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Gibraltar is the imposing glob of sand and limestone which rounds off the Iberian Peninsula, where Spain reaches for Africa. It's linked to Spain by a narrow isthmus at the southern end of Andalucía. To the east are the Costa del Sol and the Mediterranean; to the west lie the Strait of Gibraltar and the Atlantic Ocean; heading south will bring you to Morocco.
The territory is 5km (3.1mi) long and 1km (0.62mi) wide; most of it is one huge lump of limestone 426m (1397ft) high. Immediately south of the Spanish border, the road crosses the airport runway. The town and harbours of Gibraltar lie along the Rock's less steep west side, facing the Bahía de Algeciras (Bay of Gibraltar). To reach Gibraltar by land you must pass through the Spanish border town of La Línea de la Concepción, 20km (12.4mi) east of Algeciras and about 4 hours from Seville.
Getting There
There are daily flights to and from London, Luton and Manchester in the UK. There are no regular buses to Gibraltar, but the bus station in La Línea is only a five minute walk from the border. If you're driving, lines at the border may make it less time-consuming to park in La Línea and walk across. The land border is open 24 hours a day.
There is normally one ferry a week each way between Gibraltar and Tangier, taking two hours. The ferries accommodate cars.
Getting Around
The 1.5km (1mi) walk from border to town centre is quite fun as it crosses the airport runway. Alternatively, several bus lines run from the border into town. All of Gibraltar can be covered on foot, and much of it (including the upper Rock) by car or motorcycle. You can also ascend the rock by cable car.
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