How to get from malaga to gibraltar. Where is Gibraltar located? History, description and attractions of Gibraltar
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 Schengen visa is 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 that 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 (which took place before 2011) is currently not available. The nearest ports from where ferries leave for Africa are Algeciras and Tarifa, from there ferries to Tangier follow hourly. A one-way ferry ticket costs 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.
Discover how to get to attractions and hotels near Gibraltar.
Things to do in Gibraltar
Grand casemates square
Grand Casemates Square (colloquially Casemates Square or Casemates) is the larger of the two main squares within the city center of Gibraltar (the other being John Mackintosh Square). The square takes its name from the British-built Grand Casemates, a casemate and bombproof barracks at the northern end of the square completed in 1817.
Gibraltar Botanic Gardens
The Gibraltar Botanic Gardens or La Alameda Gardens are a botanical garden in Gibraltar, spanning around 6 ha. The Rock Hotel lies above the park.
Great siege tunnels
The Great Siege Tunnels in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar, also known as the Upper Galleries, are a series of tunnels inside the northern end of the Rock of Gibraltar. They were dug out from the solid limestone by the British during the Great Siege of Gibraltar at the end of the 18th century.
Rock of Gibraltar
The Rock of Gibraltar, (Latin: Mons Calpe, Arabic: Jabal Ṭāriq, "Tariq" s Mountain ")) is a monolithic limestone promontory located in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, near the southwestern tip of Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. It is 426 m high. The Rock is Crown property of the United Kingdom, and borders Spain. Most of the Rock "s upper area is covered by a nature reserve, which is home to around 300 Barbary macaques. These macaques, as well as a labyrinthine network of tunnels, attract a large number of tourists each year.
Places to stay in Gibraltar
Rome2rio makes traveling from Málaga to Gibraltar easy.
Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Find all the transport options for your trip from Málaga to Gibraltar right here. Rome2rio displays up to date schedules, route maps, journey times and estimated fares from relevant transport operators, ensuring you can make an informed decision about which option will suit you best. Rome2rio also offers online bookings for selected operators, making reservations easy and straightforward.
Discover how to get to attractions and hotels near Gibraltar.
Things to do in Gibraltar
Grand casemates square
Grand Casemates Square (colloquially Casemates Square or Casemates) is the larger of the two main squares within the city center of Gibraltar (the other being John Mackintosh Square). The square takes its name from the British-built Grand Casemates, a casemate and bombproof barracks at the northern end of the square completed in 1817.
Gibraltar Botanic Gardens
The Gibraltar Botanic Gardens or La Alameda Gardens are a botanical garden in Gibraltar, spanning around 6 ha. The Rock Hotel lies above the park.
Great siege tunnels
The Great Siege Tunnels in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar, also known as the Upper Galleries, are a series of tunnels inside the northern end of the Rock of Gibraltar. They were dug out from the solid limestone by the British during the Great Siege of Gibraltar at the end of the 18th century.
Rock of Gibraltar
The Rock of Gibraltar, (Latin: Mons Calpe, Arabic: Jabal Ṭāriq, "Tariq" s Mountain ")) is a monolithic limestone promontory located in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, near the southwestern tip of Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. It is 426 m high. The Rock is Crown property of the United Kingdom, and borders Spain. Most of the Rock "s upper area is covered by a nature reserve, which is home to around 300 Barbary macaques. These macaques, as well as a labyrinthine network of tunnels, attract a large number of tourists each year.
Places to stay in Gibraltar
Rome2rio makes traveling from Málaga to Gibraltar easy.
Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Find all the transport options for your trip from Málaga to Gibraltar right here. Rome2rio displays up to date schedules, route maps, journey times and estimated fares from relevant transport operators, ensuring you can make an informed decision about which option will suit you best. Rome2rio also offers online bookings for selected operators, making reservations easy and straightforward.
5 years agoSince Gibraltar is an island that is a kind of colony of Great Britain, you can only get there by plane. You can take a ticket to the UK and fly from there for a couple of days to this small island. Summers are hot and dry there. The main attraction is a rock with many passages, caves decorated with ancient drawings. Basically, they go there to get acquainted with the unique flora and fauna. The most important animal and symbol in Gibraltar is the tailless macaque. They are cherished, protected. There are also other attractions there. For example, a Moorish castle, lighthouse, library and others. Here you can not only see the nature of the island, but also go sailing, of course diving. They say that the remains of ancient ships still lie there at the bottom. The most amazing fishing there. You can even catch a shark. There are very comfortable hotels on the island.
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 types 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 the 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 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 Spaniards, Italians, Maltese, British, 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 here in summer 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 in fact literally languishing in the heat. There are no natural resources here - there are 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 stone reservoirs.
With such problems, it is not surprising that there is no agriculture in the country at all. 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 shores 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 using 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 closest 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 rock of Abila, two huge statues were once erected on tall columns. 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 it has a system of underground tunnels underneath. Their length is over 50 km. A labyrinth of underground tunnels and 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 (at the moment there are more than a hundred of them). 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 southeastern 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.