World Borders: How to Walk From Gibraltar to Spain (Gibraltar to La Linea)
In my ongoing world borders series I bust down border crossings to their simplest form to ensure you can all easily replicate my journeys, cross the same borders as me and realise there is more to travel than flying in and out of countries on a 6 day holiday (as much as I love that too!). In April 2015, I found myself backpacking in Gibraltar for the first time. I crossed the land border by foot from the town of La Linea de La Concepcion in Spain and had 2 days, 1 night here. In Gibraltar I recommend staying at the very reasonably priced Cannon Hotel in the town centre, there is also one hostel too. I haven’t written all the posts I want about Gibraltar yet apart from my tour to Europa Point.
Backpacking in Gibraltar
Leaving Gibraltar Town, Gibraltar
Gibraltar doesn’t really have a “capital” as such. Though for the sake of this post I will refer to the town centre/capital as Gibraltar Town. You can fly in and out of Gibraltar of course, but to leave Gibraltar by land to Spain, there are two main options:
1. Walk it
2. Use a vehicle
Cars, vans, bikes etc. cross the border all day long along the road, but the most common border crossing style for this one is to walk across the border. Gibraltar is a tiny country. Even walking from the town centre of the capital Gibraltar Town to the airport only takes 10 – 20 minutes depending on your speed of manoeuvre.
Central Gibraltar Town
Head inland away from central Gibraltar and follow the signs for Spain and the town of La Linea de la Concepcion. It is very well signposted. In fact if you cross in the day time, you will probably just be following the masses – lots of people cross the border this way and it really is very obvious where the border is.
The walk from Gibraltar Town to the border – follow the signs for Spain/La Linea
After leaving central Gibraltar, you eventually arrive at Gibraltar airport, which is in front of the border. Once you get to Gibraltar airport, you have to walk across the runway.
Leavin Gibraltar
Walking Across the runway ready to leave Gibraltar
Only in the case of flights arriving or departing will you have to wait. Allow 5-10 minutes just in case.
A warning sign in front of the runway
After you walk across the runway, stay on the right hand side of the road/footpath. The border is right in front of you and completely obvious. There are security staff manning the border and the flags of Spain and the EU fly just beyond the border.
The obvious border between Gibraltar and Spain
Following the signs to Spain
Get your passports ready for inspection and simply follow the route along the path on the right across the border. On the day I crossed, my passport was not checked and neither were those in front of me.
Crossing from Gibraltar into La Linea de la Concepcion, Spain
We just walked straight through – along a path, partly through a building and suddenly we are back in Spain. As far as I know, no passport stamps can be issued at the border. I travel on a British and Irish passport therefore I have no problem crossing from one European Union country to another.
A small stall on the Spanish side of the border
You are basically going from a UK country to Spain here, so those with a Schengen visa might want to check if they are legally allowed into Gibraltar or not. Gibraltarians have their own passport, flag, government and national football team so it’s every bit a country in its own right.
Inside the National Football Stadium in Gibraltar
Changing Money
In Spain they use the Euro (the Peseta disappeared from view some time ago) but Gibraltar still uses the British pounds and pence and issues its own notes and coins. There are money changers in Casemates Square and also across the border in La Linea. In Spain you cannot spend British Pounds however in Gibraltar, some places accept Euros. So if you don’t plan on a return to a British country, make sure you have all your pounds changed over to Euros before crossing.
Gibraltar issues its own money in Gibraltar pounds and pence but you can only spend Euros in Spain
Arrival in La Linea de la Concepcion
Now that you have left Gibraltar and crossed the border, you are in the town of La Linea de la Concepcion in Spain. This is a sleepy coastal town with some beaches, but generally not a lot happening. There is a nice market in the town and prices tend to be cheaper than in nearby Torremolinos, Fuengirola and Malaga as those places are tourist resorts.
Markets in La Linea de la Concepcion, Spain
Cool restaurants in La Linea de la Concepcion, Spain
From La Linea de la Concepcion there are a few daily buses to Malaga and other destinations in the south of Spain. I got the bus to Malaga at 7pm, which was the last one of the day on my visit there. I booked the bus online in advance, which you should do in busy season.
Bus station in La Linea de la Concepcion, Spain
My onward bus to Malaga in Spain
On a final note, this is an easy and smooth border crossing and there are no public buses that cross this border so walking is the way to do it, I totally recommend it!
Here are some videos I took when crossing from Gibraltar to La Linea de la Concepcion in Spain:
Great report about the Gibraltar border crossing Jonny. Gibraltar has a really cool entry stamp that say GIB. But its only given to people who are NON EU Citizens, such as Australians or Russians.
I would think that any NON EU citizen was to cross from Spain to Gibraltar and vice versa they would need to get Entry/Exit Schengen stamps. In Andorra i saw a Mexican guy get off the bus to get an entry stamp as Gibraltar & Andorra are non Schengen.
It was funny the 3 times i crossed that border with my British passport they just ushered me right through. I had to wait a while when going back into Spain since a plane was taking off. Everytime i went back to Gibraltar it just felt like home (In the UK) because i was like : Man I can speak English again and spend Pounds.
Hi Martin, wow that is cool to know. I had no idea there was an entry or exit stamp!! The only thing is, on the way out there was no passport check or police, everyone just walked straight through, so to get the stamp you must have to look around for police and ask them to stamp it I think? Yeah it’s nice to spend pounds there and speak English again, though in some bars and restaurants the staff only speak Spanish and refuse to understand English! Safe travels. Jonny
Heey i’m from morocco i just want to ask if can sleep in hôtel in la linea with UK visa is it possible
Hi Jonny
Thanks so much for this information. I was wondering how to cross over to Malaga, I hope it’s still the same for 2019. You mentioned:
“I booked the bus online in advance, which you should do in busy season”
Just curious, do you have a link? Which website did you book the bus online?
Thanks again. Loved the photos & videos, which will help guide me through the process, will really help!
Regards,
Sunny
Hi Hamza, thanks for following the blog, as long as you are legally allowed in Gibraltar then all should be fine but as always – check with the relevant embassies first. Stay safe, Jonny
Hi Sunny, Thanks for the comment and sorry for the delay. I have been going through deep depression caused by a nasty liar. I don’t have a link sadly as I booked that bus in 2015 and of course, things may have changed by now. But I remember it was easy to book and a pleasant border crossing intill Gibraltar. Safe travels. Jonny
Great article Jonny, I just walked across Gibraltar to La Linea border today. Since I am not EU I did ask Police officer at the border if I can pass. I only wanted information not to actually pass over. She escorted me to the Spain side border patrol office where they did stamp my passport for La Linea. They did check if I had Gibraltar stamp of entry first. All in all my experience was the exact same as you had written about. Thank you for the information as before reading I was hesitant to cross over. Happy travels and stay safe.
Hi Frederic, Thanks for your comment on your experiences – they were very different from mine! Safe travels. Jonny