Gibraltar Area Guide

When you first see the Rock of Gibraltar with its impressive stature towering in splendid isolation above the surrounding countryside you cannot help but be impressed. Gibraltar is a beacon which signals the position of the Strait of Gibraltar, the narrow neck which separates Europe from Africa and provides the only link between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The total area of Gibraltar is 6 square kilometres.

Because it is formed from limestone rock Gibraltar it is riddled with caves. Limestone is made up of millions of small shelled animals which have settled on the sea bed; slowly these shells harden and become rock, so that when you walk on it you are stepping on an ancient sea bed.

This northern end of the peninsula is a flat sandy isthmus which connects it to mainland Spain and is covered by buildings and an airport runway. The northern and eastern faces of the Rock are steep cliffs reaching a maximum altitude of 426 metres above sea level at O`Hara`s Battery. The western slopes are less steep with the main built-up areas are at their base.

Situated just only 21 kilometres from Africa, the flora and fauna here are unique with over 600 species of wild flowers including Gibraltar sea lavender, chickweed and candytuft. The Barbary Partridge was introduced during the early eighteenth century and Gibraltar is an important focal point for migrating birds, fish, whales and dolphins.

Whether you come to Gibraltar to do some duty free shopping, visit many of the local attractions, try the local cuisine, play golf or swim and sunbathe on one of the excellent beaches you are sure to find something here for everyone in the family.

There are some great things to see in Gibraltar which can be accomplished in a round tour. We have detailed the major sights and local attractions in Gibraltar in the recommended order you should visit them.

 

Gibraltar can be divided into eastern and western beaches, with the east side having the majority of beaches and tending to be sandy, while the west side rockier. All of the beaches on the Rock of Gibraltar are clean and well maintained.

 

Because of the limited size of Gibraltar, it will come as no surprise that the only golf courses in Gibraltar are for crazy golf. But just a 30 minute drive away you start to hit the Costa del Sol courses, which give you an enormous amount of choice available within a small radius.

 

Eating in Gibraltar is all about café society and dining al fresco. There is an amazing choice with Italian, Indian, French, Moroccan, English, Spanish, Peking and Szechuan restaurants just some of the options available. Visit our Gibraltar restaurant guide for further details.

 

Gibraltar is one of the few remaining VAT free holiday destinations in Europe offering visitors a wide range of tax free goods including tobacco and alcohol, electronic goods and branded watches. You can use UK currency to shop here as the Pound Sterling and Gibraltar Pound are both acceptable forms of payment. For more details take a look at our Gibraltar shopping guide.

There is plenty to keep all members of the family occupied from visting the Barbary Apes and Dolphin Safaris to touring the magnificent caves and visiting the siege tunnels. Take a look at our amusements guide to Gibraltar for full details.

 

If you are planning to explore the area outside of the city centre and play some golf or go to some of the more out of the way beaches then you might consider hiring a car. There are car hire firms based at Gibraltar Airport who will be pleased to have a vehicle awaiting your arrival. This also cuts down on transfer costs for you and your family.

We live and work in Spain and therefore have good local knowledge. With this in mind we have written a Gibraltar Area Guide which includes the best Shops in Gibraltar, Gibraltar Golf Courses, the different types of Gibraltar Beaches, recommended Gibraltar Restaurants, details of Amusements in Gibraltar for family days out and Gibraltar Local Attractions.