Fast facts about hiring a car from Gibraltar Airport

Gibraltar International Airport (GIB), also known as North Front Airport, is just a few minutes from North District, and around a 15-minute drive from the southern Town Area district. Avis and the local Autos Aguirre car hire brand operate from the airport.

The car hire desks at Gibraltar Airport are in the arrivals hall of the terminal building, with car pick-up in one of the car parks outside.

Car hire companies with desks at Gibraltar Airport are:

• Avis (Tel: +350 560 00392)
• Autos Aguirre (Tel: +350 629 183691)

Driving in Gibraltar city centre

Thanks to Gibraltar’s British roots, most of the road rules are similar to those in the UK - except one. Cars here drive on the right-hand side of the road, just like the rest of Spain. If you’re planning to move between Spain and Gibraltar, this actually makes life much easier. Roads can be quite narrow in places, with some steep ones climbing to high points on the Rock. The speed limit is usually capped at 50kph (31mph).

If you’re hoping to visit Gibraltar’s famous Rock, you’ll find the National Park around it closed off to non-permit holders. You’ll have to park up nearby. When it comes to parking elsewhere around Gibraltar, you’ll find plenty of car parks with decent rates. Most are along or near Queensway Road.

If you’re driving over the Spanish border into La Linea and beyond, give yourself extra time for queuing, especially if you’re crossing in the late afternoon or evening. Talk to your car hire provider before you drive to Spain too as you may need to pay a cross-border fee.

Recommended day trips from Gibraltar

Estepona

Driving time: 45 minutes

A picturesque, fairly quiet resort town with white-washed buildings and a palm-fringed promenade. The town’s chief beach, Playa Rada, is lined with tempting seafood restaurants, while the Orchidarium is a space-age botanical garden with sculpted white walls, a towering glass dome and waterfall features. Estepona’s old town is one of the prettiest in the region - its cobbled lanes are lined with tapas bars and charming houses decorated with colourful plants.

Marbella

Driving time: One hour 10 minutes

History and glamour collide in Marbella, one of the Costa del Sol’s most sought after destinations. As well as being a hotspot for the elite thanks to its affectionately nicknamed ‘Golden Mile’ of five-star hotels, restaurants and clubs, it’s also perfect for a cultural day out. Marbella’s history stretches back centuries and you’ll find evidence of it in its stunning Old Town, which has Moorish ruins and a plaza filled with fragrant orange trees.

Seville

Driving time: Two hours 30 minutes

If you really want to make a day of it - or plan an overnight trip - you can reach Seville in a few hours. You’ll find the impressive gothic Seville Cathedral and its adjoining Giralda Tower at the centre of the city’s Old Town, as well as the gorgeous Alcazar Palace complex, with its Moorish decor. If you do stay overnight, make the most of the nightlife, characterised by atmospheric tapas restaurants and flamenco bars.