Gibraltar is one of those places that sounds improbable until you arrive. A British Overseas Territory hanging off the bottom of Spain, dominated by a 426 metre limestone monolith, populated by the only wild primates in Europe, and small enough to walk across in an afternoon. It uses the pound sterling, drives on the right, has its own airport where the runway crosses the main road, and sits so close to Africa that you can see Morocco from the southern tip on a clear day. It is just under seven square kilometres of concentrated surprise, and one of the most rewarding destinations in the western Mediterranean. Whether you are planning a [weekend break](/blog/48-hours-gibraltar-weekend-itinerary), a week long family holiday, a business trip, or a longer stay, this guide covers everything you need to know about Gibraltar: where it is, how it works, what to see, where to eat, the practical essentials, and where to stay. | Fact | Detail | | Status | British Overseas Territory | | Sovereignty | British since 1713 | | Area | 6.7 km², about three times the size of Monaco | | Population | 37,936 (2022 census) | | Highest point | The Rock, 426 metres | | Languages | English (official), plus Spanish and Llanito | | Currency | Gibraltar pound, pegged 1:1 to sterling | | Time zone | Central European Time, one hour ahead of the UK | | Distance to Africa | 14 kilometres across the Strait | | Land border | Open 24 hours with La Línea, Spain | | Schengen travel area | Expected from 15 July 2026 | | Driving | On the right | > Africa sits just fourteen kilometres away. Stand at Europa Point on a clear day and you can watch two continents across a single strait. Gibraltar occupies a narrow peninsula on the southern coast of the Iberian Peninsula. It shares a 1.2 kilometre land border with Spain, specifically with the town of La Línea de la Concepción in the province of Cádiz, Andalusia. To the east is the Mediterranean Sea. To the south, across the Strait of Gibraltar, lies Morocco, just 14 kilometres away at the narrowest point. To the west is the Bay of Gibraltar, also known as the Bay of Algeciras. Into that small space Gibraltar packs 37,936 people, recorded in the 2022 census. That works out at roughly 5,700 residents per square kilometre, making the Rock one of the most densely settled places on Earth. Despite sitting in southern Europe, Gibraltar is not part of Spain, and it left the European Union with the United Kingdom in 2020. It has its own government, laws, currency, and identity, and Gibraltarians are British citizens. Gibraltar has been fought over for as long as people have understood its value. Whoever holds the Rock holds the gateway between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. [[WIDGET:Timeline]] An Anglo-Dutch fleet captured Gibraltar in 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession, and Spain ceded it to the British Crown in perpetuity under the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. The territory survived the Great Siege of 1779 to 1783, when the British garrison held out against a combined Spanish and French force by carving gun positions straight through the rock. During the Second World War almost the entire civilian population was evacuated to London, Madeira, and Jamaica, returning only after 1944. > In 1967 Gibraltarians voted 12,138 to 44 to stay British. In 2002 they rejected shared sovereignty with Spain by 98.97 percent. The question of who Gibraltar belongs to has only ever had one answer from the people who live there. Strictly, no. Gibraltar is a [British Overseas Territory](/blog/is-gibraltar-a-country-status-explained), self governing in almost everything except defence and foreign affairs, which remain with the United Kingdom. The head of state is King Charles III, represented locally by a Governor, while day to day government is led by the Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo. Gibraltar has its own parliament, courts, police, tax system, and football team, but it is not a sovereign nation in its own right. For the full explanation of its unusual status, see our dedicated guide on [whether Gibraltar is a country](/blog/is-gibraltar-a-country-status-explained). The single biggest thing to understand before visiting in 2026 is that the border is changing. After Brexit, Gibraltar was left outside the European Union and the Schengen Area, which created uncertainty at the only land frontier. In June 2025 the United Kingdom, the European Union, Spain, and Gibraltar reached a political agreement on a new treaty, and the detailed text moved through ratification during early 2026. Under the treaty, the controls at the Gibraltar and La Línea land crossing will be removed, so the tens of thousands of people who cross every day can pass freely. Schengen entry and exit checks will instead move to Gibraltar's airport and port, carried out by Spanish officers alongside Gibraltar's own border force, much as French police operate at London St Pancras. In effect Gibraltar will join the Schengen travel area for the movement of