How to get from malaga to gibraltar. Where is Gibraltar located? History, description and attractions of Gibraltar
Travel to England with an ideal climate
Gibraltar is one of the last bastions of the British Empire. A kind of slightly shabby piece of old-fashioned England at the mouth of the Mediterranean. The climate here is amazing, allowing you to travel to the peninsula almost all year round. The coastal waters are a paradise for divers, while the land is home to shopwalkers and lovers of ancient artifacts. Gibraltar is also known as one of the popular wedding venues. On the Rock, John Lennon and Yoko Ono sealed their union by marriage, and James Bond married Sean Connery twice, and Prince Charles and Princess Diana spent their honeymoon in Gibraltar. By the way, a marriage contracted by citizens of the Russian Federation in Gibraltar is recognized as valid on the territory of Russia.
Still, one or two day trips from Spain or Morocco are the most popular options for traveling to Gibraltar. Here's a selection of the best ways to spend your time in Gibraltar.
How to get to Gibraltar
By plane. There are no direct flights from Russia to Gibraltar airport. To fly to Gibraltar, you will have to change trains either in London or Malaga. The option with a transfer in London is convenient if there is no open Schengen, and in the passport there is only a multiple-entry visa of the United Kingdom (for a period of at least 6 months). The good thing about London Transit is that you can combine a trip to Foggy Albion with a trip to the sea, where you can swim even in October.
A flight with a stopover in Malaga is cheaper and even more convenient. But you hardly want to spend your entire vacation on a rock among the monkeys. Therefore, in this case, it is better to combine a visit to Gibraltar with a vacation in Andalusia.
Gibraltar is the only city where the runway crosses the city road. Don't miss this shocking sight as the plane lands in front of the vehicles giving way.
By train. It is not possible to get directly to Gibraltar by train. From Madrid, Barcelona or other European cities, you first need to get to the Spanish town of La Linea, located 5 kilometers from the border with Gibraltar, and then cross the checkpoint on foot or by bus.
By bus. A convenient way to get there from Cadiz, Malaga, Marbella or Seville if you don't drive. The bus station is located in La Linea, 500 meters from the border with Gibraltar. Cross the border through the checkpoint, and already in Gibraltar you can take a regular bus or take a taxi to the city center (the distance from the border to the center is about 3 kilometers).
By car. One of the most convenient ways to travel to Gibraltar for solo travelers. With a little "but", there is almost always a queue at the border and sometimes you have to wait a long time. There is no tax to enter Gibraltar by car.
- RENT A CAR IN CHECKED AGENCIES FOR TRAVELING TO GIBRALTAR
On a ferryboat. You can get to Gibraltar by water from Moroccan Tangier or Ceuta, via Tarifa or Algeciras, and then by bus or car. There are about 7-10 flights daily, the travel time is 1 hour 30 minutes. Ferry from Tangier Med port departs directly from Morocco to Gibraltar on Sundays. Travel time is 1 hour 30 minutes. Flights are evening only, most often depart at 18.30, but before buying tickets you need to check in advance, since the ferry can leave at 17.30 and 19.30. The cost of the trip is 46 euros one way.
Visa for Gibraltar
To visit Gibraltar, Russian citizens require at least a transit visa. Visas are issued at the UK Visa Application Center. "Transit" differs from a tourist visa in that you do not need to provide confirmation of hotel reservation (BUT! Be sure to present a visa to the country of destination and tickets for the entire route), this is convenient if you plan to go to Gibraltar just for an excursion. The rest of the package of documents for a visa to Gibraltar is no different from the standard set for a visa to the UK.
Gibraltar visa documents
1. A valid international passport.
2. Two color photographs 3.5 × 4.5 cm.
3. Copy of tickets in both directions, or confirmation of booking.
4. Reservation of a hotel room.
5. Certificate from the bank on the availability of sufficient funds in the account at the rate of $ 50 per person per day.
6. Certificate from the place of work on the letterhead of the organization indicating your position and salary (preferably at least $ 700 per month), as well as the signature of the head and the company seal.
Attention!
Individual entrepreneurs must present a photocopy of the certificate of registration of an individual entrepreneur / PBUL and registration with the tax authorities.
