HolidayVillaDirect.com - Holiday Guide to Gibraltar.

Tourist guide to Gibraltar.

The Rock of Gibraltar adjoins the Spanish mainland in Sourthern Andalucia at the entrance of the Mediterranean Ocean. While Gibraltar is physically connected to Spain the inhabitants are fiecely independant of Spain. Gibraltar is a British territory and the residens of Gibaltar claerly want things to stay just as they are. It would be an understatement to say that Gibraltarians have a strong sense of their British identity, despite years of political debate the Gibraltarians remain devout "Brits"

Vacation villas and holiday homes in Andalucia near Gibraltar

Gibraltar is somewhat of an idiosyncrasy. You can see  the Rock of Gibraltar miles  before you arrive, it is an impressive naturally stature, towering isolated above the surrounding countryside.

The Rock of Gibraltar is a narrow peninsula linked to the Spanish mainland by a thread, a narrow sandy isthmus.

Gibraltar may only be a small rock but it has certainly claimed its lace in history. Britain and Spain have fought over it for many years and Gibraltar is to this day still a regular the subject of heated political debate between the two nations. If you talk about this to a Gibraltarians it's quite clear where they stand, they want to remain "Brits".

As you pass through the border control and leave Spain you have to pass through Gibraltar's border control and its like being instantly transported back in to colonial Britain.

Once through border control you have to cross the airport runway, which in itself is an experience. You then enter the fortified garrison town and now you really know you are in Gibraltar.

The Eastern side of Gibraltar is sheer cliffs, reaching a maximum altitude of 426 metres with sandy beaches forming the perimeter while the western slopes are more gentle. Much of the lower half is taken up by the city, the upper parts of The Rock constitute a nature reserve, which you can visit.

The Rock is small and space is at a premium. Driving yourself around "The Rock" would be a waste of time, the streets are narrow and winding and there is no point in enduring this unnecessary stress when there are numerous local tourist taxis and mini buses which will give you a full guided tour of The Rock, which takes about one and a half hours, for a very reasonable price. This tour will take you to the famous tunnels in the rock, to see the famous apes, to the nature reserve and to some scenic caves.

From Gibraltar you can get a ferry across the Straights of Gibraltar to Morocco.

Gibraltar has been subject to repeated conquest and sieges over the years and the history of "The Rock" and its beleaguered history are celebrated by the locals.

If you like military or historical sites then you will enjoy Gibraltar. You can tour the historic tunnels which go deep into the rock itself and look out past the cannons, many of which are still in place.

Gibraltar is also a shopping haven, where duty free shops abound.

Gibraltar is well worth the effort if you are in southern Andalucia.

If you decide to visit Gibraltar but a passport is essential to get on to "The rock", you will be leaving Spain and entering UK territory via spanish and Gibraltar's customs and border controls  / check points.

We recommend an early start to get the full benefits of Gibraltar.

Getting to Gibraltar looks easy on the map using costal roads but you can save yourself a lot of traveling time by using the motorways/ toll roads which are relatively cheap to use and much quicker than the costal road.

Road maps are available at most petrol stations, invest in a map because the spanish don't like telling motorists where Gibraltar is.

As you near Gibraltar follow the signs for "La Linea” or the border.

We strongly recommend that you park near the border but in Spain.

Car parking is well signed and there is ample parking on the Spanish side of the border. Do not follow the crowd aimlessly, numerous people get in the queue to enter Gibraltar by car, you can queue for hours if this happens and once in Gibraltar you cannot drive very far anyway.

Learn from our experience, it’s so simple when you know how to go about it. Simply park in one of the well-signed car parks on the Spanish side of the border and enjoy the walk across the border.

Most establishments in Gibraltar accept Sterling, Euros, credit cards & travelers cheque's.If you have any spare Sterling with you take it when you visit Gibraltar, Sterling normally buys a little bit more than Euros in Gibraltar.

Gibraltar is not a member of the European Union and as such it is a tax-free haven for European nationals. There are plenty of bargains to be found but duty free allowances are restricted when you return to the EU i.e. when you cross back into Spain (just as they would when you return to the UK from a non-EU Country. Allowances change and you are very likely to be stopped by Spanish Customs Officers when leaving Gibraltar and returning to Spain. We recommend that you check the allowance before you enter Gibraltar .

From Gibraltar you can take a Dolphin and Whale Safari off Gibraltar by boat or take a day trip to the African mainland. We recommend pre-booking the Dolphin or Africa trips.

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