Gibraltar Top Things To Do

• Take a cable-car trip to the top of the Rock; built in 1966 the Top Station is on the summit of the Rock, from where visitors can see Spain to the north and southwards to Africa. The cable-car journey stops at the Apes’ Den.

• Attend the Changing of the Guards, which takes place several times daily at the Convent, residence of the governor, and formerly a 16th-century Franciscan Monastic house.

• Go on a guided walking tour around the almost complete city walls, every Friday at 1030.

• The Mediterranean Steps Walk, which starts at O’Hara’s Battery (the highest point in Gibraltar), snakes down the eastern cliff and around the southern slopes to the western side of the Rock.

• You can also opt for the 90-minute Official Rock Tour which takes visitors to the various attractions around the Rock.

• Marina Quay and Queensway Quay (two modern marina developments) provide visitors with the chance to indulge in some serious people watching while sampling delicious seafood in one of the many attractive harbourside restaurants.

• Relax on the beach. On the east side are Eastern Beach, Catalan Bay and, towards the south, Sandy Bay, where the Rock is very sheer and parking difficult. Little Bay, a pebble beach, and Camp Bay/Keys Promenade are on the western coast. Pier fishing facilities are available. Scuba-diving, parasailing and waterskiing can also be practised.

• The Bay of Gibraltar is home to a large population of dolphins and whales, and tourists can take boat trips to view these fascinating creatures.

• Birdwatching can be undertaken in spring and autumn, when thousands of migrating birds on their way between their breeding grounds in northern Europe and their wintering areas in Africa stop at the Rock. Owls, eagles, harriers, hoopoes, buzzards and black kytes join resident species such as peregrine falcons, blue rock thrush and barbary partridge.

• A large area of the upper rock has been declared a nature reserve, and since 1991 new species of plants have been planted to create botanical gardens.

• Go on a day trip to Ronda, Malaga and Jerez in Andalucia (the Spanish province) (see the Spain section for further information on Andalucia); day trips by air to Tangier and other Moroccan cities (see the Morocco section) can also be arranged.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.