12 essentials: what to see and do in Gibraltar in one day

The Rock It is a must visit if you are near the Gibraltar Field.

A unique and singular place that will surprise you with its dimensions, its spectacular views of Africa On clear days, your peculiar monkeys and its interesting excursions.

an authentic tourist attraction in which you will feel that you are in a english neighborhood or on a London street, with its typical red telephone booths, just two steps away Spain.

Gibraltar It is small, it looks relatively fast, but you need some time and organize the excursions, although with the one day visit It's enough, and even in a morning if you go early.

The easiest entry to The Rock is to cross the border ¨The Gate¨, just five minutes of waiting, and our advice is hire an excursion with a local guide, because climbing to the top of the rock can only be done on foot or by taxi, since private cars are not allowed to climb.

Gibraltar It is also a destination for a shopping getaway; on its main street, Main Street, you will find numerous perfumery, liquor, jewelry, clothing and technology stores; some typical English ones like Marks & Spencer.

And all at a pretty good price, because it's like a Duty Free. But be careful! that there is a limit for customs control.

Gibraltarians are also called plainsThey speak Spanish and English, many with an Andalusian accent.

If you go on September 8, you will find the celebration of the Key collection, holiday in which all authorities participate; September 10 is the National Holiday in which the Referendum 1987, and is considered the first act of self determination.

Curiosities history of Gibraltar

Gibraltar is a British colony in Spanish territory, the last in Europe.

It measures 7 square kilometers, and has about 33.000 inhabitants, the same as Soria.

In ancient times it was known as Mount Calpe, one of the two mythical Pillars of Hercules, which was later renamed Mount Tariq.

Gibraltar and the Treaty of Utrecht

An impregnable fortification for centuries, which was occupied by English troops in 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession in support of Carlos III, and was given as a reward in the Treaty of Utrecht, in 1713. .

In 1909, the English built a fence to further delimit both countries, and in 1938 they built a airport on land not included in the Peace of Utrecht and declared a neutral zone in 1730.

franc braked the claims of Hitler to invade Gibraltar in the Operation Felix to control the passage of warships in The strait.

In the 60s of the last century, the conflict became complicated with the formalization of the self-government in the rock; The Spanish dictator closed the border and it was not opened again until the coming to power of Felipe González.

Self-determination referendum in Gibraltar

El 1987 referendum had a favorable result to continue under British rule, and in 2002 the Gibraltarians rejected the shared sovereignty.

Spain has been fighting for years to recover Gibraltar, and today continues to claim its decolonization.

Therefore remember that it is a non-autonomous territory pending decolonization, as emphasized by the UN, which since 1965 has recommended bilateral negotiations between both countries without having borne fruit until now.

How to enter Gibraltar: tips

For access Gibraltar, you only need the DNI, despite the Brexit.

It must be presented to both sides of the border, either to the police, or by entering it in turnstiles (as in the metro) that provide you with faster access.

La best way to enter Gibraltar It's walking.

It is preferable to leave the car parked very close, in The Line of the Conception, or in a free parking at the entrance; If you can't find a place, there is another private parking a few meters away.

You will save time and money because Gibraltar It is a very small space, it costs a lot to park, and customs controls take less time on foot, although yes, gasoline there is usually somewhat cheaper.

The views crossing the airport runways taking a walk are truly impressive, you can't miss it.

And don't worry because it is a safe area; When there is a landing, the traffic of people and vehicles stops.

How to visit Gibraltar for tourism: tips and excursions

When plan your visit, you should know that In Gibraltar you can pay in pounds and euros, indistinctly.

Better if you do it with credit card to avoid exchange problems.

As soon as you pass customs control, you have two positions where you can hire the recommended excursion with a local guide.

These visits are made by taxi or minivan, depending on the number of people.

It may initially seem a little expensive, but in reality it is cheaper and more comfortable if you opt for the Complete package, which includes the payment of tickets to all places what are you going to visit

There they put a bracelet on you that allows you access to all the tourist places of the Rock.

The price is around 28 euros or 25 pounds per person and children up to twelve years old pay practically half, although the amount may vary if you share a vehicle.

The road is quite narrow and difficult to navigate for those who do not know it.

La Gibraltar excursion It includes four stops and lasts about 2 hours.

You can also walk to the top of the Crag, but it is about 20 kilometers uphill, winding and it will take you about five hours to climb.

How to take the Cable Car to the Rock of Gibraltar

Another way to access some of the visits is through the Cable Car; You have to keep in mind that there is usually quite a queue, although the views of the Mediterranean coast They are unbeatable.

The Gibraltar Cable Car schedules They are, Monday to Sunday, from 9,30 a.m. to 17,15 p.m.

El Gibraltar Cable Car price It is £18 return (£8,50 for children), but does not include entry to the historic sites and attractions at the top of the Rock.

If you hire the Multimedia tour of the Natural Reserve, whose price is 34 pounds (22 pounds for children), the ticket already includes access to said places.

El cable car access is located south of Main Street, right at the entrance of the Alameda Gardens, Botanical Garden which is also worth visiting if you have time.

