Cheap Flights to Gibraltar

Rock-solid advice on cheap flights to Gibraltar

To the first-time visitor from Britain, there’s a lot that seems cosily familiar about Gibraltar, from its red pillar boxes to its policemen’s helmets. This close-knit community on the southern tip of Spain has been a self-governing British Overseas Territory since 1713, and English remains the official language. Yet behind the genteel Victorian façades and Nelson memorabilia lie a fascinating history and a raft of cultural influences stretching back to Moorish times. The cuisine of Andalusia and the flora of Morocco thrive beneath a Mediterranean sun, ships from the four corners of the globe dock in its bustling port, and there’s no escaping the exotic magnetism of its iconic Rock – a jagged peak of Jurassic limestone towering 1,400 feet above the city. Thanks to plentiful cheap flights to Gibraltar from the UK, you could be posing for a selfie with a Barbary macaque in less than 3 hours.

When can I find the best choice of cheap tickets to Gibraltar?

Gibraltar’s subtropical Mediterranean climate brings mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers, and it’s rare for the mercury to dip below freezing. Much like neighbouring Spain, the high season is June to October, when sun-starved Brits head south; this is also the busiest time for crowd-pulling outdoor events such as the spectacular Calentita street party and food festival in June and the celebrations surrounding Gibraltar’s national day in September. Unless you’re able to book well in advance, the best bargains in flights and accommodation will fall outside these peak months. December through February is an especially good timeslot to snap up budget flights to Gibraltar and skip the crowds, while still basking under blue skies.

Which UK airports offer flights to Gibraltar?

Low-cost carrier easyJet has opened up the market for direct flights to Gibraltar in recent years, with departures from Bristol, Manchester and London Gatwick, while Monarch flies from Manchester, Birmingham and London Luton, and British Airways offers competitive prices from London Heathrow – all with flight times of around 3 hours. For such a short journey it’s hardly worth making a stopover in continental Europe, but travellers from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Belfast can benefit from connections through London Heathrow courtesy of British Airways and their partners.

Getting from Gibraltar International Airport to your destination

Flights to Gibraltar can legitimately claim to deliver you straight to your destination, as the airport terminal is right in the city centre – you’ll get a fabulous view of the Rock as you come in to land. If you’re travelling light, you can simply pick up your bags and walk to your hotel, enjoying your first taste of Gibraltar sunshine on the way. For longer journeys or door-to-door convenience, you’ll find a taxi rank right outside the terminal, or for added peace of mind you can pre-book a cab online to meet your flight. The airport is also served by a public bus, the no. 5, which will whisk you to the city centre. Gibraltar’s compact size makes it easy to get around on foot, but there is also a good bus service and taxi ranks at various strategic locations within the centre.

Living the high life

The famous Rock is quite literally Gibraltar’s biggest attraction, so tick it off your list straight away with a cable-car ride to the summit. An informative audio commentary describes the sights below as you rise almost 1,400 feet above sea level, taking in panoramic views across the Strait to Morocco and along the Spanish coast to Marbella. The upper rock is a nature reserve that’s home to over 600 plant species and a haven for migrating birds, as well as the location of the Moorish castle that looms dramatically over the city. Back at street level, visit Gibraltar Museum to get the full story behind the territory’s fascinating heritage. Experience its multiculturalism and architectural variety in the mosque, Hindu temple and Roman Catholic cathedral. Wander around glamorous Ocean Village Marina to admire vessels from all points of the compass, then hit the designer boutiques of Main Street for some tax-free retail therapy.