Non-working pensioners - a photocopy of the pension certificate, a certificate from the place of work of the person who pays the travel expenses, or an extract from the sponsor's bank account, a statement signed by this person that he pays the expenses of his stay in Gibraltar.
For students - a student card, a certificate from the place of study, a certificate from the sponsor's place of work, a statement signed by this person that he pays the costs of his stay in Gibraltar.
For schoolchildren - a certificate from the school, a certificate from the sponsor's place of work, a statement signed by this person that he pays the costs of staying in Gibraltar.
7. A letter from the company organizing the trip, indicating all the places to visit and planned excursions.
8. Completed application form of the established form.
Please note that all documents must be translated into English.
Visa processing time from 10 to 21 days
It is convenient to visit Gibraltar when you are traveling in Spain or Portugal, and your passport already contains an open United Kingdom visa (for a period of 1 year or more) with multiple entries.
Where to live. The best hotels in Gibraltar
It is easy to find a hotel in Gibraltar for every taste and budget, but still there are not so many hotels to postpone booking until the last moment. One of the most popular hotels since 1932 - an oasis of peace and quiet - The Rock Hotel... This is a classic of British quality in the hospitality industry, the only hotel in Gibraltar to retain the British five-o'clock tea tradition. The hotel is located next to Jebel at Tariq Moorish Castle, close to the Alameda Gardens. All hotel rooms offer scenic views of the Strait of Gibraltar and the mountains of Morocco.
Besides The Rock Hotel travelers can choose a room in O "Callaghan Eliott Hotel- a modern hotel located in the city center, on the Governor's Square, opposite the garrison library. The hotel rooms are spacious and comfortable enough, the hotel has a patio with palm trees where you can dine or relax after walking around the city. Next to the funicular, 50 meters from the station, is the hotel Queen "s hotel... If you want to live in the very center of the city and not overpay, then it will be an excellent option. The hotel is located near the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity and the Museum of Gibraltar, and the famous Main Street, or as it is also called Main Street... with shops, cafes and restaurants located a couple of meters from the hotel. Those who dream of peace and quiet need to book a room in Caleta Hotel... The hotel is on the eastern side of the cliff, in the village of Catalan Bay. This is the only hotel in Gibraltar located close to the beach. Despite its remoteness, the hotel has easy access to the city center. The hotel offers rooms with sea or mountain views, two restaurants and a bar with live music in the evenings.
Map of Gibraltar hotels
8 ways to spend time in Gibraltar
At first glance, Gibraltar is a rather small city (its area is only 6.5 square kilometers), which cannot be said about its history (over 3000 years) and the number of attractions. In the city, you can easily spend a week, leisurely strolling through the ancient streets, examining the fortresses and monuments of bygone days. But since most travelers come to Gibraltar for a maximum of a couple of days, we have chosen some of the best ways to get to know the city and practically externally explore all three thousand years of its existence, running along the main historical milestones.
LOOK AT THE CITY FROM HEIGHT
Climbing to the highest point of the cliff, at a height of 412 meters above sea level, is one of the most popular entertainment among travelers in Gibraltar. Climbing the cliff itself is an exciting attraction, and the views from the top of the cliff are an incredibly impressive sight. From the terrace of the upper station, you can see not only the city below, but also see two continents and three countries at once. But most travelers also climb under the skies for the monkeys.
MEET THE SMALLER BROTHERS
Local belief says: "Gibraltar will be British territory until all the monkeys living here are gone." Therefore, and not only because of this, the only colony of semi-wild monkeys - magots in Europe is carefully guarded and monitored very carefully. There is a special position in Gibraltar: the officer in charge of monkeys, each monkey is given a name at birth and a chip is sewn into it, thanks to which you can track its location, and every six months the Governor of Gibraltar sends to London a complete list of the Magoth livestock, indicating age, sex and name everyone.
You can see the monkeys by taking the cable car, at the upper and middle stations of the funicular. At the top stop there is a souvenir shop, where, if you wish, you can buy a souvenir - a toy monkey with a real birth certificate.
It is strictly forbidden to feed or pet the monkeys when visiting Apes Den. If the monkey bites, you have to pay a £ 250 fine.
