Practical information

Although Gibraltar produces its own bank notes and coins, the Monetary Unit of Gibraltar is actually UK Sterling. Sterling Currency Notes issued by the Bank of England are therefore legal tender and in circulation alongside local notes and coins.

To get preferential rates of currency exchange, open an account with Currencies Direct. Just click 'more info' on the currency converter table opposite.

The climate of Gibraltar is affected by the local geography and proximity of the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. Gibraltar's weather is governed by two winds, the ‘Levante’ and ‘Poniente’, which each bring different meteorological phenomena. The first comes from the east and brings with it a humidity factor that sometimes crowns the rock with a cloud of its own. The second, usually coming from the west, brings clear, dry weather.

Winter in Gibraltar can be a mixture of fine, wet and cool weather. On average only 30% of days are classified as 'wet', although rainfall amounts can be variable in the extreme. The mean temperature in January is 13.5°C.

Rain is rare after spring, and you can expect settled warm weather, with cooler nights.

Summer is dry and warm with an average of 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. It is not at all uncommon for Gibraltar to enjoy up to 90 days straight without rain during the summer months. Summer lows might reach 13ºC, but most days the temperature will hover much nearer 30ºC highs.

During the autumn, the heat subsides and gives great daytime temperatures, but cooler evenings.

Gibraltar phone numbers consist of eight digits. When phoning from within Gibraltar just dial the eight digits. When phoning from abroad precede the number with the international dialling code which is 00350.

Gibraltar is on Greenwich Mean Time plus one hour with clocks being advanced one hour between March and October.

Due to Gibraltar's unique geographical position, multi-culturalism is a key feature of life on the Rock. The official language is English, but local Gibraltarians are typically bi-lingual, speaking Spanish as fluently as English. It is not unusual to hear the native Arabic of Gibraltar's other near neighbours as well. Most Gibraltarians consider themselves to be Roman Catholics (around 75 per cent), but minority groups are also visible in the form of Protestant, Muslim and Jewish groups.

Most businesses are open between 9:00am and 5:30pm/6:00pm, or 7:00pm in the case of shops. Banks are open for business between 9:00am or 9:30am and 3:30pm or 4:30pm. Some remain open until 6:00pm on Friday evenings. Many businesses, including government offices, adopt ‘summer’ hours during July and August. Summer hours are generally between 8:00am and 2:00pm to 3:30pm.

These are Gibraltar's official public holidays for 2011:

• New Year's Day* (2nd January)
• Commonwealth Day (12 March)
• Good Friday (6 April)
• Easter Monday (9 April)
• Worker's Memorial Day (30 April)
• Worker's Day (1 May)
• Spring Bank Holiday (4 June)
• Queen's diamond Jubilee (5 June)
• Queen's Birthday (18 June)
• Late Summer Bank Holiday (27 August)
• Gibraltar National Day (10 September)
• Christmas Day Holiday (25 December)
• Boxing Day Holiday (26 December)
• *substitute day

Television and radio services are operated by the Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation (GBC). The broadcaster’s services are partly funded by TV license fee revenues. Radio and TV stations based in Spain, and broadcasts for British forces in the territory, can be received.

Airmail within Europe takes one to five days. Airmail flights are usually daily.

Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1630 (0900-1415 in summer), Sat 1000-1300.

• • Newspapers are in English; some have Spanish sections.
• • The New People, Panorama ( www.panorama.gi) and Vox are published weekly.
• • The Gibraltar Chronicle (established 1801) is the only daily (www.chronicle.gi)

• • The local radio station is Radio Gibraltar.
• • BFBS Radio Gibraltar is for British forces.