A Day Trip to Gibraltar from Spain: How to Plan

During our road trip through Southern Spain, we knew we had to plan a day trip to Gibraltar. Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory that sits in the southern tip of Spain. It had always been an intriguing place to me, maybe because I’m British, but I wanted to know why this spit of land held such significance and what its story was. After visiting I can truly say there is no other place like Gibraltar and let me tell you why you should plan a day trip from Spain.

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Why Visit Gibraltar on a Day Trip?

If you’re looking for a unique experience and a fix of all things British, then a day trip to Gibraltar is for you. From red telephone boxes to fish and chips you’ll find a lot of classic Britishness here. There is also an abundance of tax-free shopping, nature reserves, complex cave systems and a Moorish castle to explore too.

Gibraltar overlooks the Strait of Gibraltar, the waterway to Europe and the entrance and exit of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Its most visited place is a 426-metre high limestone rock that thrusts out of the sea and takes over the landscape, aptly named ‘The Rock’. The Rock has exceptional views in all directions, and on a clear day, you can see across the Strait to Africa. It’s also the only place in Europe where wild monkeys roam free, or Barbary Macaques to be exact. It’s rich in military history and during a visit you can learn why Gibraltar remains a British Territory. Sounds like an intriguing place right?

How to Make the Trip to Gibraltar from Spain

Day Trip Border Crossing

The closest town in Spain to Gibraltar is La Línea de la Conceptión. Originally, we had planned to drive and stay at one of the hotels in Gibraltar. But after some research, I learned queues at the border are long and hotels are expensive by comparison, so we opted to visit on foot. There is ample parking, follow all of the signs and you’re good. Alternatively, you can keep your car parked at your hotel for the day as we did. We stayed at the Ohtels Campo De Gibraltar, it’s a short walk to the border and in a great place to explore La Línea de la Conceptión too. Many visitors also travel from nearby Spanish places such as Malaga, Seville and Tarifa.

Brexit & Covid-19 Safety Measures

Crossing the border was fairly straightforward before Brexit, the withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU). Gibraltar left the EU in 2020 so border crossings now involve more checks, particularly around food and drinks. It also seems this is a fluid situation as the Spanish and British governments trial border crossing measures. For the most up-to-date coronavirus information check here and for border and visa entry here. Regardless of the current situation you will be crossing international borders and must remember to bring your passport.

One of the first things you’ll notice at the airport is that you have to cross the runway. If you’re sticking to a specific schedule, I recommend checking flight times. You don’t want to end up waiting for a flight to land before you can pass through. However, it might be something you’d like to witness as the runway is right there in front of you.

What Currency to use?

The official currency in Gibraltar is Gibraltar pounds. We simply withdrew some cash from an ATM to use throughout the day. You will be able to use Euros if you’re in a pinch, but we found the prices were a lot higher.

Sightseeing in Gibraltar – Day Trip Ideas

Visit the Top of The Rock by Cable Car

If there is one thing every visitor must do in Gibraltar, it’s visiting the top of the rock. There are a few options, and my favourite is to travel up there by cable car. It’s worth buying tickets in advance as lines are long. The advance option also gives you fast track entry when you arrive. But if you’re like us and not sure what timeslot you’ll need, you can buy tickets online when you get there. We showed the tickets on our phone and were sent straight through. There are a few ticket options available, we opted for the one-way. We decided we’d walk down and check out Apes Den and the nature reserve on the way back to town.

Other options to reach the top are taxi, on foot, public transport or a tour bus. Remember to leave all food and drinks at the bottom as the macaques will attempt to steal these from you. There are a lot of signs up warning visitors, but unfortunately many people ignore them.

Things to do on The Rock

Aside from admiring the beautiful views, most visitors want to see the Barbary Macaques at the top. It’s the only place in Europe where they roam free and how they arrived on the rock is still an ongoing debate. While exploring the area be aware that these animals are fearless. They’re no joke and will approach you if they think you have food. I witnessed the macaques climbing onto backpacks, fighting bags off of people and rummaging around unattended items. Will had to help a hysterical woman who couldn’t get one off of her back as it raided the contents of her pack. It’s so important to adhere to the signs and admire them from afar. They’re quite a delight to see roaming around, very playful and smart. An experience I’ll never forget.

There is a restaurant and snack bar at the top. We enjoyed a drink while watching the macaques steal food from tourists and fight amongst themselves. I could have sat there for hours appreciating the views while people and macaque watching. They also sell a few souvenirs that you can purchase.

When we were ready to begin our descent, we made our way to the nature reserve. This network of walks and trails have numerous things to see and do. The route we did took us to Skywalk, O’Hara’s Battery and past St Michael’s Cave and by Ape’s Den before heading back to town. We didn’t have enough time to explore the West side of the reserve. It included many historical areas such as the siege tunnels, Moorish castle, World War II tunnels and heritage centre.

Stroll Through Main Street

Taking a walk down Main Street you’d be forgiven for thinking you’re on any other British high-street. Many of the retailers are the same with duty-free shopping being the exception. There is no tax on goods you buy in Gibraltar, hello shopping paradise. It’s also worth walking down the historical Irish Town street. Located just off and running parallel with Main Street, it’s less crowded and has a more local feel. It’s a pedestrianised area with some unique stores, historic buildings and of course more pubs.

Eat Some British Food & Drinks

At the time we were living in the south of France and were craving Indian food. We found Curry and Sushi and enjoyed an amazing meal. They also offered gluten free options which is something I required. Aside from this place you’ll find multiple restaurants serving up a range of food. Fish and chips, a great British staple, is easy to come by.

Day Trip from Gibraltar to Morocco

At only 8 miles from Morocco across the Strait of Gibraltar, a day trip to Africa is within reach. Although trips don’t leave from Gibraltar there are options from nearby Spanish towns. Check out my day trip to Morocco guide if you fancy making the trip.

Thanks for reading, I hope I’ve convinced you to pay Gibraltar a visit, and that this has been a useful itinerary on how to plan a day trip to Gibraltar from Spain. If you have any more places that you would recommend let me know in the comments below or find me on Instagram.

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Looking for other day trips while you’re in Southern Spain? Check out my Tangier for a day guide to continue planning the perfect trip in Southern Europe.