Gibraltar holidays

Gibraltar holidays pair a Mediterranean climate with British landmarks, so this British overseas territory – which is the ideal spot for a weekend break – is like getting two countries for the price of one.

Best of British and VAT-free shopping

You’ll feel right at home in Gibraltar – this three-mile-long headland on Spain’s south coast is dressed up like a seaside town you’d find in Blighty. In the bustling town centre, you’ll come across waterfront hotels, red post boxes, and plenty of fish-and-chip shops. Casemates Square sits near the middle of it all. Here, you’ll find familiar food outlets with plenty of outdoor seating. Main Street, meanwhile, is like your average British high street, but sunnier – rows of smart shops sell VAT-free perfume, jewellery, and souvenirs.

The Rock and wartime tunnels

The 420-metre-tall Rock of Gibraltar – AKA the biggest attraction around here – has been used as a defensive fort by Britain since the early 1800s. It hides 34 miles of underground tunnels dubbed the Great Siege Tunnels, dug out by British soldiers during the Napoleonic War and Second World War. Elsewhere on the Rock, you can say hello to the resident Barbary macaques, hike up or down the sea-view Mediterranean Steps, or peek inside St Michael’s Cave, which hosts unique concerts and light shows.

Spanish-style shorelines and east coast bays

Gibraltar’s east coast beaches are in the same league as those in nearby mainland Spain. Catalan Bay’s fishing boats and pastel-painted houses give it its straight-from-a-postcard look and marina atmosphere, while the nearby Sandy Bay comes with Mediterranean sands and pond-still water, thanks to a coastal rock wall that protects it from the strong waves of the open sea.