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Above:  Gibraltar's famous apes.  Watch out - they'll cheekily pinch food right out of your hand!

Gibraltar, named after the Arabic name for the Rock, 'Jebel Tarik', is just across the bay from the Spanish port of Algeciras, the railhead for anyone travelling to Gibraltar.  It's easy to reach Gibraltar by train from London, Paris or Madrid, this page will tell you train times, fares and how to buy tickets:

Train times London ► Gibraltar

• Day 1, afternoon:  Travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 14:04 arriving in Paris Gare du Nord at 17:26.  Cross Paris by métro to the Gare d'Austerlitz.  By all means book an earlier Eurostar if you'd like to spend some time in Paris.

• Day 1, evening:  Travel from Paris to Madrid overnight on the excellent 'trainhotel', leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 19:47 and arriving next morning at Madrid Chamartin station at 09:10 next morning.  The trainhotel is a special articulated sleeper train with 4-berth Turista class sleepers, 1- & 2-berth Preferente (1st class) sleepers, and 1- & 2-berth Gran Clase sleepers with private shower & toilet, dinner & breakfast included.  The trainhotel has an elegant restaurant and a vibrant café-bar, see the London to Spain page for more information about this train, or the excellent virtual tour at www.elipsos.com.  The Paris-Madrid trainhotel normally runs daily, but it will not run on Tuesday or Wednesday nights from from 8 October 2009 until 17 March 2010, or from 14 October 2010 until March 2011.  See the London to Spain page for an alternative on these days.

• Day 2:  Spend the day enjoying Madrid.  There are left luggage lockers at both Madrid Chamartin where you arrive and Madrid Atocha from where you depart.  You can take the metro (www.metromadrid.es) from Chamartin into the city centre, or use a suburban train free of charge to Atocha (show your trainhotel ticket) and deposit your luggage there, then walk into the city centre, a 20 minute walk.  In the late afternoon, make your way by metro to Madrid's Atocha station, or walk there from the city centre.

• Day 2, afternoon:  Travel from Madrid to Algeciras (the Spanish town across the bay from Gibraltar) on the afternoon 'Altaria' air-conditioned 125mph train.  You leave Madrid Atocha station at 15:05, arriving Algeciras at 20:39.  It's a scenic ride, though the last part is after dark.  Altaria trains have 1st class (Preferente) and 2nd class (Turista) and a cafe-bar.  In Preferente, the fare includes an airline-style hot meal with choice of wines.

• Day 2, evening:  Either take a taxi from Algeciras station direct to Gibraltar town for around 24 euros, or for around 2.05 euros take bus M-120 from Algeciras bus station (just across the road from the rail station) to La Linea, 250m from the Gibraltar frontier, then walk into Gibraltar town centre.  The walk from La Linea into Gibraltar takes you across Gibraltar airport's main runway, though they stop cars and pedestrians when an aircraft is landing or taking off!  Bus M-120 runs every 30 minutes Mon-Fri at xx.00 and xx.30 past each hour or every 45 minutes at weekends, taking about 45 minutes to La Linea.   See www.ctmcg.com for bus information.   Map of Algeciras - La Linea - Gibraltar area.

• An alternative if you'd prefer to spend the night in Madrid:  On day 2, stay the night in a hotel in Madrid, then on the morning of day 3 take the 09:05 Altaria train from Madrid Atocha station to Algeciras, arriving at 14:45.  Although a half day slower overall, this option gives you a full day and evening in Madrid, and the morning Altaria train to Algeciras will show you the wonderful mountain scenery in southern Spain in daylight.

Train times Gibraltar ► London

• Day 1, early in the morning:  Walk out of Gibraltar into Spain and take one of the frequent M-120 buses from La Linea round the bay to Algeciras.  On weekdays, buses leave La Linea every 30 minutes at xx.15 and xx.45 past each hour.  At weekends, they run every 45 minutes.  Fare 2.05 euro.  In Algeciras, the buses stop just 50 metres away from the railway station.  Alternatively, take a taxi from Gibraltar town centre to Algeciras station, this costs around 24 euro.

