Gibraltar
Gibraltar, colloquially known as The Rock, (or simply 'Gib'), is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom sitting at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered by Spain to the north and the people of Gibraltar are ferociously loyal British citizens despite being bilingual in English and Spanish. Understand[edit]Gibraltar is a unique place for the curious traveler. Take time to explore the caves and tunnels especially those not meant for tourists! The inside of the rock is an absolute labyrinth with secret internal roads and tunnels four times longer than those on the surface. Military presence and security in this otherwise deserted area is strong but almost invisible. History[edit]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 that took his name - Jabal Tariq (Mountain of Tariq) eventually became Gibraltar. Strategically important, Gibraltar was ceded in perpetuity to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British garrison was formally declared a colony in 1830. Spain continues to hassle and harass Gibraltar in a so far fruitless effort to grab this territory that has been loyal to the British crown for more than 300 years. In referendums held in 1967 and 2002, Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly to stay a territory of the United Kingdom. On 10 June 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. The topmost part of the Rock is still a British military installation, and off-limits to the public. Get in[edit]Entry requirements[edit]Gibraltar is a British Overseas territory, and left the EU when the rest of the UK did on the 31st January 2020. Gibraltar has never been a member of the Schengen area. This means that there are immigration and customs controls when entering and leaving Gibraltar. Gibraltar is set to become a part of the Schengen zone to ensure fluidity of movement at the border with Spain after the end of the post-Brexit transition phase. This means you will need to apply ETIAS online application. As of 2023, Gibraltar has still not joined the Schengen Area. British nationals do not require a visa to enter Gibraltar. Foreign passport holders with an ‘Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK' do not require a visa to enter Gibraltar. Foreign passport holders, with a multiple entry visa for the UK issued for a minimum of six months, may enter Gibraltar without a separate visa. Only Gibraltarians and British citizens are allowed to live and work in Gibraltar without a residence permit. Nationals from other EU member states are issued residence permits upon providing proof that they will not become a burden to the state. Non-EU citizens will find it more difficult to obtain a residence permit in Gibraltar as they must first produce a work contract, and that can only be issued if the employer can prove that no Gibraltarian or EU citizen is able or willing to do the job. Those needing a visa for Gibraltar need to apply for a Gibraltar visa at a British embassy or consulate. A standard British visa will not suffice for entry into Gibraltar, unless it is a multiple entry visa issued for 6 months or more. Although entry into Gibraltar will technically invalidate a single-entry Schengen visa, in practice passports are checked but not stamped on entry by land, and those with single-entry visas usually get re-admitted to Spain without any problems. If arriving by air, Gibraltar airport staff will refuse entry to anyone who does not comply with the standard requirements. Citizens of the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland are required to have a national identity card or passport, while all others are required to have a passport to enter. The border between Gibraltar and Spain now has an automated ID check system, similar to the 'self check-in' systems they have at some airports. You will require an EU ID card with a chip, or a chipped passport. You can still enter/leave Gibraltar with the older type IDs, but you will likely find yourself in a lengthy queue. By plane[edit]Gibraltar Airport (IATA: GIB) has daily scheduled flights to and from London Gatwick (LGW, easyJet, British Airways), Bristol (BRS, easyJet) and Manchester (MAN, Easyjet) and London-Heathrow (LHR, British Airways) in the UK. Royal Air Maroc have services to Casablanca (CMN) and and Tangier (TNG) as an alternative to daily ferries. easyJet has daily scheduled services between The Rock and London Gatwick. A couple daily British Airways services operate to and from Heathrow as well as Gatwick. Flight schedules varies depending on the time of year. With the introduction of easyJet's operation from Gibraltar, together with the government's planned airport expansion and reduction of airport charges, it opens the door for possible new routes from Gibraltar to other European cities. 