Gibraltar Cable Car, Gibraltar (must see)

The Gibraltar Cable Car offers a journey that’s as much about wonder as it is about height. Opened in 1966, it connects the bustling town below with the Upper Rock, where Gibraltar’s famous Barbary macaques roam freely among panoramic viewpoints. Built by a Swiss engineering company and designed by British architect Brian Helliwell, the cable car replaced an old military ropeway that once hauled supplies up to Signal Hill—a strategic site used for centuries to monitor the Strait. Its six-minute ascent from Alameda Gardens to the top of Signal Hill is short but unforgettable, revealing layer after layer of the Rock’s history as the scenery shifts from the orderly streets of town to windswept cliffs above the glittering Mediterranean.

Legend adds another layer of charm to the experience. The local saying goes that as long as the macaques remain on the Rock, Gibraltar will stay British. The superstition runs so deep that Winston Churchill himself once ordered reinforcements for the dwindling monkey population during World War II, fearing that their disappearance might be taken as a bad omen. Today, the macaques have become beloved symbols of the Rock, often lounging near the Top Station and posing for photos—though smart travelers keep their snacks well hidden.

At the summit, visitors step onto viewing terraces that offer some of the most remarkable vistas in Europe. On a clear day, one can see across the Bay of Gibraltar toward Spain, and even the distant mountains of Morocco shimmering on the horizon. A small café and exhibition space add comfort and context to the view, highlighting Gibraltar’s role as the meeting point between two continents. More than just a mode of transport, the Gibraltar Cable Car is a passage through time and myth—a modern reminder of the Rock’s enduring spirit and its breathtaking command of the Mediterranean landscape.