Gibraltar Cable Car

The cable car runs from the Alameda in Gibraltar town to the top station at around four hundred metres in about six minutes, climbing the western face of the Rock with the bay opening out below as it goes. It ran from 1966 until November 2025, when it closed for a complete rebuild expected to take about two years, so for now there is no ride and the upper Rock is reached by road or on foot. Macaques wait at the top station and the upper Rock paths, the Skywalk and St Michael's Cave are all reached from there.

History

The cable car was built in 1966 by the Swiss firm Von Roll, with stations designed by Brian Helliwell, the top one on the old Signal Hill Battery, where remains of an earlier rope hoist for carrying supplies up the hill can still be seen. The cabins were replaced in its last major renovation in 1986, the top station was rebuilt in 2007, and in November 2025 the line closed for a reconstruction expected to last two years (Wikipedia, Gibraltar Cable Car).

Highlights

• The ascent - six minutes up the western face with the bay opening below.
• The top station - the arrival point at around four hundred metres.
• The macaques - the troop that works the top station.
• The upper Rock access - the starting point for the paths and sites.

When to go

April to October is the mild season. It closes in high wind, which is frequent. Levanter cloud can close the view at the top.

What to expect

It has been closed for rebuilding since November 2025 and is not expected back before late 2027; when running, it closes in strong wind without much notice. Queues on cruise days are long. The macaques at the top are aggressive around food and bags.

Nearby

The Skywalk is on the ridge, and the Botanic Gardens are at the base.

Key facts