Located at the western entrance to the Mediterranean, Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory that blends British character with Mediterranean charm. Blessed with over 300 days of sunshine each year and a fascinating history, it has become a well-connected and popular cruise destination, offering a wealth of attractions all within proximity.
The most iconic experience is the famous Rock Tour, which captures Gibraltar’s story from past to present. Highlights include Europa Point, where visitors enjoy sweeping views across the Strait of Gibraltar to Morocco, only 24 km away.
The Gibraltar Nature Reserve, Upper Rock, covers the top of the 426-metre-high Rock and is home to the world-famous, free-roaming Barbary macaques. The tour also includes St. Michael’s Cave, with its dramatic stalactite and stalagmite formations, now enhanced with a spectacular light and sound show. At the historic Moorish Castle’s Tower of Homage, dating back to the 11th century, visitors can still see the scars of past sieges etched into its walls.
Beneath the Rock lies another world: more than 55 km of tunnels. These include the Great Siege Tunnels, built between 1779 and 1783 to defend the territory, and the recently renovated World War II tunnels, once a “city within a city” that housed thousands of troops. On the surface, Gibraltar’s streetscape is equally captivating, with architecture reflecting Genoese, Portuguese, Spanish, Moorish, and British influences, all framed by the original city walls still visible around town.
Gibraltar also offers a lively café culture, with bars and restaurants scattered along Main Street and around its two modern marinas. For shoppers, Main Street—just a 15-minute walk from the Cruise Terminal—is a haven for VAT-free bargains. Strategically located at the crossroads of Mediterranean and Atlantic shipping lanes, Gibraltar not only provides a wide range of services to cruise lines but also allows ships to open their on-board facilities after 18:00 local time while still in port.
