Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a fascinating piece of Britain at the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula. This unique destination offers an impressive blend of British tradition and Mediterranean lifestyle.
If you visit Gibraltar for a day trip or even a little longer, you can expect a lot:
- British flair:
Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory that offers you the chance to experience British culture in a Mediterranean climate. - The Rock of Monkeys:
The famous Rock of Gibraltar, known for its free-roaming Barbary apes, is a major attraction. It is the only place in Europe where monkeys can be found in the wild. The view from the top offers marvellous views over Gibraltar, Spain and as far as Africa. - Unique experiences:
One of Gibraltar’s special features is the ability to cross the airport runway, which is an unusual experience for pedestrians. - Sightseeing and shopping:
The main street, Main Street, is the centre for shopping and offers numerous shops and restaurants. In addition, there are historical landmarks such as Trafalgar Cemetery, Europa Point and the North Mole Lighthouse. - Nature and history:
Gibraltar is not only interesting for its strategic location, but also for its natural caves and historic tunnels created during the Second World War. In 2016, the Gorham’s Cave complex in the Rock of Gibraltar was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The country has an eventful history, which becomes interesting with the Moorish takeover in 711. At this time, the mighty rock was given the name Jebel al-Tarik “Mountain of Tarik”, after the Arab general Tarik.
The Moors ruled the country until 1492 and were driven out by the Reconquista. In the following years, it was the Spanish who held sway until the British conquered the country in 1704.
From then on, the area was a constant point of contention between Great Britain and Spain and was fought over time and again. Even in recent years, this has not changed. Although there is no longer any fighting with weapons, two referendums have already been held. In each of these, 99% of the inhabitants of Gibraltar voted in favour of remaining part of Great Britain.
Monkey legend
How the monkeys came to Gibraltar is unclear. There is a legend that says that the monkeys came to Europe from Africa through St Michael’s Cave, a stalactite cave. Of course, it is more likely that they were colonised by Moors or Romans.
British superstition has it that when the last monkey has left Gibraltar, Britain will lose the Rock. Since 1913, a British Army corporal has always been responsible for feeding the animals. It is said that Winston Churchill ordered in the 1940s that at least 24 monkeys should live on the Rock at all times. At that time, the monkey population was endangered. There are currently over 150 Barbary macaques living on Gibraltar.
The monkeys living in the rocky terrain are the highlight of the visit for visitors. However, you should not forget that they are wild animals that can also become aggressive and bite. You should never try to stroke them and keep a safe distance, especially if there are young animals nearby. Feeding them is expressly forbidden!
It is advisable not to have any loose and easily stolen valuables or food near the animals. The monkeys can quickly steal these.
Excursion tips for Gibraltar
There isn't a vacationer in the Bay of Algecira who doesn't want to see this place - the Monkey Rock of Gibraltar. Is it really worth it or is it just a lot of fuss about a rock?
The mighty Rock of Gibraltar stands there - at first glance, you would never guess that there is a huge tunnel system here. Some of the tunnels of Gibraltar are still a well-kept government secret.
A walk in the middle of an airport tarmac? If you think this is not allowed, you should definitely visit Gibraltar Airport …
The southernmost point of Gibraltar is one of the places from which you have the best view over the Strait of Gibraltar and the African mainland. For me, Europa Point is one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the region.
Book excursions in Gibraltar
Spend the night nearby
Travel information about Gibraltar
Travelling to Gibraltar
By aeroplane
Gibraltar is accessible by land, sea and air. Direct scheduled flights arrive from the United Kingdom.
There are regular flights to Gibraltar from the following destinations: London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Bristol, Edinburgh
The nearest airport for travelling from the rest of Europe is Málaga Airport. It is 126 km away.
By train
Gibraltar does not have a railway station.
The nearest Spanish railway station is 13 km away.
By bus
Gibraltar is not directly connected to the Spanish bus network.
Those travelling by bus arrive at the bus station in La Linea. From there it is a 5-minute walk to the border crossing.
By car
From Spain, you can reach Gibraltar via the N340 or A7 (Cádiz – Málaga motorway). Take exit 119 in the direction of the N351 and drive to La Linea, the border town between Spain and Gibraltar. You should park your car in Spain, as there are either no parking spaces in Gibraltar or they are quite expensive.
Attention!!!! There is no left-hand traffic like in Great Britain. Here, cars drive on the right-hand side, just like in Spain!!!!
By boat
There is a weekly ferry connection from Gibraltar to Tangier.