• Day 1, morning:  Travel from Algeciras to Madrid by high-speed Altaria train, leaving Algeciras at 08:24 and arriving in Madrid Atocha station at 13:57.  A cafe-bar is available.  An at-seat airline-style meal with wine is included in the Preferente class fare.  Make your way by metro or suburban train to Madrid Chamartin.

• If you'd prefer to leave Gibraltar the day before (day 0) and spend a day and night in Madrid, there's also an afternoon Altaria train from Algeciras, departing at 15:15 and arriving Madrid Atocha at 20:50.

• Day 1, evening:  Travel from Madrid to Paris on the excellent overnight trainhotel (sleepers, cafe-bar & restaurant available, see the London to Spain page for more information or see www.elipsos.com for a virtual tour of this train) leaving Madrid Chamartin at 19:00 and arriving in Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 08:31 next morning.  Take the metro to the Gare du Nord.  The Madrid-Paris trainhotel normally runs daily, but it will not run on Monday or Tuesday nights from 7 October 2009 to 17 March 2010, or from 14 October 2010 until March 2011.  See the London to Spain page for an alternative on these days.

• Day 2 morning:  Travel from Paris to London by Eurostar, leaving Paris Gare du Nord at 11:13 and arriving in London St Pancras at 12:29.

On board the trainhotel from Paris to Madrid...

The trainhotel's café-bar serves drinks and snacks in the evening, a light breakfast in the morning...		The trainhotel's elegant restaurant awaits first sitting for dinner...

Gran Clase sleeper, in evening mode with the seats folded out...		...return from dinner to find the attendant has made up the beds...		Gran Clase sleepers have a private toilet & shower...		Above:  The trainhotels from Paris to Madrid and Barcelona are articulated Spanish 'Talgo' trains, jointly run by French & Spanish railways.

On board the Altaria train from Madrid to Algeciras...

The afternoon train to Algeciras about to leave Madrid Atocha...		Turista (2nd class) on Altaria...		In Preferente, passengers get a complimentary meal with wine...

Taking the bus from Algeciras to La Linea (Gibraltar)...

Left:  At Algeciras, the bus station is just across the road (well, around the roundabout) from the railway station.  This is an M-120 bus for La Linea boarding at the bus station.  The bus links Algeciras with La Linea, 250m from the Gibraltar frontier, every 30 minutes on weekdays at xx.00 & xx.30 past each hour, every 45 minutes at weekends, fare 1.90 euro, journey time 45 minutes.  The bus station is directly across the road (well, around the roundabout) from Algeciras railway station, behind the Octavio Hotel. Alternatively, a taxi from Algeciras station to Gibraltar town costs around 24 euros.  There are normally plenty of taxis available when the train from Madrid arrives.

Alternative outward journey...

This option means spending more time on trains and less time in Madrid, but it allows you to leave London a couple of hours later, and it can be cheaper for railpass or InterRail holders. It runs daily all year round except 24, 25 December.  In the option above, InterRail or railpass holders need to pay a £67 supplement each way to travel on the Paris-Madrid trainhotel - the following option may save them a few pounds as it only requires a £17 couchette supplement each way plus a £9-£10 Alvia supplement each way.

• Travel from London to Paris by Eurostar, leaving London St Pancras at 17:55 (17:25 on Saturdays), arriving in Paris Gare du Nord at 21:17 (20:53 on Saturdays).  Cross Paris by métro to the Gare d'Austerlitz.

• Travel from Paris to Irun on the Spanish frontier overnight leaving Paris Austerlitz at 23:10 and arriving 07:36 next morning. This train has 6-berth 2nd class couchettes, 4-berth 1st class couchettes, but no longer any sleepers.  What are French couchettes like?

• An 'Alvia' train (supplement payable) leaves Irun at 08:25 and arrives Madrid Chamartin at 14:00.  Transfer to Atocha station

• Travel from Madrid to Algeciras on the 15:05 Altaria from Madrid Atocha for the bus to La Linea for Gibraltar as shown above.

Alternative return journey...

• Take the 08:24 Altaria train from Algeciras to Madrid arriving Madrid Atocha at 13:57.  Transfer to Chamartin station.

• Travel from Madrid to Hendaye on the French frontier on an air-conditioned 'Alvia' train leaving Madrid Chamartin station) at 16:10 and arriving Hendaye at 22:03  (double-check times at www.renfe.com). 

