Don’t forget that once you arrive in Gibraltar you are officially on British soil. The currency is Sterling so don’t get caught out if you intend to stay for a while. If you are travelling on from Gibraltar in a hire car I urge you to spend some time exploring the island first. Hiring a car is the most economical way of exploring the Southern most tip of the Iberian peninsular. I believe visitors will be more than pleasantly surprised by what they find when they arrive.
For a small destination visitors travelling to this unique enclave are usually really surprised to find out that Gibraltar has six large and well kept beaches. Four of these are sandy and best for spending a day enjoying the sea side with the family. Being within such close vicinity of Morocco the weather is generally good all year round, during the height of summer temperatures soak into the high thirty degree centigrade mark. When you come to book your hire car make sure you specify that you would like air-conditioning; this makes long journeys bearable in the scorching heat.
Gibraltar has numerous water sports to take part in and boasts some fantastic diving; here at the gate way to the Mediterranean the Atlantic the waters mix meaning you get a huge number of species of fish and marine life. Being such a famous port Gibraltar has had its fair share of wrecks over the years. Today there are over 30 existing wrecks which can be explored on dive trips. This is a great place to take PADI diving qualifications.
Gibraltar also has excellent sailing opportunities many people learn to sail here in the sheltered bay, but there is some excellent sailing to be had in the Mediterranean sea and indeed the Ocean both of which are right on Gibraltar’s doorstep. If you have never sailed before in your life this is the destination to try it; but competent sailors will also love the conditions here. The Barbary Apes on the upper rock are synonymous with Gibraltar make sure you get the opportunity to see them but be warned they are not tame and the apes can be quite vicious. Most people don’t know however that the peninsular is visited by hundreds of dolphins. Check with the local tours that leave from the beaches, they will take you to the coves where you can view them in the wild, they’ll come right up to the boat!
Gibraltar is a shopping paradise being a duty free state. Prices are some of the cheapest in Europe; the best area to hunt for bargains is Main Street, where you will find designer goods jewelry, clothing in fact almost anything you can imagine, all at heavily reduced prices. Taking any side street off Main Street will bring you into the interconnecting lanes which line the principal shopping road. Here you will find lovely little cafes and restaurants serving fabulous local food and smaller shops selling porcelain, fine glass wear, cashmere goods, silks, leather and perfumes.
Once you have explored Gibraltar there are some lovely places which cry out to be explored, Most of these are just over the Spanish border and will take no longer than an hour or two to reach.
Seville, Estepona and Marbella are all easily reached; see our pages on these destinations for more information. When you book you hire can ensure you book as far in advance as possible; this way you will be sure to get the very best prices and the greatest option on vehicles. By using a comparison search engine you will gather the biggest amount of quotes and be able to clearly see which package is best for you. |