Places to see in the Rock of Gibraltar Natural Reserve

The first stop of the tour is made at Gibraltar Upper Rock Nature Reserve, Pillars of Hercules, the best located point for see Africa on a clear day.

Pillars of Hercules, viewpoint of Africa in Rock of Gibraltar

Its name refers to the mythical columns that it held Hercules between Europe and Africa. Here you will find an effigy that indicates that this place, at that time, was considered the end of the world.

The panoramic They are really beautiful, and it is a must-see place for photographs, although not the only one.

Rock of Gibraltar Skywalk

Following the route we arrive at the floating platform known as Skywalk.

At 340 meters above sea level, we find this clear glass gazebo, one of the main attractions of the rock that offers you a 360-degree view of two continents.

It is built on the foundations of a structure of the Second World War, to withstand the strong gusts of wind and the weight of 340 people, although the capacity is limited to 50.

This is another must-see location for taking unique photos, although we warn you that you may feel some vertigo.

In this place you can also find famous people gibraltar monkeys waiting for tourists and enjoying the unbeatable views.

Likewise, in this place you will be able to see from the heights two of the beaches that Gibraltar has, Sady Bay y Catalan Bay.

St. Michael's Cave on the Rock of Gibraltar

La Cave of San Miguel is one of main tourist attractions of Gibraltar.

It impresses not only because of the scenery full of stalactites and stalagmites, and the falling drops, but also because of the light and sound show, Called “Awakening”, in other words, the awakening, which you can enjoy from the theater built at the end of the 20th century.

During the tour of the cave, which lasts about 15 minutes, the projection of lights on the walls will leave you fascinated, especially because some of the rocks seem to come to life.

The ancient Greeks believed that this cave was the entrance to a mythological underworld, although others believed that it was a temple of hercules.

Rock of Gibraltar Tunnels

The tunnels of Gibraltar are highest point of the Rock and the views are unbeatable through the numerous backlit windows that you will find during the tour.

You will be surprised by the perspective of the airport, the city and the rock cemetery.

Also impressive are the numerous galleries that are hidden in the Rock, as if it were a gruyere cheese, since they make up a true underground city of several kilometers that runs through the interior of the rock, although only part of them can be visited.

During your journey through the tunnels, remember that the descent is usually done more slowly and you should be careful not to run on the way back, because you can suffocate a little if you go too fast.

Pay attention to the ground, because it is slippery and there is quite a bit of humidity.

The Gibraltar tunnels were built during the Second World War to protect from air attacks and as a shelter for troops during the siege. About 16.000 soldiers could be housed here for about a year.

This visit takes the longest, about 40 minutes; is presented as museum with photographic exhibitions and depictions of what life was like in the different rooms, including a telephone exchange, a water distillation plant, ammunition warehouses and even a power generating station.

O'Hara Battery on the Rock of Gibraltar

Another point of interest on the rock is the O'Hara Battery, 421 kilometers high, a tower with a cannon installed in 1934 for defense, which could shoot more than 20 kilometers away.

How and where to see the Gibraltar monkeys

The famous gibraltar monkeys are the kings of the rock.

The Barbary monkeys, also called that, roam freely in complete freedom; It is the only place in Europe where you can observe them like this, and currently there are about 250 specimens.

You can't forget that these macaques are wild and have bad tempers; It is quite common to see them fighting between different families.

Remember this recommendation that you will find on signs in the area, because they can be dangerous, some even a little sneaky;

Don't leave your bag or backpack on the floor, always carry your personal items with you and don't make sudden movements with them, because if you're careless, they will try to take them from you thinking you have food.

You can't feed them and it's best not to look them in the eye.

Check if they are peaceful before approaching them for a photo, and be careful with the flash because it bothers them and can blind them.

Legend: how the monkeys came to Gibraltar

Count the legend that first primate of the Rock It arrived through an underground tunnel that connects Africa with St. Michael's Cave, which has no bottom.

Experts believe they were actually introduced naturally as pets by the Arabs in the year 700.

Although there are many theories and speculations, the legend is the one that attracts the most attention.

Churches in Gibraltar

The concentration of churches in a territory with such limited space.

En Gibraltar is a catholic cathedralAnother anglican, Another Methodist, also a presbyterian church, hindu temple and an endless number of synagogues.

Shopping in Gibraltar

time to go shopping, you should know that the most typical of Gibraltar They are chocolates, perfumes, jewelry, tobacco, alcohol or clothing.

There are endless shops on the main street Main Street and in its perpendicular streets, configuring the true Gibraltar shopping center.

Some of its stores, many belonging to the hindu community, are well-known brands in the United Kingdom and their salespeople speak to you in English and Spanish, in addition to accepting both euros and pounds.

Walking along this street will take you about 30 minutes, depending on the stops you make.

Where to eat in Gibraltar

In the Gibraltar main square you will find a variety of international restaurants, but take it easy, because they take a while to serve you.

On the streets perpendicular to Main Street You also have the typical english pubs where to regain strength.