2 Days in Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory [Things To Do, Where To Stay, Food To Try]

If you’re planning a trip to the United Kingdom, you may expect gray skies and some rain. However, rain and gray skies are generally not a problem in Gibraltar, where you can expect up to 300 days of sunshine.

The great weather is due to Gibraltar’s location on the Mediterranean Sea between Morocco and Spain. The British captured the peninsula back in the early 1700s as a strategic move to control access to the straits. Spain borders Gibraltar on one side, while the sea borders Gibraltar on the other.

Gibraltar is a unique and small destination, making it the perfect spot for a 2-day visit. Here’s how to make the most of a short getaway to the area.

Where To Stay

There aren’t many options for using hotel loyalty points in the Gibraltar area, but a couple of bargain choices stand out. We also have a few suggestions for using hotel credits found on popular cards.

With Gibraltar bordering Spain, you can stay in either Gibraltar or the adjoining town of La Línea de la Concepción, Spain.

Gibraltar can be expensive, while neighboring Spain is much less so. As a British Overseas Territory, Gibraltar uses the British pound (GBP) while Spain uses the euro (EUR).

With La Línea being a beachside community that offers easy access to Gibraltar, your travel dollars can go further by staying in Spain. With that said, we’ll look at properties on both sides of the border.

Gibraltar Hotels

The Holiday Inn Express Gibraltar is one of the few hotels in Gibraltar that can be booked using hotel loyalty points. A 5-minute bus ride to the airport or the town center, the hotel offers a good budget choice for cheerful and clean accommodations. You can book the hotel for 30,000 to 36,000 IHG One Rewards points per night, year-round. The hotel gets excellent reviews for its service and proximity to the beaches.

For more upscale in-town accommodations, The Rock Hotel Gibraltar (from $185 per night) is the most iconic offering, with incredible views of the city and sea. The Art Deco lounge is the perfect spot to enjoy a drink, even if you’re not staying there.

Other hotels include The Eliott Hotel (from $200 per night), right in the heart of the city, and the Sunborn Gibraltar Yacht Hotel Resort (from $230 per night), a conveniently located superyacht resort.

Instead of hotel loyalty points, you might use one of the many hotel credits available with travel rewards cards:

• $300 annual travel credit on the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®
• $300 annual travel credit with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card when booking through Capital One Travel
• $300 annual hotel credit with the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card when booking through Citi Travel or $100 off a $500 hotel stay with the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
• Up to $200 in Delta Stays credits with select Delta co-branded credit cards
• Up to $200 in hotel statement credits for United Hotels or Renowned Hotels and Resorts with select United co-branded credit cards
• $50 statement credit on the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card when booking a hotel with Chase Travel

La Línea, Spain, Hotels

If you stay in neighboring La Línea, you can save a great deal of points (or money). Additionally, you’ll be just a short walk from the Gibraltar border and all that the city has to offer.

One of the best budget hotels in La Línea is the AC Hotel La Linea. You could pay 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for a 5-night stay in the peak summer season or as few as 28,000 points for a 5-night stay in the fall, winter, or spring.

For a unique stay, use one of the previously mentioned card hotel credits to stay on the water (literally) at the Boat Haus Mediterranean Experience in La Línea. You’ll be a short walk from the Gibraltar border and La Línea city center, while enjoying views of the harbor. Book an entire floating boat hotel room during the shoulder seasons for less than $100 per night.

Hot Tip:

Gibraltar is known for its high winds blowing across the straits, and flights can be canceled, delayed, or diverted. It’s not uncommon to be bused to nearby Málaga, Spain, to resume your outgoing flight from there. Unfortunately, the process is not easy as you need to walk from the Gibraltar airport to Spain to board the provided bus. Rebooking, walking to Spain, and transferring to the Malaga airport takes about 3 hours. The same situation is also possible on any inbound flight.

Things To Do: Day 1

Mornings can be foggy around Gibraltar, including La Línea. If you wake up to a hazy sky, linger over breakfast and head out midmorning. You’ll still have plenty of time to explore once it clears out.

On a clear day, start by visiting the upper rock area. On a foggy day, beginning with the lower rock area is the better choice. You can wait for the skies to clear in the afternoon.

Daytime Activities

• Hike the rock: It’s steep and challenging, and you’ll need a permit to hike the trails within the Nature Reserve on the Rock of Gibraltar. You can access the Nature Reserve entrance from the cable car exit, the Jews’ Gate Cemetery, and the Moorish Castle.
• Take the cable car: A better option can be to ride the cable car to the top, hike the trails, and walk down the mountain.

