Gibraltar, colloquially known as The Rock, (or simply 'Gib'), is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom on the southern coast of Spain at the entrance to the Mediterranean sea. The people are British Citizens.
Understand
This is a unique place for the curious traveller. Take time to explore the caves and tunnels especially those not meant for tourists!
The inside of the rock is an absolute labyrinth with the secret internal roads and tunnels 4 times longer than those on the surface.
Military presence and security in this otherwise deserted area is strong but almost invisible.
History
In Greek mythology Gibraltar was Calpe, one of the Pillars of Hercules, which marked the edge of the Mediterranean and the known world.
In 711 Tariq ibn Ziyad, the Muslim governor of Tangier, landed at Gibraltar to launch the Islamic invasion of the Iberian Peninsula. The Rock took his name - Jabal Tariq (Mountain of Tariq) eventually became Gibraltar.
Strategically important, Gibraltar was ceded to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British garrison was formally declared a colony in 1830. The topmost part of the Rock is still a British military installation, and off-limits to the public.
In referendums held in 1967 and 2002, the 27,800 Gibraltarians (2004 figure) ignored foreign pressure and voted overwhelmingly to reject any involvment by Spain in their government. On June 10th 2004, citizens of Gibraltar voted for the first time in the UK MEP (Member of the European Parliament) elections, as part of the South West constituency.
Etiquette
Remember that Gibraltar is British.
People from Gibraltar refer to themselves as Gibraltarian or 'Llanito' pronounced Ya-ni-to. They are easily offended if referred to as Spanish and they are very proud to be British Citizens. Remember that Gibraltar has been a British possession longer than it was Spanish. Take an interest in why they feel British, but never point out anything that you may think link them to Spain. Some Gibraltarians also feel sensitive to the use of the term 'colony' for their territory due to its connotations of being ruled or lacking in self-government.
Although the popular view is that the Spanish Government is the cause of many problems concerning Gibraltar, there is no animosity to individuals and Spanish tourists and workers experience no problems. Recent airport ageements have opened up the relationship Gibraltar has with Spain.
Talk
Gibraltar residents speak English and Spanish (with a local dialect).
The term gibberish came from the llanito habit of randomly alternating between English and Spanish words all the way through a sentence. New words appear at random and spread quickly through the tight-knit community, then disappear just as fast.
The language of choice at any fast food joint is Spanish, as fast food joints tend to employ cheap Spanish workers from across the border. Everyone else is bilingual.
History
In Greek mythology Gibraltar was Calpe, one of the Pillars of Hercules, which marked the edge of the Mediterranean and the known world.
In 711 Tariq ibn Ziyad, the Muslim governor of Tangier, landed at Gibraltar to launch the Islamic invasion of the Iberian Peninsula. The Rock took his name - Jabal Tariq (Mountain of Tariq) eventually became Gibraltar.
Strategically important, Gibraltar was ceded to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British garrison was formally declared a colony in 1830. The topmost part of the Rock is still a British military installation, and off-limits to the public.
In referendums held in 1967 and 2002, the 27,800 Gibraltarians (2004 figure) ignored foreign pressure and voted overwhelmingly to reject any involvment by Spain in their government. On June 10th 2004, citizens of Gibraltar voted for the first time in the UK MEP (Member of the European Parliament) elections, as part of the South West constituency.
Getting there
By plane
Gibraltar airport has daily scheduled flights to and from London-Gatwick (LGW) (British Airways and EasyJet), London-Luton (LTN) (Monarch Airlines) in the UK. Monarch Airlines also resumed their flights to and from Manchester a few times per week.
Iberia operated flights to Madrid-Barajas (MAD) but due to lack of passengers this route was terminated September 2008. Andalus Lineas Aereas now operate morning and evening flights to Madrid using smaller jet aircraft, and a flight to Barcelona and back around lunchtime.
As of March 2008, easyJet introduced their scheduled service to The Rock with two daily flights arriving from and departing for London Gatwick since their takeover of GB Airways (the British Airways franchise). The flights arrive from London Gatwick at 10:50 and 18:45 respectively and prices start from £17.99 single, including taxes and charges. A reduced British Airways service is available, operating just one flight a day to and from Gatwick, and two per week to Heathrow. Flight schedules varies depending on season / time of year.
