Your full Wanderlust guide to
Gibraltar
Otherwise known as ‘The Rock’ or ‘Gib’ to those in the know, Gibraltar is a melting pot of Spanish, North African and English cultures, where no one will bat an eyelid if you get your languages muddled up. Home to a large British naval presence, the rock is also favoured by bookmakers, online gaming companies and tourists keen to take advantage of VAT-free shopping. Getting married here is easy too – John Lennon and Yoko Ono tied the knot at the registry office in 1969. To meet the Barbary macaques – Gibraltar’s most famous residents and the only wild primates in Europe – take a cable car up the rock. Legend has it that if the monkeys ever leave, so will the British…
You can’t miss
Wanderlust recommends
- Wave at Africa from Europa Point – the point where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean
- See the Siege Tunnels – a system of tunnels, dug during the Great Siege, which acted as a defence system
- Take a boat trip to the Bahía de Algeciras – and watch playful dolphins cavort in the surf
- Visit the Gibraltar Museum – for the low down on the rock’s military and naval history
Latest Gibraltar articles
When to go
Gibraltar has a Mediterranean climate, with mild rainy winters and hot, dry summers.
International airports
Gibraltar airport (GIB) has daily flights to the UK. Malaga and Jerez airports in Spain are alternatives with a bus service to Gibraltar.
Getting around
Getting into Gibraltar from Spain can be a frustrating business. Long queues at the border means it’s often easier to park in La Línea and walk across. Once you’re in, you can get the number 9 bus to the centre of Gibraltar or the number 3 to Europa Point. Much of Gibraltar can be tackled on foot as it’s less than 7 sq km but bear in mind some roads are steep. Taxis are plentiful. There are no trains. To visit the Apes’ den on the Upper Rock, take the cable car to the middle station.
Accommodation
Gibraltar isn’t the cheapest place to lay your head but for people on a budget, there are a few small guest houses, budget hotels and a youth hostel. Further up the scale, several hotels offer panoramic sea views, rooftop pools and spa facilities.
Food & drink
Eating in Gibraltar is similar to eating in England. Although there are plenty of places serving traditional English breakfasts, hearty stews, fish and chips and meaty pies, Gibraltar isn’t short of restaurants serving more international fare. For something truly Gibraltarian, try Calentita, a baked bread-like dish made with chickpea flour, olive oil and seasoning.
Health & safety
If you are a British national resident in the UK you can obtain emergency treatment in Gibraltar by presenting your UK passport as proof of residence.
Some emergency treatment may require transfer to Spain or the UK, in which case you will need a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which is valid until its expiry date. If your EHIC has expired, you can apply for a new Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) which will replace the EHIC for most UK citizens.
Watch out for the monkeys. They may look cute but they’ve been known to bite and can be light-fingered. Hold onto your valuables and don’t feed them – it’s dangerous and against the law.
