San Roque

Why visit San Roque

San Roque grew up in the years after 1704, when the Spanish inhabitants of Gibraltar left following the Anglo-Dutch capture of the Rock, and its old town still looks across the bay to Gibraltar. Today its large municipality takes in the upmarket marina and residential estate of Sotogrande, several of Spain's most prestigious golf courses and a long stretch of Mediterranean coast. It suits golfers, sailors and families looking for a calm, well-equipped base between the Costa del Sol and Tarifa.

What to see and do in San Roque

Wander the old town of San Roque, with its church of Santa María la Coronada, the Alameda and views over the Bay of Gibraltar. Nearby are the ruins of Carteia, a Phoenician and Roman port. Sotogrande has a marina lined with restaurants, a polo scene in summer and courses including Sotogrande Golf, San Roque Golf Club, La Cañada and the Alcaidesa Links, plus golf academies. Beaches include Playa de Sotogrande, Torreguadiaro, Guadalquitón, Cala Sardina and Torrecarbonera, several of them backed by dunes. Gibraltar, Castellar de la Frontera and the cork forests of Los Alcornocales are close by.

A day in San Roque

Walk the old town of San Roque in the morning for views of Gibraltar, then visit the ruins of Carteia. Have lunch at the Sotogrande marina, followed by an afternoon on the beach or a round of golf. Watch the polo in summer, or end the day with a stroll along the harbour.

Food and local life

Sotogrande's marina offers international restaurants and beach clubs, while the old town and Puente Mayorga keep traditional bars serving fried fish, tapas and local stews. Look for fish from the Strait and the cooking of the Campo de Gibraltar, which mixes Andalusian and British influences.

Around San Roque

San Roque is in the Campo de Gibraltar comarca. Gibraltar is 15 minutes away, Castellar de la Frontera's castle village and the cork forests of Los Alcornocales lie inland, and Tarifa and the beaches of the Strait are 45 minutes west. The bay between San Roque and Gibraltar is busy with ships, and dolphin-watching trips leave from the marinas. The Los Alcornocales Natural Park, one of the largest cork-oak forests in the world, begins just inland and has walking trails and quiet villages.

See every town and village on the Campo de Gibraltar page.

Getting there and around

San Roque is in the Campo de Gibraltar comarca, about 1 hour 15 minutes from Málaga airport and 20 minutes from Gibraltar's airport by car. Buses link the area with Algeciras and La Línea. A car is useful to move between the old town, Sotogrande and the beaches. The climate is mild year round.