With the introduction of easyJet's operation from Gibraltar, together with the governments planned airport expansion and reduction of airport charges, it opens the door for new routes from Gibraltar to cities such as Berlin, Paris and possibly New York. Private jets are reported to have reached as far as Miami (Florida, USA) direct from Gibraltar Airport.
The most popular alternative airport for Gibraltar is Malaga Airport in Spain, some 120 km to the East, which offers a wide range of destinations. Malaga can be reached by bus, but there are only a few services available per day and the trip is approximately 3 hours. Jerez Airport is normally the second choice, despite being closer to Gibraltar.
Flights are also available from the African side of the Mediterranean. Specifically, twenty minute short haul flights are available from Agadir in Morocco.
By car
Queues at the border may make it less time-consuming to park cars in La Línea and walk across. This also has the advantage of avoiding Gibraltar's complex one way system with very narrow and badly signposted streets, and limited parking. The land border is open 24 hours a day, though expect delays when planes are landing - the only road into Gibraltar runs right across the airport runway!
However, once the airport expansion is complete, traffic (except buses) will be diverted around to the east side of the runway to ease overall traffic congestion.
Motorists, and on occasion pedestrians, crossing the border with Spain have been subjected to long delays and searches by the Spanish authorities. Spain has closed the border during disputes or incidents involving the Gibraltar authorities, such as the **Aurora** cruise ship incident and when fishermen from the Spanish fishing vessel Pirana were arrested for illegal fishing in Gibraltar waters.
By bus
Buses from Spain stop just short of Gibraltar in La Línea, but its bus station is only 3 minutes walk from the border.
After walking across the border, you can get the number 9 bus to the centre of Gibraltar, or the number 3 bus to Europa Point. Both buses depart every 15 minutes on weekdays, and every half hour on weekends. Buses run from 6.30AM to 9PM Monday - Friday, 7AM - 9PM Saturday, and 8AM - 9PM on Sundays. Trips are just 60p, no matter how far you travel.
Alternatively, it's only a 10 minutes walk (across the runway and through a tunnel under the city walls) from the border to the main Casemates Square.
At La Línea there are regular buses to and from Seville, Malaga, Cadiz, Granada and hourly to Algeciras (the latter one direct or with stops on the way).
The bus station is in Algeciras on the opposite street corner than the train station. To go to the bus station from the harbour, turn left, walk along the main street for about 100m and then turn right. Continue about 200m along this street to the small building with railroads. There is a small sign for the bus stop. This bus can get you to La Línea for about €2.05 and it goes every 30 minutes during the day. There is a faster direct bus, and one that stops on the way. In La Línea you will arrive at the bus station about 500m from the border with Gibraltar. In the summer it can take up to 2 hours to cross the border.
Current info for Malaga bus station: Estación de Autobuses de Málaga
By boat
When the frontier was closed, there was a ferry service from Gibraltar to Morocco. There's a passenger service geared up to the Moroccan workers in Gibraltar, who have problems crossing the frontier, but only about once per week on the weekend.
From 17 December 2009, Transcoma now operates a daily service from between Gibraltar and Algeciras in Spain. The ticket prices at about 6-8 euros and about 5 crossings per day, and each trip takes around half an hour.
Cruise ships often include Gibraltar as part of their itinerary.
Gibraltar receives a large number of visits from cruise ships, and the strait of Gibraltar is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.
Passenger and cargo ships anchor in the port of Gibraltar.
By train
There is no train service to Gibraltar.
Traveling around
Gibraltar is less than 7 square kilometres, so most of it can be seen on foot. Bear in mind, though, that some of the roads (especially up to the Upper Rock) are very steep. Taxis will take the strain out of the climbs, and all the taxi drivers seem to know all the apes by name. There is a (number 3) bus service that runs from the frontier, through the town and on to Europa Point.
See
Europa Point - where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean, and from which the coast of Africa can be seen
Upper Rock - military installation, and nature reserve where the famous apes live (Barbary macaques)
St Michael's Cave - an impressive natural grotto used by the neolithic inhabitants of the Rock
Siege Tunnels - a system of tunnels dug during the Great Siege which acted as a defence system
Dolphin Watching - short trips in the bay (several times a day) - there are plenty of playful dolphins to see
Gibraltar Museum
The Mediterranian Steps - for those not afraid of walking (and with a head for heights), this is a walk that starts at Jew's Gate bird observatory (at the end of Engineer Road) and winds it's way up the East side of the rock to the top. The views are fantastic, and the path underwent renovation work in 2007, so is less treacherous than it has been in the past. If you don't fancy the uphill struggle, you can always get the cable car up and then come down this way.
