Europa Point

Europa Point is the southern tip of Gibraltar, a flat headland at the end of the Rock that marks the boundary between the Strait of Gibraltar and the Alboran Sea of the Mediterranean. It is not the southernmost point of the Iberian Peninsula, but on a clear day the view runs across the strait to Ceuta and the Rif mountains of Morocco, and around the bay to the Spanish towns on its shore. The lighthouse at the point, inaugurated in 1841 and run by Trinity House, which is why it is also called the Trinity Lighthouse, stands near the Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque, opened in 1997, and the Catholic shrine of Our Lady of Europe; Harding's Battery and the old cistern called Nun's Well are close by, and Gibraltar's cricket ground takes up the flat land behind.

The main sights

• The lighthouse - the Trinity Lighthouse of 1841 at the point.
• The views to Africa - the mountains of Morocco across the strait.
• The two seas - the meeting of the Mediterranean and Atlantic.
• The mosque - the Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque, opened in 1997.

When to go

April to October brings warm, clear weather ideal for the views across to Africa, though the point is accessible year-round; clear days, often in spring and autumn, offer the sharpest sight of the Moroccan mountains. The headland can be breezy whatever the season.

Practical notes

Europa Point is an open, windswept headland whose appeal is its position and views rather than extensive attractions, so a visit is fairly short.

Nearby

The Rock, the town centre and the harbour lie to the north.