St. Michael’s Cave is a vast network of limestone grottoes with an entrance found perched 984 feet (300 metres) above sea level on the Rock of Gibraltar. Take a tour through the impressive caverns, where stalactites dangle from the ceilings and stalagmites rise up to meet them. Learn about a history that dates as far back as the Romans.
There are many legends surrounding St. Michael’s Cave. The most famous is that it was the exit to a 15-mile (24-kilometre) long tunnel that stretched under the Strait of Gibraltar to Africa and that it was through this tunnel that the Rock of Gibraltar’s famous macaque monkeys arrived in Europe. Watch the mischievous monkeys on your way to the entrance of the caves and you may well wonder exactly how Europe’s only wild monkey population got here.
Make your way through a series of caves, each leading into the other. From the Upper Hall, the caves descend until they reach a depth 250 feet (76.2 metres) below the height of the entrance. Embark on a special guided tour to reach the lower cave and small lake. The main exit of the caves was in fact blasted from the rock during World War II when the cave was prepared for, although never used as, an emergency hospital.
The magnificent Cathedral Cave is open to visitors and often plays host to concerts, ballet and theatre thanks to its beautiful acoustics and romantic setting. Experience the magic of a performance deep underground if you are lucky enough to visit at the right time.
Buy a combination ticket which includes access to St. Michael’s Cave along with the one-way cable car to the Upper Rock, the Great Siege Tunnels and the entry to the Upper Rock Nature Reserve. All the attractions are open from morning to evening. To reach the caves walk east along Queen's Road from the town centre. The route is clearly signposted.
