A few kilometers from the southernmost point of continental Europe you’ll find Gibraltar, a tiny British outpost, surrounded…
Times visited: 1
I have a bit of a strange obsession with exclaves, enclaves, autonomous areas, and semi-sovereign territories – you know, those fascinating places that aren’t technically countries but stand out from their “motherlands” in all sorts of quirky ways. So when I set off on a journey through Southern Europe in 2019, there was no doubt in my mind: I had to visit Gibraltar.
This tiny British Overseas Territory sits at the tip of the Iberian Peninsula, just a few kilometres from Europe’s southernmost point, bordered by Spain and the Mediterranean Sea, with Morocco visible across the water. While Gibraltar is under British jurisdiction, it’s not part of the United Kingdom – instead, it operates with its own government, currency, and cultural identity. And to make things even more interesting, Spain still claims it. In my book, it’s a territory with a character so distinct, it absolutely deserves to be counted as its own entity.
To explore Gibraltar on a budget, I based myself in the nearby Spanish city of Algeciras, where accommodation is much more affordable. I only had one day to explore, but Gibraltar is compact enough that a day was sufficient to get a real feel for the place. I started by wandering around the city itself, and as a half Brit, I immediately felt oddly at home. The streets are lined with British pubs, red telephone boxes, and Union Jacks waving proudly – yet the air is warm with the scent of the Mediterranean, and conversations drift between English, Spanish, and Llanito, the local dialect.
After soaking up the atmosphere, I made my way to Gibraltar’s crown jewel – the Rock. This iconic limestone monolith dominates the landscape and offers panoramic views that stretch all the way to Africa. But the real highlight for me? The Barbary macaques, Europe’s only wild monkey population! Watching them roam freely, climbing railings and curiously inspecting visitors, was hands-down my favourite part of the day. They’re cheeky, adorable, and entirely unbothered by the border politics that define their home.
Gibraltar may be small, but it packs a punch – politically, geographically, and culturally. For anyone who, like me, is intrigued by the odd corners of the world that defy easy categorization, this British outpost is a must-visit.