Gibraltar Pound (GIP) Calculator

Gibraltar's Pound: The Rock's Own Currency

Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, issues its own currency, the Gibraltar pound, at parity with the British pound sterling. One GIP always equals one GBP, and British banknotes and coins are accepted throughout Gibraltar alongside local notes and coins. The Gibraltar pound's value against the US dollar therefore moves exactly in line with GBP/USD. When the pound sterling strengthens, so does the Gibraltar pound, and vice versa.

Gibraltar occupies just 6.7 square kilometers but punches well above its weight economically. The territory is home to a thriving online gambling industry, financial services sector, shipping bunkering operations, and a tourism industry driven by day trippers from Spain and cruise ship passengers. The famous Rock of Gibraltar, with its Barbary macaque monkeys (the only wild primates in Europe), Mediterranean views, and World War II-era tunnels, is the main tourist draw.

Day Trips and the Spanish Border

Most visitors to Gibraltar come for the day from the nearby Spanish Costa del Sol resorts. The border crossing between La Linea de la Concepcion in Spain and Gibraltar is one of the most unusual in the world: you walk across the airport runway to enter the territory. The currency switch from euros to pounds happens at the border, and many Gibraltar businesses accept both euros and pounds, though the exchange rate they apply to euros may not be favorable.

The cable car to the top of the Rock costs about 16 GIP round trip and provides access to the nature reserve, the apes' den, St. Michael's Cave, and the Great Siege Tunnels. The Main Street shopping area is popular for duty-free goods, particularly alcohol and tobacco, which are significantly cheaper than in Spain or the UK. The Moorish Castle, dating to the 8th century, and the Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque, one of the largest in a non-Muslim country, are free to visit.

Costs in Gibraltar

Gibraltar is more expensive than Spain but comparable to the UK. A hotel room costs 80 to 200 GIP per night. A pub meal runs 10 to 20 GIP. A pint of beer is 4 to 6 GIP. Fish and chips, a local staple, cost about 8 to 12 GIP. A taxi from the border to the city center is about 8 GIP.

Since GIP = GBP and GBP/USD moves around 1.30 to 1.38, multiply GIP by roughly 1.34 to get dollars. A 120 GIP hotel is about $161. A 15 GIP meal is roughly $20.

USD/GIP Conversion

USD/GIP moves with GBP/USD. At GBP/USD = 1.34, one dollar buys approximately 0.75 GIP. Converting $500 gives you about 373 GIP. Converting 100 GIP gives you roughly $134. ATMs from NatWest Gibraltar and Jyske Bank accept international cards. Card payments are widely accepted. Note that Gibraltar pounds are not accepted in the UK despite being at parity, so spend or exchange any GIP notes before leaving the territory.

Practical Tips for the Rock

Gibraltar is small enough to explore entirely on foot in a day. The Main Street runs the length of the city from Casemates Square to the south, and most shops, restaurants, and historical sites are within a few minutes walk. The territory uses British-style electrical outlets and drives on the right (unlike the UK). English is the official language, though most locals also speak Spanish and a local dialect called Llanito that mixes both languages. The Gibraltar pound is not available outside the territory, so spend any GIP notes before leaving. Alternatively, using a card with no foreign transaction fee avoids the currency conversion question entirely. The cable car to the top of the Rock is the quickest way to access the nature reserve and its famous monkeys, but the Mediterranean Steps walking trail offers a more rewarding approach for fit hikers, winding through tunnels and fortifications with views across to Africa on clear days.

Gibraltars position at the mouth of the Mediterranean means that dolphins are frequently spotted in the strait, and dolphin watching boat trips departing from the marina cost about 25 to 30 GIP for a two-hour excursion. The Europa Point lighthouse at the southern tip of the Rock marks the boundary between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, with views across to the Moroccan coast just 14 kilometers away. On a clear day, the African continent is plainly visible, making Gibraltar one of the few places in Europe where you can see another continent with the naked eye.

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