Marbella To Gibraltar Day Trip: Expert Tips [2024]

Marbella To Gibraltar Day Trip: Expert Tips [2024]

Are you planning to book Marbella to Gibraltar day trip? In that case, you’re at the right place!

I have visited Gibraltar myself, and as someone who lives on Costa del Sol, not far from Marbella, I will be also able to share local insights and practical tips that will make your trip easy and convenient.

In this article, I will share all your options for making a day trip from Marbella to Gibraltar, but if you prefer to skip the reading and book right away, below is a link to my recommended tour operator.

Your Options for Marbella to Gibraltar Day Trip

There are three ways you can organize your day trip to Gibraltar from Marbella, the easiest one being either booking an affordable day trip with a tour operator or driving there with a rental car if you don’t mind the drive – please do check the section on the rental car option as that comes with a unique set of issues you should consider.

Below you will find a detailed breakdown for each option. At the end of the article, you will also find some basic information you should know before visiting Gibraltar, as it’s a foreign territory.

1. Tour Operator Marbella to Gibraltar Day Trips

I think this is the easiest and most cost-effective way to get to Gibraltar from Marbella, without the hassle of driving a car and navigating the local traffic. Great value trip that will leave you plenty of time to explore Gibraltar and do a bit of shopping, before returning to Marbella.

This trip has a basic fare which is just for a trip to Gibraltar and back, with free time to explore.

You will also have the option to upgrade your trip if you want to see also the Nature Reserve, where you can see some of the highlights like St Michael’s Cave, Skywalk, Pillars of Hercules, and of course, the famous Gibraltar monkeys running freely here.

Click the link below to select the option with ‘Rock Tour Included from Marbella’ after selecting your dates, if you want to also see the Nature Reserve.

Gibraltar monkeys
Gibraltar monkeys
Skywalk in Gibraltar
Views from Skywalk in Gibraltar

Option 2: Marbella to Gibraltar Day Trip With a Rental Car

Driving to Gibraltar from Marbella seems like a convenient option due to the relatively short distance (under 80 km), which would only take you just over an hour to drive.

If you already rented a car for your stay in Marbella, it might be the most convenient option for you, however, there are a few things you should know before you get on the road.

  • The highway leading south is a paid toll road, so you will need to have cash ready to pay at the toll booths on your way
  • Check that your car rental contract doesn’t specify that you’re not allowed to leave the country, which technically would be the case if you cross the Gibraltar border in a rented car
  • Once you get to Gibraltar or La Linea de la Conception, which is the town next to it, you have two options: driving through the border with a car, or parking at La Linea and crossing on foot
  • It is highly recommended to park the car at La Linea de la Conception parking lot close to the borders, as crossing the borders in a car can take hours (the lines are notoriously long, especially in the main season).
  • Once you park your car at La Linea, you can cross on foot via the pedestrian checkpoints, and then walk to Gibraltar (around 20 minutes) or take a local Gibraltar taxi from there.
  • Local taxis or buses do not cross the borders. Pedestrian crossing and border control are much faster and there is virtually no waiting time involved, compared to the line for cars.
  • You should take the cost of the tolls, petrol, parking fees and potential taxi fares into account when calculating the total cost of this trip, as it might work out cheaper just to get the day trip from the tour operator

Option 3: Marbella to Gibraltar Day Trip Using Public Transport

The public transport connections between Marbella and Gibraltar are really limited, with just a few long-distance buses stopping at the main station in Marbella.

The bus company Alsa offers up to 8 connections to La Linea per day, with an average journey time of 1 hour and 15 minutes. No buses are going directly to Gibraltar, so you will have to take the bus to La Linea main bus station, and from there walk to the Gibraltar border crossing (about 15 minutes) and cross on foot.

