Gibraltar group excursion to Gibraltar from the Costa del Sol with a visit to the cave of St. Michael. What is included in the tour to Gibraltar? spain excursion to the strait of gibraltar

Europe

An empire on whose dominions the sun never sets - this is how they spoke of Great Britain in the glorious colonial era. Indeed, in terms of the number and range of overseas territories, the old Britannia confidently outdoes pompous Spain, and no less snobbish Portugal, and even France and the Netherlands, and, unlike them, managed to maintain demonstrative loyalty to the Crown of her "exotic" citizens. One of the clearest examples of this is Gibraltar, the territory of the country with an area of only 7 square meters. km, located in the most strategic place on the planet: at the exit from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean - where Europe meets Africa.

Half of the area of Gibraltar is occupied by a 400-meter-high limestone rock, and on the other side they managed to accommodate an airport (which also serves as a highway and a place for walking), a seaport, city blocks and even a nature reserve. People come here to see Africa while standing in Europe, wander through the 50-kilometer underground tunnels, watch birds and dolphins, fight off very rare and very arrogant Barbary macaques and simply imbue the courage and stamina of the Gibraltarians, who have been faithful to Her for 300 years. Majesty the Queen.

How to get to Gibraltar

Gibraltar is a popular destination for cruise routes in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, so most of the tourists, as a rule, arrive here in the morning on board the liner and leave the territory on the same day. However, nothing prevents the free traveler from extending his stay by arriving at the Jib by plane: daily flights from London Heathrow and Gatwick airports, as well as from Birmingham and Manchester, are operated by British Airways, EasyJet and Monarch Airlines. Royal Moroccan Airlines flights depart daily from Marrakesh to Gibraltar.

Another option is to land at Malaga Airport, from where you can take a bus to the Spanish town of Algeciras (120 km), and then transfer to the municipal bus number 120 to the border with Gibraltar (La Linea). Buses to Algeciras depart from other cities in Spain: Seville, Cadiz, Granada, etc.

Find flights to Gibraltar

Visa to Gibraltar

To visit Gibraltar, a separate visa is required, which must be applied for at the Consular Section of the British Embassy or the British Visa Application Centres.

Citizens of the Russian Federation who have a valid UK multivisa in their passport for a period of at least 6 months, as well as a multischengen with a validity margin of at least 7 days at the time of their intended departure from Gibraltar, can visit it without a visa.

The main attraction of Gibraltar is, of course, the Rock, or Cape Europe, one of the two Pillars of Hercules and the closest point to Africa in Eurasia.

Transport

7 sq. km of Gibraltar is easy to explore from and to on your own two, transport, most likely, will not be needed. However, it is worth considering that the roads leading to the top of the cliff and the observation deck are very steep, and weigh your strength for such a forced march in advance. For those who do not like physical effort, bus route No. 2 is provided, following from the border through the entire city to Cape Europe. You can still use the services of minibuses, but they will cost a lot: drivers of seven-seat minivans set off only when all the seats are filled, or they request full payment for 7 passengers.

Despite strong British traditions, traffic in Gibraltar is habitually right-handed.

Journey to Gibraltar

Weather in Gibraltar

Cuisine and restaurants of Gibraltar

The gastronomic traditions of Gibraltarians originate in British cuisine, so here you can have a hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs with bacon and beans and have an equally hearty dinner with classic fish and chips. Pubs with excellent beer, as well as establishments of Indian cuisine, are located everywhere. Restaurants "with a view" are located in the yacht port and offer Mediterranean, French and Italian cuisine. A snack in a cafe will cost about 5-8 GBP, lunch in a restaurant - from 30 GBP. Prices on the page are for October 2018.

Entertainment and attractions

The main attraction of Gibraltar is, of course, the rock, or Cape Europe, one of the two Pillars of Hercules and the closest point to Africa in Eurasia. You can climb to the top of the cliff on foot or by cable car. The observation deck offers a breathtaking view of what seems to be such a close coast of Morocco, the Strait of Gibraltar - one of the busiest navigable places on the planet, the expanses of the Mediterranean Sea on the one hand and the Atlantic Ocean - on the other, well, Gibraltar itself, of course. The only wild representatives of the order of primates in Europe live and feel great here - magots, or Barbary macaques.

It is not recommended to try to stroke the monkeys: these semi-wild animals behave very impudently and are not averse to snatching a handbag or a camera from a touched tourist, and if they are annoyed and scared, then bite. The fine for feeding the monkeys is 500 GBP.

