Great Siege Tunnels: Gibraltar's Fortress Within

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Explore Gibraltar's Great Siege Tunnels: a testament to military engineering and a window into the Rock's strategic past.

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Great Siege Tunnels

The Great Siege Tunnels, also known as the Upper Galleries, are a network of tunnels carved inside the Rock of Gibraltar by the British military during the Great Siege of the late 18th century. Dug out of solid limestone, they represent a remarkable feat of military engineering and offer visitors a glimpse into Gibraltar's strategic past.

A brief summary to Great Siege Tunnels

1b Leanse Place, Gibraltar, GX11 1AA, GI
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Monday 9 am-6:15 pm
Tuesday 9 am-6:15 pm
Wednesday 9 am-6:15 pm
Thursday 9 am-6:15 pm
Friday 9 am-6:15 pm
Saturday 9 am-6:15 pm
Sunday 9 am-6:15 pm

From Eve

Know before you go

Hi, I'm Eve. Here are a few practical things to know before exploring Great Siege Tunnels.

Wear comfortable shoes, as exploring the tunnels involves walking on uneven surfaces and inclines.
Consider visiting during off-peak hours (early morning or late afternoon) to avoid crowds.
A comprehensive ticket to the Nature Reserve of Upper Rock includes admission to the tunnels.
The tunnels are spacious and well-ventilated, so there is no need to worry about feeling claustrophobic.
Allow at least 40 minutes to 1.5 hours to fully explore the tunnels, depending on your pace and interest.

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Getting There

Walking

From Casemates Square, head east towards Main Street and continue north. Turn left onto Line Wall Road, then right onto Queens Road. Follow Queen's Road uphill, passing the Apes' Den, until you reach the junction with Willis's Road. The entrance to the Great Siege Tunnels is a short walk from here. Note that this is a steep, inclined walk that takes approximately 45 minutes from the city center. There are some stairs along the route. There is no fee for walking, but access to the Nature Reserve, which includes the tunnels, requires a ticket.
Public Transport

Take the Gibraltar Bus Company's Route 1 to the last stop near the Moorish Castle entrance. From there, walk along Queen's Road, passing the Apes' Den, until you reach the junction with Willis's Road. The entrance to the Great Siege Tunnels is a short walk from here. A single bus fare is approximately £2.20. A Hopper ticket, allowing unlimited travel on all Gibraltar bus routes for a day, is also available.
Taxi

Taxis are readily available at the airport, border, and in town at Casemates Square. A taxi to the Great Siege Tunnels will take approximately 15-20 minutes from the airport or border. Expect to pay around £10-£15 for the trip. Note that non-resident vehicles are not allowed within the Gibraltar Nature Reserve, Upper Rock, except for Blue Badge holders.

Discover more about Great Siege Tunnels

Venture into the heart of the Rock of Gibraltar and discover the Great Siege Tunnels, a testament to British military ingenuity. Constructed during the Great Siege of Gibraltar (1779-1783), these tunnels were carved by hand from solid limestone to create a defensive system unlike any other. Faced with a seemingly insurmountable challenge of reaching a blind spot on the north-east side of the Rock, Sergeant-Major Henry Ince proposed a daring solution: to tunnel through the rock itself.What began as a narrow passage to install a new artillery battery soon evolved into a complex network of tunnels, stretching for several kilometers inside the Rock. Workers relied on manual labor, picks, chisels, iron wedges, and gunpowder charges to tunnel through the dense Jurassic limestone. As the tunneling progressed, ventilation issues prompted engineers to open gun ports along the cliff face, which not only improved airflow but gave defenders vantage points to position cannons directly facing the enemy lines. These unique embrasures offered both protection and firepower, fundamentally changing the dynamics of the siege.Today, the Great Siege Tunnels stand as a living museum, offering visitors a chance to step back in time and experience the conditions faced by the soldiers who lived and worked within these corridors. Explore the various chambers and passageways, where historical cannons still overlook the landscapes they once defended. Multimedia displays bring the history of the tunnels to life, illustrating their crucial role in Gibraltar's ability to withstand sieges and attacks. The tunnels also offer breathtaking views of the surrounding area, including the Strait of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean Sea. The Great Siege Tunnels are a reminder of what can be achieved through necessity, determination, and creativity in the face of overwhelming odds.