Gibraltar

Recommended Vaccinations For Gibraltar

For Most Travellers

Hepatitis B Vaccine

There is a risk of infection with hepatitis B for this country, therefore, the vaccination is recommended.

Hepatitis A Vaccine

There is a risk of exposure to hepatitis A in this country, therefore, the vaccination is recommended.

For Some Travellers

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccine

A dose of Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is recommended for infants aged 6 to 11 months.

Rabies Vaccine

Vaccination against rabies is recommended for travellers whose activities or employment may bring them into direct contact with bats (i.e. adventure travellers, veterinarians, wildlife professionals, researchers, etc.).

Recommended Medications For Gibraltar

There are no recommendations for Gibraltar at this time.

Diseases To Be Aware of for Gibraltar

For Most Travellers

Hepatitis B

There is a risk for acquiring hepatitis B in this country.

Hepatitis A

There is a risk of exposure to hepatitis A virus in this country through contaminated food or water.

For Some Travellers

Measles

A dose of Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is recommended for infants aged 6 to 11 months.

Tuberculosis

Travellers to this country are at risk for tuberculosis if visiting sick friends or family, working in the healthcare field, or having close prolonged contact with an infected person.

Hanta Virus

There is a risk of acquiring Hantavirus in this country through the consumption of food and water contaminated by an infected rodent or through rodent bites.

Rabies

Rabies has not been reported in Gibraltar and is considered a low risk for travellers, However, it may occur in bats.

Safety & Security in Gibraltar

Personal Safety

Gibraltar maintains very low crime levels. Violent crime is rare and petty theft remains the primary concern. Property crimes like theft and vandalism are uncommon. The territory benefits from a close-knit community atmosphere where familiarity acts as a crime deterrent. You can move freely throughout Gibraltar at any time of day or night. Pickpocketing can happen in busy tourist spots or during crowded events. Most incidents are opportunistic rather than organized. Mugging is rare, though isolated incidents have occurred late at night near the border with Spain. The Royal Gibraltar Police maintains high visibility and uses CCTV cameras throughout public spaces. The small size allows for quick response times. Be alert when visiting the Upper Rock Nature Reserve. Barbary macaques are wild animals that can bite, scratch or snatch bags if they feel threatened or spot food. Keep food completely out of sight, secure bags with closed zippers held in front of you, and never feed or touch the monkeys. People walking at night between La Linea de la Concepcion in Spain and Gibraltar have been attacked and robbed.

Extreme Violence

The terrorism threat level in Gibraltar is currently at Moderate. This means that a terrorist attack is possible but not likely. The threat level is set by the Gibraltar Contingency Council. There is no recent history of terrorism in Gibraltar, though attacks cannot be ruled out. Authorities remain vigilant due to general European trends and the territory’s strategic location at the entrance to the Mediterranean. The Royal Gibraltar Police works closely with local, regional and international partners to maintain security. The police employ both overt and covert policing tactics, including high visibility deployment at various locations. Gibraltar is located near the Strait of Gibraltar, an area with notable drug trafficking activity. Over 20 people have died due to drug trafficking in the Strait since 2016, with rising violence tied to illegal weapons and limited police resources. However, this activity primarily affects the maritime areas and Spanish coastline rather than Gibraltar itself. Violent crime including serious assaults, armed robbery and homicide is exceedingly rare in Gibraltar. The territory has strong law enforcement and collaborates with international agencies including Interpol and Europol to tackle cross-border crime.

Political Unrest

Political protests and demonstrations in Gibraltar are typically related to border issues with Spain and post-Brexit negotiations. These events are generally peaceful and pose minimal risk to visitors. Demonstrations related to Brexit negotiations and border arrangements occur occasionally, particularly when tensions escalate over border controls or treaty discussions. Workers in the neighboring Spanish town of La Linea have held protests urging all sides to reach agreements that protect their livelihoods, as many commute across the border daily for work. Historically, large demonstrations have taken place in Gibraltar, with participation from significant portions of the population, protesting UK decisions that affect Gibraltar or expressing opposition to sovereignty proposals. The Crimes Act 2011 requires that written notice must be delivered to a police station at least 6 days before a public procession is held. Even peaceful demonstrations can lead to disruptions to traffic and public transportation. There have been occasional protests related to political tensions with Spain over territorial disputes, fishing rights, and maritime boundaries. These are typically peaceful. Gibraltar has a stable political environment with its own parliament. The territory has consistently voted to maintain British sovereignty in referendums.

Areas To Avoid

Gibraltar is a small, compact territory with no areas considered particularly dangerous for visitors. The entire territory is approximately 2.6 square miles with a population of around 30,000 people. There are no unsafe neighborhoods or districts within Gibraltar itself. The territory is well-maintained with clean, well-lit public spaces that are regularly patrolled by police. Few areas could be considered unsafe, and residents and visitors can move about freely at all hours. However, exercise caution when walking at night between La Linea de la Concepcion in Spain and Gibraltar, where people have been attacked and robbed. This border area requires more vigilance during nighttime hours. The Upper Rock Nature Reserve requires caution due to steep cliffs, slippery steps and the presence of Barbary macaques. Stay on marked paths when visiting caves like St. Michael’s Cave, as surfaces can be wet and uneven. During busy periods when cruise ships arrive, streets and attractions can become crowded. Check port schedules if you want to avoid these busy windows.