Located in the Southern tip of the Iberian Peninsular, Gibraltar enjoys an amazing 300 days of sunshine a year.

With its distinct character, Sterling as the official currency and a flight time of just 2.5 hours from the UK, there can be no better place to enjoy the very best of what the Mediterranean has to offer.


Make no mistake about it: there can be few runways which will stick more in the memory than the one in Gibraltar's tiny MOD-run airport.

Less than a mile long and flanked by the ocean on two sides and a large chunk of Jurassic limestone on another, it is unsurprising that it received the dubious honour of a top-5 placing in a recent poll of the world's scariest runways. The good news however is that once the aeroplane kisses the tarmac, the hard part is very much over.

A small and easy-to-negotiate arrivals terminal coupled with the Airport's proximity to Gibraltar's city centre means that you can arrive at your accommodation within a half hour of landing; a rare luxury indeed!

Most hotels are centrally located, either within or a short walking distance from Gibraltar's compact city centre. A fleet of air-conditioned taxis or a modern and efficient bus service provide alternative transport for those wishing to preserve their energies for other, perhaps more worthy, exploits.

Accommodation in Gibraltar is by no means low-priced, but it is not scandalously expensive either, with room prices ranging from £60–£180 a night.

Visitors are advised to make their bookings well in advance as hotel occupancy rates are high all year round, which is hardly surprising given the limited number of hotels servicing the approximately 8 million people who visit the Rock each year.

Main Street is Gibraltar's main thoroughfare and primary shopping hub. Gibraltar's traditional status as a 'free port' has for centuries made it a paradise for bargain-hunting visitors from all over the world.





In addition to Marks & Spencer, Next and many of the other UK High Street names, Gibraltar's duty and VAT-free status also make it the perfect place to purchase high quality wines and cigars, perfume, electrical goods as well as jewellery, porcelain and crystalware at hugely discounted prices.

The Gibraltar Bookshop at 300 Main Street (opposite the Law Courts) is of particular note, if nothing else for its standing as Gibraltar's only current book shop, as well as its fine selection of local-interest books.

Gibraltar has a rich social and military heritage and the Gibraltar Museum situated in Bomb House Lane features a comprehensive range of exhibits focusing on the Rock's turbulent past.

The Museum charges only a £2.00 admission fee and also provides an excellent synopsis on the Rock's natural history. The Strait of Gibraltar is the Mediterranean's shortest crossing point making Gibraltar the ideal place to witness millions of migrating birds travelling from their winter homes in Africa to their European breeding grounds.

If you are not the bird-watching type, perhaps an afternoon with our playful cetacean cousins may be more to your liking, a 'dolphin safari' boat trip around the bay of Gibraltar will set you back just £20.00 for adults and half that price for children. Alternatively the Alameda Botanical Gardens (free admission) is a sanctuary of calm in Gibraltar's south district and the perfect place to spend a lazy afternoon in the shade.

The best place to enjoy Gibraltar's diverse wildlife however, as well as some spectacular vistas, is from the Upper Rock Nature Reserve (Entry price, Adults: £8.00, Children: £4.50).

Whilst the Rock is accessible on foot from the Upper Town area (by following the steps adjacent to the Garrison Library) it can be quite a hike in warm weather and you are advised to carry plenty of water.

Once in the Reserve, the Mediterranean Steps are the best route to the very top where you can marvel at the often neglected but nonetheless impressive gun emplacements at O'Hara's Battery.

Make sure to also visit the natural grotto at St Michael's Cave with its dramatic stalagmites and stalactites as well as the 'Moorish Castle', parts of which date back to the beginning of the 8th Century.

If you haven't the time (or stamina) to make the journey on foot, you may wish to arrange a Rock Tour by taxi via any of the taxi ranks that can be found along the length of Main Street.

Taxi tours, which cost approximately £10 per person, allow visitors the opportunity to see the Upper Rock and other Gibraltar highlights in the company of their very own local guide, who will be at hand to answer any questions about Gibraltar's nature and history.

Alternatively the Cable Car which operates from the Grand Parade at the Southern end of Main Street is said to be the fastest way to the top (return tickets, Adults: £8.00, Children: £4.50). The journey is an experience in itself and views from the summit are spectacular, encompassing a 360° view of Africa, Spain, and the Strait of Gibraltar.

The area near the Cable Car Top Station is also one of the best places to see the cheeky Barbary Apes in their natural surroundings, although there are other friendly packs at the area known as the 'Ape's Den' and on Royal Anglian Way.





Gibraltar's population is approximately 30,000 and English is its official language. Whilst relations with Spain have traditionally been 'rocky', Spain's influence is far-reaching and Gibraltarians tend to be fluent Spanish speakers. Gibraltarian cooking is inspired by Spanish as well as other Mediterranean cuisines.

El Capote on Market Lane is as traditional an Andalucian eatery as you will find on either side of the border and Jumpers Restaurant is the place to enjoy fried fish raciones in the company of the locals.

There is also authentic North African fare on offer in a variety of inexpensive Moroccan restaurants and decent 'fast' food can be found in takeaways such as Al Medina on Queensway and Gilbert's opposite the Public Market and main bus terminal.

If its Steak and Ale pie, served with mushy peas that you're after, Gibraltar is also as good a place as any to get a dose of good old-fashioned British-style cooking.

The many traditional pubs on Irish Town and Casemates Square offer reasonably priced lunch menus and are the focal point for a vibrant nightlife which thrives in the summer months.

The new Ocean Village marina together with its state-of-the-art casino offers an alternative in the form of more upmarket bars and clubs, whilst the bistros and other eateries located at Queensway Quay present the more exclusive dining selections.

In these harsh economic climes Gibraltar has positioned itself as the perfect destination for British holiday makers wishing to enjoy southern European weather without having to endure the heartbreaking effects of the prevailing Euro exchange rate.

Monarch Airlines operate between 5 and 7 weekly flights to Gibraltar from London Luton Airport. Alternatively British Airways and Easyjet also operate a scheduled daily service to Gibraltar from Gatwick Airport.