About

Gibraltar is full of surprises! You may well know that Gibraltar is home to a troop of mischievous Barbary Macaques, but did you realise that there are approximately 300 of the furry trouble makers descendant from North Africa, and are the only wild monkey population in Europe! 'The rock', which is what Gibraltar is known as by locals, boasts a warm, Mediterranean climate, given its fortunate location at the tip of Southern Spain, idyllic for the sun-starved British holidaymaker. Gibraltar is classified as a peninsula which is riddled with curious caves and historic world war tunnels, museums, a nature reserve and a cable car to transport up to the tip of the rock, all of which must be viewed by avid historians and nature enthusiasts alike!

Down in the town of Gibraltar you will discover an array of artisan craft shops, cafes and restaurants to enjoy. For the more adventurous holiday maker there is a profusion of leisure activities at your fingertips including sailing, hiking, e-bike riding, helicopter rides and dolphin trips to immerse yourself in at the spectacular beaches which have crystal clear waters to relish.

Currency

In Gibraltar the legal tender is Gibraltar Government Sterling notes and coinage, although United Kingdom sterling notes and coinage are also welcomed. Credit cards and Euros are also widely accepted.

In Spain the legal tender is Euro's. Credit cards are also widely accepted.

Language

The official language of Gibraltar is English

There are 3 official languages of Spain:

• Spanish (nationwide)
• Aranese in Catalonia.
• Basque in the Basque Country and Navarre.
• Catalan in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands.
• Galician in Galicia.
• Valencian in Valencia.

Weather

Gibraltar has a wonderful year round climate with a unique microclimate driven by its position in the Straits and its surrounding high mountains flanking the peninsula. This unique microclimate creates warm westerly winds, but also humid easterly levanta winds that cause the famous cloud that forms on the top of the rock. The weather is still typical of the Mediterrean with August generally the hottest month with an average daytime temperature of 27-34°C (80-93°F), and the coldest month is January with daytime highs of 13-18°C (55-65°F). July has the record for the most daily sunshine of around 9 hours per day. The wettest month is November with an average of 140mm of rain.

Spain is not surprisingly a popular winter destination with a wonderful mediterrean climate. The Costa's and Canary Islands are extremely popular in winter, with perfect winter temperatures with average daytime highs of 18°C (64 °F) on the coast and in the Canary Islands around 23°C (74°F).

Electricity

In Gibraltar, electrical plugs are known as type 'G' plugs, they are a British three-pin rectangular blade plug that has a protective fuse inside to protect cords from high-current circuits. Gibraltar operates on a 220 – 240 supply voltage and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.

In Spain, there are two associated plug types, known as types C and F. Plug type C has two round pins and plug type F has two round pins with two earth clips on the side. Spain operates on a 230V supply voltage and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.

Water

Drinking water in Gibraltar is produced by reverse osmosis desalination, mixed and blended with water from some of the natural wells in the Rock and delivered from large underground reservoirs which are also located inside the Rock. This potable water supply is closely monitored and tested in the storage reservoirs and is therefore safe to drink. A separate supply of saltwater is used for sanitary purposes.

In Spain, according to the Spanish Ministry of Health, 99.5% of the country's water supply is perfectly safe to drink, with only 0.5% inadequate for human consumption. Furthermore, they maintain that the supply systems in Spain are rigorously monitored and use purification and sanitary controls to preserve water quality and ensure that it is safe to consume once it reaches our homes, however bottled water still seems to be the most popular option for citizens living in Spain up and down the Country.

E-Services

Gibraltar has a list of available services which can be applied for online, please see the link below:

https://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/ecounterservices

Tourism

For a comprehensive list of everything Gibraltar has to offer please visit:

https://www.visitgibraltar.gi

Useful telephone numbers