Continuing your way up the rock, you will find yourself on the territory of the Upper Rock Nature Reserve, where not only monkeys are protected, but also rare birds, including the Barbary partridge. Here, during seasonal migrations, a crazy number of migratory birds stop, which are conveniently observed from the Jew’s Gate ornithological observatory.

Next, you should go to the Moorish castle of the 14th century - evidence of 700 years of Moorish rule. Here you can visit the casemates, admire the Gate Tower with a domed roof typical of Islamic architecture and climb the Memory Tower, which offers a wonderful view of the territory.

You definitely need to continue your acquaintance with the history of Gibraltar in the "galleries" - underground tunnels with a total length of 50 km. The first was excavated at the end of the 18th century, during the period of the Spanish siege; during the Second World War, the system of moves acquired its current form.

From the numerous loopholes and ventilation holes you can admire the landscape.

Descending into the city blocks, you can visit the Gibraltar Museum, whose well-chosen exhibits will tell about the history of the area from the Phoenician and Greek periods to recent conflicts with Spain. Among the masterpieces is an Egyptian mummy of the 7th century BC. e. and a superbly preserved 14th-century Moorish hammam in the museum's courtyard.

Gibralatar Hotels

Despite its modest size, Gibraltar has several accommodation options for travelers, with high-end hotels far outweighing budget ones. In a hostel and boarding house they will ask you to pay from 15 to 30 GBP per night, in high-level Bristol and Elliot you will have to pay at least 80 GBP. Well, in the pompous The Rock, where John Lennon and Yoko Ono were legally married, get ready to fork out at least 150 GBP.

July 17th, 2014

Hello! I invite you on a tour of Spain. In the previous article, I talked about the small town of Mijas, and today the topic of our article is called an excursion to the Strait of Gibraltar, it was there that the next trip of my friends was organized.

Before starting my story, it is worth noting that all excursions in Spain include, as a rule, visiting two tourist places. So this time their excursion was to the Strait of Gibraltar and the city of Tarifa.

on the way to Gibraltar

I will start with a small digression and write a couple of sentences about Gibraltar. Gibraltar is located in the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula, most of which is already known to us in Spain. However, Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory and occupies a strategic position over the Strait of Gibraltar, which connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

landscapes of spain

The Strait of Gibraltar is a place with a unique geographic location and mesmerizing tourists with the opportunity to see the coast of Africa, which is located only 14 km away. An excursion to the Strait of Gibraltar is a unique opportunity to see the strait itself, which, according to legend, arose thanks to Hercules, and visit the well-known rock.

rock of gibraltar

In addition, if the weather is clear, then you can and will see the Pillars of Hercules, which are located along the southern and northern shores of the Strait of Gibraltar (of course, those located on the European part, tourists will see anyway). There are many legends about the Pillars of Hercules, one of which says that the passage in the rocks was made by Hercules in order to shorten his path and not bypass the Atlas Mountains. Thus, a strait appeared that connected the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, and the rocks remaining along the shores of the strait were called the Pillars of Hercules, which symbolize the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar.

pillars of Hercules

In addition, tourists are attracted by very profitable shopping, as well as the opportunity to get acquainted with magots (tailless macaques) - the only species of monkeys that live on the European mainland.

at the entrance to Gibraltar

on the way to Gibraltar

Outwardly, Gibraltar resembles a cheerful and bright mosaic, but its fate turned out to be completely different - it is a continuous series of battles and bloody wars, although there are absolutely no deposits of gold or oil on its territory. The whole value of the city lies in its geographical position, it is sometimes even compared with a "cork", which at any time can plug the strait that connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean. From a bird's eye view, Gibraltar resembles a narrow knife blade. Its long rock, along the meridian line, cuts into the Mediterranean Sea, as if aiming at Ceuta, the Spanish enclave in Africa. They are separated by only some 14 kilometers of the strait. From the city in any weather, with the naked eye, you can see the Moroccan coast.

Gibraltar has an amazing climate that allows you to come here for vacation almost all year round. Coastal waters are a paradise for divers, while shopaholics and lovers of antiquities enjoy the land. Very famous people also often hold their wedding ceremonies here. The most popular trips here for one or two days from Spain or Morocco.

To get from Barcelona to Gibraltar, you should first get to the Spanish city of La Linea. It is located 5 kilometers from the border with Gibraltar. The rest of the distance can be covered on foot or by bus. You can also drive your own car, only in this case you will have a chance to stand in line, which can take a long time. There is no car tax to enter Gibraltar.

In order to visit Gibraltar, foreign nationals require at least a UK transit visa. It is most convenient when you are already traveling in Spain, and you have an open visa of the United Kingdom of Great Britain with multiple entries (valid for at least 1 year) in your passport.

