Upper Rock Nature Reserve
The protected upper half of the Rock with monkeys, caves, tunnels and viewpoints.
- Best for
- Nature, families, full Rock visit
- Accessibility
- Mostly road-based; some viewpoints have steps.
Intro
The reserve covers most of the Upper Rock and groups together nearly all the main attractions: the apes, St. Michael's Cave, the Skywalk, the Great Siege Tunnels and the Moorish Castle.
The Upper Rock Nature Reserve groups the apes, St. Michael's Cave, the Skywalk, the Great Siege Tunnels, the Moorish Castle and the Mediterranean Steps into a single ticketed area covering most of the upper half of the Rock.
One combined ticket usually covers entry; the cable car is sold separately. Walking the loop downhill from the top station is the most popular way to see it.
Open daily — go early to avoid heat.
3 to 5 hours.
Why visit
- •One ticket covers many attractions.
- •Wildlife in a dramatic setting.
- •Easy walking with clear signage.
Practical tips
- ›Buy the combined Nature Reserve ticket.
- ›Do not feed the monkeys — it is illegal and dangerous.
- ›Check official site for opening hours before going.
Good to know
- Buy the Nature Reserve ticket before you go up to skip queues at the top.
- Bins are scarce inside the reserve — carry your rubbish out.
- Some attractions have separate opening times within the reserve.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Trying to drive private cars up — most routes are restricted.
- Feeding or photographing monkeys up close.
Frequently asked
Do I need a guide?
No, but official taxi tours are common and useful if your time is tight.
Is one ticket enough?
The Nature Reserve combined ticket covers the main fenced attractions.
Check official information before travelling.
Local guide
- The whole crest of the Rock in one protected nature reserve.
- Home of the Barbary macaques, Europe's only wild monkeys.
- Trails link every major sight: caves, tunnels, Skywalk and viewpoints.
Do it top-down: cable car up, then walk from viewpoint to viewpoint until the town appears again.
Ask AnuO'Hara's Battery — highest reachable point, 360° over the Strait.
Treating it as a quick photo stop — the reserve is a half-day at minimum if you walk between sights.
The macaque hotspots at Apes' Den are busiest mid-morning; head there first or last thing.
