48 hours in Gibraltar – Weekend Edition
Gibraltar In Less Than 48 Words
Gibraltar is an overseas territory of the UK, perched on the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula. It has an ethnic mix of different cultures (Genoese, British, Spanish, North African), and is known for the adventure activities available at its caves, cliffs, and coasts.
Rock of Gibraltar (Photo by Roy McGrail)
First 24 Hours
You can fly to the “Rock” via the Gibraltar Airport, which is located a mere 500 meters away from the Gibraltar city center. From the airport, you can actually walk to the city center in a little over 30 minutes. If you are too tired to walk, you can catch a bus or hire a taxi, which will cost you around £5.
Gibraltar lies on a peninsula stretching over three miles long, dominated by cliffs and peaks in the eastern side and networks of streets at the western side. Most of its attractions can be reached on foot on account of the area’s compact nature. However, it is still advisable to pay a visit to its main tourist office (Casemates Square, 00 350 74982, website). It is open during Mondays to Fridays from 9 am to 5:30 pm, on Saturdays from 10 am to 3 pm, and on Sundays from 10 am to 1 pm.
CHECK IN: Get your bearings back at Gibraltar’s hotels
You can arrange your stay during your 48 hour visit to Gibraltar at one of its excellent hotels. One of the best in the city is the Bristol Hotel (Cathedral Square, Gibraltar, 200 76 800, website). It offers a great location with nice views, plus a delicious breakfast and comfortable rooms. A nice alternative is the Caleta Hotel in Gibraltar (Catalan Bay, Gibraltar 76501, website), which has good views of the sea, excellent food, and modern rooms at reasonable prices.
Caleta Hotel (Photo by C.Lopez)
You can also try out the O’Callaghan Eliott Hotel (2 Governors Parade, Gibraltar NONE, Gibraltar, 200 70500, website). It has a nice location just a short walk from Gibraltar’s main shopping street, plus spacious rooms and professional service.
GIBRALTAR CABLE CAR: Let’s take a view
Go for a ride on the Gibraltar cable car, which will take you up more than 1,300 feet up to the top station of the Rock of Gibraltar. You can find the base station at Boyd Street, Gibraltar 74000, near the Queen’s Hotel. The ride will cost you around £8, but reward you with sweeping views of the Mediterranean. Local legends have it that the top station had been the location of one of the Pillars of Hercules. The site houses the Apes’ Den as well, where you can find the Barbary apes – Europe’s sole resident monkey species. There is also a souvenir shop there, which employs souvenir photographers who can take snapshots for keepers.
Cable car ride to the top of the Rock of Gibraltar (Photo by Hazboy)
ROCK OF GIBRALTAR: Go for a hike
Of course, no visit to Gibraltar will be complete without going to the famous Rock of Gibraltar, a monolithic limestone promontory. Standing 426 meters high, it attracts a large number of tourists every year, and is known for its labyrinth of tunnels and over 43 caves. The Rock is home to the Moorish Castle, a medieval fortification recognized as a relic of the Moorish rule over Gibraltar. It is believed to have been built back in 711 AD, and is known for the “Tower of Homage”, the highest of its kind in the Iberian Peninsula during the Islamic period. It is also the location of the HM Prison of Gibraltar.
UPPER ROCK NATURE RESERVE: Experience nature
In 1993, over 40 per cent of the Rock of Gibraltar’s area was declared as a nature reserve – resulting in the creation of the Upper Rock Nature reserve. It is known for its unique flora and fauna that are protected by law. At the site, you will see animals like the Barbary Macaques, Barbary Partridges and other migratory birds, as well as fauna such as Thyme, Chickweed, and the Gibraltar Candytuft.
ST. MICHAEL’S CAVE: Visit a cave
St. Michael’s Cave (Phot by John A. Debay)
Among the numerous caves found in the Rock of Gibraltar, the St. Michael’s Cave is perhaps the most popular, attracting over a million tourists every year. It is part of the upper Rock Nature Reserve, and you can go for a guided tour through its formations and tunnels. The tour usually lasts for around three hours, and will cost you around £8. You can also find there an acoustic chamber called the Cathedral Cave, which is used as an auditorium. It hosts various events such as operas, plays, and the Miss Gibraltar beauty pageant.
