More Than Just Cheap Flights.

Gibraltar Information

Overview

Known as the the ’Rock’, Gibraltar contains 143 caves, over 48km (30 miles) of road and miles of tunnels. From rock touring, to sailing, diving, fishing and birdwatching, visitors will be pleasantly surprised with the diverse range of attractions on offer in Gibraltar.

Located at the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula, where Europe meets Africa, visitors are also assured of breathtaking scenery, wildlife and architecture, that captures the unique flavour of this Mediterranean city. As a VAT-free jurisdiction, Gibraltar’s popularity with visitors is further enhanced by its value added shopping experience in famed Main Street.

Gibraltar derives from Gibel Tariq (Tariq’s Mountain) which is named after Tariq Ibn Zeyad who led the eighth-century conquest of Spain by a combined force of Arabs and Berbers crossing from Africa. Gibraltar’s unusual status was not acquired until almost 1,000 years later, long after the Islamic invaders had been driven out by the Spanish, as a consequence of the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht which brought to an end the War of the Spanish Succession and gave the territory to Britain.

The British interpretation of the treaty moreover holds that the territory was ceded to them indefinitely. The presence of a foreign-owned mini-state on the Spanish mainland has been an irritant to Anglo-Spanish relations ever since.

In response to the latest round of talks between London and Madrid which began in 2001 and explored in detail possible joint sovereignty models, the Gibraltar government led by Peter Caruana organised a referendum in November 2002 to assess the popular mood. As expected, it returned a huge majority in favour of the status quo.

Top Things To See

Don’t miss St Michael’s Cave, situated 300m (1,000ft) above sea level. This was known to the Romans for its spectacular stalactites and stalagmites. It is part of a complex series of interlinked caves including Leonora’s Cave and Lower St Michael’s Cave. Today, it is used for concerts and ballet. The Upper Galleries, hewn by hand from the Rock in 1782, house old cannons and tableaux evoking the Great Siege (1779-1783).

In the Apes’ Den, take pictures of the famous barbary apes, which are in fact not apes but macaque monkeys without tails. The barbary apes are the only wild primates in Europe.

In the Gibraltar Museum, see a replica of the Gibraltar Skull, the first Neanderthal skull found in Europe (1848) and caveman tools and ornaments excavated from the Rock’s caves. There are also exhibits from the Phoenician, Greek, Roman, Moorish, Spanish and British periods of the Rock’s history; a comprehensive collection of prints and lithographs; a collection of weapons from 1727 to 1800; a large-scale model of the Rock made in 1865; and displays of fauna and flora. The museum itself was built above a spectacular and complete 14th-century Moorish Bath House.

Other sites of interest include: the 14th-century keep of the much rebuilt Moorish Castle; the Shrine of Our Lady of Europe, a mosque before conversion to a Christian chapel in 1462, housing the 15th-century image of the Patroness of Gibraltar; the Lighthouse and Mosque, beautifully designed blending classic Islamic designs with modern facilities; the Rock Buster, a 100-ton gun; the 18th-century Garrison Library; and Europa Point, the southernmost tip of Europe, just 26km (16 miles) from Africa.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.

Top Things To Do

Take a cable-car trip to the top of the Rock; built in 1966 the Top Station is on the summit of the Rock, from where visitors can see Spain to the north and southwards to Africa. The cable-car journey stops at the Apes’ Den.

Attend the Changing of the Guards, which takes place several times daily at the Convent, residence of the governor, and formerly a 16th-century Franciscan Monastic house.

Go on a guided walking tour around the almost complete city walls, every Friday at 1030.

The Mediterranean Steps Walk, which starts at O’Hara’s Battery (the highest point in Gibraltar), snakes down the eastern cliff and around the southern slopes to the western side of the Rock.

You can also opt for the 90-minute Official Rock Tour which takes visitors to the various attractions around the Rock.

Marina Quay and Queensway Quay (two modern marina developments) provide visitors with the chance to indulge in some serious people watching while sampling delicious seafood in one of the many attractive harbourside restaurants.

Relax on the beach. On the east side are Eastern Beach, Catalan Bay and, towards the south, Sandy Bay, where the Rock is very sheer and parking difficult. Little Bay, a pebble beach, and Camp Bay/Keys Promenade are on the western coast. Pier fishing facilities are available. Scuba-diving, p arasailing and waterskiing can also be practised.

The Bay of Gibraltar is home to a large population of dolphins and whales, and tourists can take boat trips to view these fascinating creatures.

Birdwatching can be undertaken in spring and autumn, when thousands of migrating birds on their way between their breeding grounds in northern Europe and their wintering areas in Africa stop at the Rock. Owls, eagles, harriers, hoopoes, buzzards and black kytes join resident species such as peregrine falcons, blue rock thrush and barbary partridge.

A large area of the upper rock has been declared a nature reserve, and since 1991 new species of plants have been planted to create botanical gardens.

Go on a day trip to Ronda, Malaga and Jerez in Andalucia (the Spanish province) (see the Spain section for further information on Andalucia); day trips by air to Tangier and other Moroccan cities (see the Morocco section) can also be arranged.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.

Going Out

Food and Drink

There are bars and bistros throughout the town and at the two marinas, operating under Mediterranean licensing hours and selling British beer. Restaurants cover the whole price range. Gibraltar’s geographical location and its history as a British colony means that it can offer a large selection of British dishes as well as French, Spanish, American, Moroccan, Italian, Chinese and Indian cuisine. Spirits and tobacco are substantially cheaper than in the UK for identical brands. All types of alcoholic drinks are served, including draught beer.

