Gibraltar, British territory in Continental Europe
Gibraltar is a territory of the United Kingdom in Continental Europe. It has a number of tourist attractions, the most famous being the Rock of Gibraltar. Other sights and places of interest in Gibraltar includes Gorhams Cave, Moorish Castle and the Cathedral of St Mary the Crowned. In this Gibraltar Travel Guide, let me take you to explore all these sights.
It is located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula overlooking the Straits of Gibraltar. Gibraltar covers an area of just 6.843 square kilometers (2.642 square miles), and is a strategic location for British Armed Forces and Royal Navy bases.
Gibraltar was ceded by Spain to the Crown of Great Britain under the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, but since then Spain has sought for its return. The residents of Gibraltar however strongly opposed any move to return the territory to Spain, or for any form of shared sovereignty. As a result, Gibraltar remains a British territory, a position that often complicate relations between Spain and the United Kingdom.
Fast Facts about Gibraltar
Official Name: Gibraltar
Capital: Gibraltar
Population of Gibraltar: 29,500
Currency: Gibraltar Pound
Languages spoken: English (official), Spanish, others
Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, others
Size: 6.5 sq km (2.5 sq miles)
Continent: Europe
When to visit Gibraltar
The best time to visit Gibraltar are from April to October, to enjoy good weather. If you wish to avoid extreme heat, however, avoid July to August.
Accommodation in Gibraltar
Click on Hotels in Gibraltar to use my free search engine to look and compare different hotel room rates as provided by Online Hotel Booking websites. This service enables you to book your accommodation at the lowest possible rate.
What to wear in Gibraltar
Lightweight clothing is good enough for the summer months. Medium weight clothing is recommended for the winter months.
Getting into Gibraltar
Gibraltar Airport (GIB) is in fact the airport of the British Royal Air Force, but nowadays it is used for civilian flights. It claims the distinction of being the closest airport to the city centre, as it is just 500m from the centre of Gibraltar. The airport handles scheduled flights from London-Gatwick (LGW, with British Airways) and London-Luton (LTN, with Monarch Airlines) and from Madrid-Barajas (MAD, with Iberia Airlines and British Airways).
Gibraltar Entry Requirements
Visa is not required for nationals of US, Australia, Canada, Britain and other EU countries.
Getting around in Gibraltar
One can easily explore Gibraltar on foot. There are some places which are quite steep, so when needed, take a taxi.
Money matters in Gibraltar
The currency used is the Gibraltar pound (GIP, symbol £) £1=100p. Banknotes are available in denominations of £5, £10, £20 and £50. Coins come in denominations of 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1, £2, and £5. Banking hours are from 9:00am to 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays, and 9:00am to 4:30pm Fridays.
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Places of Interest in Gibraltar
- Europa Point:
Tip of Gibraltar where Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean Sea
- Shrine of Our Lady of Europe:
A Catholic shrine converted from a Muslim mosque.
- Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque:
A new mosque at Europa Point.
- Gorham's Cave:
Cave on the steep eastern side of the Rock
- Rock of Gibraltar:
The famous landmark of Gibraltar
- St Michael's Cave:
Natural grotto used by neolithic inhabitants of the Rock
- Moorish Castle:
Moorish ruins on the Rock
- Gibraltar Museum:
Place to learn the history.
- Gibraltar Airport:
Closest international airport to a city.
- Cathedral of the Holy Trinity:
A cathedral of the Church of England.
- Cathedral of St Mary the Crowned:
The Catholic cathedral of Gibraltar.
- Trafalgar Cemetery:
The heritage cemetery in Gibraltar.
- City Gate:
Part of the old fortification of Gibraltar
- Gibraltar Botanic Gardens:
A place to relax in Gibraltar.
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