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Gibraltar For Families
Gibraltar is small, just 6.8sq kilometres, but is packed with a range of activities appealing to all. Its compact nature means it is mostly navigable on foot and transfer time from landing at Gibraltar International Airport to arrival at your hotel is swift.
With a growth in multi-generational travel, Gibraltar is increasingly appealing to all age groups as it's lesser-known treasures become more accessible.
A number of Gibraltar’s attractions require older children to be accompanied by an adult. Sites such as the Apes’ Den should be approached with caution as the macaques run wild. In addition it is not possible to tour St. Michael’s Cave with a pram or pushchair.
There are a number of sites, such as the Gibraltar National Museum, the City Under Siege Exhibition, the Great Siege Tunnels and Parsons Lodge, which are more suitable for children. However, it should be noted that these attractions have limited provision of ramps and children’s changing room facilities due to very nature of the sites.
Activity Highlights
- Dolphin watching boat trips
- Kings Bastion Leisure Centre with games rooms, bowling, boulder park and cinema complex
- Nature Trails within the Upper Rock *
- Windsor Bridge *
- Apes’ Den
- Great Siege Tunnels
- St Michael’s Cave *
- The Cable Car to the top of the Rock *
- Commonwealth Park and Midtown Park
- Alameda Wildlife Conservation Park
- Gibraltar Botanic Gardens
- Europa Point
- Beaches
* Pushchair difficulty
The Gorham’s Cave Complex
The Gorham’s Cave Complex was recently granted UNESCO World Heritage Status. Gorham’s Cave is the last known site of Neanderthal survival, some 28,000 years ago. A new tour has recently launched which takes visitors by sea to the cave where Neanderthal engravings have been found.
The Rock of Gibraltar is often characterised by its Barbary Macaques. During WWII, Winston Churchill increased the number of resident macaques to protect Gibraltar’s British legacy – it was believed that if the macaques left Gibraltar so would the British. Less known, is that during WWII, servicemen assembled Spitfire planes from inside the limestone Rock ready to assist the war effort. Gibraltar’s caves can be explored and, for many young teenagers and adults, resemble living history books.
Windsor Bridge
Another recently added attraction is the Windsor Bridge, Gibraltar’s first suspension bridge, which forms part of the Thrill Seekers Trail in the Upper Rock. 71 metres long, it is located between two batteries and constructed over a 50 metre gorge.
Beaches
Less known are Gibraltar’s beaches, small and extremely popular with locals, which can make them crowded in summer, but with the school holidays almost at an end and with heat prolonging into autumn there’s still plenty of opportunity for sun, sea and sand.
Dolphin watching is a very popular for tourists, with tours offered from Gibraltar’s marinas. There are also with diving and sailing activities.
Open Space Environments
Open space environments include the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens which is home to a spectacular amphitheatre, hosting events throughout the summer. Playgrounds can be found at Europa Point, Cathedral Square, Westview Park, King’s Bastion Leisure Centre, the adjacent Commonwealth and Campion Parks, located on either side of the centre. In the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens you will also discover the wildlife park, a conservation area for rescued and endangered animals. In addition, Gibraltar has five lively beaches which are popular with its local inhabitants, especially children.
September 10th marks National Day and a week of celebrations kick starting the Autumn Festival season. Gibraltar hosts international events throughout the year check on the Gibraltar Tourist Board website for dates. www.visitgibraltar.gi