WALK IN THE GARDEN
When you get tired of the monkeys, take the funicular down and take a walk in the Alameda Botanical Gardens. It was founded in 1816 at the direction of Lieutenant Governor General George Don for the rest of the garrison and the local population. Some of the main attractions of the garden are stone palms, which are more than 200 years old and a 300-year-old Dragon tree.
REACH THE POINT
Another stunning view opens up from the southernmost point of Gibraltar - Europa Point Lighthouse, built in 1841 and still showing the way for ships. In good weather, you can see the coast of Africa, the mountains of Morocco and Spain - the city of Ceuta, which, although located on the African continent, is Spanish territory in 1850.
WORSHIP ALL GODS
Near the Europa Point lighthouse is the Ibrahim al-Ibrahim mosque, built in 1997, a gift from King Fahad Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia to the inhabitants of Gibralatar. This mosque is the first thing that travelers see when approaching Gibraltar from the sea. Not far from the lighthouse there is also the Church of the European Virgin. The foundation of the church is dated 1309, it is said that before the walls of the Christian shrine were erected in 1462, a mosque stood in its place.
In addition to these two religious shrines in Gibraltar, travelers will be interested in seeing the Great and Flemish synagogues. The Great Synagogue was the first Jewish temple in Gibraltar, built in 1724 and rebuilt after a devastating landslide in 1766. The Flemish Synagogue was built in 1880 on the site of Semtomb Severra's home. But she was also not spared the bitter fate of destruction: in 1812, a fire almost completely destroyed her, and in 1950 she was again damaged by an explosion in the port of a ship with ammunition. The Flemish synagogue is interesting because it is a unique example of Dutch architecture throughout the peninsula. If interested in Jewish history in Gibraltar, you can visit the ancient Jewish Windmill Hill Cemetery located next to Jew's Gate.
GO down to the cave
If you get tired of the heat or just want to admire the wonders of nature, go to the Caves of St. Michael. Several halls with stalagmites and stalactites carved into the rock at a depth of 65 meters create a truly unforgettable impression. According to legend, the caves are connected by an underground tunnel with Africa. During the Second World War, a hospital was located in the grotto, and today, due to its amazing acoustics, the grotto has become more popular as a concert venue. Under the first level of the cave there is an amazingly beautiful underground lake and stone sculptures - the creation of Mother Nature herself.
TASTE THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE CITY
The local cuisine in the minds of travelers has long gone beyond the "British standards". In addition to "fish & chips" in the pubs and restaurants of the city, you can taste an unimaginable palette of flavors of the entire Mediterranean from Italy to the coast of Africa. The basis of the kitchen is bread in all its forms, from pasta to donuts, and wheat flour is not always used for the manufacture of bakery products, for example, pea flour is used for baking. Rolitos or, in the English style, "beef olives" are very popular from the second courses: meat rolls stuffed with bacon, rusks, eggs, vegetables and olives. And also rosto - pasta with beef and vegetables, sprinkled with Edam cheese.
Of course, in a city by the sea it is impossible to imagine a cuisine without fish dishes. The best of them are served in establishments located in Marina Bay, eg, Champions Bar & Grill or El faro.
GO TO SHOPPING
Gibraltar, along with or Andorra, is a duty-free zone, making it another small paradise for shopaholics. The main shops are located on Main Street. Opening hours from 9.00 to 19.30, on Saturdays, shops close at 13.00, On Sunday, with rare exceptions, almost all shops and shops in the city are closed. It is best to buy worthwhile souvenirs to commemorate your visit to the city in the arts and crafts center located in the Barracks building, or visit a glass and crystal factory, where you can watch the work of glass blowers, and then buy your favorite thing.
Where you can get now with a regular valid multiple-entry Schengen visa. Gibraltar is located on the southern coast of the Iberian Peninsula opposite Cape Marroca, in the north it shares a common border with the Spanish city of La Linea de la Concepcion. Gibraltar has a population of about 30,000
Climate and weather
The maritime climate is without sudden changes in daily and annual temperatures, in summer daytime temperatures are within 26 degrees, in winter about 10 degrees. Precipitation is pronounced from November to April, it will rain almost every day, but in the summer you can forget about an umbrella.