Cable cars run from 9.30AM until 5.45PM to the Upper Rock, the last car up the hill might leave as early as 17.00PM. A "cable car and apes" ticket costs £8 return, while a ticket including entrance to St. Michael's Cave and the Siege Tunnels costs £16. Entrance to each sight costs £8 without this ticket. Alternatively, a 'Taxi-Tour' (typically for 8 people in an MPV) will cost £16 for a 1.5 hr tour, and this includes the fees for entry to the Cave, tunnels and upper rock.
Things to do
Tarifa beach is the best place to go for surfing and bodyboarding.
Eat
If you like to sit outside and watch the world go by, head for Casemates Square where a number of pubs & restaurants serve fairly similar meals, with the exception of Cafe Solo which serves good Italian food.
Irish Town, the road which runs parallel to Main Street has a number of bars, like The Clipper which has good food, friendly staff, and satellite television. They serve a hearty English breakfast. There is also Corks which serves more substantial lunches.
If you fancy dining waterside the marinas are worth a visit.
The Edinburgh Arms The most southerly pub in Europe. Good food, draught Bass and many others on tap. Happy hour daily at 10.30pm. Full Sunday lunch available.
Queensway Quay is home to The Waterfront, which serves a good quality, if somewhat eclectic menu which ranges from steak to high quality local fish and Indian food. Casa Pepe's, on the other side of the marina is probably Gibraltar's best restaurant, but is also by far the most expensive.
Marina Bay is home to several restaurants. Bianca's and Charlie's Tavern at Marina Bay are worth a visit, the former being very well known for its busy ambience. Marina Bay has recently also become home to Gibraltar's first Mexican restaurant.
Ocean Village, Gibraltar's newest marina, is an extension to Marina Bay. It is home to several new pubs and restaurants, including a Chinese, and an Indian.
O'Reilly's Situated on Leisure Island, part of the Ocean Village marina complex, the traditional Victorian Irish bar has been designed and built by Ireland's leading design teams.
'The Gibraltar Arms' is situated next to Stag Bros' at 184 Main Street, telephone 200 72133 or e-mail gibraltararms@events.gi and is open from 7.30am (9.30am on a Sunday) serving meals all day until late.
The Star Bar in Parliament Lane holds itself out as Gibraltar's Oldest bar. With a menu and drinks selection to appeal to most tastes the pub seeks to cater to a wide audience.The Star Bar in Parliament Lane holds itself out as Gibraltar's Oldest bar. With a menu and drinks selection to appeal to most tastes the pub seeks to cater to a wide audience
The Lord Nelson In Casemates Square, the official home of the Gibraltar Rugby Club and Live Music Venue Of The Year, top entertainment on stage every night. Offers free WiFi.
Sleep
Budget Options
Miss Seruya's Guest House in Irish Town is a little dearer but even crazier! Still just about better than one of the many caves.
Emile Youth Hostel, +350 51106 / +350 57686000, +350 51106 / +350 57686000, Montagu Bastion, Line Wall Road, Centrally located just off Casemates Square, A family-run hostel with basic shared rooms for £15 or €25, though the dad only wanted €20. including continental breakfast consiting of two pices of toast and jam.It should be noted that the kitchen is not for guests use. Certainly not the best,but closest thing to the border.
The Cannon Hotel, 9 Cannon Lane, just off the middle of Main Street, . Single room and breadkfast for £24.50.
The Queens Hotel, Boyd Street, is located at the south entrance to Main Street, . Marketing themselves as "Gibraltar's 'only' Budget Hotel" (not what category they'd put the Cannon in), a single room starts at £50 per night.
Luxury Options
The Bristol Hotel, Cathedral Square, near the south end of Main Street.
The Elliot Hotel, Governor's Parade, is just off Main Street, located roughly half-way between the Cannon, and The Queens. Good location and good quality.
The Rock Hotel, Europa Road, located approximately 400 metres south of the Entrance to Main Street, up a fairly steep hill, the Rock Hotel isn't as central as some of the others mentioned here, but has great views of the bay. It's one of the more expensive hotels in Gibraltar and was where John Lennon and Yoko Ono got married.
