My husband and I are planning to go to Spain in September, and want to take a day to see Gibraltar. How can we get from Spain to Gibraltar? Do we need to rent a car, or is there a bus or train that stops by the entrance?
Posted by
Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
324 posts
Ruth, you haven't stated your origin, but in general terms, the easiest way to get to Gib. is a bus to La Línea de la Concepción, and just walk across the border from there. Do remember to carry your passport with you that day, because my recollection is that the boarder is still controlled.
If you decide to rent a car, you will probably find it easier and faster to park on the Spanish side.
To my knowledge, there is no train line available, although you could take a train to Algeciras and from there catch one of the many, many buses which go around the bay to La Línea.
Posted by
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
As I understand it it's better to take the bus, as private cars can be hassled a bit crossing the border.
Posted by
OP
Granbury, TX, United States
4 posts
Thanks for the replies! It's very helpful to know that there are buses that go that way. As for our point of origin, that's a little hazy as yet. Most of our time will be spent in Andalusia, so we will be coming from Cadiz, or Nerja, or possibly Seville.
Posted by
Trenton, Ontario, Canada
204 posts
Ruth
In 2007 we drove the all over Spain and into Portugal- the roads are great. We left from Tarifa on the coast after visiting Morocco, and went to Gibralter. We parked on the Spain side and walked across the border (As per Rick Steves suggestion) YES PASSPORTS ARE A MUST. We then caught bus # 3 (I think - again check RS Spain book). This bus took us to the funicular which goes to the top- HOWEVER, we were about to buy our tickets and a man with a van said he would take us for the same fee to 4 different locations on the Rock. There were 2 other couples with us and we had a ball. We went as high up as you can go to the Monkey area, The cave where concerts are held and the original caves and history area of the Rock. This was certainly one of the highlights of our trip . We spent 6 hours there and they had to close the airport walking area down as a plane landed aright in fornt of us.
Have fun
Posted by
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2779 posts
We drove our rented car directly into Gibraltar which wasn't a problem. From the border at La Línea to downtown Gibraltar and the rock it takes a while. You also cross the runway of the airport etc. Parking in downtown wasn't that big a problem and we even drove up to the top of the rock (although the turns are very tight so that our Fiat Punto was pretty much the largest those roads could handle). You need Pounds Sterling in Gibraltar but drive on the right hand side of the streets. You speak English, drink English or Irish beer, eat English (fish&chips) etc. Spain has been trying to claim back that peninsula for 300 years and ever since the Franco dictatorship they put some hassle on you getting back into Spain, which means they only let so and so many cars cross the border back into Spain per hour (both countries are EU countries by the way so you see how ridiculous that is). We had to wait for about 30mins to get back into Spain which is like crossing to the US from Mexico. All they want to see is your passport though, there's no real customs check.