How to get to Gibraltar
From there you can take a charter flight to Malaga airport. Airlines from the UK fly to the airport of Gibraltar itself where you need to make a transfer.
It is impossible to get to Gibraltar by train or bus, the nearest bus stations and railway stations are located in the Spanish city of La Liniya, 6 kilometers from the border zone.
Gibraltar can be reached by ferry from Tarifa, Algeciras and Tangier. Gibraltar can be reached by car, for example, the distance to Madrid is 700 kilometers, to Barcelona is 1100 kilometers, to Lisbon is 650 kilometers, and to Moscow is 5000 kilometers.
Also, Gibraltar can be easily reached on foot, passing through the checkpoint, which is located in a building half a kilometer from La Linea station.
Visas to Gibraltar
Citizens and can get to Gibraltar with a multiple-entry Schengen visa, which will be valid for another three weeks, if the period is shorter, then Gibraltar must be left within 7 days. On the other hand, Gibraltar will be admitted with a visa, which must be obtained in the UK.
Customs regulations
It is necessary to declare amounts over 10,000 euros, this rule does not apply to non-cash money. Recall that Gibraltar is part of the European Union, and all the customs rules of this union apply here. Russians and Ukrainians can take with them up to 200 cigarettes and up to 1 liter of hard liquor without paying the duty, of course, if you have already reached the age of 17. You can bring gifts or personal items up to £ 145.
Money in Gibraltar
The national currency of the country is the Gibraltar Pound (GIP), which is divided into 100 pence. Banknotes of 50, 20, 10 and 5 pounds, and coins of 2 and 1 pound, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 pence are in use. The country accepts the British pound sterling along with the local currency, which is freely convertible. It is better to get rid of the Gibraltar pound before leaving the country, it is almost impossible to change it in other countries with the exception of Great Britain itself. In Gibraltar, you can use international credit cards everywhere, banks are open on weekdays until 3 days, there are exchange offices and ATMs. Some shops, restaurants and hotels can also accept Euro currency subject to the exchange commission. Gibraltar is an offshore zone, goods and services do not include VAT, which means that tax-free will not work. But on the other hand, due to the appearance of international offices of companies and banks here, Gibraltar has turned into, the prices here for everything are almost twice more expensive than in neighboring Spain, locals go to neighboring La Lina for food, we also recommend tourists from the point of view save money to settle in hotels on the Spanish side and walk on excursions to Gibraltar.
Gibraltar landmarks
Gibraltar is a rock on top of which there is a fortress, the city is located on the western side of the cliff, the port can receive deep-sea ferries and ships.
The fortress of Gibraltar was built in the 18th century, but the construction began in the 9th century, it is interesting that the fortress walls go inside the rock, turning into underground tunnels that connect the defensive walls in the east and the artillery fortifications at the very top of the fortress. Tourists will walk through the Holyland Tunnel to St. George's Hall with a stunning view of the bay, which is nicknamed the Alboran Sea.
One of the tunnels houses the Gibraltar War Heritage Center museum with a collection of historical weapons. You can climb the mountain using a funicular from Monday to Saturday from ten in the morning to four in the afternoon.It is worth paying attention to the intermediate station, where very rare Gibraltarian monkeys live. If you bought a ticket for the funicular, you can get to the cave complex of St. Michael with an underground lake at a level of three hundred meters above sea level. Some caves serve as concert halls.
In the city, tourists will be interested in the Cathedral of the Holy Virgin Mary and the Gibraltar Museum with a copy of the "Gibraltar skull". You can walk along the main street of the city of La Calle Real, which runs through the whole of Gibraltar, pubs, restaurants, hotels and souvenir shops are available to tourists here.
There are also numerous beaches in Gibraltar that are hidden between the rocks, take a walk in the area of \u200b\u200bthe pier or in the many parks and gardens of the city, for example near the Elliot Memorial. Some of the attractions are hidden under water, diving centers will provide an opportunity to dive and inspect countless shipwrecks off the rocky coast of the fortress.
