Things to Do in Gibraltar, Gibraltar

Quick facts: At the top of this limestone rock lives the only wild population of Barbary macaques in Europe, estimated at around 300 individuals. A tunnel stretching over 50 kilometers has been carved inside the rock, making it one of the densest tunnel systems in the world.

Highlights: The macaques are known for lowering the ropes of soldiers patrolling the path, so the army has to guard against them stealing equipment. Visitors often see mothers nursing their young right on the edge of the cliff, just above the waters of the strait.

Quick facts: A huge natural cave located deep in a rocky massif, known for spectacular stalactites and stalagmites stretching through several chambers. In the past it was used as a shelter and a venue for concerts thanks to its exceptional acoustics.

Highlights: The largest chamber inside the cave has a natural shape reminiscent of an amphitheater, and its ceiling is covered with thousands of crystal formations that sparkle like stars when the spotlight is turned on. Visitors often say that the sound of water droplets falling in the silence creates a unique atmosphere you cannot experience anywhere else.

Quick facts: A glass platform juts out from the cliff and offers views of Africa, the Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea from a single point. The wind at this height can be so strong that the platform feels like it is breathing beneath your feet.

Highlights: When you stand on the glass floor, you can see Morocco just 20 kilometers away, and on the other side you can see both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean at the same time. It is one of the rare points on the planet where two seas meet before your eyes.

Quick facts: The cable car takes you to the top of the rock in just six minutes, where views of Africa across the strait await you. The Barbary macaques at the top are the only wild primate population in Europe and freely roam around visitors.

Highlights: The cabin climbs at a 45-degree angle, making it one of the steepest cable car ascents in the world, and during the ride you can also see planes landing on the runway that stretches directly below you. At the top, the galleries and war tunnels from World War II hide stories that few people tell, leading deep inside the rock.

Quick facts: From this point, on a clear day you can see the shores of three continents: Europe, Africa and the outlines of the Rif mountain range in Morocco. This is the southernmost point of Gibraltar, from where the strait, only about 14 kilometers wide, seems as if you could swim across it.

Highlights: Just a few meters from the cliff stands the small Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque, a gift from Saudi King Fahd, one of the rare ones on European soil built through donations. Next to it stand a Catholic church and a lighthouse, so three different cultures and faiths meet in one place, right where the Atlantic and the Mediterranean come together.

Quick facts: More than 30 kilometers of tunnels have been carved within the rocky mass over the centuries. Besides their military significance, these passages today offer a unique view of the strait and the African coast.

Highlights: The oldest part of the tunnel was dug by hand, with hammer and chisel, without a single machine, and visitors can still see traces of that arduous labor on the walls today. When you stand at the opening facing the strait, you feel the wind that thousands of soldiers felt before you, in the darkness and damp chill of the stone.

Quick facts: Medieval fortifications above the harbor hide one of the oldest buildings in the area, a small chapel from the 14th century. The view from the walls spans two continents, from the shores of Spain to the outlines of Africa in the distance.

Highlights: The Tower of Homage, the main tower of the complex, has retained its massive stone structure through the centuries, and guides claim the walls are several meters thick. Climbing the steep steps to the top of the tower rewards visitors with a panorama stretching across the entire bay, something not easily forgotten.

Quick facts: In the very heart of Gibraltar, a green oasis offers a respite from the rocky terrain and urban surroundings. Visitors can stroll through diverse plant collections and enjoy a peaceful atmosphere surrounded by lush trees and flower beds.

Highlights: Hidden among the treetops are centuries-old trees that have witnessed generations of visitors, and their branches form a natural canopy over the walkways. At the very entrance, a magnificent avenue greets you and immediately leaves an impression, while in the quiet of the farther parts of the park you hear only the rustling of leaves and the chirping of birds.

Quick facts: The main pedestrian street of the city stretches along the entire old center and connects the square with the border crossing to Spain. Thousands of visitors pass through it daily, arriving by ferry or by car from the neighboring country.

Highlights: On the pavement, right at the entrance to the walkway, you can notice a kind of equator marking the boundary between Europe and Britain. Walking along the street, you will hear a mix of English, Spanish and Italian, the legacy of the different cultures that shaped this commercial passage over the centuries.