Gibraltar Upper Rock: Walking Tour & Monkeys with Local Guide
The Med Steps and St Michael's Cave: A Walk Across Gibraltar's Layered History
You walk the Upper Rock for roughly three hours with a local English-speaking guide, stopping at military batteries, caves, and viewpoints while you meet the Barbary macaques in their habitat. The route is flexible (you can request specific tunnels or adjust the finish time), and includes a proper break at St Michael's Cave. It's a moderate hike with real elevation, not a casual stroll.
Step-by-step itinerary
Walking tour of Gibraltar's Upper Rock
- Visit Devil’s Gap Battery
- See the Genoese Battery
- Meet monkeys at Apes Den
- Cross the Windsor Bridge
- Explore Rooke’s Battery
- View from Queens Lookout
- Stop at St Michaels Cave and cafeteria
- Pass Jews Gate
- Walk the Med Steps (optional)
- Visit O’Hara’s Battery
- Walk the Sky Walkway
- Climb Charles V Steps top
- See Cable Car Top Station
What’s included
- Your tour includes a local English-speaking guide for the full three hours, access to the Upper Rock nature reserve, and stops at attractions including Devil's Gap Battery, the Genoese Battery, Rooke's Battery, O'Hara's Battery, St Michael's Cave with time for the cafeteria, the Apes Den, the Queens Lookout, the Sky Walkway, and the Cable Car Top Station.
- The Med Steps and the Charles V Steps are included depending on route and conditions.
- The Great Siege Tunnels and World War 2 Tunnels can be arranged if you request them when booking.
Times
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 13:00
Before you book
Operated by Walk Gibraltar
Prices and times updated 5 days ago
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The experience
Three hours is what it takes to walk the Upper Rock and actually see it, not rush through it. Your guide, someone who knows the place and speaks English, takes you up through the nature reserve stopping at the things most visitors miss: Devil's Gap Battery, the Genoese Battery, Rooke's Battery, O'Hara's Battery at the highest point. The walking pace varies because people move differently, so if you need to finish by a certain time, you let them know upfront and they work around it.
The Apes Den is the part everyone talks about afterward. These aren't caged animals. They're Barbary macaques living on the Rock, and you'll meet them as you pass through their territory. After that comes St Michael's Cave, where you actually stop long enough to sit down, grab a coffee at the cafeteria if you want, and let your legs rest while you're inside a cave that's been here for thousands of years. The Windsor Bridge, the Queens Lookout, Jews Gate. Each one has a story that connects to Gibraltar's military past or its position between two continents.
The Med Steps are famous enough that people ask about them specifically, though the route isn't fixed: your guide decides based on the group and conditions. The Sky Walkway and the Charles V Steps come later, and if you want to include the Great Siege Tunnels or the World War 2 Tunnels, you message ahead and they arrange it. The Cable Car Top Station is where you can see across to Morocco on a clear day, and by then you've covered most of the Rock's significant points without feeling like you've been herded through a checklist.
You need a moderate level of fitness for this. It's a walking tour with elevation, not a stroll. Bring water, wear shoes with grip, and don't book it if you have cardiovascular concerns. The guide is local, which means they know which stops matter and which ones are just photo ops, and they adjust the pace if someone's struggling. Public transport runs nearby if you need to get to the start, but once you're on the Rock, it's just you, the guide, and the path.
Is this one for you?Book this if you're comfortable with a three-hour uphill walk and want to see Gibraltar's Rock with someone who actually lives there and knows which stops matter: the flexible timing and optional tunnels mean you're not locked into a fixed schedule.
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Top questions
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
How long does the Upper Rock walking tour take?
Approximately three hours, though the exact time varies depending on the group's pace and which optional sites you include.
Will I see the Barbary macaques?
Yes, you'll pass through the Apes Den where the macaques live on the Rock. Encounters depend on where the animals are that day.
Is the Med Steps route always included?
No, the route isn't fixed. Your guide decides based on group fitness and conditions, but you can request it when you book.
What's included in the tour?
A local English-speaking guide who leads you through the Upper Rock nature reserve and its attractions. Entry to St Michael's Cave and the tunnels is included if you visit them.
Can I arrange to visit the Great Siege Tunnels or WW2 Tunnels?
Yes, message the operator when booking if you want these included, and they'll arrange it for your group.
Is this tour suitable for children?
Children can join if accompanied by an adult, but they need to be comfortable with a three-hour walk with elevation.
Do I need to be very fit?
You should have at least moderate fitness. It's a walking tour with significant elevation gain, not recommended for people with cardiovascular concerns.
What should I bring?
Water, comfortable walking shoes with good grip, and sun protection. The Rock is exposed in places.
Gibraltar Upper Rock: Walking Tour & Monkeys with Local Guide
3h 30m · EN
from US$ 54 per person
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