The Caleta Hotel, Catalan Bay, on the opposite side of the rock, is about a 2 miles by road from the town centre. The upside to this is a quiet relaxing atmosphere, that you're unlikely to get in the Town Centre.
Buy
Gibraltar uses the Gibraltar Pound with coins and notes issued by the Government of Gibraltar.
The currency is pegged to the UK pound sterling at a 1:1 conversion rate (one UK pound equals one Gibraltar pound). The UK pound can be used freely in Gibraltar, so there is no need to convert UK pounds to Gibraltar pounds. However, Gibraltarian notes and coins are not legal tender in the UK.
Most shops will accept Euros and US dollars. Bear in mind that shops will generally give you a more expensive rate of exchange than the numerous exchange offices and generally won't accept small change.
Government departments and the Post Office will only take Gibraltar and UK pounds.
Talk
Gibraltar residents speak English and Spanish (with a local dialect).
The term gibberish came from the llanito habit of randomly alternating between English and Spanish words all the way through a sentence. New words appear at random and spread quickly through the tight-knit community, then disappear just as fast.
The language of choice at any fast food joint is Spanish, as fast food joints tend to employ cheap Spanish workers from across the border. Everyone else is bilingual.
Etiquette
Remember that Gibraltar is British.
People from Gibraltar refer to themselves as Gibraltarian or 'Llanito' pronounced Ya-ni-to. They are easily offended if referred to as Spanish and they are very proud to be British Citizens. Remember that Gibraltar has been a British possession longer than it was Spanish. Take an interest in why they feel British, but never point out anything that you may think link them to Spain. Some Gibraltarians also feel sensitive to the use of the term 'colony' for their territory due to its connotations of being ruled or lacking in self-government.
Although the popular view is that the Spanish Government is the cause of many problems concerning Gibraltar, there is no animosity to individuals and Spanish tourists and workers experience no problems. Recent airport ageements have opened up the relationship Gibraltar has with Spain.
Stay healthy
Medical treatment
Gibraltar is part of the European Health Insurance Scheme and has a health service similar to the United Kingdom, with a modern Hospital. If you are from a participating country, your EHIC card will entitle you to full free emergency medical treatment. For more information see this wikipedia article: .
Apes
Tourists should be aware that the apes are wild animals and do bite. It is advisable not to feed the apes, despite encouragement from irresponsible taxi drivers. It is illegal (hefty fines are in force) and bad for their health. Never try to pick up a baby ape - its mother will not be happy, and neither will you. If you are bitten by an ape, you will require hospital treatment, whilst the apes are rabies-free they can infect you with hepatitis, they are most aggressive on the top of the rock, as the most successful animals claim the uppermost reaches of the rock, their less successful fellows being shoved down the rock and the social pecking order.
Safety
Gibraltar has a low crime rate and a large and efficient police force modelled on the British system to ensure it stays that way.
There are a few recent reports, however, of people being attacked near the border while returning to Gibraltar on foot late at night. It might be smart to take a taxi home after dark if you have been drinking at the bars in Spain, especially if you are by yourself.
Contact
Phone
Gibraltar's international telephone code is +350. Spain finally recognized this code in 2007 and the old domestic (Spanish) code of 9567 was discontinued, making calls from Spain into Gibraltar in sync with the rest of the world. Another indirect consequence of this was that all landline numbers in Gibraltar have been prefixed with 200 in October 2008, making all numbers 8-digit long now. If you come across with a 5-digit number, just prefix it with 200 (and, of course, with the country code prior to that if you are calling from out of Gibraltar). Mobile phone numbers have not been effected by this change, however.
The prefix to dial prior to country code for international calls is 00 in Gibraltar.
Internet
Free wireless is available in the following places:
Fresh - a cafe/bar just down through the archway when leaving the main square towards the bus stops.
The Gibraltar Arms - about half way down the main street.
The Lord Nelson - just by the tunnel exiting the main square.
The Cannon Bar - behind the Catholic Cathedral.
The Clipper - on Irish Town near Tuckey's lane. Ask bartender for password.
Corks Wine Bar - on Irish Town near the Clipper. WEP key is written on a chalkboard above the bar.