The area of Gibraltar is small - only 6.5 square kilometers. Its history, numbering over 3000 years, and its sights are much more significant. Here you can walk at least a week along its ancient streets, examining ancient monuments and fortresses. For a couple of days, for which tourists mainly come here, you can quickly see interesting places in the city.

The most popular in the city is the funicular ride to the highest point of the cliff - 412 meters above sea level. The climb itself is an exciting attraction, and the views from the top of the cliff are simply mesmerizing. From the terrace, located at the top station of the funicular, not only the city below is perfectly visible, but also two continents and the territories of three countries at once.

During a trip to the rock at the upper and middle stations of the funicular, you can get acquainted with semi-wild monkeys - magots. This is the only colony of monkeys of this species that has survived in Europe. There is a belief among locals that Gibraltar will remain British territory as long as at least one monkey is alive here. Monkeys here are carefully guarded, guarded and watched over. There is a special position of an officer who should directly monitor the monkeys. At birth, each individual is given a name and a chip is sewn in, by which its location is tracked. Twice a year, the Governor of Gibraltar sends detailed reports to London listing the names, ages and sexes of all living monkeys. At the top stop of the cable car there is a souvenir shop where you can buy a toy monkey - a souvenir if you wish. She will have a real certificate - a birth certificate. Feeding monkeys and stroking them is strictly prohibited here. It should be remembered that even if the monkey bites you, then the fine of 250 British pounds will have to be paid to you, not to her.

After a close acquaintance with the magot monkeys, you can go down and take a walk through the Alameda Botanical Garden. It was founded in 1816 for the rest of the soldiers of the local garrison and local residents. The most interesting exhibits of the garden are stone palm trees over 200 years old and the Dragon Tree, which is already 300 years old.

You should definitely visit the southernmost point of Gibraltar - the Europa Point lighthouse. The lighthouse was built in 1841, its main purpose is to show the way to passing ships. From the site of the lighthouse, a magnificent view opens up; in good weather, from its site you can see the mountains of Morocco, the coast of Africa and a piece of Spanish territory - the city of Ceuta.

Not far from the Europa Point lighthouse is the Ibrahim al-Ibrahim Mosque. It was built in 1997 and is a gift from the King of Saudi Arabia to the people of Gibraltar. Also not far from the lighthouse is the Temple of the European Mother of God. On the foundation of this church, you can see an inscription related to the time of its construction - 1309. However, experts say that before the walls of the Christian shrine were erected on this foundation, there was a mosque on it.

In addition to these two shrines belonging to different religions, in Gibraltar you can see two synagogues - the Flemish and the Great. The Great was the very first Jewish object on the territory of Gibraltar. It was originally built in 1724 and rebuilt after a landslide in 1766. The Flemish synagogue, built in 1880, was also not spared numerous destructions.

After you get tired of the heat, or just want to see an unusual natural wonder, go down to the caves of St. Michael. You will get a lot of unforgettable impressions by seeing the halls with stalactites and stalagmites, which are located at a depth of 65 meters. There is a legend that tells that these caves are connected to the African continent with the help of an underground tunnel. During the Second World War, this grotto housed a military hospital, and today, due to its popular acoustics, the grotto has often been used as a venue for concerts. Below the first level of the cave, there is an amazingly beautiful lake surrounded by stone sculptures - the creations of the hands of Mother Nature herself.

Even in Gibraltar, you should definitely take a walk along its main street - Main Street. Gibraltar, as well as Andorra and San Marino, is included in the duty-free zone, which is a real paradise for shoppers. All major city shops are located on this street. You just need to remember that on Saturdays shops close at 13.00, and on Sundays they practically do not work at all. Souvenirs to remember visiting this city are best purchased at the center of crafts and arts, which is located in the barracks building, or at the crystal and glass factory. There, after you watch the amazing craftsmanship of glass workers, you can buy the thing that you like.

on the way to Gibraltar

landscapes of spain

rock of gibraltar

pillars of Hercules

at the entrance to Gibraltar

on the way to Gibraltar

All of the above attracts an incredible number of tourists to this small area, despite the peculiarities of entering this piece of Britain. The duration of the trip depends on whether tourists decide to visit Gibraltar on their own or with a tour from a travel agency. Of course, the second option is the most optimal. The tour, as a rule, is one-day, but very eventful.
Read completely " "
Source http://otpusk21.ru/otdyih-v-ispanii/eksk ursiya-na-gibraltarskiy-proliv