Where to get a good view of Gibraltar, but not be in Gibralter?

Algeciras is a port and industrial city and you are correct in stating that it holds little attraction (unless you are hopping of to Morocco). I think if you have an interest in history (perhaps romanticized) then by all means go to Gibraltar and check out the 'Rock' itself. Otherwise, consider some alternative places close by, like Arcos de la Frontera, Jerez, Cadiz and Vejer de la Frontera.

Thanks for the insight, but I really want to see a view of Gibralter from a good vantage point. We'll still consider a stop there, but really, it sounds like I'd rather see the view of Gibralter than the tunnels, less-than-interesting food, etc. We'll have a car in southern Spain, and it seems that we'd prefer crusing around rather than on-site in Gibralter.

Some context: our almost-4-week trip includes Seville, Granada, Ronda, Nerja, Barcelona, etc. We've been to Spain a few times, but more up north, i.e. Madrid many times (the husband works for an international company with a subsidiary there,) San Sebastian, etc. We're considering options of Cadiz, etc.

I understand your frustration. Despite Rick's fondness for the destination, we didn't get a lot out of our daytrip from Ronda to Gibraltar. It might be of more interest to a history or war history buff.

The highways (some years ago) were in great shape, but traffic and slow tractor-trailers made it a long, tedious drive.

I don't have an answer to your specific question. For the future, there are a lot of cruises between the outside and the inside of the Mediterranean. Presumably they value a sail-by of the rock. But our last island-cruises (we don't see mainland destinations by cruise ship) were from Rome to Barcelona and from Lisbon to the Canary Islands - no Gibraltar view!

Maybe of interest...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/gibraltar/730878/Gibraltar-the-view-from-the-other-side.html
http://www.theguardian.com/world/shortcuts/2013/aug/05/gibraltar-rock-tensions-spain

If you spend a few days in Jerez, it gives you the opportunity for excursions to Cadiz and Arcos de la Frontera. Then perhaps choose a route to Ronda via Vejer de la Frontera and La Linea de la Concepcion, next to Gibraltar. This route is approx 260km and should take about 4+ hours. The border crossing is by Gibraltar's tiny airport, and it is from here that you get the best (closest) view of the Rock without actually crossing in to British territory. Take a look for yourself by going to 'street view' on Google Maps.

Many thanks again to all.

More background: our plan is to pick up the car after our stay in Seville, and stop by Arcos on the way to Ronda. We'll have a few nights in Ronda - we are of the age where we don't like a night-here,-a-night-there, and spend at least 3 nights minimum anywhere with very few exceptions.

It's more about the "give-for-the-get" re: Gibraltar. I think I'll be happier in how I spend my time if I just read about what's there.

I'm a history major from my earliest days and can get into military history and decisive events -- we spent a number of days in northern France and Belgium the summer before last touring WW 1 sights. Besides viewing the actual battlefields and installations, the history highlight on that trip was viewing the Bayeux tapestry. This says a lot since we very much enjoyed the travel through France, Belgium, northern Holland, care of guidance from Rick's books (I actually saw Rick filming in the Franz Hals museum in Haarlem that trip.)

I've also been very moved by places that don't seem like much. At Chateauneuf-du-Pape, the castle is mostly rubble, but it was the setting and significance of what it represents. Seeing the vineyards below, and having a decent glass of wine at a local café, made the trip worthwhile.

...and I probably hold the one-day record for attendance at Churchill's War Rooms in London. But probably, my/our more important interests are in art, architecture, cultural influences, and my husband's interest in photography, hence the desire to find THE VIEW.

My thinking would be to follow Sevilla with 3 nights in Jerez and 3 nights in Ronda, if you have the time.
That gives you options of days to Cadiz and Arcos de la Frontera from Jerez, as well as the white villages from Ronda. It also leaves open the option of how you get from one to the other, and the possibility of Gibraltar.

Actually, we already planned 5 nights in Seville (includes a daytrip to Cordoba.) Our plans include some train travel; renting a car after a stay in Seville, and drop it in Granada; and a flight between Granada and Madrid before returning home.

The plan includes allowing for time for the DBH (Dear Beloved Husband) to feed his photography habit. Travel is not quick when there is a highly involved photographer in the party.