Contact & location
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Gibraltar , colloquially known as The Rock, (or simply 'Gib'), is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom on the southern coast of Spain at the entrance to the Mediterranean sea. The people are British Citizens.
Understand
This is a unique place for the curious traveller. Take time to explore the caves and tunnels especially those not meant for tourists!
The inside of the rock is an absolute labyrinth with the secret internal roads and tunnels 4 times longer than those on the surface.
Military presence and security in this otherwise deserted area is strong but almost invisible.
History
In Greek mythology Gibraltar was Calpe, one of the Pillars of Hercules, which marked the edge of the Mediterranean and the known world.
In 711 Tariq ibn Ziyad, the Muslim governor of Tangier, landed at Gibraltar to launch the Islamic invasion of the Iberian Peninsula. The Rock took his name - Jabal Tariq (Mountain of Tariq) eventually became Gibraltar.
Strategically important, Gibraltar was ceded to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British garrison was formally declared a colony in 1830. The topmost part of the Rock is still a British military installation, and off-limits to the public.
In referendums held in 1967 and 2002, the 27,800 Gibraltarians (2004 figure) ignored foreign pressure and voted overwhelmingly to reject any involvment by Spain in their government. On June 10th 2004, citizens of Gibraltar voted for the first time in the UK MEP (Member of the European Parliament) elections, as part of the South West constituency.
Etiquette
Remember that Gibraltar is British.
People from Gibraltar refer to themselves as Gibraltarian or 'Llanito' pronounced Ya-ni-to. They are easily offended if referred to as Spanish and they are very proud to be British Citizens. Remember that Gibraltar has been a British possession longer than it was Spanish. Take an interest in why they feel British, but never point out anything that you may think link them to Spain. Some Gibraltarians also feel sensitive to the use of the term 'colony' for their territory due to its connotations of being ruled or lacking in self-government.
Although the popular view is that the Spanish Government is the cause of many problems concerning Gibraltar, there is no animosity to individuals and Spanish tourists and workers experience no problems. Recent airport ageements have opened up the relationship Gibraltar has with Spain.
Talk
Gibraltar residents speak English and Spanish (with a local dialect).
The term gibberish came from the llanito habit of randomly alternating between English and Spanish words all the way through a sentence. New words appear at random and spread quickly through the tight-knit community, then disappear just as fast. The language of choice at any fast food joint is Spanish, as fast food joints tend to employ cheap Spanish workers from across the border. Everyone else is bilingual.
History
In Greek mythology Gibraltar was Calpe, one of the Pillars of Hercules, which marked the edge of the Mediterranean and the known world.
In 711 Tariq ibn Ziyad, the Muslim governor of Tangier, landed at Gibraltar to launch the Islamic invasion of the Iberian Peninsula. The Rock took his name - Jabal Tariq (Mountain of Tariq) eventually became Gibraltar.
Strategically important, Gibraltar was ceded to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British garrison was formally declared a colony in 1830. The topmost part of the Rock is still a British military installation, and off-limits to the public.
In referendums held in 1967 and 2002, the 27,800 Gibraltarians (2004 figure) ignored foreign pressure and voted overwhelmingly to reject any involvment by Spain in their government. On June 10th 2004, citizens of Gibraltar voted for the first time in the UK MEP (Member of the European Parliament) elections, as part of the South West constituency.
Getting there
By plane
Gibraltar airport has daily scheduled flights to and from London-Gatwick (LGW) (British Airways and EasyJet), London-Luton (LTN) (Monarch Airlines) in the UK. Monarch Airlines also resumed their flights to and from Manchester a few times per week.
Iberia operated flights to Madrid-Barajas (MAD) but due to lack of passengers this route was terminated September 2008. Andalus Lineas Aereas now operate morning and evening flights to Madrid using smaller jet aircraft, and a flight to Barcelona and back around lunchtime.
As of March 2008, easyJet introduced their scheduled service to The Rock with two daily flights arriving from and departing for London Gatwick since their takeover of GB Airways (the British Airways franchise). The flights arrive from London Gatwick at 10:50 and 18:45 respectively and prices start from £17.99 single, including taxes and charges. A reduced British Airways service is available, operating just one flight a day to and from Gatwick, and two per week to Heathrow. Flight schedules varies depending on season / time of year.
