Gibraltar: what to do and what to see

When you feel like coming home but not home home, then you should pay a visit to the stunning Gibraltar and discover what to do in this British overseas territory in the south of Spain.

Gibraltar is a 6,8 square-kilometre area bordering Linea de la Concepción, Cadiz province, populated by roughly 30,000 inhabitants, whose cultures come from both England and Spain. Its history has converted the area into a unique spot, contended by Spanish and English governments and appealing all those who visit its landmark, the majestic Rock of Gibraltar.

However, there is more to discover about Gibraltar’s hideouts. Take a look at the advice below, and you won’t be caught off guard.

Stroll along the Main Street

Wandering along the Main Street of Gibraltar lets you discover the most profound facet of this piece of the United Kingdom in Spain, getting lost in this home far from home. Flanked by little (and bigger) shops belonging to different style buildings (including Portuguese, Spanish and English), you will have the chance to go shopping as much as you endure and, when the need to relax gets stronger, relish a coffee that tastes like home.

This one km-long pedestrian area cuts Gibraltar town north to south, and it is the vital centre of the city’s commercial district. Close to it, you will find Casemates Square, the heart of nightlife in Gibraltar, and the Gibraltar Public Market, borrowed from the Andalusian tradition of indoor markets.

Another characteristic feature is the worldwide famous red telephone cabins, which you will probably be tired of seeing while at home.

Pay a visit to the monkeys on the Upper Rock

The most striking feature of Gibraltar and the landmark for which it is known worldwide is the Upper Rock, whose most famous inhabitants are Barbary macaques, descendants of North African populations. Some of these tailless monkeys live in the Apes’ Den while others stay near the cable station. Although they are used to human interaction, they are also famous for their bad temper, so you’d better not try to pet or feed them.

Apart from the main lookouts, from where you will spot the African coast during sunny days, the greatest part of the Upper Rock is a Nature Reserve home to more than 600 species of plants.

The ticket, which costs £13 for adults, £8 for children aged 5-12 years old, allows you to visit:

• Skywalk: Located 340 metres above sea level, it offers impressive 360º views from where you can see 3 different countries (Spain, Morocco and the United Kingdom) and 2 different continents. Built on the foundations of a World War II base, it is designed to withstand winds of over 150 km/h and can welcome up to 340 people (the number of visitors is always limited to 50). The walkway is 2.5m wide and ti extends a maximum of 6.7m from the main structural support point. Skywalk has 70m of rock anchors and 30,000kg of steel secures it to the rock.

• The Great Siege Tunnels, a complex, 52-km-long tunnels system used by the British as gun emplacement during the 1779 siege.
• Mediterranean Steps, also known as “The thousand steps”, are ideal if you love heights and doing sport. It flanks the precipice of the Upper Rock for 1,400 metres, for the views are truly unbeatable.

• The Apes’ Den, which, as mentioned afore, is home to the monkeys.
• St Michael’s Cave, characterised by stalactites and stalagmites. This peculiarity is sure to remind its visitors of the breathtaking caves of Nerja. And just like the Caves of Nerja, the St Michael’s Cave also hosts concerts and shows. Legend has it that it was the gateway to the African Continent. 

• The 1333 Moorish Castle, whose most noteworthy features are the Tower of Homage and the Gate House. This castle used to stretch until the Casemates Square.

• City Under Siege Exhibition, which shows you how inhabitants of Gibraltar lived during the Great Siege (1779-1783). It takes place at Willis’ Magazine, a series of buildings built in the 18th century that were used to store ammunition.

• Windsor Bridge, a 71-metre-long bridge suspended over a gorge of 50 metres, whose inauguration took place in 2016. If you are fainthearted, you’d better skip this one.

You can reach the top of the Upper Rock through the Gibraltar Cable Car, which runs all day long, every 10 minutes. During the ride, which lasts 6 minutes and it carries you on top of the 462 metre-high Upper Rock, you can relish panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea, the town of Gibraltar, the Spanish peninsula and the African Coast.

