Aerial view of the Gibraltan coastline and famous Rock of Gibraltar
Discover Gibraltar and Its Legendary Rock
At the western gateway to the Mediterranean, Gibraltar’s iconic Rock rises sharply above the sea, overlooking one of the world’s great maritime crossroads. Compact and easy to explore, this British territory has a character all its own, with red post boxes, familiar high-street names, and traditional pubs set beneath Mediterranean skies. Wander through the lively streets, then look south toward Europa Point, where ships pass through the Strait and, on a clear day, the coast of North Africa appears across the water.
On a Celestyal cruise to Gibraltar, you can uncover the Rock above and below ground. Follow the story of the Great Siege, explore the underground tunnels that later became part of Gibraltar’s vast WWII military network, or venture into St Michael’s Cave, where limestone formations fill a cavern deep inside the Rock. On the Upper Rock, Barbary macaques roam freely across the slopes. Back in town, Main Street brings together independent shops, cafés, and the British influences that give Gibraltar such a distinctive feel beneath Mediterranean sky.
Celestyal cruises to Gibraltar
Gibraltar cruise port highlights
A view inside St Michael's cave showing stalagtites in a blue soft light glow
The Rock of Gibraltar, St Michael’s Cave, and Barbary Macaques
For centuries, the Rock of Gibraltar has stood at the entrance to the Mediterranean and associated with the legendary northern Pillar of Hercules. Inside the Upper Rock Nature Reserve, St Michael’s Cave opens into a vast limestone cavern, where natural formations become the setting for The Awakening, an immersive light-and-sound experience using projection mapping and spatial audio.
On the Upper Rock, you’ll have the opportunity to observe Gibraltar’s famous Barbary macaques roaming freely across the rocky slopes. Discover more about their origins and behavior as you watch Europe’s only free-living population of macaques. Over time, these tailless primates have become one of Gibraltar’s most enduring symbols.
A view from the top of the Gibraltar rock with a Macaque in shot
Europa Point and Views Across the Strait
Gibraltar’s Europa Point invites you to take in one of the Mediterranean’s most spectacular views. On a clear day, North Africa appears across the water, while ships glide between the Atlantic and Mediterranean below. The view is unforgettable—Gibraltar’s unique position in the world unfolding before you.
Above the water stands the red-and-white Trinity Lighthouse, dating from 1841. The only lighthouse regulated by Trinity House outside Great Britain, is another reminder of Gibraltar’s long connection with maritime navigation.
A view inside the military tunnels underneath the Gibraltar rock
Gibraltar’s Great Siege and WWII Tunnels
Beneath the Rock lies an extraordinary network of military tunnels. Work on the Great Siege Tunnels began in 1782, when galleries were cut directly through solid limestone as part of Gibraltar’s defenses. St George’s Hall and the City Under Siege exhibition bring that chapter of the Rock’s military history into sharper focus.
The underground network expanded enormously during WWII, eventually functioning almost like a city beneath the Rock, with military headquarters, workshops, and a hospital alongside accommodation for thousands. General Eisenhower also used a secure command center here while planning Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of North Africa. Historic photographs inside the WWII tunnels bring you closer to the people who worked and sheltered underground during the war.