With the introduction of easyJet's operation from Gibraltar, together with the governments planned airport expansion and reduction of airport charges, it opens the door for new routes from Gibraltar to cities such as Berlin, Paris and possibly New York. Private jets are reported to have reached as far as Miami (Florida, USA) direct from Gibraltar Airport.
The most popular alternative airport for Gibraltar is Malaga Airport in Spain, some 120 km to the East, which offers a wide range of destinations. Malaga can be reached by bus, but there are only a few services available per day and the trip is approximately 3 hours. Jerez Airport is normally the second choice, despite being closer to Gibraltar.
Flights are also available from the African side of the Mediterranean. Specifically, twenty minute short haul flights are available from Agadir in Morocco.
By car
Queues at the border may make it less time-consuming to park cars in La Línea and walk across. This also has the advantage of avoiding Gibraltar's complex one way system with very narrow and badly signposted streets, and limited parking. The land border is open 24 hours a day, though expect delays when planes are landing - the only road into Gibraltar runs right across the airport runway!
However, once the airport expansion is complete, traffic (except buses) will be diverted around to the east side of the runway to ease overall traffic congestion.
Motorists, and on occasion pedestrians, crossing the border with Spain have been subjected to long delays and searches by the Spanish authorities. Spain has closed the border during disputes or incidents involving the Gibraltar authorities, such as the **Aurora** cruise ship incident and when fishermen from the Spanish fishing vessel Pirana were arrested for illegal fishing in Gibraltar waters.
By bus
Buses from Spain stop just short of Gibraltar in La Línea, but its bus station is only 3 minutes walk from the border.
After walking across the border, you can get the number 9 bus to the centre of Gibraltar, or the number 3 bus to Europa Point. Both buses depart every 15 minutes on weekdays, and every half hour on weekends. Buses run from 6.30AM to 9PM Monday - Friday, 7AM - 9PM Saturday, and 8AM - 9PM on Sundays. Trips are just 60p, no matter how far you travel.
Alternatively, it's only a 10 minutes walk (across the runway and through a tunnel under the city walls) from the border to the main Casemates Square.
At La Línea there are regular buses to and from Seville, Malaga, Cadiz, Granada and hourly to Algeciras (the latter one direct or with stops on the way).
The bus station is in Algeciras on the opposite street corner than the train station. To go to the bus station from the harbour, turn left, walk along the main street for about 100m and then turn right. Continue about 200m along this street to the small building with railroads. There is a small sign for the bus stop. This bus can get you to La Línea for about €2.05 and it goes every 30 minutes during the day. There is a faster direct bus, and one that stops on the way. In La Línea you will arrive at the bus station about 500m from the border with Gibraltar. In the summer it can take up to 2 hours to cross the border.
Current info for Malaga bus station: Estación de Autobuses de Málaga
By boat
When the frontier was closed, there was a ferry service from Gibraltar to Morocco. There's a passenger service geared up to the Moroccan workers in Gibraltar, who have problems crossing the frontier, but only about once per week on the weekend.
From 17 December 2009, Transcoma now operates a daily service from between Gibraltar and Algeciras in Spain. The ticket prices at about 6-8 euros and about 5 crossings per day, and each trip takes around half an hour.
Cruise ships often include Gibraltar as part of their itinerary.
Gibraltar receives a large number of visits from cruise ships, and the strait of Gibraltar is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.
Passenger and cargo ships anchor in the port of Gibraltar.
By train
There is no train service to Gibraltar.
Traveling around
Gibraltar is less than 7 square kilometres, so most of it can be seen on foot. Bear in mind, though, that some of the roads (especially up to the Upper Rock) are very steep. Taxis will take the strain out of the climbs, and all the taxi drivers seem to know all the apes by name. There is a (number 3) bus service that runs from the frontier, through the town and on to Europa Point.
See
Europa Point - where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean, and from which the coast of Africa can be seen
Upper Rock - military installation, and nature reserve where the famous apes live (Barbary macaques)
St Michael's Cave - an impressive natural grotto used by the neolithic inhabitants of the Rock
Siege Tunnels - a system of tunnels dug during the Great Siege which acted as a defence system
Dolphin Watching - short trips in the bay (several times a day) - there are plenty of playful dolphins to see
Gibraltar Museum
The Mediterranian Steps - for those not afraid of walking (and with a head for heights), this is a walk that starts at Jew's Gate bird observatory (at the end of Engineer Road) and winds it's way up the East side of the rock to the top. The views are fantastic, and the path underwent renovation work in 2007, so is less treacherous than it has been in the past. If you don't fancy the uphill struggle, you can always get the cable car up and then come down this way.