The trip includes:
Barcelona: 5 nights (we manage to walk around somewhat the day we arrive, but not a lot due to jet lag)
Toledo 3 nights (arrive by fast train from Barcelona)
Seville: 5 nights
Ronda: 4 nights (days trips planned)
Nerja: 2 nights (just want to see the Mediterranean in a pleasant setting; take our time getting there along the coast from Ronda)
Granada: 3 nights
Madrid: 1 night at hotel booked at the airport
Fly out the next day

Will consider side trips or adjustments for Jerez or Cadiz, but maybe daytrip?

Again, a lot of our planning follows our preference for travel -- NOT cramming too much into a day; NOT getting up at the crack of dawn; allowing for plenty of photo time; NOT wanting to spend a lot of time just packing and unpacking from one day to another. We like top find time for a relaxing drink/dinner/cultural event, and not stress about where to get laundry done when we are gone for a while.

For those who did not join the conversation earlier: we've done Madrid a number of times already, thanks to the DBH's occupation. We've also visited Bilbao and San Sebastian and will return again, not not this trip.

Are you using Rick's "Spain"? He does a good job, and although I said I didn't care for the place, his long description of Gibraltar is in fact entirely accurate.

When are you returning the car? It's hard to keep a car in Granada (where it is not needed), but still useful for day trips if you see all of Granada (which has a good airport bus, BTW.) Our car return (Hertz, I think) directed us to park up on the sidewalk in front of the agency, many years ago.

While in Seville, consider an easy day trip to Carmona (good T.I.) and Italica (covered in Rick's book.) While I think it is too remote to be as enjoyable as sleeping in Seville, the is a promising looking Parador in Carmona. People who don't care for big city bustle might want to stay there. We were underwhelmed by Jerez and by the horse show there.

Dear Tim (and all,)

Many thanks for your insights and contributions -- 'very much appreciated now and in the future. We'll check out the smaller towns you mentioned.

Yes, we plan to NOT have the car in Granada - we mostly want to enjoy the city. As with most of our travels, we prefer mass transit when it makes sense, and don't mind taking a taxi when that's a reasonable thing to do. ...and we're good walkers/hikers...

Rick's books are our touchstones and first "go to" source for insights and planning any European trip. Over the years, they are consistently valuable for our tastes and preferences in travel. We have learned to make some adjustments for our personal preferences (e.g. we tend to spend longer in one place than some of his wide-ranging itineraries; tend to book lodgings at the mid-to-higher end of his recommendations) but Rick's books have been the foundation for many (all?) of our European travels. At each stop, the books do an excellent job of giving us a clear idea of what to expect, how to handle "the logistics" (e.g. great Alhambra tickets advice;) and whether it is worth a stop for our priorities and time -- but they ALWAYS have great suggestions and advice.

Work schedules and other issues have so far kept us from joining a "Rick tour," but I see one coming sooner or later.

That's why I get the sense that there is not enough "there, there" to make an actual stop IN Gibraltar for our interests, and as you say, the horse thing in Jerez doesn't hold much interest for us. In contrast, a great art museum (small to large;) historic settings and architecture; great walks/hikes; the right cultural performances (from free Church concerts to pricier theater/concerts); "high value" photography targets for the husband; a scenic place for a drink; etc. all get our attention. I LOVE it when the advice is honest, e.g. "the breakfast is great/skimpy..."

In addition: we tend to do a lot of research in other publications and sources. For example, the DK series provides very good maps of small streets in some key areas (yes, I know we can get maps locally at TI's, but again, I've always loved a good map for planning ahead. The photos are also good reconnaissance for a starting point for photography targets for the husband. We also check the more popular long-established travel book series (I don't know how touchy Rick is about mentioning competitors,) which we find useful, but supplementary to Rick's publications, downloads, etc. I try to buy good road maps in advance when I know that we'll rant a car.

An especial plug for Rick's advice: His is increasingly valuable when so much travel advice is getting a bit too homogenized, commercialized, or losing a real travel-as-enhancing-life-adventure focus. I subscribe to a number of travel publications, and am particularly put out by a re-positioning of one magazine. Its October issue had an over-hyped CELEBRITY on the cover (!!??!) when they could have had a photo of an interesting place to visit. I'm sure that a part of the repositioning has to do with advertising revenue and targeting a younger customer profile, but really -a lot more of the ads and editorial are from luxury clothing/car/etc. brands rather than travel brands.