Why go to Gibraltar?
Excellent seafood; duty-free shopping; fascinating military history
The High Street is tacky and overcrowded
Gib, as it's colloquially known, is a unique mix of history and heritage, fiercely British but with a strong Spanish influence
Gibraltar Cruise Port Facilities?
Ships dock at Gibraltar Cruise Terminal just a mile from the center of town.
The cruise ship terminal is small but offers international telephones, a snack outlet and a couple of touristy trinket kiosks for souvenirs. There are counters for taxis and tourist information.
Good to Know?
The crime rate in Gibraltar is low, but like everywhere else, it makes sense to look after your belongings when out and about.
When close to the apes, do not touch or feed them -- after all they are wild animals. They are looked after by the government, and veterinarian care is provided by the Gibraltar Veterinary Clinic. The apes are fed a daily supply of fresh water and vegetables, fruit and seeds as supplement to natural food resources -- leaves, olives, roots, seeds and flowers.
Getting Around?
On Foot: Gibraltar covers about 4 square miles, so you theoretically could do everything on foot, but it's impractical because of the vertical geography of the Rock. The town center is just a mile from the dock and is a relatively easy stroll.
By Bus: Public buses are an easy way to get around this small region. There are five bus routes in Gibraltar (numbered 1 to 5), and buses run to most areas of the territory apart from the Upper Rock. Take Route 2 from Line Wall Road south of Casemates Square if you want to head out to Europa Point, the bottom tip of Gibraltar. You can buy single tickets or day passes for a few pounds or euros.
By Taxi: In town, taxis are readily available but fairly pricy relative to the short distances traveled. If you want to share a mini-bus up to the top of the Rock, you're looking at a cost of about ?15, and you'll have to pay the Nature Reserve entry price on top of that.
Currency & Best Way to Get Money?
Currency is the British pound, though banks issue their own notes and coins. British pounds are accepted everywhere, and euros are accepted almost everywhere. For updated currency conversion rates, visit www.oanda.com or www.xe.com.
Ask for change in British pounds because it is hard to exchange Gibraltar currency outside the territory. ATMs dispense either British pounds or Gibraltar pounds. A Gibraltar 5 pence coin makes an unusual souvenir because it has a monkey on it. Shuttles at the cruise dock accept U.S. dollars. Gibraltar is a VAT-free jurisdiction.
Language?
English is the official language in Gibraltar, but most locals also speak Spanish. Other languages are Berber, Arabic and Hindi because of the varied ethnic groups who live here. Hebrew is spoken by the Jewish community, and Maltese is spoken by some families. Locals sometimes speak Llanito, unique to Gibraltar and based on Andalusian Spanish.
