Destinations

With familiar red post boxes, green cricket pitches and classic fish and chips shops, Gibraltar feels like a far-flung slice of home for British travellers.

Known as “The Rock”, the British Overseas Territory sits strategically at the gateway between Europe and Africa. But, despite its British credentials, its location at the Iberian Peninsula’s southern tip gives glorious year-round sunshine and typical Spanish weather.

Taking a Gibraltar cruise offers the chance to spend time soaking up the grand Palladian architecture, enjoying a taste of local life and admiring the beauty of its picturesque coastline… And that’s without mentioning the local horde of Barbary macaques that also call the rock home (more on that to come later).

To help you decide when to travel to Gibraltar, we’ve put together a guide to the weather in Gibraltar, including a look at our collection of upcoming cruises that all pay a visit to the famous rock.

What to do in Gibraltar from a cruise ship

A whole host of fun things to do in Gibraltar await travellers stopping off at the peninsula. Spend the day here taking in all the territory’s highlights, from learning more about its fascinating history to visiting attractive beaches.

Saga’s panoramic Gibraltar cruise excursions include a look at Gibraltar’s quirky British charm. There’s also the option to go in search of dolphins and other marine life in Gibraltar’s bay.

Elsewhere, the Gibraltar National Museum provides insight into the territory’s unique culture and history. Or you could opt take in the sweeping views of the surrounding landscape by taking a cable car to the top of the iconic rock – along the way there’s the chance meet those famously mischievous macaques!

Those looking to pick up some souvenirs might like to take advantage of the duty-free shopping opportunities. At the heart of Gibraltar’s shopping district is Main Street, home to a plethora of familiar high street stores and souvenir shops.

Weather in Gibraltar

With its location on a peninsula just off southern Spain's Mediterranean coast, Gibraltar benefits from a mild climate year-round. No matter what time of year you decide to visit Gibraltar, you can expect temperatures that barely drop below 14°C. In the peak summer months, expect highs of up to 30°C. It’s perfect for those looking for Gibraltar holidays and love basking in summer sunshine.

For travellers who would rather avoid hot weather, the best time to visit Gibraltar is during the spring or autumn, when the average temperatures hovers between 15°C and 20°C. The cooler weather provides an ideal climate for exploring the island’s towns and cultural sights.

Read on to learn more about our choice of cruises that visit Gibraltar throughout the year – and find the perfect Gibraltar cruise itinerary for you.

Gibraltar in Spring

Benefiting from warm, sunny weather, a cruise to Gibraltar in spring provides the chance to see the territory bursting into life. A collection of our cruise itineraries include a stop off at Gibraltar during this season.

Leaving in March, Gibraltar is the first port of call on the Flavours of the Mediterranean cruise, which goes on to visit Barcelona, Majorca and Lisbon. There’s also the Adriatic at Easter cruise, an exciting itinerary which visits the Rock of Gibraltar en route to Italy and the UNESCO World Heritage Sites strewn along the Croatian coast.

Or perhaps you might enjoy an exploration of the eastern Mediterranean on our Athens and the Greek Islands cruise, which not only encompasses exploring Gibraltar but also Valletta and Athens.

Summer in Gibraltar

Sail away on a Gibraltar cruise in the summer months and stop off at a string of enticing destinations along the way. Leaving in June 2024, our Catalan Coastline of the Mediterranean cruise begins with a trip to the emblematic Rock of Gibraltar before heading on to pretty fishing villages in Costa Brava. You’ll also call at the charm-laden French ports of Sète and Port Vendres, Minorca and its elegant capital Mahon, and a wealth of historic sites in Portugal.

Our Treasures of the Western Mediterranean cruise may just be the right mix of relaxation and exploration for you. Beginning with seeing the enigmatic cocktail of British and Spanish culture in Gibraltar, the cruise continues on to see Gaudi’s architectural masterpieces in Barcelona before delighting in the glamour of the French Riviera.

Gibraltar in Winter

Leave the long nights and dark evenings behind and set sail for the sunny shores of Gibraltar instead. The winter months are the ideal time of year to visit Gibraltar on a cruise if you want to enjoy a spot of winter sunshine.

The perfect Gibraltar cruise itinerary, our From Sicily to the Souks adventure sails across the Med, stopping off at Gibraltar before paying a visit to Tunisia, Sicily and Malta.

Get away from it all for a while and embark on a fascinating adventure along Africa's Atlantic Coast. This month-long cruise takes you to Morocco, the Gambia and Senegal as well as calling in at Gibraltar and Spain.

Monkeys in Gibraltar

Gibraltar holidays usually mean a chance encounter with members of the local monkey population. Gibraltar is home to the only wild population of monkeys in the whole of the European continent.

A litany of origin stories surrounds the macaques’ arrival on the rock, but there is no one clear date of introduction. One belief is that they came to this corner of the continent sometime between 700 and 1492 along with the Moors.

But today the much-loved furry folk are now considered an unofficial emblem of the territory. Numbering around 300 in total, spotting the local macaques is considered one of the top things to do in Gibraltar by many visitors.

The best time to see them in the wild is during the morning or early evening, at Upper Rock Nature Reserve or at the top station of the cable car. Although used to humans, the monkeys are still wild animals so it’s always a good idea to treat them with a level of caution and avoid petting them. The monkeys in Gibraltar are a very inquisitive bunch, so you may not want to leave behind anything that they might consider to be a tasty treat!

Choose your Gibraltar cruise today…

Gibraltar is the ideal stop-off point for explorations in Europe and further afield. Leaving throughout the year, our cruises to Gibraltar give travellers a taste of life on this British territory. No matter what time of year you travel to Gibraltar, you can usually expect pleasant temperatures, sunny days and a whole host of activities awaiting you.

Which cruise will you be embarking on? Take a more detailed look at our collection of Gibraltar cruises and plan your next adventure.