Gibraltar also has berths for cruise ships and three marinas
Entry and visa requirements
Although Gibraltar is located on the Iberian Peninsula, it belongs to Great Britain and is therefore not part of the Schengen area.
Anyone crossing the border here must first leave Spain and then enter the UK and present their ID. Not all regulations for Gibraltar have yet been fully clarified following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and it is advisable to read up on the current status.
In general, German citizens need a passport when travelling to the UK. This requirement does not currently apply to Gibraltar and an identity card is sufficient.
Not all travellers require a visa. The latest information on visas, who needs them and who does not, can be found on the Borders & Coastguard Agency website.
Gibraltar is also not part of the EU customs territory.
The regulations for entry from non-EU countries apply. The local Spanish customs authorities may check the goods purchased.
On the road in Gibraltar
On foot
The town centre is relatively small and if you want to get to the cable car, you will have to walk through a pedestrian zone for long stretches. It takes about 10 minutes to walk from Market Place to the cable car station through Main Street.
By bus
There are two different bus systems, one with red buses (typical large-capacity buses and double-decker buses) and one with blue buses (mostly shorter buses with entry/exit only at the front). As the buses come from different operators, you also need different tickets.
The red buses are located directly behind the border crossing and run from there to Market Place. There are no fixed journey times, the buses leave when they are full.
The red buses start at Market Place Terminus. There are a total of 9 routes that travel to almost all locations.
Cable Car
A cable car runs from the city up to the Upper Rock. From October to March, it stops halfway up so that you can get off at Apes Den. At the terminus, you will meet the famous monkeys of Gibraltar.
The journey up is well worth it. It takes 6 minutes to reach the summit station at 412 metres. If you prefer to walk, you should plan 2.5 hours on foot.
The cable car departs approximately every 10 minutes. The ride does not need to be booked in advance.
Open:
in summer from 9:30-19:15, last ride down at 19:45;
from Nov to March 9:30-17:15, last ride down at 17:45
The ticket prices vary depending on the ticket option. Our tip: A ride down only makes sense if you are not undertaking a longer tour on the rock. We visited various attractions, such as the Skywalk, stalactite cave and tunnel system, which are all within walking distance of the mountain station. From there we would have had to walk uphill to the mountain station, the way downhill on foot was quicker!
Parking in Gibraltar
If you are travelling by car, you should park in Spain. There are hardly any car parking spaces in Gibraltar and the few that are available are very expensive.
In Spain, in the border town of La Linea, there are several well signposted car parks on the way to the border crossing. We recommend the Puerto Deportivo Alcaidesa day car park, which is located directly at the last roundabout and is about a 10-minute walk from the border crossing.
There are also other car parks in the immediate vicinity of the border, but these are considerably more expensive.
In Gibraltar there are large car parks at the Grand Parade (at the cable car station), at the International Commercial Centre (access via Line Wall Road) and at Europa Point. The situation for motorhomes is poor, as there are no official car parks or even places to stay overnight.
Best time to visit Gibraltar
Gibraltar experiences a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters. The average annual temperature is a pleasant 17.6 °C. There is an annual average of around 58 days of rain. The sunniest month is June with an average of 10.6 hours of sunshine per day.
Winter (December to February): Temperatures average between 11 and 16 degrees Celsius, with January being the coldest month. This period is characterised by the most rainfall, with an average of 6 to 8 days of rain per month. Water temperatures rarely fall below 16 degrees in winter, which makes it pleasant for some outdoor activities
Spring (March to May): Temperatures range between 13.6 °C and 21.8 °C in spring. Rainfall decreases, with around 7 days of rain in March and April. The sun shines between 5 and 8 hours a day, with April having the most hours of sunshine.
Summer (June to August): The weather is hot and dry, with temperatures that can reach 29 °C in July and August. There is almost no rainfall during these months. Water temperatures are highest in summer, with peaks of around 21 °C in August.
Autumn (September to November): Dieas weather is pleasantly warm, but not too hot. and in autumn between temperatures range between 14.9 °C and 22.2 °C.
Gibraltar Language
The official language in Gibraltar is English. However, as many Spaniards work in Gibraltar, a lot of Spanish is also spoken. If you listen more closely when two people are talking there, you will often hear a mix of both languages.
Paying in Gibraltar
The Gibraltar Pound (GIP) is the official currency. The Gibraltar pound is not valid anywhere outside Gibraltar.
However, there are only Gibraltar coins, notes are no longer offered.
Payment is actually made everywhere in pounds sterling or euros.
Telephone, Internet
Despite Brexit, EU roaming still applies at present.
