Upper Rock Nature Reserve - Gibraltar

There is a very impressive skywalk within the upper rock, nature reserve © Michelle Chaplow

Upper Rock Nature Reserve - Gibraltar

Gibraltar is a place of remarkable geographic importance due its location at the mouth of the Mediterranean and its exceptional natural heritage. Despite its small land area, Gibraltar supports an extensive range of terrestrial and marine species including rare plants and animals.

Tickets and Opening Times

The tickets to the Nature Reserve cost 30 pounds for adults, 22 pounds for children (5-11) and free for children under 5 years of age. Winter Hours (1 October – 30th April) is 09:00 TO 18:15 (Last Entry Permitted 17:45), Summer Hours (1 May – 30th September) – 09:30 TO 19:15 (Last Entry Permitted 18:45) and remains closed December 25th and January 1st. Bank holidays, 10th September, 24th & 31st December earlier closing time of 3.30pm.

Top 5 viewpoints on the Rock

Skywalk
This spectacular glass- floored viewpoint is located 340 metres above sea level and offers 360º panoramic views of Gibraltar, Africa and Spain as well as the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. For the Star War fans, it was inaugurated by Luke Skywalker himself, actor Mark Hamill in 2018 with a lifesaber.

Windsor suspension bridge
A 71 metre pedestrian bridge, which stretches across a deep gorge. It looks over the Strait and the city surrounded by the green trees of the Rock- if yiu are too scared, there is a 'chicken bridge' which surrounds it.

Queens Balcony
A beautiful panoramic viewpoint with royal importance. This point is where Queen Elizabeth II stood alongside Prince Phillipe, to view the bay and city, during their famous visit to Gibarltar in May 1954.

Spur Battery
This old British artillery battery situated 1,130 feet above the sea, is often people´s favourite spot as it offers clear views of Morroco and Europa Point below.

Europa Foreshore Trail
A scenic pathway which offers uninterrupted views of Morroco and the Strait. It differs from other walkways on the Rock as instead of rough, steep hills, it is a flat route whihc follows the rugged coast of the southermost point of Gibraltar.

Accessibility to access the Rock

Gibraltar welcomes visitors of all mobility levels. The territory’s steep terrain and historic sites create natural challenges, but many key attractions remain accessible with planning. This page provides a detailed overview of what wheelchair users can expect when exploring Gibraltar.

Personal Vehicles
Personal vehicles are not permitted on the Upper Rock, unless you are a Blue Badge Holder ( disability parking permit). Contact the Reserve in advance to confirm foreign badge credentials.

Taxi Access
Local taxis are wheelchair friendly and can take visitors directly to major viewpoints. Taxi transport is the most practical way to reach the Upper Rock, although it can be more expensive per person.

Shuttle Bus
The shuttle buses to the Rock are fitted with hydraulic wheelchair rampa- although for comfort maybe a tax is best.

Free Entry for Disabled Visitors
The Upper Rock and Beaches Department provides free entry to disabled visitors. This policy helps offset accessibility challenges and supports inclusive access to Gibraltar’s most famous landmark.

Accesibility in the Rock Attractions

St Michael’s Cave
St Michael’s Cave is one of Gibraltar’s signature attractions. The main interior is not fully accessible for wheelchair users. However, visitors can access the natural rock auditorium during events and concerts through an electric wheelchair lift. This allows wheelchair users to experience one of the most impressive spaces inside the Rock.

Apes’ Den and Key Viewpoints
Apes’ Den, the Upper Rock viewpoints and Europa Point are accessible through taxi tours. Drivers can take visitors directly to viewing areas without requiring steep climbs. This makes it possible to enjoy Gibraltar’s most iconic sights without navigating steep paths.

Great Siege Tunnels
The Great Siege Tunnels are wheelchair accessible. Some areas may be challenging for visitors with significant mobility impairments, but the main route can be accessed by wheelchair users.

Moving Around the Rock
The Upper Rock has paved roads that are technically accessible for wheelchairs. The terrain is steep and requires considerable effort for manual wheelchair users or companions pushing a chair. Movement around the Rock is possible, but not efficient or comfortable without vehicle support.

Taxi Transport Required
All access points realistically require taxi transport. Slopes are long and steep, and independent movement is not recommended.

Some are native to the Rock and others can be found on mainland Europe: - Gibraltar Campion (Silene tomentosa), a delicate and extremely rare flower once thought extinct. - Barbary Macaque (Macaca sylvanus), the only free-living population of monkeys in Europe. - Barbary Partridge (Alectoris barbara), a species more commonly associated with North Africa. In addition to this unique resident biodiversity, the Upper Rock is especially significant as a vital waypoint for migratory birds. Positioned at one of the world's majot migratory crossroads, it acts as a natural bottlenek where thousands of birds pass during their seasonal migration between Europe and Africa. Storks, swifts, songbirds and birds of prey depend om the Upper Rock's cliffs and updrafts for resting, feeding and gaining altitude before tackling the nearly 60km crossing of the Strait.

Access to the Upper Rock Nature Reserve

Opening Hours – (May – September) : 9:30am – 7:00pm, (October – April) : 9:00am – 6:00pm. Closed December 25th and January 1st.
Entry fees: Adults (age 11+) £30, Children (age 5-11) £22, Infants (age 0-4) free. These entry tickets include access to the Nature Reserve but can be included in tour prices if you're booking bus or taxi tours.

Be sure to look at these pages to see tour prices and booking fees:

Accessibility information for wheelchair users:

Personal vehicles are not permitted up the rock
Taxis are wheelchair friendly
The upper rock and beaches department grants free entry to the upper rock for disabled visitors to help offset accessibility challenges
St. Michael's Caves, main interior is mostly not accessible, but you can enter the natural rock auditorium via an electric wheelchair lift for events and concerts
Apes' Den and Views are accessible through taxi tours as they can drive you up to view key sights like the Apes' Den and Europa Point
The Tunnels are wheelchair accessible (exception for people with mobility impairments)
Moving around the rock is accessible for wheelchair users, as it all even road however is mostly up or down hill, so it not very efficient for the wheelchair user or the individual pushing the wheelchair around
All access points would require a taxi due to steep slopes

Nature Trails

Some of the most incredible views from the rock can be found outside of the usual 'Rock tours'. The Nature trails that are accessed through the Upper Rock Nature Reserve include the Mediterranean Steps, Royal Anglian Way, Douglas Path, Devil's Gap Footpath and Inglis Way.

Mediterranean Steps: 1.8km with 246m of elevation. Staring point: Jew's Gate
Royal Anglian Way: 0.6km with 50m elevation. Including Windsor Suspension Bridge crossing, Rooke's Battery, Hayne's Cave Battery (est 1797 with 20th Century artillery pieces still present). Staring Point: near St Michael's Cave
Douglas Path: 1.2km with appx 280m elevation. Featured in the opening scene on the 1987 James Bond film 'The Living Daylights'. Starting Point: near Skywalk viewpoint.
Devil's Gap Footpath: 0.5km with 85m elevation. Includes one of the oldest batteries on the peninsula used during the Great Siege. Starting point: Union Jack Steps
Inglis Way: 1.2km. Views of Charles V Wall constructed in 1502. Starting Point: Queen's Gate