Which Gibraltar attractions should I book in advance?

Short answer

Book ahead for anything with limited places or set tour times: Lower St Michael's Cave, Gorham's Cave and Stay Behind Cave tours, Nun's Well visits, Europa Point Lighthouse guided tours and the GibraltarPass minibus Rock tour. Standard Nature Reserve tickets can be bought on the day.

Detailed answer

Most of Gibraltar can be visited without planning, but a handful of experiences have small groups, quotas or fixed tour days.

Lower St Michael's Cave can only be visited on a guided caving tour for groups of at least five, booked through naturereserve.gi with a Caving Request Form. The Gibraltar Tourist Board asks for three days' notice.

Gorham's Cave, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the World War II Stay Behind Cave are visited on Gibraltar National Museum guided tours with annual visitor quotas and waiting lists, allocated first come, first served. Gorham's Cave tours usually run from July to October, weather permitting, in groups of up to five; Stay Behind Cave is limited to 30 visitors a year. Email the museum well ahead.

Europa Point Lighthouse guided tours, which include the Lantern Room, run on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, and advance booking through gibraltarlighthouse.com is recommended.

Nun's Well at Europa Point opens only by prior arrangement, and guided tours of the Alameda Botanic Gardens are by appointment.

If you buy a GibraltarPass and want its Minibus Rock Tour, reserve it at least two days in advance. Gibraltar Heritage Trust walking tours also require booking.

The standard Nature Reserve ticket does not need to be booked ahead. You can buy it at the Moorish Castle, Devil's Gap or Jews' Gate entrances or at the Market Place bus station, or online, where it can be used on any day within 90 days. The Cable Car is closed for refurbishment, and on busy cruise days the free shuttle from the border may be suspended, so allow extra time.