Gibraltar is a confusing place –it’s often considered to be a part of Spain as it’s stuck onto the end of the mainland, but it is in actual fact part of the United Kingdom. With the warm Mediterranean Sea lapping at its shores as opposed to the decidedly chillier Atlantic and of course enjoying much nicer weather, a holiday in Gibraltar is like visiting a home away from home. A beautiful setting with a healthy dose of unique, exciting and interesting things to do despite its very modest size, you won’t go far wrong with a holiday in Gibraltar. We’ve put together a brief Gibraltar travel guide to help you out if you’re travelling here…
Getting there
There are daily flights from all of the London airports and from major airports across the UK, as well as frequent flights from around Europe. With low budget carriers in abundance, there are some great deals to be had. There are frequent and affordable ferry services from Algeciras in Spain and from Morocco to Gibraltar too!
If you are driving, be aware that the only road into Gibraltar runs right across the airport run way so you can get delayed when flights are landing. You might find it quicker to park in La Linea and walk across the border!
Be aware that there are customs and immigrations procedures in place and you will need your passport if you are a citizen of the EU. If visiting from outside the EU it’s worth noting that entry requirements do differ from the UK and you will need to have the correct visa if applicable.
When to visit
With mild winters and warm summers, Gibraltar is a great destination to visit year round. In the summer months, you will probably experience temperatures in the high 20°cs to the mid 30°cs and during winter, you will find temperatures rarely dip far below 14°c. To be honest, prices for accommodation, food and attractions are fairly consistent year round so the best time to visit really depends on your temperature preferences!
What to do
Tackle the challenge of the Mediterranean Steps (or jump in the cable car) which wind their way around Gibraltar Rock to a height of 1,400ft. Drink in the incredible views and meet the famous monkeys too! Acting as a nature reserve for Europe’s only group of Barbary Macaques, you will find around 300 of them here. Generally they are pretty happy to hop around the rock, but don’t be surprised if you meet one or two particularly adventurous monkeys in town! Be sure to catch a snap or two but don’t feed them as this is against the law.
Another unmissable attraction comes in the way of a way dolphin spotting boat trip! Keep your eyes peeled for striped, common and even bottle nose dolphins as they play and frolic in the waves just metres from the boat. Consider exploring St Michael’s Cave and the Gibraltar Museum too, as well as the World War II tunnels, the Great Siege Tunnels and the Botanic Gardens. When it’s time for dinner, be sure to visit Casemates Square where you will find a selection of restaurants, or take some time out exploring the marina and enjoy a nice waterside meal.
As the title suggests, this is a just a brief Gibraltar travel guide; there is plenty more to see, do and enjoy on a holiday here and we hope that this post is a handy introduction to Gibraltar.
Have you ever been to Gibraltar and have any tips, stories, photos or videos you would like to share? Or are you planning a trip to Gibraltar soon? Use the comments box below if so! 🙂
