| 1. Dolphin and whale watching |
Finding itself at the juncture of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean, Gibraltar is perfectly placed to see the pods of whales and dolphins that come to the area drawn by the bottlenecking of shoals of fish as they enter and exit the Med. Regular boat trips leave the colony and invariably treat the tourist to at least the sight of pods of dolphin leaping playfully from the water. If you’ve never seen them close at hand then this is a trip not to be missed.
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| 2. Cable ride |
The view is amazing from the top of the rock but it’s a fair trek to make it up on foot. Let the cable car take the strain whilst you watch the view unfolding beneath you. The view from the summit is spectacular with the South of Spain spread out to the north and the dusty lands of North Africa to the south of you. On its way up, the cable car will take you over the rooftops of Gibraltar’s houses giving you a birds eye view of the town.
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| 3. Water sports |
Being surrounded by water it would be foolish not to recommend some nautical activities. There’s plenty of watersports on offer from the beaches nearby including jet skiing and paragliding. The sea picks up the breezes off the Atlantic and so is also excellent for windsurfing too. If your water fun is below the waves then diving is a real treat here. So many ships have foundered in these waters in the past it’s more like a ship’s graveyard. Numerous dive companies offer trips out to reefs or wrecks. Make sure you bring an underwater camera with you!
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| 4. Watch migrating birds |
With the whole of southern Europe to choose from you’d think you’d be hard pushed to do any serious bird watching in Gibraltar. But, owing to the proximity of the two continents at this point, Gibraltar finds itself on a major migration path for numerous species of birds. In spring and again in autumn as the migrations are in full swing you can stand on the Rock and watch skeins of geese fly over and huge flocks of other migratory birds. Most beautiful is the sight of the geese flying at night with the moonlight on their wings – magical!
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| 5. Monkeys without tails |
This is what Gibraltar is famous for and they go hand in hand with its other big attraction, The Rock. Often mistaken as Barbary apes, the macaques or tailless monkeys are the only species that are found in the wild in Europe. Everyone knows the legend that if the monkeys were to leave then it is said Gibraltar will fall from British hands – how many Spanish officials are there now, shooing them away! A word of warning though - whilst they may look cute, they are little thieves and can become quite vicious if provoked.
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| 6. The Museum |
Such an important strategic settlement, pivotal in history couldn’t be allowed to escape without a museum. Here you’ll discover Gibraltar’s earliest residents, the Neanderthals, as they made their way up from Africa to colonise Europe. Later into the exhibition you’ll find out about the historic battle between Spain and Britain for control of the Rock, a battle no less fierce today, although thankfully not fought with anything more dangerous than a pen and words.
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| 7. Botanical Gardens |
No one knows quite for sure who set out the Botanical Gardens in the early 19th century. Discussion continues over whether it is completely designed or whether the discovery of unusual species led to it having further plants added. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the gardens were more formalized and now contain temperate and tropical species from all over the world that thrive in Gibraltar’s climate. The plant collections are enhanced by the strategic positioning of statues and busts from the time the gardens first opened.
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| 8. Shopping |
A Gibraltarian friend once said to me the thing his wife most enjoyed about living there was the shopping. Well that wouldn’t be top of my list but the reason she is so pleased with it is that Gibraltar is duty free zone leading to lower prices across the range of things you’d want to buy. There are a number of well known shops here as well as boutiques selling international names. Even if you don’t buy, it’s still fun to spend some time comparing prices.
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| 9. Shrines and mosques |
Its location on the borders of Europe and Africa has led to a variety of influences on religion in the colony. Moorish settlers built mosques, many of which have been converted to churches to reflect the dominance of Christianity in the colony. The most well known and most beautiful is that which was converted to become the Shrine of Our Lady of Europe Gibraltar’s patroness.
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| 10. Changing of the Guards |
Well this is a staunchly British colony. Just as back in the UK, twice a day, the guard changes at the governor’s residence. As in the UK, many of the foreign tourists find the ceremony entertaining and sometimes humorous.
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