Get to know the tax haven low-tax regime of Gibraltar

Gibraltar is known for being an unofficial tax haven, although “the Rock” considers itself to be a “low-tax regime”. It is home to some 60,000 companies (among which, it is worth mentioning those related to bank offices and gambling), providing the most varied services and enterprises with one of Europe’s lowest corporate tax (10%, whereas in Spain is 25%). Moreover, many goods are tax-free, specifically tobacco and alcohol, whose importation is limited to the amount of 250gr of tobacco and 2 litres of wine. Likewise, in the airport, you can also find many duty-free shops, where you can buy perfume and toilet water up to €171-worth. If you are caught with a superior amount of these goods, you will be charged a salty fine. 

Go dolphin watching

Leaving from Marina Bay, you will have the opportunity to spot dolphin families in the crystal clear waters facing Gibraltar. The trips, provided by two leading companies, Dolphin Adventure and Dolphin Safari, usually last between 1 and 2 hours and a half.

Where does the name Gibraltar come from?

The name Gibraltar comes from the Arab Jabal Ṭāriq, which means “Mountain of Tariq”. Tariq was a Muslim conqueror that led the Arab conquest of the Strait of Gibraltar in 711.

Where is Gibraltar?

Gibraltar is a peninsula located in the South of the Spain, bordering the town of Linea de la Concepción and facing the coast of Algeciras, in Cadiz province, southern Andalucia. Its location, at the entrance of the Strait, makes it a strategic point, which was renowned during both World Wars.

How to get to Gibraltar and documents needed to enter Gibraltar

You can reach the British area of Gibraltar by car, by bus or by plane, the latter being the best and fastest way to get into the town. The Gibraltar International Airport welcomes flights from British Airways, EasyJet and Monarch flying from the UK and Royal Air Maroc from Morocco. It is located 400 metres from the town’s city centre. However, if you are travelling from Spain, we recommend flying to Malaga and then driving to Gibraltar, as it is difficult to find direct flights to Gibraltar from Spain.

The are buses getting to the Linea de la Concepción bus station, which also connects to Algeciras; once there, you can simply cross the border on foot.

If you wish to go by car, you’d better park in Linea de la Concepción and then cross the border, since the queues at the frontier are time-consuming. If, however, you want to enter Gibraltar with your car, you won’t be charged any fees. From Cadiz and Malaga, take the A7 and drive off at Junction 119. You’ll get to La Linea de la Concepción, five minutes from Gibraltar.

EU residents don’t need passports to enter Gibraltar if they own a valid ID card. If you’re coming from outside the EU, you will have to show your passport, or apply for a VISA, just like you would when entering the United Kingdom. 

Both children and adults must show their ID card or passport at the border.

Why does Gibraltar belong to the UK?

After the Catholic Reconquest in 1462, Gibraltar passed into the Spanish’s hands. During the War of Spanish Succession, an Anglo-Dutch fleet conquered the Rock in 1704. Despite the fact that the Treaty of Utrecht formally ratified the transfer of Gibraltar to the English government in 1713, the Spanish government didn’t give up the area until the loss of the Great Siege.

Fast forward to contemporary times, a 1967 referendum saw the inhabitants of Gibraltar vote to remain British, with a striking 99.64% of the votes. This vote made Spain’s dictator Francisco Franco close the Spain-Gibraltar border only two years later when a constitution was approved, ensuring Gibraltarians the right to keep the British citizenship and to create self-government. The last step of the English-Spanish relationship regarding Gibraltar took place in 1985 when the Spanish government officially reopened the border.

The official language of Gibraltar is English, although Spanish is widely spoken. Speaking of which, the PhD thesis “Estudio sociolingüístico del uso y de las actitudes hacia el español en Gibraltar: un análisis empírico” (“Sociolinguistic Field Research regarding the Use and the Attitude towards the Spanish language in Gibraltar: an Empirical Analysis”) by the German student Pascal Zeidler (from the University of Bremen) offers a singular vision of the language spoken by Gibraltarians. After a month spent in Gibraltar in 2010, the results of the analysis showed that English is mainly used in economic and tourist areas, as it is considered a language with a higher cultural value, while Spanish is the language of affection, i.e. how Gibraltarians talk to each other. However, this last fact is slowly changing since parents are starting to educate their children with the English language. 

This short guide about what to do in Gibraltar is sure to dispel all the doubts about your trip to this part of England in Spain.

Have you ever been in Gibraltar? Which was your favourite thing to do? Tell us in the comments below!