Once you’re behind the border, you can walk to Gibraltar town (about 20 minutes) or take a local Gibraltar taxi from there.

gibraltar old town
Old town of Gibraltar
Gibraltar old town
Gibraltar old town

Book Online: Marbella to Gibraltar Day Trip

As I mentioned earlier, I highly recommend booking your trip online with a tour operator, which has a number of advantages:

  • Cancel up to 24 hours ahead of the trip for a full refund
  • Reserve your spot now and pay later
  • Check trip reviews from other travellers before booking
  • Runs 3x a week
  • 9.5 hours total trip duration which is perfect for a day trip
  • Travel in a comfortable air-conditioned bus with wifi and USB sockets
  • Information about Gibraltar from English speaking guide on board
  • Option to book a nature reserve tour (not included in the basic trip rate)
  • Free time to explore Gibraltar on your own

How to Book Marbella to Gibraltar Day Trip: Step by Step

  • Head over to the day trip info page here, and select your dates from the calendar.
  • Add the number of tickets you want for this day trip
  • Once you have the date selected, you will be shown a number of options with different departure locations, make sure you select the one which says Marbella
  • PLEASE NOTE: the list of the pickup locations is long, and if you scroll down further you will see Including Rock Tour from Marbella as a trip option – select this if you would like to see the Nature reserve while on this day trip (for a different price of course)
  • Once you found the correct trip from the selection, you will see the meeting point marked on a link and also added starting time for the day trip
  • Click book now which will navigate you to a payment page
  • Once you complete the transaction, you will get a confirmation email which lists all the details you need to know for your trip
view from Pillars of Hercules
view from Pillars of Hercules
Gibraltar skywalk inside the nature reserve
Gibraltar skywalk inside the nature reserve

Essential Info For Marbella to Gibraltar Day Trip

  • It is your responsibility to check the entry requirements to the country, especially if you’re from a non-EU country.
  • Gibraltar was annexed to the UK by the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, following the end of the war. It is considered a British territory abroad, most often referred to locally as ‘the Rock’ (no, not the actor).
  • As a British territory, the same rules will apply as if you’re visiting the UK. These rules have changed a little since the UK left the EU.
  • Before you plan your trip, please make sure that you check the legal requirements for entry to this UK territory on the official Gibraltar government website, where you will get advice for every nationality
  • As of spring 2023, you can enter Gibraltar with a valid EU passport without any additional paperwork, or even a valid national ID card (EU citizens only).
  • If you’re not from the EU, VISA requirements may apply – check the link above for more details
  • There are some restrictions on how much good you can bring to Spain from Gibraltar and another way around, you can check the HM Customs page which has more details. The customs check is both on entry to Gibraltar and also exit.
  • Following the passport checks, you will have to cross the airport runway to get to Gibraltar town, sometimes this can take a while if you have to wait due to scheduled plane departure or arrival
  • To make sure you don’t have to wait for the runway crossing too long, you can check in advance at what time the planes are landing or taking off, to avoid extra waiting time – check at the official airport site here. At the moment, the planned departures and arrivals are at 10.40 am, 16.50 pm (arrivals) and 11.15 am and 17.40 pm for departures.
  • Traffic in Gibraltar drives on the right, not left like in the UK
  • Allow plenty of time for the border crossing, especially if you’re travelling by car

Explore More in Marbella

Local’s Tips for Best Restaurants in Marbella

How to Spend a Day in Marbella: One Day Itinerary

Your Complete Guide to Marbella Old Town

Your Guide to Plaza de los Naranjos: The Orange Square in Marbella

The Best for Tapas: Taverna Casa Blanca, Marbella

Jungle in the City: Alameda Park in Marbella

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links – if you decide to book using one of the links, I will earn a small commission that helps me run this site. This is at no extra cost to you.

Southern Spain Travel Tips

Find Best Hotels

Find Hotels

I have been using booking.com for all my trips in Spain and abroad, and it’s the best place to book your hotel.

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Find Car Rental

To rent a car, I highly recommend Discover Cars, an award-winning price comparison site for car rentals.

Book Your Tour

Local travel companies offer many day trip options from almost all the destinations in Southern Spain. You can check them out here.

Book Local Transport

To get the cheapest bus or train tickets, take a look at Omio to find the timetables and prices.

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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links - if you decide to book using one of the links, I will earn a small commission that helps me run this site. This is at no extra cost to you.

Hi, I'm Lucia

At Viva La Vita, I will help you to discover Southern Spain like a local!

I've been living on Costa del Sol since 2020, and fill these pages with first-hand insights, personal experience and practical tips that will help you plan a wonderful trip to Spain.

Make yourself at home and find the best places to explore in Andalusia and beyond.

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