What are the best things to buy in Gibraltar as a cruise passenger?

Short answer

Perfume, cosmetics, spirits, watches and Gibraltar-themed gifts are the usual buys on Main Street. Prices now include a 15% transaction tax, and tobacco is less of a bargain after new minimum prices from Thursday 1 October 2026.

Detailed answer

Main Street and the lanes around it, a short walk from the cruise terminal, have the widest choice for cruise passengers. Perfume, cosmetics, spirits and watches remain common purchases, and Gibraltar-themed souvenirs are easy to find.

Prices have changed since Wednesday 15 July 2026, when a transaction tax replaced import duty under the UK/EU treaty arrangements. The standard rate is 15% in the first year, rising to 17% by the third year, and it is included in shop prices. Gibraltar still has no VAT. Tax-free sales at the port are limited to passengers who can prove their onward destination is outside the EU, which excludes many Mediterranean itineraries.

Tobacco is less of a bargain than before. New minimum cigarette prices took effect on Thursday 1 October 2026, with reported increases of between about 23% and 46% depending on the category, and further quarterly changes are expected. It is worth comparing with your ship's own duty-free shop.

If you buy alcohol, most cruise lines will hold it at the gangway and return it near the end of the cruise. Your home country's customs allowances apply when you disembark at the end of the trip; for Great Britain these are 200 cigarettes, 4 litres of spirits, 18 litres of still wine, 42 litres of beer and £390 of other goods per adult.

For something local, the Gibraltar Market near Casemates and the shops selling Gibraltar-branded gifts are good places to look.