Backpacking in Gibraltar: My Lovely Stay at the Cannon Hotel

Staying at the Cannon Hotel in Gibraltar

Some fellow travellers hadn’t even heard of Gibraltar when I told them I was heading here. Gibraltar was the newest country on my target list, having become a member of UEFA in 2014, meaning its national football team were competing in the Euro 2016 qualifiers for the first time.

Crossing the border into Gibraltar

Gibraltar was always on my list of places to visit and doing a tour of Spain and North Africa in 2015 made it a perfect and handy stop over for a couple of days. I decided to stay in the Cannon Hotel in Gibraltar, despite having the option of staying overnight in Spain and simply doing a day trip to Gibraltar. It just feels a bit better spending the night in the country. In the past I have visited small countries like Liechtenstein, Austenasia, Frestonia, Christiania and Uzupis in the day time (without staying overnight). But I’m a British citizen. Yes, coming from Northern Ireland and aware that Gibraltar is British gave it that extra intrigue for me.

Souvenirs from Gibraltar

The Cannon Hotel was the perfect base for me and here are five cool things I loved about the Cannon Hotel in Gibraltar.

My Room in the Cannon Hotel, Gibraltar

1. Family Run
What I loved about the Cannon Hotel is that it is family run. The staff are friendly and welcoming and the fact it is a family business means down to earth attitude and good customer service. Similarly to my stay in the Chaise Guest House in Sunderland last year.

The friendly family at the Cannon Hotel

With the Cannon Hotel staff

Courtyard at the Cannon Hotel

Balcony at the Cannon Hotel

2. Gibraltar Tours and Information
You get a real sense of what Gibraltar is all about here as the staff are local and well informed. You can get a map, read the local paper and organise tours from here so that you can get a feel for the place.

Arrival in Gibraltar

And by the way of course Gibraltar is a country. It’s not Spain, it’s not within the UK and it even has its own flag border, national football and banknotes.

Gibraltar

3. In the heart of the Main Street
Location wise, the Cannon Hotel is in the heart of everything. You’re just off the Main street and central for all the sightseeing you could wish for. It’s on Cannon Lane round the corner from the Cathedral.

Outside the Cannon Hotel in Gibraltar

During my time here I toured the top of the Rock and all the way to Europa Point.

Great location of the Cannon Hotel

4. Full Gibraltarian (English) Breakfast
I awoke at 8am after the best sleep in weeks and from 8:30 am you get a fully cooked English breakfast! Decent tea and toast as well and a good choice of cereals.