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. From the airport, either walk to town (either across the runway or through the Kingsway Tunnel) or take bus #5 or #10. The bus stop right outside of the terminal is no longer used. #5 and #10 depart from bus stop on the main road (Frontier Terminus), opposite from the airport terminal, near the border (aka Frontier). See schedules and fares below. By car[edit]Queues at the border may make it less time-consuming to park cars in La Línea and walk across. While parking in La Linea immediately next to the border charges, there is free parking throughout town and next to the stadium if you are willing to walk an extra kilometre. 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. It used to be that all traffic entering Gibraltar would cross the airport runway by way of Winston Churchill Avenue. This is no longer the case for most motor vehicles; the Kingsway Tunnel opened in 2023, diverting traffic under the east side of the runway to ease overall traffic congestion. The road across the runway is now only open to pedestrians, cyclists, and e-scooters. Motorists, and on occasion pedestrians, crossing the border 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 Piraña were arrested for illegal fishing in Gibraltar waters. In 2013, a row over a concrete reef caused the Spanish government to increase searches causing lengthy queues. Despite being an overseas territory of the UK, traffic in Gibraltar moves on the right-hand side of the road and the speed limits are in kilometres per hour. Gibraltar-registered vehicles (country code GBZ) are left-hand-drive, the same as mainland Europe. By bus[edit]Buses from Spain stop just short of Gibraltar in La Línea, but its bus station is only a three minute walk to the border. From Algeciras San Bernado bus station route 120 can be taken to La Linea. This costs €2.45 (May 2015) for an adult single (you buy the ticket from the driver); the bus runs about every 45 minutes until 23:00. The bus station in Algeciras is opposite the railway 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 railway tracks. At La Línea there are regular buses to and from Seville, Malaga, Cadiz, Granada and regularly to Algeciras (the latter one direct or with stops on the way). Current info for Malaga bus station: Estación de Autobuses de Málaga Tour buses and coaches can be available at all Andalucian major cities, holiday resorts and some mainland hotels. By boat[edit]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. There used to be a daily service between Gibraltar and Algeciras in Spain, however this service ceased in January 2012 due to low passenger numbers. 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. Catalan Bay also offers access to enter Gibraltar. By train[edit]There is no train service to Gibraltar, but a connection by bus from Algeciras train station to La Linea or a taxi is possible. Get around[edit]By foot[edit]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. By bus[edit]Two bus companies operate various routes and sell their own tickets. Single and return tickets are only valid on routes operated by the company they are purchased from. Timetables are very approximate as buses can often be delayed by traffic. Bus routes 5 and 10 are operated by Citibus, and go to the border and the airport (Frontier Terminus) and stop in the city centre. They run M-F 6:30-21:00 (~every 15 mins), Sat and holidays 7:00-21:00 (~every 15-20 mins), Sun 8:00-21:00 (~every 30 mins). As of October 2023, the one way adult cash fare is ₤1.60/€2.40, return £2.30/€3.60. The rest of the buses are operated by the Gibraltar Bus Company. Some notable routes are #2 going to Cable Car and Europa Point, as well as #4 and #8 going to the beaches on the other side of the Rock (Catalan Bay and Both Worlds Terminus). Catch them at the Market Place Terminus just outside the Casemates Square. Depending on the route, buses start running sometime between 6:30 and 8am, finishing between 18:00 and 21:00. As of October 2023, the one way adult cash fare is ₤1.80/€2.40, return ₤2.50/€3.30. If you are making use of multiple buses in Gibraltar, an all-day Hopper ticket is available, valid for unlimited travel on routes operated by both the Gibraltar Bus Company and Citibus. A Hopper ticket costs ₤6/€9, and is valid for one day. By taxi[edit]Taxis will take the strain out of the climbs, and all the taxi drivers seem to know all the Barbary macaques by name. This said, travelling in a small group is problematic as most taxis are "minibus" style and the drivers prefer to fill them - or you pay for the entire taxi! This often entails sharing a "Rock Tour" taxi with total strangers. Taxi drivers are also sometimes reluctant to run you up one of the sights on the Rock as they would much rather sell you a longer, more expensive tour! By road[edit]If traveling by car, free parking is available at the bottom of the cable car (white spaces unlimited time) or at the Morrisons supermarket (3 hours). While it is possible to drive up the hill a bit and attempt to find free parking, the spaces are extremely limited (a handful of pull outs that can fit one or two cars each) and you would still have to hike around. Two-wheeled transport is very popular in Gibraltar owing to the narrow streets and congested traffic, with many parking spaces being solely for motorcycles. E-bikes and e-scooters can be rented in Gibraltar. If renting an e-scooter, the rider must be