National specialities:
• Spinach tortilla.
• Calentita and panissa (both are like quiche but are made from chick pea flour).

Tipping: Normally 10 to 15%.

Nightlife

Gibraltar has a number of discos and nightspots open until the early hours of the morning. The casino complex includes a restaurant, nightclub, roof restaurant (summer) and gaming rooms, and is open from 0900 to the early hours.

Shopping

All goods are sold in Gibraltar at reduced-tax prices and free of VAT. The majority of shops are in or near Main Street. Silk, linen, cashmere, jewellery, glassware, porcelain, perfumes, carvings, radios, leatherwork, electronic and photographic equipment and watches can be bought.

Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1930, Sat 1000-1300. Some shops open Sunday.

Climate

Warm throughout the year, with hot summers and mild winters. Summer (May to September) can be very hot and humid.

Required Clothing

Lightweights for summer and mediumweights for winter months.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2008-December 2009 period.

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day. 
10 Mar Commonwealth Day. 
21 Mar Good Friday. 
24 Mar Easter Monday. 
5 May May Day.
26 May Spring Bank Holiday. 
16 Jun Queen’s Birthday.
25 Aug Summer Bank Holiday.
10 Sep** Gibraltar National Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day.

2009
1 Jan New Year’s Day. 
9 Mar* Commonwealth Day. 
10 Apr Good Friday. 
13 Apr Easter Monday. 
4 May May Day.
25 May Spring Bank Holiday. 
15 Jun Queen’s Birthday.
24 Aug Summer Bank Holiday.
10 Sep* Gibraltar National Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day.

* Dates to be confirmed.

Note

** Observed on the following Monday if falls on a weekend.

Health

Diphtheria

Special Precaution: No

Hepatitis A

Special Precaution: Sometimes

Malaria

Special Precaution: No

Rabies

Special Precaution: No

Tetanus

Special Precaution: Yes

Typhoid

Special Precaution: No

Yellow Fever

Special Precaution: No

Health Care

UK citizens are entitled to free treatment in public wards at St Bernard’s Hospital and at Casemates Health Centre on presentation of a UK passport during stays of up to 30 days. Other EEA nationals are similarly entitled on presentation of a European Health Insurance Card. All other nationals are advised to take out comprehensive travel insurance.

Further Health Information

We advise you to check health requirements for the country you are traveling to with your GP, practice nurse or travel health clinic as health requirements and vaccinations can change at short notice.

Money

Currency

Gibraltar Pound (GIP; symbol £) = 100 new pence. The Gibraltar government issues banknotes of Gib£50, 20, 10 and 5 for local use only. Coinage is the UK coinage with a different reverse design. The Gibraltar government also issues its own coins in denominations of Gib£5, 2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 pence. All UK notes are accepted. For exchange rates, see United Kingdom section. Most establishments accept Euros and some accept US Dollars.

Currency Exchange

Tourists from the UK are strongly advised to change their unspent Gibraltar pounds into UK currency at parity in Gibraltar before departure as UK banks charge for exchanging the Gibraltar Pound.

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs

All major cards accepted.

Traveller's Cheques

Widely accepted. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller’s cheques in Pounds Sterling.

Banking Hours

Mon-Thurs 0900-1530, Fri 0900-1630.

Passport/Visa

British

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: No

Australian

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: No

Canadian

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: No

USA

Passport Required: Yes
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: No

Other EU

Passport Required: 1
Visa Required: No
Return Ticket Required: No

Passports

Required by all nationals referred to in the chart above except:
1. EU nationals in possession of a valid national identity card.

Visas

Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above, without seeking employment,  for the following durations:
(a) nationals of the UK and the EU for stays of up to six months;
(b) nationals of Australia, Canada and the USA for stays of up to three months.

Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the London Passport Office or Gibraltar Government Office to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).

Contact Addresses

Diplomatic representation

Gibraltar is a British Crown Colony, and is represented abroad by British Embassies – see United Kingdom section.

UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Overseas Territories Department, King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AH, UK
Tel: (020) 7008 1500 (general enquiries) or 8457 (visa enquiries) or 0210 (services for Britons overseas) or 0845 850 2829 (travel advice).
Website: www.fco.gov.uk
Handles Gibraltar’s foreign affairs. All other enquiries should be made to the Gibraltar Tourist Board.

Identity and Passport Service in the UK

London Passport Office, Globe House, 89 Ecclestone Square, London SW1V 1PN, UK
Tel: 0870 521 0410 (24-hour national advice line).
Website: www.ukpa.gov.uk
Opening hours (appointment only): Mon-Fri 0745-1900, Sat 0915-1515.

Gibraltar Tourist Board and Gibraltar Government Office in the UK

Arundel Great Court, 178-179 Strand, London WC2R 1EL, UK
Tel: (020) 7836 0777.
Website: www.gibraltar.gov.uk

Gibraltar Government Office in the USA

1156 15th Street, NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20005, USA
Tel: (202) 452 1108.
Website: www.gibraltar.gov.gi

Travel Advice

Warning

Most visits to Gibraltar are trouble-free but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate international terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.

This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organisations for the latest travel advice:

British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Tel: 0845 850 2829.
Website: www.fco.gov.uk

US Department of State
Website: http://travel.state.gov/travel