read the eSIM for Europe before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.
Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun
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.
Source: full Gibraltar guide on RoamSun
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
Source: RoamSun Gibraltar guide
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.
Source: RoamSun Gibraltar facts
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Gibraltar?
Apr–Jun and Sep–Oct – warm and sunny without the peak heat. Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters.
What time zone is Gibraltar in?
Gibraltar uses Europe/Gibraltar.
What plug and voltage does Gibraltar use?
Gibraltar uses plug type C, G at 240 V. Check whether your devices are dual-voltage before you plug in.
What is the calling code for Gibraltar?
The international calling code for Gibraltar is +350.
Do you tip in Gibraltar?
Around 10% in restaurants.
What is the emergency number in Gibraltar?
112 or 999 police, fire & ambulance.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Gibraltar?
Traffic drives on the right.