aged 17 or older and must wear a helmet at all times. Talk[edit]Gibraltar's official language is English. Spanish and Llanito are also widely spoken. Llanito is essentially a mix of Andalusian Spanish and British English and elements from languages such as Maltese, Portuguese, Genoese Italian and Haketia (Ladino). Over 500 Llanito words, for example, are of Genoese and Hebrew origin. All this makes a language unique to Gibraltar. The term gibberish came from the Llanito habit of randomly alternating between English and Spanish words all the way through a sentence. (This is more formally known as "code switching". In the United States, it may be called Spanglish). New words appear at random and spread quickly through the tight-knit community of Gibraltar, then could disappear just as fast. Many businesses such as cafes and fast food outlets tend to employ Spanish workers from across the border, so many of these people speak only Spanish. Almost all locals are bilingual in English and Spanish. See[edit]
Stop by the tourist office in Casemates Square (if entering by land, this is immediately after passing through Landport tunnel). The tourist office will give you a map and recommend the following basic itinerary. Take bus #2 from Market Place (around the corner of the tourist office) to Europa Point. Take pictures and enjoy Europa Point with the rest of the tourists. Then take the bus back towards Market Place but get off at the cable cars. Ask the driver for help, but you will see the cable cars before the stop. Take the cable cars up to see the Upper Rock and Nature Reserve. Then take the cable car down and walk main street back to Landport tunnel. Cable cars run from 09.30 until 19.45 to the Upper Rock, but the last car up the hill might leave as early as 19.00. A "cable car and nature reserve" ticket costs £20.50 return, this includes entrance to the cave, the Great Siege Tunnels, the City Under Siege exhibition, the Moorish Castle and the Apes' Den. A return cable car ticket without any additional entrance tickets costs £10.50 and comes with three hours of free Wi-Fi usage at the top. The best option, however is to buy a one way version of this ticket (£18.50) and walk down the Rock, seeing the sights, monkeys and views on the way- although sensible shoes, a hat and plenty of water are required. Alternatively, a 'Taxi-Tour' (typically for 8 people in an MPV) will cost more for a 1.5h tour, and this includes the fees for entry to the Cave, tunnels and upper rock- this does of course save walking and is a more comfortable experience. In the summer season (April to September) the middle cable car station is closed. The rest of the year however, you can do a return trip by taking the cable car up to the top, walking to St Michael's Cave and through the nature reserve to the Apes' Den intermediate station and returning to town by cable car. A very informative Historic Walking Guide to Gibraltar can be purchased online or in local book shops and provides an excellent companion for those wanting to enjoy Gibraltar's best sites on foot. Do[edit]
Buy[edit]The official currency of Gibraltar is the Gibraltar pound (GIP), which is pegged to the British pound sterling at a 1:1 exchange rate. While the British pound sterling is legal tender in Gibraltar, and is accepted by all banks, government offices, and businesses, the Gibraltar pound is not legal tender in the UK. While banks in the UK will exchange Gibraltar notes, they may charge a service charge for it. They are also highly unlikely to be accepted in any other country for exchange purposes, so unless you want to keep them as a souvenir it would be wise to spend them in Gibraltar. Shops in Gibraltar will usually give you change in UK notes on request, if they have them. Any leftover Gibraltar pound notes at the end of your trip can be exchanged for UK pounds at par in any of the local banks (but not at banks in the UK) with no service charge. If you find you have some Gibraltar coins left over then it is not such a big deal as they are identical in denomination, colour and size to UK coins. While they are not technically legal tender you are extremely unlikely to have such coins refused in a shop back in the UK as most people wouldn't even notice them. It is actually fairly common to get Gibraltar (as well as many other UK dependencies and overseas regions) coins in your change in the UK anyway. Most shops in Gibraltar will accept Euros. 