After finishing my trip in Málaga, I headed to Gibraltar, a truly unique destination. Even though it’s located at the southern tip of Spain, Gibraltar is actually a British Overseas Territory.
The most iconic landmark here is the Rock of Gibraltar – a massive limestone mountain that towers over the edge of the Mediterranean. You can see it from far away, standing tall and proud. If you go up to the top, on a clear day, you might even spot Morocco across the sea!
Gibraltar’s history is full of complexity. It was once ruled by the Moors, then the Spanish, and eventually the British. Today, it’s still under British control, though Spain continues to dispute that sovereignty due to its strategic location.
What’s really fascinating is how you suddenly feel like you’ve stepped into the UK as soon as you enter: red phone boxes, English pubs, British supermarkets, and they even use pound sterling (£) as currency. But you’ll still hear plenty of Spanish spoken too – it’s this unusual blend that makes the place feel so special.
Although Gibraltar is small, it’s full of charm and worth a visit.
I joined a one-day tour from Málaga, and the trip focused on two main highlights: The Rock of Gibraltar and surprisingly, the Gibraltar Airport. What? An airport as a sightseeing spot? Yes – and you’ll understand why once you see it.
After crossing customs, tour vans were already waiting. Our guide suggested we hop on one to save time and energy, so I followed the recommendation. The ride cost €50 per person and included several stops on the Rock for sightseeing and photo ops. The driver also acted as a guide, giving us interesting stories along the way.
The Rock of Gibraltar
This iconic rock stands 426 meters tall and is made of limestone. It’s the symbol of Gibraltar and dominates the entire landscape – the whole city is built around it. As we drove in, we could already see the Rock rising dramatically above the sea.
The Rock is part of a Nature Reserve, home to rare plants, birds, and the famous Barbary macaques – Europe’s only wild monkeys. These cheeky monkeys aren’t afraid of people and might even jump on your car or backpack, so keep your snacks safe!
There are a few ways to get to the top: walking, driving, or taking the Cable Car. I recommend taking the cable car up and walking back down, stopping at scenic viewpoints and historical spots like:
- Skywalk – A glass platform where you can look down at the sea and horizon beneath your feet. Not for the faint-hearted!
- St. Michael’s Cave – A natural limestone cave with colorful lighting and even a concert space inside.
- Great Siege Tunnels – Military tunnels carved by the British in the 1700s, now a museum.
- O’Hara’s Battery – A viewpoint and artillery post at the top.
On a clear day, you can actually see Africa from the summit, along with countless cargo ships and cruise liners below. It really feels like standing at the meeting point of Europe and Africa – unforgettable!
Gibraltar Airport
Now here’s a real surprise: Gibraltar Airport is not just a transportation hub – it’s a full-on tourist attraction!
Why? Because its runway crosses an actual main road – Winston Churchill Avenue – which leads to the Spanish border. Every time a plane takes off or lands, traffic on the road has to stop, just like at a railway crossing. It’s a bizarre and amazing thing to witness. Cars and people literally wait behind a barrier as a plane roars by!
The runway is only about 1,800 meters long, squeezed between a mountain and the sea. Only specially trained pilots are allowed to land here – it’s considered one of the most challenging airports in the world.
If you fly into Gibraltar, that landing experience will definitely be one to remember. But even if you’re just walking in across the border, you’ll literally walk across the runway – where else in the world can you do that?
Our one-day trip mainly revolved around these two highlights. By 5 PM, we boarded the coach back to Málaga.
Next stop: Vienna, Austria!
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