How long did it take to get to this proud British Overseas Territory !? Back in 2012, I bought a ticket through London, but just before the flight from Moscow it turned out that my six-month British visa to visit Gibraltar was not enough. It is necessary to issue a special overseas ( from three weeks or more) ... So I stayed halfway then, in London.) But everything changes, and dreams come true! Surely many like me dream of visiting this tiny but incredibly interesting European country?
01. In 2014, for citizens of the CIS (here I was corrected, only the Russian Federation), visa requirements for visiting the state of Gibraltar were simplified. Now you can easily enter here if you have:
- British multiple entry visa ( valid for at least 6 months)
- Schengen multiple entry visa category C ( usual for tourists)
According to these visas, you can stay in Gibraltar for up to 21 calendar days ( usually, one or two is enough).
There is also an option, to get here without a visa at all, as part of a one-day tour organized by Spanish operators ( in this case, at the entrance, your passport is taken from you, and returned at the exit), but this is not our method !?) To go as part of an organized tour and pay for this service ... No, we do everything ourselves, and we go where we want, and see what we want!
02.The visas seem to be sorted out ( i'll also tell you about the border control). It remains to figure out how to get here?
The most common way (and perhaps the most expensive) is the airport GIB. Four airlines fly here: British Airways, easyJet, Monarch Airlines from London, Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol; and Royal Air Maroc from neighboring Tangier. The cost of tickets from Moscow with a transfer in London, as a rule, start from 30 thousand rubles ( the minimum that I found was 149 euros one way, easyJet if purchased three or four months before departure). The flight schedule can be viewed on the airport's official website.
Another variant, go here via Spain by renting a car for example in Malaga. Distance about 140 km one way, toll road ( there is also free). Car rental cost + gasoline + road + expensive parking in Gibraltar itself \u003d not the most budget option. Interesting though.
Third option, which I used - this is a regular bus from Malaga. The most budget and quite a comfortable option. You need to go to the Spanish border town of Linea de la Concepcion. The cost of a round-trip ticket is about 30 euros. The ride takes about 2.5-3 hours, depending on the specific flight. The schedule is structured in such a way that you can leave in the morning, see the main attractions of Gibraltar in a day, and return back to Malaga on the same day. Agree, convenient and quite budget! In addition, interestingly, the bus goes along the coast of the Costa del Sol, stopping by almost all the towns on the way.
Departure from Malaga bus station at: 7:00, 11:30, 14:00, 16:30, 19:15. Return flights to Malaga from La Ligny depart at 8:50, 10:30, 16:30, 19:00 and 20:45, respectively. So I left at 7:00 on a completely empty bus ( maybe because it's Sunday), and returned to Malaga at 21:30 ( leaving La Ligny at 19:00). The ticket can be bought at the bus station right before departure ( in both directions cheaper), or on the website of the car carrier (eng). 
03. The bus station in LaLigne is within walking distance ( literally 3 minutes) from border control. In the photo, in the very center, the runway of the GIB airport, and the car-pedestrian road crossing it leading from Spain to Gibraltar. We go boldly along the signs, we pass bored Spanish border guards with a passport in their hands, if asked to look, we show a Schengen visa and go quietly on to Gibraltar territory. Here you need to fill out a simple questionnaire, samples of which are right at the table of the border guards. In addition, especially for Russian-speaking citizens, there is a translation of the questionnaire into Russian ( hangs on the wall). What's in it? Full name, year of birth, place of birth, passport number, when and where you plan to stay. If one day, do not write anything. Give the questionnaire with the passport to the border guards, and in a couple of minutes you will receive a stamped passport. Voila!) Hello Gibraltar! We walk calmly through the runway, peep around, take pictures, etc. The main thing is not to leave the walking trail. Naturally, at the time of take-off or landing, everything is blocked, and you can watch the maneuvers of aircraft like in the stalls of a theater.
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory. In ancient times, this peninsula was known as Mons Calpe (translated from Latin - Mount Calpe). Subsequently, it was renamed Gibraltar (from the Arabic Jebel Tariq or Mount Tariq).
A bit of history
Sometimes the country is called in one word - Rock. For 13 centuries, 5 countries have continuously fought for the right to possess this narrow strip of land, and today the beauty of the peninsula attracts thousands of tourists every year. The area where Gibraltar is located is known for its attractions to every experienced tourist.