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 offices, post offices and some payphones do not accept foreign currency, and will require you to pay in pounds. Credit and debit cards are sometimes not accepted in some shops (especially restaurants), although since the COVID-19 outbreak many have adopted card readers. Eat[edit]If you like to sit outside and watch the world go by, head for Casemates Square [1] 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. [2] Queensway Quay [3] 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 worth a splurge. Marina Bay [4] 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 [5], 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 [email protected] 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 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. The Horseshoe 193 Main Street, near King St & Bombhouse Lane & Gibraltar Museum. Small pub with nice outdoor seating, decent prices, homemade pies on the menu, and offers the local beer Gibraltar IPA on tap. Free wifi, ask a staff member. Eating Kosher[edit]There are a couple of Kosher restaurants, bakeries and minimarkets in Gibraltar. Just ask around and someone will point you in the right direction. Unless you're planning on going to Morocco, Gibraltar is NOT the only place you could stock up on Kosher food when you're travelling in the Costa del Sol; there are many Kosher shops and restaurants in Marbella, Torremolinos and Málaga. Drink[edit]The legal drinking/purchasing age is 16 for beer, wine or cider containing less than 15% ABV on licensed premises, 18 is unrestricted. Sleep[edit]
Budget Options[edit]
UPDATE: Prices per room are £21 without breakfast
Luxury Options[edit]
Work[edit]In the early 2000s, many bookmakers and online gaming operators relocated to Gibraltar to benefit from operating in a regulated jurisdiction with a favourable corporate tax regime. However, this corporate tax regime for non-resident controlled companies was phased out by January 2011 and replaced by an across the board Corporate Tax rate of 10%. Regardless, many online bookmakers continue to make Gibraltar their base of operations and employ thousands of people in an ever thriving jobs market. Contact[edit]Phone[edit]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 affected by this change, however. The prefix to dial prior to country code for international calls is 00 in Gibraltar. Internet[edit]Free wireless is available in the following places:
Gibraltar Telecom offer paid wireless hotspots across Gibraltar, but only in a very small number of locations and they may not all be working. The cable car trip up the rock comes with a voucher for three hours of free wifi up at the top. Stay safe[edit]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 on the Spanish side of 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. In some cases people queueing in cars to Gibraltar have been approached by official looking guys who try to sell them 20€ ticket for border crossing fee to enter Gibraltar. These are scams, any payment or ticket is not required to cross the border. Stay healthy[edit]Medical treatment[edit]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. Barbary Macaques[edit]Tourists should be aware that the Barbary macaques are wild animals and do bite. It is advisable not to feed the Barbary macaque, despite encouragement from irresponsible taxi drivers. In addition, there are kiosks recklessly selling 'monkey food', further encouraging this. It is indeed illegal (hefty fines are in force) and bad for their health. Never try to pick up a baby Barbary macaque - its mother will not be happy, and neither will you. If you are bitten by a Barbary macaque, you will require hospital treatment. Whilst the Barbary macaques are rabies-free they can infect you with hepatitis, and they are most aggressive on the top of the rock, as the most successful animals claim the uppermost reaches of the rock, with their less successful fellows being shoved down the rock and the social pecking order. This said, the macaques will generally ignore you if you are not openly carrying food or plastic bags in your hands. They associate plastic bags with food, so as long as you keep everything food-related inside your bag you will be safe. As of June 2013 there are no longer any kiosks that sell food for the macaques; some taxi drives will encourage you to touch them but it is better to avoid doing this. As of 2020 it is now illegal to touch the macaques. Respect[edit]Remember that Gibraltar is a British overseas territory. People from Gibraltar refer to themselves as Gibraltarian or 'Llanito' pronounced Ya-ni-to. Even though the vast majority of Gibraltarians speak Spanish (with a local dialect), they are easily offended if referred to as Spanish because they regard themselves as Gibraltarians and are very proud of their identity. Some Gibraltarians also feel sensitive to the erroneous use of the term 'colony' due to its connotations of being a depositied population or ruled by a foreign country or lacking in self-government, none of which apply to Gibraltar now or historically. Additionally the term 'colony' is legally incorrect, it is a 'British Overseas Territory'. The term 'colony' wasn't used in reference to Gibraltar until the 1830s, at this time there were other places that were colonies and their circumstances fitted use of the word and Gibraltar being grouped with them under the term colonies despite the circumstances being different. 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 agreements have opened up the relationship Gibraltar has with Spain, even if some plain-clothed immigration agents purposefully use racial profiling when they control people's IDs. Get out[edit]
Consulates[edit]
WikiPedia:Gibraltar World66:europe/gibraltar
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