• Visit the monkeys: The Barbary macaques that live on the rock are a protected species. They are smug and aggressive but fascinating characters that will capture your attention. The Ape’s Den, where you can see many of them, is located in the Nature Reserve.
• St. Michael’s Cave: Wandering the caves and viewing the spectacular light show takes just 30 minutes.

• The Great Siege Tunnels: During the Great Siege (1779 to 1783), these incredible tunnels were chiseled and equipped with guns to defend the Rock against Spain and France. The views are amazing, and the history is worth learning more about. Pro tip: The views of the airport runway are worth the visit.
• Book a tour: Tours in Gibraltar are officially structured and priced to help you see as much as possible in a short time. You can see all the above sites on a small-group tour for less than $70.

Evening Activities

• Visit Casemates Square: The charming town center is an excellent place for an evening stroll, dinner, and a late-night espresso.
• Visit Lord Nelson British pub: Stop by this traditional pub in Gibraltar for a drink, watch a rugby game, or listen to live music.

Things To Do: Day 2

On day 2 of your stay, consider exploring the lower part of Gibraltar and La Línea.

Daytime Activities

• Buy a Hopper Pass: To explore the entire lower rock area of Gibraltar, purchase a Hopper bus pass. Tickets cost less than $9 and allow unlimited rides on the date of purchase for Citibus and Gibraltar Bus Company routes. You can catch the bus near the airport or at any of the stops.
• Walk across the airport runway: To reach the border with Spain, you must walk across the Gibraltar Airport runway. For aviation enthusiasts, this is a must-do.

• Hit the beaches: Eastern Beach, near the east side of the airport, is the largest, but there are 5 other major beaches and several smaller ones on the peninsula. You can reach many of them via bus.

Evening Activities

• Don’t miss a sunset walk around the marina, whether on the Gibraltar side or the La Línea side. Sunsets here are some of the best. There’s also a great sunset view from the Europa Point Lighthouse. Use your Hopper bus pass to get there.

• Ocean Village: For evening entertainment, make your way to the marina district. The area is filled with bars, restaurants, and live music venues. There’s even a casino.
• Tapas in La Línea: La Línea is known for its tapas bars. Head over to the town center for lively decorated streets, music, and the best selection of tapas.

To learn more about things to do in the area, the Visit Gibraltar website has all the details.

Where To Eat

When you’re by the sea, the best and freshest cuisine is seafood. The Gibraltar and La Línea area is the perfect place to indulge. Even if you’re not a seafood lover, you’ll find plenty of delicious food of all types.

Whether you’re staying in Gibraltar or across the border in La Línea, you’ll have unlimited dining choices.

Gibraltar

• Little Rock Restaurant: For good food, attentive service, and reasonable prices, try Little Rock in a prime location in Casemates Square, Gibraltar. The fish and chips are a popular dish, but the vegetarian dishes, including the falafel burger, were delicious as well.

• Aquaterra: For a splurge you won’t regret, Aquaterra gets rave reviews for its food and attentive service. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you’ll find a nice selection of Mediterranean dishes.
• El Kasbah: Serving Moroccan and Middle Eastern cuisine, the restaurant prepares all its dishes using halal ingredients. Uniquely built into what is believed to be a former Moorish water cistern, the restaurant also boasts an atmospheric setting.

La Línea

If you’re staying in La Línea, you’ll find unlimited and affordable dining.

• La Luna Restaurante: Located on the La Línea waterfront promenade, La Luna is an excellent spot for an afternoon drink or an evening dinner. A complete local fish dinner, including wine, is less than $20.
• Bar de Tapas La Parada: If your stomach won’t wait until Spanish dinner time, stop by this extended-hours bar for excellent tapas or a full meal. The calamari is fresh and tender, and a favorite among customers.

• Bar Finlandia: A hangout for visitors and locals alike, you’ll find tasty and affordable tapas in a fun, casual atmosphere.

Final Thoughts

Gibraltar is a unique destination with so much to do. With La Línea nearby, it’s easy to explore both areas in a single visit.

It’s worth noting that you cannot take taxis across the border without prior arrangements. Fortunately, walking from Gibraltar city center to the airport is about 15 minutes, and another 10 minutes to Spain.

Remember to take both pounds and euros with you if you plan to explore both areas, though most establishments accept cards.