However, it is also interesting from a scientific point of view. After all, it was here that the first remains of the Neanderthals were found. All kinds of ancient African animals were found in this territory in those distant times. However, in addition to hunting and fishing, people were already engaged in agriculture. The area where Gibraltar is located was then much more extensive than it is now. It was a huge flat valley that was very well suited for ancient people.
Strategic site
Why did various countries constantly fight for the possession of Gibraltar? The fact is that the Rock is a very important strategic site. The one to whom it belongs can control the exit from the Mediterranean and approaches to it from the Atlantic. For a long period of time, it was the property of Spain.
But in 1704 it was captured by the Anglo-Dutch flotilla. Since then and until now, the Rock belongs to Great Britain. The capital of Gibraltar is the city of Gibraltar (since the state itself consists of one settlement, their names are the same).
Political structure and currency
The executive power in the country belongs to the head of government, and the legislative power belongs to the unicameral House of Assembly. The state is not divided into regions. The capital of Gibraltar is the only administrative unit in the entire country. However, for the convenience of government, its territory is divided into seven regions. They are also subdivided into strategic territories - quarters. The country on which Gibraltar depends is Great Britain. However, it is also a self-governing territory. Defense and diplomatic relations are decided by representatives of Great Britain.
But taxation and corporate law are the realm of Parliament. Under the Treaty of Rome, Gibraltar is part of the EU. In order to get to Gibraltar, you need to obtain a visa at the British Consulate. You can pay in overseas territory both in Spanish currency - pesetas, and in British pounds sterling. Also on the territory of Gibraltar there is also its own currency - the Gibraltar pound. However, it exists only in paper form; English coins are circulating in the country.
Geographical position
On the map, Gibraltar borders on Spain. Residential quarters of the country come close to the northern border of Gibraltar. The border is only 1.2 km long. On the southern side, along the Strait of Gibraltar, there is a border with the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, located in Africa. In good weather, you can see both the Spanish enclave and Morocco.
From the west, the territory of Gibraltar is washed by the waters of the Algeciras Bay, and from the east - by the warm Mediterranean Sea. Anyone who first sees Gibraltar on a map immediately notes the small size of this state. Its area is only 6.5 km 2. If all the tourists who come to the country arrived in Gibraltar at once, then life there would be completely paralyzed. After all, more than 6 million tourists visit the country every year.
Population of the Rock
The population of Gibraltar is about 29.1 thousand people. A wide variety of nationalities live on the same territory. About 15 thousand people are citizens of other countries and have dual citizenship. Moreover, most of those who consider themselves indigenous are in fact the descendants of the Spaniards, Italians, Maltese, English, citizens of the Maghreb.
The population of Gibraltar is constantly increasing. The building density is constantly increasing. About 4 thousand people live on one square kilometer. There is a constant lack of land here, and buildings are being built even on water. For example, the strip for the Gibraltar airport was laid out on an artificial embankment.
Climate
The temperature in summer here is often above 30 ° C, and in winter it does not drop below 18 ° C. 300 days a year are considered sunny in Gibraltar. We can say that the tourist season on the Rock lasts literally all year round. In general, the climate in the country can be described as Mediterranean. The maximum precipitation occurs during the cold season.
Economy
However, what is of constant interest to travelers is a real disaster for the state itself. After all, Gibraltar, although surrounded on all sides by waters, is actually literally languishing in the heat. There are no natural resources here - no rivers or lakes. Residents extract fresh water practically drop by drop from the sea using distillation apparatus. With the help of collectors, rainwater is also collected, which is then stored in special reservoirs made of stone.
With such problems, it is not surprising that there is no agriculture in the country. All food products (excluding fish) are brought in from abroad. There is no industry either - just a few enterprises and a tiny shipyard. However, there are a large number of banks, various insurance agencies and financial companies. Gibraltar offers the world's most pleasant taxation option: no taxes. According to some studies, more than 60 thousand different companies are registered on the island, the wealthy owners of which prefer to get to the coast of the country on personal yachts.