• This connects with the overnight train to Paris, leaving Hendaye at 22:18 and arriving in Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 07:11.  1st & 2nd class couchettes (but no sleeping-car) are available.  Cross Paris by métro to the Gare du Nord.

• A Eurostar leaves Paris Gare du Nord at 09:13 arriving back in London St Pancras at 10:34.

How much does it cost?

See the London to Spain page for fares between London & Madrid.

How to buy tickets online...

The easiest and cheapest way to book your London-Gibraltar train ride is online.  UK residents can buy tickets for all the trains from London to Algeciras and back using www.raileurope.co.uk, as follows:

• Step 1, book the Paris-Madrid trainhotel and then the London-Paris Eurostar, following the step-by step instructions on the London to Spain page.

• Step 2, still on www.raileurope.co.uk, click 'continue shopping' and book the train from Madrid to Algeciras & back.  Remember that the outward date will obviously be the day after your departure from London.  Tip:  If it won't book a return, try booking as two one-ways.

• If you book the Madrid-Algeciras train using www.raileurope.co.uk as suggested above, all your tickets can be bought as one transaction, painlessly, in English.  However, www.raileurope.co.uk only sells the normal flexible fares between Madrid & Algeciras, it can't sell the cheap 'Web' or 'Estrella' fares.  To save money, you can book the Madrid-Algeciras & Algeciras-Madrid trains separately using the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com, looking for these cheap deals.  You'll need to book in Spanish, but that's no real problem, just follow the step-by step instructions here.

• Step 3, you simply buy the bus ticket from Algeciras to La Linea on the bus.

How to buy tickets by phone...

You may prefer to book by phone.  To book train travel all the way from London to Algeciras, call www.spanish-rail.co.uk on 020 7224 0345 (lines open 09:30-17:30 Monday-Friday), or Rail Europe on 0844 848 5 848 (lines open 09:00-21:00 Mondays-Fridays, 09:00-18:00 Saturdays, no longer open Sundays).  See the 'how to buy tickets' section on the Europe page for more info about how to book European trains.

Gibraltar - Tangier ferries...

A fast ferry occasionally operates from Gibraltar to Tangier, run by www.frs.es.  There were no sailings at all in 2007, but Friday & Sunday evening crossings in 2008.  At other times, simply take the bus from La Linea (Gibraltar's frontier with Spain) round the bay to Algeciras (every 30 mins, journey time 30 mins) for the ferry from there to Tangier.  See www.trasmediterranea.es, www.comarit.com or www.euroferrys.com to check sailing times & fares.

The Thomas Cook European timetable has train & ferry times for every country in Europe plus currency & climate information.  Published since 1873, it costs £13.99.  It's essential for any serious traveller and an inspiration for armchair travellers.  Still not convinced you need one?  More information on what the Thomas Cook Timetable contains.  You can buy the latest monthly edition online at www.thomascooktimetables.com with worldwide delivery or buy it in person from any UK branch of Thomas Cook (ask at the bureau de change), or from W H Smiths in Victoria or Kings Cross stations in London.  Or buy the twice-yearly independent traveller's edition with laminated cover from Amazon.co.uk:  Summer 2010 edition (June to December 2010)

The Thomas Cook Rail Map of Europe is the best and most comprehensive map of train routes right across Europe, from Portugal in the west to Istanbul, Moscow & Ukraine in the east, from Finland in the north to Sicily & Crete in the south.  High speed & scenic routes are highlighted.  Highly recommended!  Buy online at www.amazon.co.uk (worldwide delivery).  See an extract from the map.

Find a hotel in Gibraltar, Algeciras or Madrid...

It's easy to book hotels in Gibraltar, Algeciras or Madrid to go with your train and ferry tickets, just use the search box below.  This links to www.hotelscombined.com, a useful free search tool which searches all the main hotel booking sites for you (Expedia, Travelocity, LateRooms, Opodo, Venere and many others) to find the cheapest hotel rates on the net.  Set up in 2005, it's an amazing system and probably the best place to start for booking any hotel online in any country, worldwide.  Also check out Tripadvisor Gibraltar hotel recommendations.

Search all major hotel booking sites at once...

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