Cable cars run from 9.30AM until 5.45PM to the Upper Rock, the last car up the hill might leave as early as 17.00PM. A "cable car and apes" ticket costs £8 return, while a ticket including entrance to St. Michael's Cave and the Siege Tunnels costs £16. Entrance to each sight costs £8 without this ticket. Alternatively, a 'Taxi-Tour' (typically for 8 people in an MPV) will cost £16 for a 1.5 hr tour, and this includes the fees for entry to the Cave, tunnels and upper rock.
Things to do
Tarifa beach is the best place to go for surfing and bodyboarding.
Eat
If you like to sit outside and watch the world go by, head for Casemates Square where a number of pubs & restaurants serve fairly similar meals, with the exception of Cafe Solo which serves good Italian food.
Irish Town, the road which runs parallel to Main Street has a number of bars, like The Clipper which has good food, friendly staff, and satellite television. They serve a hearty English breakfast. There is also Corks which serves more substantial lunches.
If you fancy dining waterside the marinas are worth a visit.
The Edinburgh Arms The most southerly pub in Europe. Good food, draught Bass and many others on tap. Happy hour daily at 10.30pm. Full Sunday lunch available.
Queensway Quay is home to The Waterfront, which serves a good quality, if somewhat eclectic menu which ranges from steak to high quality local fish and Indian food. Casa Pepe's, on the other side of the marina is probably Gibraltar's best restaurant, but is also by far the most expensive.
Marina Bay is home to several restaurants. Bianca's and Charlie's Tavern at Marina Bay are worth a visit, the former being very well known for its busy ambience. Marina Bay has recently also become home to Gibraltar's first Mexican restaurant.
Ocean Village , Gibraltar's newest marina, is an extension to Marina Bay. It is home to several new pubs and restaurants, including a Chinese, and an Indian.
O'Reilly's Situated on Leisure Island, part of the Ocean Village marina complex, the traditional Victorian Irish bar has been designed and built by Ireland's leading design teams.
'The Gibraltar Arms' is situated next to Stag Bros' at 184 Main Street, telephone 200 72133 or e-mail gibraltararms@events.gi and is open from 7.30am (9.30am on a Sunday) serving meals all day until late.
The Star Bar in Parliament Lane holds itself out as Gibraltar's Oldest bar. With a menu and drinks selection to appeal to most tastes the pub seeks to cater to a wide audience.The Star Bar in Parliament Lane holds itself out as Gibraltar's Oldest bar. With a menu and drinks selection to appeal to most tastes the pub seeks to cater to a wide audience
The Lord Nelson In Casemates Square, the official home of the Gibraltar Rugby Club and Live Music Venue Of The Year, top entertainment on stage every night. Offers free WiFi.
Sleep
Budget Options
Miss Seruya's Guest House in Irish Town is a little dearer but even crazier! Still just about better than one of the many caves.
Emile Youth Hostel , +350 51106 / +350 57686000, +350 51106 / +350 57686000, Montagu Bastion, Line Wall Road, Centrally located just off Casemates Square, A family-run hostel with basic shared rooms for £15 or €25, though the dad only wanted €20. including continental breakfast consiting of two pices of toast and jam.It should be noted that the kitchen is not for guests use. Certainly not the best,but closest thing to the border.
The Cannon Hotel, 9 Cannon Lane, just off the middle of Main Street, . Single room and breadkfast for £24.50.
The Queens Hotel, Boyd Street, is located at the south entrance to Main Street, . Marketing themselves as "Gibraltar's 'only' Budget Hotel" (not what category they'd put the Cannon in), a single room starts at £50 per night.
Luxury Options
The Bristol Hotel, Cathedral Square, near the south end of Main Street.
The Elliot Hotel, Governor's Parade, is just off Main Street, located roughly half-way between the Cannon, and The Queens. Good location and good quality.
The Rock Hotel, Europa Road, located approximately 400 metres south of the Entrance to Main Street, up a fairly steep hill, the Rock Hotel isn't as central as some of the others mentioned here, but has great views of the bay. It's one of the more expensive hotels in Gibraltar and was where John Lennon and Yoko Ono got married.
