Gibraltar is one of those fun places that really is unlike any other. It’s quirky, different and feels what it is – on the edge of two continents – Europe and Africa. Although it is unashamedly very British. It’s small enough to enjoy lots of the activities and excursions on offer in a short time span and is great for visiting with children. Here’s our top ten things to do in Gibraltar with kids. A mix of culture and fun (and check out our Rainy day activities labelled below too).
Read more:
A feature about our day of exploration on Gibraltar
Table of Contents
Things to do in Gibraltar with kids – Dolphin watching
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One of my happiest memories of Gibraltar is seeing all of the dolphins. Swimming wild in the sea where they should be seen.
We’ve been lucky enough to see dolphins in the wild a number of times now but nothing beats the experience of seeing them in Gibraltar. There were so many of them it takes your breath away.
This is a wonderful experience with kids who will love watching these beautiful creatures swim and play together in the fantastically blue sea here.
Find out about boat tours to see dolphins in Gibraltar here.
The war tunnels – things to do in Gibraltar with kids
Gibraltar’s tunnels were built by the British Army over 200 years. Now there are over 34 miles of tunnels, deep beneath the rock of Gibraltar.
In the 20th century, with war threatening to disrupt Gibraltar’s position as a British strategic position the greatest tunnelling occurred.
Then the space was expanded to be capable of housing 16,000 men and supplies ready for an extended siege.
Some of these tunnels are now open to the public and are an eery insight into Gibraltar as a fortress.
Rainy day activity
Gibraltar cable car
Take the Gibraltar Cable Car to the top of the rock for amazing views all around.
The journey takes just six minutes from the bottom to the top and you can find both Alameda Gardens and the monkeys of Gibraltar at the top (see our entries below for more).
Find out more here.
The beaches of Gibraltar
Gibraltar has some lovely beaches and there are lots of added extras.
Camp Bay & Little Bay has a lido which was once a quarry, so a great place to have a refreshing dip.
Cataln Bay is a very sweet little village with a great beach on the east side of Gibraltar.
Sandy Beach has sand from the Sahara and Eastern Beach is the largest.
All of them provide something different and are a great visit with kids.
Europa Point Lighthouse
Europa Point is the southeastern tip of Gibraltar and the very southern end of the Iberian Peninsula.
The lighthouse itself was built in 1841 but it’s this whole area of Gibraltar that is just amazing to come to. Somewhere you can stand in Europe and look out at the shimmering mountaintops of Africa.
For children, to stand on one continent while looking at another is really special.
Gibraltar botanic gardens – things to do in Gibraltar with kids
These gardens, also known as La Alameda Gardens, are around six hectares large.
They were created in 1816 and can be reached by the cable car, or foot or car.
They are free to enter and a nice place to sit with a picnic overlooking the sea. It’s worth noting that there are a number of stairs involved so not buggy / pushchair friendly.
Going underground at St Michael’s Cave
For a long time people believed that Gibraltar was connected to Africa by a deep, underground tunnel (it was how the monkeys were thought to have got here).
That tunnel was supposed to open in St Michael’s cave which was believed to just go deeper and deeper underground without an end.
There are stories of people descending here and never reappearing.
Today it is an atmospheric and awe-inspiring space.
Absolutely full of stalagmites it’s a fun place to take a trip to see how it has been formed. Today it is also used as a concert venue thanks to its incredible acoustics.
It’s wonderful to walk around with lots of different coloured lights creating a really magical space. You can reach them by the cable car, by walking up, or by taking a car.
Day trip to Tangier
From Gibraltar you can see Africa but why not take a day trip and actually step foot in Tangier?
We loved Tangier on our family trip around Morocco and it really is a colourful, beautiful place to visit. Find our best things to do in Tangier with kids here.
The chance to visit two continents in one day is well worth it.
This is a full day tour, including ferry journey, lunch and a look around the amazing souks.
Find out about taking a day trip to Tangier from Gibraltar here.
Alameda Wildlife Conservation Park
Situated within the botanical gardens this small zoo is a lovely visit with kids.
They have lots of animals that are native to Gibraltar for visitors to see and discover more about.
They also have a unique collection of exotic animals that have largely been confiscated by customs from people trying to smuggle them in or out.
The zoo also has a breeding programme, doing vital work to help endangered species.
Find out more about Alameda Conservation Park here.
See the monkeys – one of the best things to do in Gibraltar with kids
Seeing the monkeys of Gibraltar is one of those iconic things to do and the children will love the chance to see them.
They are actually Barbary macaques who originate from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco but unlike the indigenous population in Africa which are declining (from hunting and the loss of their habitat), the macaques of Gibraltar are thriving.
Mainly on the top of the rock (although they do occasionally wander in to town), around the Nature Reserve you can see around 300 of these gorgeous creatures in five troops.
Be warned though, they are happy to steal cameras, phones and any food they come across so while they are amazing to see do keep your distance and keep your belongings safe.
We hope you have a great trip on Gibraltar. Read more all about spending one day in Gibraltar here.