A day in Gibraltar from the Costa del Sol
How to get there from Malaga, what to pay with, and a route for the day.
GibraltarBites
Gibraltar is about an hour and a half from Malaga by car, and since Wednesday 15 July 2026 you can walk or drive across the land frontier without routine passport checks. A day is enough to see the Upper Rock, the Second World War tunnels and the view of Africa from Europa Point, then walk back down Main Street. The sections below cover transport, money and a route for the day.
Getting there
By car, follow the A7 or the AP-7 toll motorway along the coast towards Cádiz, leave for La Línea de la Concepción and follow the signs for Gibraltar. Allow about an hour and a half from Malaga.
By coach, Avanza runs to La Línea bus station from Malaga, including several direct services a day from Malaga airport. Direct coaches from the airport take about two hours, and some take closer to three, so check current times on the Avanza website before you travel. The bus station is about a five-minute walk from the frontier, and you walk into Gibraltar from there.
At the frontier, there are no routine passport checks, but carry a valid passport or national identity card. If you flew into Malaga from outside the Schengen area, you will already have passed your Schengen entry check when you landed. (How do I get to Gibraltar from Malaga?; Do I need my passport at the land border?)
Money
Gibraltar uses the pound sterling. Many shops accept euros at a rate they set themselves, and your change will usually be in pounds, so a card is often the simpler choice. (Can I use euros in Gibraltar?)
Morning: the Upper Rock
One Nature Reserve ticket covers a full day at the Upper Rock sites, including St Michael's Cave, the Apes' Den, the Great Siege Tunnels, the WWII Tunnels, the Moorish Castle and the Skywalk. In November 2026 it costs £30 for adults and £22 for children aged 5 to 11; under-5s go free. (What does the ticket include?)
The cable car closed in November 2025 for a full rebuild and is expected to reopen in 2027. Until then, go up on foot, by licensed taxi Rock tour, by bus to the edge of the Nature Reserve, or by hired e-bike. (Is the cable car open?)
The Canadian tunnellers
In the Second World War, men from two tunnelling companies of the Royal Canadian Engineers came to Gibraltar from late 1940. Many were hard rock miners from Quebec and Ontario. They cut hospital wards, ammunition magazines and oil storage out of solid rock, working alongside the British Royal Engineers. The WWII Tunnels at Hay's Level, on Willis's Road near the Moorish Castle, are open to visitors and included in the Nature Reserve ticket. (What are the World War II Tunnels?)
The macaques
About 230 Barbary macaques live freely on the Rock, and Gibraltar is the only place in Europe where they roam free. The Apes' Den on Old Queen's Road is one of the most popular places to see them. Feeding or touching them is a criminal offence, with fines of up to £4,000. (What is the Apes' Den?; What is the Barbary macaque?)
Afternoon: Europa Point
Bus Route 2 runs from Market Place, next to Casemates Square, to Europa Point at the southern end of Gibraltar. On a clear day you can see Africa across the Strait. The lighthouse, which has guided shipping since 1841, began taking visitors in August 2026 and was formally opened on Thursday 17 September 2026, with tours pre-booked at gibraltarlighthouse.com; Harding's Battery, a restored 19th-century gun battery, stands beside it. (Getting to Europa Point; Europa Point Lighthouse; Harding's Battery)
Before you head back
Main Street runs from Casemates Square through the town. Walk it on your way back to the frontier.
Sources for the tunnellers
Canadian Military Engineers Association, Canadian Tunnellers Tackle Gibraltar