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Gibraltar Rock & Nature Reserve

Queen's Road, Gibraltar,

Description

The Rock of Gibraltar is a 426m high promontory made of a single limestone block and nicknamed one of the two Pillars of Hercules, the other one being on the opposite side of the Straits, in Morocco. Most of the Rock's upper area is a nature reserve that is home to the around 300 Barbary macaques, over 100 caves and several tourist attractions grouped under the "Gibraltar Nature Reserve" access ticket. These include famous sights like the Mediterranean Steps, the Moorish Castle, St Michael's Cave and the WW2 tunnels as well as a series of less well-known points of interest.

Access & Transport

The easiest way to get there is to park in town and walk up. Do note that non-resident vehicles are not permitted access into the Gibraltar Nature Reserve, Upper Rock. Gibraltar has its own airport and is 20km east of Algeciras, 140km southwest of Malaga and 120km southeast of Cadiz. The public transport connectivity with Spain is poor.

Instructions & Recommendations

The territory's currency is the Gibraltar / British Pound, not the Euro. Tickets can be purchased on the day from either Jew's Gate or the Moorish Castle entrance to the Nature Reserve. If you are tackling the Mediterranean steps, you may consider visiting the Gorham's Cave Complex (separate fee applies)

Meta review

Online reviews for the Upper Rock Nature Reserve complex are quite mixed because many visitors use the cable car ride on the way up and, being sold as a combo, they feel the experience to be outrageously expensive (welcome to UK prices!). Less "value-related" comments from visitors who have gone up walking; in that respect, going up is deemed difficult by some and not by others, depending on fitness level and, probably, the outside temperature on the day. The highlights for most are the views, St. Michael's Cave and their lightshow, and the free roaming macaques- though again, some reviewers feel like they can be a hazard (forgetting that we humans are in their natural territory)

Environmental & Social

Most of the attractions have a low carbon footprint and tourism helps preserve the architectural and natural heritage

Conclusion

If you have made it to Gibraltar this is the prime attraction so you can't really not visit. The most spectacular sight is probably the rock itself, followed by the views from the top (looking at Africa) and St Michael's Cave. Our advice is not to take the cable car so you'll not only get a more memorable experience but you won't feel like grumbling about the price, i.e. much better value!

Key positive

Unique views

Many historical and interesting sights

Key negative

A little expensive (w/o cable car)

Suitability

Only partially accessible for visitors with reduced mobility: long slopes (cable car can partially solve the issue), caves and the Mediterranean steps will be a challenge.

About this Rating

TYPE

Desktop

RESEARCHED IN

June 2024

PROVIDER

Koreval

Included Items
None
Timing
Duration of visit
Last ticket sold 1h and last admission 30mins before closing time

av. transport time:0h 15m

est. visit time:3h

Regulated hours

Start of Season 1:May, 01

Season 1

MONDAY09:30 - 19:00

TUESDAY09:30 - 19:00

WEDNESDAY09:30 - 19:00

THURSDAY09:30 - 19:00

FRIDAY09:30 - 19:00

SATURDAY09:30 - 19:00

SUNDAY09:30 - 19:00

Start of Season 2:Nov, 01

Season 2

MONDAY09:00 - 18:00

TUESDAY09:00 - 18:00

WEDNESDAY09:00 - 18:00

THURSDAY09:00 - 18:00

FRIDAY09:00 - 18:00

SATURDAY09:00 - 18:00

SUNDAY09:00 - 18:00

Pricing
Age band
Age band
Regular price / pers.
Senior
65 - 99
£18
Adult
12 - 64
£18
Child
3 - 11
£12
Infant
0 - 2
£0

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