3-Day Family Itinerary in Gibraltar

Three days for the full experience. The Rock, dolphins, a day trip to Tarifa, and enough beach time to keep everyone happy.

By Ethan Roworth·Last checked 29 April 2026

·For family ·3 days

Overview

Three days with children in Gibraltar means you can actually relax. Day one does the big stuff, day two slows it down, and day three takes you across the border into Spain for one of the best beach towns on the Atlantic coast. Day one is the Rock in its entirety. The Gibraltar Cable Car is currently closed for refurbishment, so take a taxi to the top (around £10) or walk up via Willis Road. Buy your combined Upper Rock ticket at the entrance gate: £30 adult, £22 child, covering all seven attractions. Get the apes in the morning when they are most active, St Michael's Cave before the afternoon crowds, and then the Great Siege Tunnels for a proper piece of military history. Kids who are too young to care about the history still enjoy how dark and cave-like the tunnels feel. End the day at Europa Point, where you can stand at Gibraltar's southern tip and look across to Morocco. Day two is a gentler pace. Start with the dolphin-watching trip at Marina Bay. The common dolphins in the Strait are a serious sighting, often coming up alongside the boat within the first few minutes. After the tour, spend the afternoon at Catalan Bay on the east side of the Rock. It is a short drive over and feels like a completely different place: a narrow sandy beach backed by old fishing cottages, calm water, and proper fresh fish for lunch. The Gibraltar Museum in the afternoon rounds out the day for older children who enjoyed the tunnels on day one. Day three is the Tarifa day trip. Take the car or a taxi to the border, cross into Spain, and drive the forty minutes to Tarifa. It is the southernmost point of continental Europe, the kitesurfing capital of Europe, and one of the most dramatically situated towns anywhere. The old medina is compact and walkable, the beach is enormous, and the ferry to Tangier in Morocco takes thirty-five minutes if the family wants an extra adventure. Back across the border in time for a final dinner at Casemates.

The route

1

Taxi or walk up to the Upper Rock and Apes Den
Day 1 - 9:00 AM

Start early. Take a taxi to the top (around £10, 10 minutes) or walk via Willis Road (45 minutes). Buy the combined Upper Rock ticket at the entrance gate: £30 adult, £22 child. The macaques at Apes Den are most active in the morning. Allow 90 minutes.
More about this stop →
2

St Michael's Cave
Day 1 - 11:00 AM

15-minute walk south from Apes Den. One of the most visually impressive natural caves in Europe. Allow 45 minutes.
More about this stop →
3

Great Siege Tunnels
Day 1 - 12:15 PM

Short walk or taxi north along the Upper Rock road. Allow 45 minutes. Older children especially enjoy the scale and history.
More about this stop →
4

Lunch and Casemates Square
Day 1 - 1:30 PM

Walk or taxi down from the Upper Rock. Wide choice of family-friendly restaurants around Casemates.
More about this stop →
5

Europa Point
Day 1 - 3:30 PM

15-minute drive to the southern tip of Gibraltar. Lighthouse, mosque, and views to Morocco. Allow 45 minutes.
More about this stop →
6

Dolphin watching tour
Day 2 - 9:30 AM

Marina Bay, 90-minute trip into the Strait. Common and bottlenose dolphins on most tours. Book in advance.
More about this stop →
7

Catalan Bay beach and lunch
Day 2 - 12:00 PM

15-minute drive over or around the Rock. Small sandy beach with a fishing village atmosphere. Seafood lunch by the water.
8

Gibraltar Museum
Day 2 - 3:00 PM

20-minute drive back into town. The Moorish Baths inside the museum are the highlight. Allow 1 hour. Entry around £15 adult.
More about this stop →
9

Evening at Casemates
Day 2 - 6:00 PM

Dinner and ice cream in the square. The pedestrianised area is very relaxed in the evening.
More about this stop →
10

Drive to Tarifa, Spain
Day 3 - 9:00 AM

Cross the border into Spain (5-10 minutes) and drive 40 minutes along the coast to Tarifa. The drive itself is scenic along the Costa de la Luz.
11

Tarifa old town and beach
Day 3 - 10:00 AM

Park near the old walls and explore the medina on foot (30 minutes). Then head to Playa de los Lances, a 10km Atlantic beach. Watch the kitesurfers and swim if it is warm enough.
12

Lunch in Tarifa
Day 3 - 1:00 PM

Plenty of beachside restaurants and tapas bars in the old town. Budget €12-18 per person.
13

Drive back to Gibraltar
Day 3 - 4:00 PM

40-minute drive back to the border. Final evening in Gibraltar before departure.