GREAT SIEGE TUNNELS: Explore underground passages
Another attraction in the Rock of Gibraltar is the Great Siege Tunnels, otherwise known as the Galleries. It was dug by army engineers during the so-called “Great Siege of Gibraltar,” and was used to hold off the Spanish forces. The passages stretch nearly a thousand feet when laid end to end, and you can find there exhibits chronicling the tunnels’ history and the desperate conditions inside. Some of the passages even grant great views of Spain and the Bay of Gibraltar.
Great Siege Tunnels (Photo by Sacred Destinations)
DINNER TIME: Discover Gibraltar’s restaurants
You are guaranteed a delicious dinner at the restaurants available all over the city. One of the best in the city is the Thyme Restaurant (5 Cornwall’s Lane, Gibraltar, +350 200 49199). It is a town center restaurant that offers a superb contemporary dining. A nice alternative is the Tunnel Bar Restaurant (Casemates Square, 00 350 44878, website), which serves delicious grills, pastas, and salads.
Have a taste of America in Matumbas (Camino De Nicola, 17, Estepona, 952 796 77). It serves American dishes, barbecues, steaks, Argentine delicacies, and has a superb wine selection. You can also try out Cafe Rojo (Irish Town, Gibraltar 51738), which has first-class service, plus fresh and tasty meals.
Next 24 Hours
Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque (Photo by Vince Smith)
Your next 24 hours in Gibraltar will enable you to see tha remaining tourist attractions of the city. One of them is the Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque (Europa Point, southern Gibraltar). Also known by the name of Mosque of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, it was built in 1997 and is considered as the largest mosque to be built in a non-Muslim country. It is known for its white exterior, large dome, and tall minaret, and its construction reportedly cost £5 million.
GIBRALTAR MUSEUM: Know more about Gibraltar
You can learn more about Gibraltar’s history by visiting the Gibraltar Museum (8/20 Bomb House Lane, P.O. Box 939, Gibraltar, +350 200 74289, website). Inside, you can find various exhibits chronicling the history of the Gibraltar people, tools and weapons from the Great Siege, and a cinema room showing the “Gibraltar Story.” You can also find artifacts from Gibraltar’s Islamic period, an art gallery, an Egyptian mummy, a gallery devoted to Gibraltar’s prehistoric past, and a natural history section displaying examples of Gibraltar’s wildlife. The site is open from Mondays to Fridays from 10 am to 6 pm, and on Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm. Admission will cost you around £2.
GIBRALTAR CATHEDRAL: Go to church
Another noteworthy attraction in Gibraltar is the Gibraltar Cathedral (15, Main Street, Gibraltar, (350) 76688, website). Also known as the Cathedral of Saint Mary the Crowned, it is the primary Catholic worship center in Gibraltar. It was originally built in 1462, and is known for having survived an invasion of Gibraltar in 1704. You can see its Gothic style of architecture, a small Moorish courtyard, the Catholic Monarchs’ coat of arms, and impressive stained-glass windows.
NIGHTLIFE: Indulge in Gibraltar’s vibrant nightlife scene
At night you may proceed to Gibraltar’s bars and clubs to have a taste of the exciting nightlife of the city. One of the most popular is the Gala Casino Ocean Village (Ocean Village Marina, Gibraltar, 00350 200 76666, website). It is a popular casino complex with four bars, two restaurants, a sports betting lounge, a bingo club, over 300 slot machines, a sun terrace, and swimming pools.
Gala Casino (Photo by David Parody)
A nice alternative is the Savannah Lounge (27 Leisure Island, Ocean Village, Gibraltar, 00350 200 66666, website), a state-of-the-art nightclub featuring live music by some of Gibraltar’s best DJs. You can also try out the All Stars Sports Café (13 Ocean Village, Gibraltar, 20046860). It is a popular pub that serves authentic American grilled dishes, has great views of the Mediterranean, and offers 18 screens showing various sports events.
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