Must See

Alameda Botanic Gardens

The Alameda, located at the end of Main Street, beyond the Southport Gates, is a public garden with an open-air theatre and luxuriant subtropical vegetation. At the north end of the gardens is a cableway running up to the 395-metre-high Top Station, near which are the Water Catchments (reservoirs).

Apes' Den

The cable car that takes visitors to the summit of the Rock stops partway at the Apes' Den, home of the famous Barbary apes - the only wild primates in Europe. Visitors should be wary in their dealings with the apes (which are actually tail-less macaque monkeys), which can bite.

A popular belief states that as long as Barbary Macaques exist on Gibraltar, the territory will remain under British rule. During World War II, the population dwindled to just seven monkeys. Prime Minister Winston Churchill ordered that their numbers be replenished immediately from forests in both Morocco and Algeria.

Beaches

On the east side of the peninsula are Catalan Bay, Eastern Beach, and, towards the south, Sandy Bay. Camp Bay/Keys Promenade and Little Bay, a pebble beach, are on the western coast.

Europa Point

At the southern tip of the peninsula is Europa Point, the southernmost tip of Europe and just 26 km (16 miles) from Africa. From here, visitors will be able to enjoy some magnificent views of Algeciras Bay, the African coast and Apes' Rock. The area has a lighthouse, a restaurant and the old chapel of Nuestra Señora de Europa.

Europa Road

The Europa Road starts on the east side of the Alameda. This 5 km (3mile) long scenic road climbs steeply up the west side of the Rock between the houses and gardens of South Town and then runs down between the jagged rock faces of Europa Pass.

Gibraltar Museum

Established in 1930, the Gibraltar Museum focuses on the cultural and natural history of Gibraltar, and is located in Bomb House, the former residence of the Principal Artillery Officer. Visitors will be able to see exhibits from the Phoenician, Greek, Roman, Moorish, Spanish and British periods of the Rock's history, as well as a replica of the Gibraltar Skull, the first Neanderthal skull found in Europe (1848) and caveman tools and ornaments excavated from the Rock's caves. There's also a large-scale model of the Rock made in 1865. The museum is situated above a spectacular and complete 14th-century Moorish Bath House.

Harbour and Bays

The Bay of Gibraltar is home to a large population of whales and dolphins, and tourists can take boat trips to view these fascinating creatures. The harbour is situated northwest of the square; just beyond this the Old Mole, built in 1309, which along with the North Mole marks the northern end of Gibraltar's large harbour. Queensway Quay and Marina Quay (two modern marina developments) provide visitors with the chance to indulge in some serious people watching while sampling delicious seafood in one of the many attractive harbourside restaurants.

Main Street

Main Street is home to the majority of Gibraltar's shops, hotels and public buildings. It runs from the main square, past the Post Office and the Exchange (with the Town Hall to the rear) to the Roman Catholic Cathedral, a former mosque that was rebuilt in 1502 in Gothic style. In Cathedral Square stands the Moorish-style Anglican Cathedral (1821). Near the south end of Main Street is the Governor's Residence (the Convent), originally a Franciscan convent built in 1531. Visitors can attend the Changing of the Guards, which takes place several times daily at the Convent.

Moorish Castle

North Town, the old town of Gibraltar, begins beyond the airport, with Casemates Square. Above this, to the east, is the Moorish Castle, originally built in the 8th Century and rebuilt by the Almohads in the 14th Century, of which only the keep and a few pieces of masonry remain.

St Michael's Cave

South of the Highest Point, a track leads off Queen's Road to St Michael's Cave, situated 300 m (1,000 ft) above sea level. It is well known for its fine stalactites and stalagmites, and is part of a complex series of interlinked caves including Lower St Michael's Cave and Leonora's Cave. In summer, the cave is used as a hall for concerts and ballet.

Upper Galleries

Queen's Road is a narrow lane that runs along the Rock, half way up, offering some excellent views. At the near end of this road, on the left, are the Upper Galleries, which were hewn from the rock during the Franco-Spanish siege of Gibraltar in 1779-83. These galleries still house old cannons, along with tableaux evoking the Great Siege.

Upper Rock Nature Reserve

A large area of the upper rock has been declared a nature reserve, and since 1991 new species of plants have been planted to create botanical gardens. Not only does it offer some great views, but is also a good area for viewing migrations of birds between Africa and Europe. Birdwatching is particularly good in spring and autumn, when thousands of migrating birds on their way between their breeding grounds in northern Europe and their wintering areas in Africa stop at the Rock. Owls, hoopoes, harriers, eagles, black kytes and buzzards join resident species such as blue rock thrush peregrine falcons and barbary partridge.