We may receive a commission if you make purchases through affiliate links (at no extra cost to you). Read why our approach to travel is different.
Spain’s recent win at Euro 2024 sparked talks and even chants about Gibraltar’s sovereignty, a small piece of British territory located at the southern tip of Spain. In subsequent days following the Euro 2024 final, football fans living in nearby Spain rushed to the border with Gibraltar to share their excitement of winning the cup with some displeased onlookers.
Known to the Romans as Mons Calpe, Gibraltar is a rocky outpost from the British colonial era jutting into the Mediterranean sea. Previously it has been in possession of the Islamic Moors of North Africa and the Spanish. However, it’s been under British jurisdiction since 1713, when Spain ceded the small but well-located peninsular to Britain.
Since then, Gibraltar has been maintained as a military outpost, important for its location at the crossroads between the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. The treaty of Utrecht was the document signed to allow England control of “the city and castle of Gibraltar along with its port, defences and fortresses belonging to it”.

The surrounding waters and airspace were never mentioned in the declaration. This resulted in Spain regularly disputing the United Kingdom‘s use of marine vessels and aeroplanes. Regardless, relations between the UK, Gibraltar and Spain are pleasant enough – other than the odd light-hearted exchange after a sporting loss.
The local economy has evolved to Gibraltar as a hub for tourism, with the marketing being that Gibraltar is a unique place to experience British culture with favorable weather conditions year round. Understandably, you can expect to find a lot of history, from defensive missions during WWII and skirmishes with Spain over territorial claims, to remnants of Jewish emigration and even Roman awe at the unique landscape.
What to do in Gibraltar in one day
Due to the limited space in Gibraltar, the best and cheapest accommodation options are in the Spanish border town, La Linda de la Conception. A lot of the workforce of Gibraltar live in La Linda, so if you are crossing the border early in the morning you’ll be joining the daily commute.

Travel tip: If you’re traveling by car or camper-van, there is free street parking at Playa de Santa Bárbara, which is about a 15-minute walk to the border.
Entry and Visas for Gibraltar
Despite Gibraltar functioning essentiality as an independent country separate from Spain and the EU, it is relatively easy to cross over on foot for a day trip. For non EU-citizens, you will receive an exit and re-entry stamp from the Spanish immigration.
It is also worth remembering that, if your passport doesn’t allow visa-free travel to the UK, then you must have the relevant documentation (i.e., a UK visa). Having said that, it’s a relaxed situation at the border so there won’t be any searches or x-ray machines. You may even have to wait for an aeroplane to land before you continue, as the only way to reach the town is over the runway.

What to do in Gibraltar in one day
Gibraltar Rock
Explore the huge rock which occupies a large part of the land with the Upper Nature Reserve Pass or the Gibraltar Nature Reserve Pass. You can also buy a wristband that can be at one of the four entrances to the national reserve, being the Moorish castle, Devils Gap, Cable Car Top and The Jewish Cemetery.
The Nature Reserve Pass allows access to the mountainous part of the territory, which is where you’ll find most of the tourist sights and wildlife. Attractions which are especially worth visiting are the City Under Siege Exhibition, Siege Tunnels, Windsor Suspension Bridge and St Michael’s Cave.

If you’ve got some gumption, you can hike the rock to skip the crowds and choose which of the 17 attractions to visit en route. I suggest taking plenty water and a couple of sandwiches along to keep yourself fuelled.
We started our walk along the mountain at the Moorish Castle, which is a 25-minute walk from the border. Our visit ended at the Jews’ Cemetery which is a good vantage point to catch a glimpse of the continent of Africa across the water.

If hiking isn’t your style, you can take the cable car direct to the top to visit the surrounding attractions. It’s worth noting this is a much more touristic and busy experience. But it goes without saying, the cable car is obviously a lot more generous on the knees.
We recommend that you aim to cross the border at around 9 am to allow plenty of time to see the main and smaller attractions on the mountain. Exploring the rock on foot will take around 5-6 hours, by which point (sandwiches or not) you’ll be ready for some local grub.
A classic pub lunch
If you’re familiar with the UK, Gibraltar town feels a lot like a quaint British high street. Here, you’ll find several pubs where you can get a pint of English ale and enjoy a classic pub lunch.

As a part of Britain, the currency used is Pound Sterling. But you may be surprised to learn that Gibraltar has its own series of notes with unique designs. While the British Pound has been made from polymer for some time now, local notes are still paper.
At the ATM you can choose to withdraw Euro, British Pound or Gibraltar Pound. However, you’ll find most places accept Euros and card payment. The center also has its fair share of souvenir shops to pick up a unique gift. And just in case you’re looking for that extra English charm, along the high street you’ll find traditional British red telephone and post boxes.

For wildlife lovers
No visit to Gibraltar is complete without seeing the famous monkeys (Barbary Macaque). In fact, Gibraltar is the only place in Europe that you can experience walking among free-roaming primates. You will find these fluffy guys in abundance along the top of the mountain.
But that wasn’t always the case: at the end of WWII, their population numbered a mere seven. Legend has it that, as long as there are monkeys in Gibraltar, the territory will remain property of the British. Winston Churchill, upon learning about the drop in Macaque population, ordered five female monkeys to be brought over from Morocco and released. These days, the population is over 200.

Nightlife in Gibraltar
Head over to the new side of town for a change of scenery. Ocean Village is a modern marina which hosts boats from small dinghies to super yachts. Bars and restaurants line the walkways and some places offer happy hours between 4-8 pm. Keep your eye open for £3 pints or 2 for 1 cocktails for only £9.50.
British culture is evident here. Expect to walk into bars playing British pop music and hosting classic British games like bingo and pub quizzes.

And don’t fret about returning to Spain to your accommodation: the border with Spain is open 24 hours.
Share This Article

Traveling soon? Subscribe to The Insight below and get exclusive access to our personalized travel advice community via WhatsApp so you can ask all your burning travel questions.
Looking for the best comprehensive travel insurance? SafetyWing has you covered.
And for your eSIM in every country, there is only one option we recommend: Airalo.
Read more of our best insights from around the world