The Caleta Hotel, Catalan Bay, on the opposite side of the rock, is about a 2 miles by road from the town centre. The upside to this is a quiet relaxing atmosphere, that you're unlikely to get in the Town Centre.
Buy
Gibraltar uses the Gibraltar Pound with coins and notes issued by the Government of Gibraltar.
The currency is pegged to the UK pound sterling at a 1:1 conversion rate (one UK pound equals one Gibraltar pound). The UK pound can be used freely in Gibraltar, so there is no need to convert UK pounds to Gibraltar pounds. However, Gibraltarian notes and coins are not legal tender in the UK.
Most shops will accept Euros and US dollars. Bear in mind that shops will generally give you a more expensive rate of exchange than the numerous exchange offices and generally won't accept small change.
Government departments and the Post Office will only take Gibraltar and UK pounds.
Talk
Gibraltar residents speak English and Spanish (with a local dialect).
The term gibberish came from the llanito habit of randomly alternating between English and Spanish words all the way through a sentence. New words appear at random and spread quickly through the tight-knit community, then disappear just as fast. The language of choice at any fast food joint is Spanish, as fast food joints tend to employ cheap Spanish workers from across the border. Everyone else is bilingual.
Etiquette
Remember that Gibraltar is British.
People from Gibraltar refer to themselves as Gibraltarian or 'Llanito' pronounced Ya-ni-to. They are easily offended if referred to as Spanish and they are very proud to be British Citizens. Remember that Gibraltar has been a British possession longer than it was Spanish. Take an interest in why they feel British, but never point out anything that you may think link them to Spain. Some Gibraltarians also feel sensitive to the use of the term 'colony' for their territory due to its connotations of being ruled or lacking in self-government.
Although the popular view is that the Spanish Government is the cause of many problems concerning Gibraltar, there is no animosity to individuals and Spanish tourists and workers experience no problems. Recent airport ageements have opened up the relationship Gibraltar has with Spain.
Stay healthy
Medical treatment
Gibraltar is part of the European Health Insurance Scheme and has a health service similar to the United Kingdom, with a modern Hospital. If you are from a participating country, your EHIC card will entitle you to full free emergency medical treatment. For more information see this wikipedia article: .
Apes
Tourists should be aware that the apes are wild animals and do bite. It is advisable not to feed the apes, despite encouragement from irresponsible taxi drivers. It is illegal (hefty fines are in force) and bad for their health. Never try to pick up a baby ape - its mother will not be happy, and neither will you. If you are bitten by an ape, you will require hospital treatment, whilst the apes are rabies-free they can infect you with hepatitis, they are most aggressive on the top of the rock, as the most successful animals claim the uppermost reaches of the rock, their less successful fellows being shoved down the rock and the social pecking order.
Safety
Gibraltar has a low crime rate and a large and efficient police force modelled on the British system to ensure it stays that way.
There are a few recent reports, however, of people being attacked near the border while returning to Gibraltar on foot late at night. It might be smart to take a taxi home after dark if you have been drinking at the bars in Spain, especially if you are by yourself.
Contact
Phone
Gibraltar's international telephone code is +350. Spain finally recognized this code in 2007 and the old domestic (Spanish) code of 9567 was discontinued, making calls from Spain into Gibraltar in sync with the rest of the world. Another indirect consequence of this was that all landline numbers in Gibraltar have been prefixed with 200 in October 2008, making all numbers 8-digit long now. If you come across with a 5-digit number, just prefix it with 200 (and, of course, with the country code prior to that if you are calling from out of Gibraltar). Mobile phone numbers have not been effected by this change, however.
The prefix to dial prior to country code for international calls is 00 in Gibraltar.
Internet
Free wireless is available in the following places:
Fresh - a cafe/bar just down through the archway when leaving the main square towards the bus stops.
The Gibraltar Arms - about half way down the main street.
The Lord Nelson - just by the tunnel exiting the main square.
The Cannon Bar - behind the Catholic Cathedral.
The Clipper - on Irish Town near Tuckey's lane. Ask bartender for password.
Corks Wine Bar - on Irish Town near the Clipper. WEP key is written on a chalkboard above the bar.
Contact & location
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