Is Gibraltar worth visiting?

[newyorkbreakfast]

Just that, really. We are staying east of Malaga. It’s about a 2.5hr drive each way and I’d like to know if we should attempt it. Thanks

Your DH is right.

We thought the same when staying near Estepona.

Changed our minds after the hour long wait to drive across the border. Then the huge queue to get on the funicular to Top of the Rock. Then all there was when we got there was a load of grumpy and aggressive monkeys.

The place is very, very British in character and really reminded me of the Isle of Man.

Really, really don’t bother.

I love Gibraltar but a 5 hour trip - no. I’ve been twice this year; one long weekend (it’s enough time to do tourist things and shop) and a day trip which we did just to shop.

Honestly no it's horrible. I went there 30 yers go and it was a lovely place went again 2 years ago and I could not believe how horrible it had become. I certainly would not spend a holiday there.

Really??????

A week is probably too long but you could easily fill a long weekend although it depends what you like to do. You could spend a whole day exploring the Upper Rock Nature Reserve - there are some amazing tunnels and a cave to explore up there. Down in the town there’s the Botanical Gardens and museum. You can also walk right around the rock - that’s a lovely way to spend a morning. There are dolphin watching tours too.

If you’re there in the warmer months there’s diving and paddle boarding and a few of the hotels have nice pools if you just want to chill.

Yes, honestly. I’ve been all over Spain, I know it very well. I found Gibraltar unique and interesting. Each to their own.

It’s a dump imho.

I did a day trip there. It's like nowhere else I've been. I'd say it was worth a day trip.

We did a day trip when we're staying near malaga, really enjoyed it, l wouldnt want to stay there but for a day its fine

We went for a family wedding. It’s alright but I wouldn’t rush back.

My parents went as part of a cruise and hated it.

I went for just over a week a couple of years ago. I loved it but we did all sorts of different things. I was exhausted after the holiday!

The Rock of Gibraltar & Upper Rock Nature Reserve
St. Michael’s Cave
Moorish Castle
Europa Point & Europa Point Lighthouse. we had a picnic on the playground
Gibraltar Museum
Great Siege Tunnels & WWII Tunnels
Cathedral
Beach clean with an organisation
Dolphin Viewing Boat Trip
Duty-Free Shopping
We enjoyed watching the planes land and take off right across the road too.
Finding the different postbox cyphers is a new hobby Ive found after visiting Gib as they are painted there so stand out. I never noticed the different royal cyphers in the uk.
and my favourite activity, sitting in the square and drinking watching the world go by.

My parents went for a day on a cruise a few years before I went and my dad was perplexed by what we could possibly do for a week there but Id love to go back. Id add a football match. I sent a photo of the ground to my brother as he used to have subuteo sets and the view of the ground from the rock really reminded me of subuteo!

So if it were interesting enough to visit, although I appreciate the information in other posts advising not to go, would it fill an Easter weekend, we normally go to Spain for Easter

I take it there wouldnt be Easter processions though

And really stupid question, it has an airport I assume, I wouldnt want to spend ages in queues at the borders as someone has said above.

I haven't been for about 20 years. My late DP and I used to like going for the weekend when we lived in Portugal. Mainly to stock up with tea bags in Safeway/Morrisons and go to M&S.

The caves were interesting and I do remember having a slightly terrifying drive up to the top of the Rock.

It’s interesting how different we all are! I found Seville beautiful and magical, even in the torrential rain we had while there! Also, food is a massive part of a holiday for me and I just can’t imagine finding food in Gibraltar as good as we found in Seville.

It’s an interesting place to visit for a day, but it’s not like a week long holiday or anything. Those monkeys are a bit of a handful.

This isn't the case since the new tunnel opened.

Easter weekend would be ideal but there aren’t the processions that you see throughout the rest of Spain.

Yes there’s an airport - from there you can walk across the runway to wherever you’re staying or there are taxis. You’ll be off the plane and out of the airport really quickly as it’s only small. I was through in about 15 minutes last week.

For a day, to see the monkeys (hang on to your bag, though) and see the view from the top, yes. That just about exhausts it.

There was an Epiphany procession when I was there so they could well be an easter one.

I lived there for 5 years and loved it 😃

Re the airport, there are BA and Easyjet flights direct to Gib from Heathrow, Gatwick and Bristol. I'm not sure about Manchester. Flights a few months in advance can be around £30 or so each way.

The best hotel is The Rock but its fairly expensive. If you want a cheaper trip the Ohtel Campo de Gibraltar is Spanish side but around a 5 minute walk to the border and much cheaper. There's also a Holiday Inn in Gib but the location isn't brilliant.

Edited to add there are quite a few Airbnb apartments - around Ocean Village mostly.

The opening of the tunnel hasn’t reduced the border queues at all. It’s rerouted the traffic so cars don’t go across the runway now but there’s still the same crossing point for passport checks and the queues, especially at weekends, are really bad.

it has an airport I assume, I wouldnt want to spend ages in queues at the borders as someone has said above.

It does indeed have an airport. But Gibraltar is about to join the Schengen area, so when that happens you will have to go through passport control, very likely staffed by Spanish officers, and give your fingerprints at an EES kiosk. The land border with Spain will melt away at that point.

Gibraltar is a curiosity, if you like that sort of thing. It's not some kind of little Devonshire village with extra sunshine — the atmosphere is basically European. When I see Gibraltar politicians on TV they seem to have slight Spanish accents and be called things like George Hernandez or some other "beautiful British name" (© Al Murray). There is a huge daily influx of workers from Spain - watching Spanish shoppers asking a question of the staff in Marks and Spencer and discovering that they were also (all) Spanish is quite funny.

That's interesting, although it wasn't my experience. It was straight through, but that was March so not exactly peak time.

There is a huge car park next to the border which doesn't normally have queues. There is also the car park in Alcaidesa Marjna also next to the border, max of a 5 minute walk. This is also open to the public and is around £12/15 a day.