Set in Dúrcal, 31 km from Granada Science Park and 33 km from San Juan de Dios Museum, Bancalillo redondo...
Take the road less travelled and venture up the ‘Spanish Stairs’ to get to the top of the Rock of Gibraltar
You will avoid getting squashed in a cable car, bus or taxi, and still be rewarded by spectacular views of the Mediterranean to Spain and Morocco.
UPDATED: However, the last new thing is also a really good way to experience Gibraltar – without all the tourists: Cycle tour on E-bike. See further down about this new option.
However, do not visit Gibraltar without having a ticket to the top of the rock in advance.
Michael Madsen shares the authentic Andalusia with you
Other than the curiosity value of being a small part of the UK which has a land border with Spain, Gibraltar itself is not a must-see as far as I´m concerned.
The view from the Rock, however, is breath-taking and well worth a visit, in spite of being a view that you unfortunately cannot avoid sharing with hundreds of other tourists.
This article is also available in German: Gibraltar auf Deutsch
Unless you are arriving by plane or sea, you have to cross the border from the neighbouring town of La Linea de la Concepción.
You will have to go through customs and border control, though fortunately this is a lot quicker and easier nowadays than it used to be.
If you are driving across by car, you can park in the large parking garage just past the airport.
First impressions are of an ugly, run down and slightly seedy town, with a lot of traffic and construction noise.
Fortunately these soon melt away as you reach the old city wall and the pedestrian zone within.
It is the view from the top of the rock that makes the visit worthwhile
It can be reached on foot, by cable car, by bus or by taxi.
All require an entrance ticket to Upper Rock National Park.
The comfortable choice is a taxi shared with up to 8 people, costing 35 euros per person, including entrance fees to the Nature Reserve.
The taxis all run a scheduled route to the traditional sights and viewing points, which means that there are 15 – 20 taxis in line waiting for their corresponding tourists to move forwards.
It is relatively well organized, but you do not exactly feel alone in nature or with the monkeys – there are tourists everywhere!
Option number 2 is taking one of the official tour buses, which carry approximately 25 passengers and are of course cheaper.
However, as with option number 1 above, with the 8 – 12 tour buses gathering together at the sights, there is no escape from the melee of tourists.
Your third option is to take the cable car, which involves queueing up before being packed into a tight cabin, and eventually getting out onto the same piece of rock as hundreds of other tourists.
The advantage of taking the cable car is that you have time to walk around on the rock unhurried.
If you walk up you will have expended most of your energy by the time you get there, and if you take the bus or taxi you will be briskly shepherded back on board after just a short stop there.
So we have three options which are all variants of a well-oiled tourist processing machine.
And then finally there are the ‘Spanish Stairs’
Not a well-oiled machine, and definitely not for the weak of limb or dizzy of head.
Rather, it is an ancient stairway built by the Spaniards before the British arrived on the Rock, and with very uneven and varied steps.
According to the taxi drivers, it is downright dangerous, but then they would say that as if you take the stairs that means lost earnings for them.
Either way, braving the Spanish Stairs is probably your most authentic option: the Rock in the raw.
Only recommended if you are in shape, and remember you still have buy entry tickets for the national park (see how below).
St. Michael’s Cave, which is one of the stops with the taxis and tour buses, is not worth a visit – unless you have never seen a stalactite cave before.
Go for the views instead, and it’s ok if you only see them from the top.
There’s no need to try to see them from every possible angle.
The monkeys are fun to see, but you will see them anyway no matter what route you take.
The two most popoular tickets to the top of Gibraltar:
The latest new thing is to ride up the cliff on an E-bike
Book the bike tour here – incl. entrance to Upper Rock National Park:
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Back in town you will find the shopping street, called Main Street.
It is lined by expensive shops, British pubs, Spanish-style cafés and restaurants, and a lot of tourists.
Enjoy a pub meal of shepherd’s pie or fish ‘n’ chips, and then make a quick exit.
Head over to the nearby Bohemian town of Tarifa – also touristy, but less so.
We loved exploring the lovely streets and squares, as well as the many fine shops and restaurants – they really have made an effort here!
Do also see our article about how to get tickets for the Alhambra in Granada here.
Visit Gibraltar from other places:
 
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Here are some of the most frequently asked questions:
What should you experience in Gibraltar?
1. Rock of Gibraltar: Upper Rock National Reserve overlooking Africa.
2. The monkeys (on the Upper Rock)
3. The tunnels and fortresses from World War II.
4. St. Michael’s stalactite cave (not a must).
5. Main Street with English pubs.
6. Dolphins, whales and turtles.
Can you pay with euros and British pounds in Gibraltar?
Yes, in most places. However, the euro is not the official currency, so there may be places that do not accept euros, but you will hardly experience this during your visit.
Can you walk to the top of Gibraltar?
Yes, by the “Spanish Steps”. You can also cycle, take a taxi, bus or cable car. But you can’t drive up there in your own car.
What can you do in Gibraltar?
1) The Rock of Gibraltar. Walk, bike, taxi, bus or cable car.
2) Tunnels and fortresses from the Second World War.
3) Dolphin safari in the Strait of Gibraltar
4) Shopping on Main Street
5) Eat at the English pub in Main Street
3 beautiful places to stay in Tarifa – not far from Gibraltar:
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Room Tarifa. You found it on Autentical.com! It can, however, only be booked on Booking.com:
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Arte Vida. You found it on Autentical.com! It can, however, only be booked on Booking.com:
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Silos 19 Suites. You found it on Autentical.com! It can, however, only be booked on Booking.com:
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Selected – and unique – farm stays from Booking.com:
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