Gibraltar airport
However, most of the tourists arriving in the country use the plane. Where does the air transport sit? Straight to the isthmus that connects Spain to the Rock. Its length is about 3 km, and its width is 2 km. Not far from the airstrip there is an asphalt road that provides easy access to Gibraltar from Spain. In this respect, Gibraltar airport is one of the most unusual in the world.
When the plane descends, traffic has to be stopped by traffic lights. However, fortunately for the Gibraltarians themselves, no more than three dozen flights are served here every week. Observing the planes and the flights themselves are absolutely safe. The airport has been operating since 2003, and since then not a single accident has occurred here: neither on the runway, nor on the city avenue.
Gibraltar: how to get to the country?
As noted, the most popular form of transport among tourists is airplane. There are direct connections only with the airports of the UK and Morocco. The nearest airport in Spain, located 137 km northeast, is Malaga.
You can also get to the Rock by renting a car in one of the Spanish cities: Barcelona, \u200b\u200bAlicante, Madrid, Lisbon. You can also travel by taxi. However, one point must be taken into account: drivers from Spain will not take the traveler to Gibraltar itself, but drop him off right at the border. Another way to get to Gibraltar is by taking a regular bus from La Linea town.
Rock of Gibraltar
One of the main tourist attractions. Its height is 426 meters, it is one of the most popular natural attractions in the area where Gibraltar is located. The rock is located in the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula, in the Strait of Gibraltar.
It also has another name - Mount Tariq, which was given to it in honor of the Arab commander Tariq ibn Ziyad. The very name of Gibraltar originally comes from his name. At the top of the mountain there is a conservation area, where 250 Barbary macaques (the only species of wild monkeys in all of Europe) have found refuge.
Also on the territory of the reserve there are wild plants that moved here from Africa millions of years ago. They were never able to spread across Europe and remained only on a mountain peak. According to Plato, on the Rock of Gibraltar, as well as on the opposite Abila Rock, two huge statues were once erected on high pillars. They were a kind of gateway to the Atlantic, but were destroyed by the commander Tariq ibn Ziyad for the glory of Allah.
Famous caves
One of the unusual features of the rock is that there is a system of underground tunnels underneath. Their length is over 50 km. The labyrinth of underground tunnels and the Barbary monkeys are the main attractions that attract a large number of tourists to Gibraltar.
The rock itself is composed of calcite rocks. Over the course of inexorable time, they are washed away by the waves of the strait, and caves are formed in the rock (there are already more than a hundred of them at the moment). The largest of them is St. Michael's Cave, also popular with tourists. The Gorhama cave is also notable. It contained traces of the presence of human ancestors - Neanderthals. They lived here about 30 thousand years ago.
St. Michael's cave
The main attraction of Gibraltar, which attracts travelers to this territory, is its unusual nature. There are a large number of caves, palms, pines. There are over 600 types of different colors on the territory of Gibraltar. One of the most visited caves is St. Michael's Cave. It is one of the largest caves of the Rock of Gibraltar. There are about 100 more such objects located here.
The cave is famous for its giant stalactites, which grew here several tens of millennia before the city of Gibraltar. Interest is also attracted by the remains of primitive people found here in 1974. Another find of archaeologists is rock paintings that depict mountain goats. Archaeologists believe that they were made about 20 thousand years ago.
Ibrahim Al Ibrahim Mosque
The region where Gibraltar is located is also attractive in terms of religion. The Ibrahim al Ibrahim Mosque, erected here in 1997, is located just a few kilometers from Africa. The building was a gift from the ruler of Saudi Arabia, Fahd, and is one of the largest mosques in a non-Muslim state.
Its complex includes a school, a lecture hall, and a library. The building is located on a high platform, and three flights of stairs lead to the main entrance. Each of them has 22 steps. The main entrance is decorated with many turrets. In the southeast corner of the mosque, there is a high minaret with a spiral staircase inside.
Moorish castle
The building was built by representatives of the Marinid dynasty in the 7th century BC. e., and is a medieval fortification, consisting of gates, fortress walls and the Tower of Memory - the main building of the entire structure. This is one of the unique attractions of Gibraltar, which invariably attracts tourists from the most remote corners of the globe.
