Gibraltar tours

[rannoch]

Visiting Gibraltar next month, and would like to see the area plus do some shopping as it seems to be tax free.

 

The ship (Independence) has a couple of tours which seem interesting - "Upper Rock Walking Tour", and "Fortress Gibraltar".

 

What we would like to do is the tour then some shopping then return to the ship ourselves.

 

Can anyone give us some information about the tours, and is the shopping area a distance from the ship?

[Keith1010]

The town is about a ten minute walk from the ship. There are lots of stores, and cafes there. It is a very nice town.

 

When you get off the ship there are lots of vans parked right nearby who will provide tours for you.

 

Keith

[Maryandi]

The vans as Keith said are right outside the ship. They will fill them up and take you to all the sights on the Rock and tell you all about it. Then drop you off at the main shopping street.

 

Well worth the approx. 25GBP or so that it costs.

 

MaryAnn

[rannoch]

The ship tour "Upper Rock Walking Tour" which we were about to book is no longer available (I assume fully booked).

This is the description ...

"Drive along town's outskirts to cable car station, where have panoramic views of Gibraltar, port & Rock on way up to peak in cable car. Walking tour begins at Rock as guide escorts you down narrow roadways. Follow wooded path down towards St. Michael's Cave. Explore cave and hear music. Guide escorts thru tunnel network. A photo stop at Apes' Den, where apes reside & roam free. Keep items close, as apes tend to snatch bags & cameras. See walls & bastions of Tower of Homage at Moorish Castle before going down streets of Upper Rock, making way back. Note: Must walk approx 2.40 kms over even surfaces, inclines & 60/70 steps. Tour conducted with driver acting as guide in forced-air mini-coach".

 

I thought this tour might give us a good flavour or Gibraltar. Can anyone suggest an alternative tour or itinerary so that we see the sights and have a little time for shopping.

[Cruise NH]

I would take any tour that includes an overview of Gibraltar and a visit to the Apes...you really can't go wrong. None of them last that long and they'll be plenty of time to see the town.

 

We did an overview tour with QM2 this past spring...saw just about everything including Europa Point, and the apes and still had time to walk around quite a bit.

 

One thing about the ad hoc vans that are at the cruise terminal. They generally are like true vans, you have to shimmy down the side to seat yourself and they were packed!

 

I heard some of my fellow passengers complain about having to wait until they had a 'full' van to begin the tour and some pretty wild rides. For a little more, we got a cruise tour with a comfortable seat and aisle down the middle to make it easy to get in and out. It was still a small vehicle (has to be because of the tunnels) but very comforable.

 

We enjoyed Gibraltar much more then we thought we would.

[marylizcat]

We did the van tour from outside the terminal and it was great. One of the best parts of the cruise. £12 per person plus £8 for admission tickets.These taxis can go to the top of the Rock, which the coaches can't. The drivers are also guides and you get a really personal tour with info from a local. You can all get on and off much more quickly than on a coach and no waiting for stragglers. Our tour lasted about two hours and then he dropped us in the town, from where we walked back to the ship down the shopping street. You can have as long as you want in the caves and the siege tunnel. I imagine the coach tours are fixed time-wise. I really recommend them. However there are only a limited number of them, so don't get off the ship too late if there is more than one ship in port that day, as there was for us.

[PennyT]

If you do not get a private taxi tour from the port, walk into town and head up main street towards the cable car. When you reach the Trafalgar Cemetery there are always taxis touting for business.

 

When shopping in the perfume shops if not offered, ask for your 10% discount.

 

Also if you have time pay a visit to the Garrison Library

 

http://www.gibraltargarrisonlibrary.info/

 

If possible pay in pounds as exchange rates are normally not favourable.