Situated at the opposite end of the “Rock” from Spain, Rosia Bay is a historic area, where it was said that Nelsons body was brought after his death aboard the HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar.

It was here that he rested prior to being returned home to England. It is more than just history however, but also present day, with a bright welcoming area, lots of parking, great little shops and some wonderful things to do to entertain you.

Rosia Bay holds the distinction of being more than just a beach and more than just a bay. It is a unique attraction in its own right, a coastal area that is part port, part tourist attraction and part local entertainment.

Summers in Gibraltar can be quite hot, and the Rosia Bay area is one of the better beaches around, holding some great amenities for both traveler, tourist to Gibraltar and local resident alike.

The Rosia Bay area is also home to some incredible fishing opportunities as both locals and tourists will attest.

The shores of Rosia Bay are lined with superb cafes that will serve up anything from a cold drink to a hot meal, and the prices that you pay will surprise you with how reasonable they are. Rosia Bay is not the typical tourist area, but full of history, of local colour and a wonderful atmosphere of small town.

The locals say that one of the best things about Rosia Bay is that there is usually parking available. Unknown to many, the parking in Gibraltar can get to be a bit nightmarish, with minimal chance to park close to what you want to view. Not so in Rosia, which offers adequate parking, though you may have a bit of a problem availing yourself of it, as the spaces are a bit tight.

As you arrive in Rosia Bay you will find two more bays, much smaller in size. Rosia Bay, being a natural cove or sorts, offers its own shelter from the breezes that can blow through, and does also offer you a choice of two swimming pools as well.

Rosia Bay though is more than just a beach. It also happens to be a pier area, a port area, and though it is primarily an entertainment area now, perhaps, it has in the past assumed a much larger role in the culture, the interaction, the growth and economy of Gibraltar.

Rosia Bay is also the site of Nelsons Anchorage. South of Trafalgar Cemetery, Nelsons anchorage is a museum that hosts a multitude of things to view that will give you a closer picture of what the area was like in that time frame of the Battle of Trafalgar.

More than just a museum, Nelson’s anchorage is the older port of Gibraltar on Rosia Bay, and for the historian or just the avid history buff, Nelsons Anchorage also pin points for you where the body of Admiral Nelson was brought ashore, preserved–so the legend says, inside of a rum barrel.

Along here are two more little bays, one called Camp Bay and the other named Little Bay, which form the protective type cove that Rosia Bay enjoys.

Nelson’s Anchorage Museum is
Open 9.30 – 3.15pm Monday – Saturday
Last entry 5.00pm
It is Closed Sundays
Admission £1.00

If you choose to continue walking past the two small bays, you will find a small road tunnel that will see you arriving at Europa Point, where you can view the three primary tourist attractions of Europa point and indeed attractions of Gibraltar, the lighthouse, the Shrine and the mosque.

Take some time to visit Rosia Bay, part of Gibraltar’s historic past and its beautiful present.