The castle can be seen from afar thanks to its unusual architecture. Its height is more than 100 meters, it is a symbol of the domination of the Arabs in the Pyrenees, which lasted more than 800 years. After many historical events, the building became a museum open to visitors to Gibraltar.
How to get there. Transport
To Gibraltar by plane
There are only three airlines flying from Gibraltar airport: Monarch Airlines, GB Airways (a subsidiary of British Airways) and EasyJet - and only to the UK (2.5 hours). It is more convenient to use the much busier airport of nearby Spanish Malaga, which has regular flights and charters from Russia, or other Spanish airports. It is important to remember that a multiple-entry Schengen visa will be required to travel to Gibraltar via Spain. It is better to fly with British Airways without a Schengen visa with a stopover in London.
To Gibraltar by train
There is no railway in Gibraltar, the nearest stations are in the Spanish San Roca (just over 10 kilometers from the border) and Algeciras (20 kilometers). The line has connections with Madrid, Seville, Malaga (with a change in Bobadilla) and other cities in Spain. From Russia, you can get to Algeciras with at least three changes via Paris and Madrid. Estimated travel time from Moscow is 70 hours. It should be emphasized that traveling to Gibraltar by train is an extremely costly and lengthy undertaking, which may only interest railway fans.
To Gibraltar by bus
There are no intercity buses in Gibraltar. The nearest bus station is in the Spanish town of La Linea, just half a kilometer from the border. From there there are regular buses to Algeciras (every half hour in the afternoon and once an hour in the evening), several times a day there are flights to Malaga, Seville, Cadiz, Jerez.
To Gibraltar by ferry
Ferry service between Gibraltar and Morocco (prior to 2011) in
currently absent. The nearest ports from where ferries leave for Africa are Algeciras and Tarifa, from there ferries to Tangier follow hourly. The cost of a one-way ferry ticket is 35-40 euros.
To Gibraltar by car
There is no tax to enter Gibraltar with your own car, however there are queues at the border. Distances from Gibraltar by road: Moscow - 4961 kilometers, Madrid - 701 kilometers, Barcelona - 1164 kilometers, Lisbon - 648 kilometers. The border point between Gibraltar and Spain is located 2.5 kilometers from the center of Gibraltar, just behind the local airport runway.
To Gibraltar on foot
The border crossing from the Spanish La Line to Gibraltar is located 500 meters from the La Line bus station and a kilometer from the center of Gibraltar on the other side. Crossing the border does not take much time, and most often it is nothing more than a formal passage through a small terminal building, where no document checks are carried out at all. (info from http://guide.travel.ru/gibraltar/formalities/travel)
Documents, visas
Gibraltar is part of the EU (as an overseas territory of Great Britain), but is not part of the Schengen area. On the land border with Spain, at the port and airport - passport and customs control. Entry to Gibraltar is carried out on the basis of a special visa obtained from the British embassies.
A Gibraltar visa is not required for citizens of most countries in Europe, America, many countries in Oceania, and some rich countries in Asia. Citizens of the CIS countries need a visa for everyone.
Citizens of all countries of the world who have a UK multivisa with a validity period of 6 months or more can enter Gibraltar without a visa.
Also, citizens of Russia, China, Morocco, India and Mongolia, who have a valid multiple-entry Schengen visa in their passport, can enter Gibraltar without a visa for up to 21 days. If the validity of a visa is less than 21 days, then you can enter Gibraltar for this remaining number of days minus 7 7 \u003d 3 days).
When obtaining a Gibraltar visa in Russia, biometric data (fingerprints) are not required, in contrast to the procedure for obtaining a visa to the UK itself. You can apply for a visa at the UK Visa Application Centers in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Rostov-on-Don.
There are two ways to get to Gibraltar without a visa for citizens of all countries of the world: buy a one-day excursion there from Spain at a special travel agency accredited in Gibraltar; swim to the peninsula on a cruise ship.
Citizens of most EU and Schengen countries can enter Gibraltar with identity documents (identification cards).
Air transit without a visa through Gibraltar airport is possible for up to 24 hours.
Visa rules can always be clarified on the official website of Gibraltar:
https://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/new/visas-and-immigration
