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The Sun
5 days ago
- The Sun
I'm from a Mediterranean city where people speak English and pay in pounds – but there's one Brit item shops won't sell
WHAT'S not to love about Gibraltar? It's has average highs of 28C, it's just three hours from the UK, everyone speaks English and you can pay in pounds. But one half Gibraltarian, half English woman has revealed that Brits make plenty of mistakes when visiting the island. 10 Sun writer Adele Cooke visits Gibraltar to see her family at least twice a year, and here she shares with us all her secret viewpoints, favourite local haunts and mistakes to avoid when visiting 'Gib'. Adele told us: "My mum is Gibraltarian, and all her family all live there - the short story is that the family moved from Genoa in Italy. "A lot of families do that and actually Michelle Keegan's family did the same - her grandma used to live opposite mine." Summer highs Adele's first piece of advice is when's best to visit, she told us: "Going in winter is a big no-no because a lot of the things to do in Gibraltar is outside. "If you go in the winter, you'll get highs of 12C. But it's not like being in Madeira where you'll get some like winter sun - it's properly cold. She's noticed that first-time visitors often aren't aware that the destination has a micro-climate because of the Levanter cloud. The Levanter cloud forms over the Rock of Gibraltar in certain conditions and will make the temperature colder than neighbouring areas in Spain. She said : "Personally, I go every May and September. The end of May is warm enough to go to the beach. "And then the start of September, the schools have gone back so there aren't lots of kids on the beach, and the flights are cheaper. "The flights this summer are expensive so if you do go then, you have to book quite far in advance." 10 10 10 Adele said she can generally get flights back from £80, but there are certain times of the year where the prices will be at an all-time high. She said: "Flights get really expensive around Gibraltar National Day which is in September. "It's a full weekend of events, there's lots of food, and they have firework displays, and everyone wears red and white. It's a day to celebrate being part of Britain." "Another time to be aware of is around Easter because it's a Catholic nation, so a lot of Gibraltarians will go back for that." Eating out Adele said one of the best places for an evening tipple is in the marina: "For drinks, I would go to Ocean Village which is a big complex at the marina. "In there is a casino, they've got an Irish pub for watching sports, Pizza Express, Wagamama, everything you need. "There's plenty of offers too, lots of places have happy hour with £6 cocktails and you can get coffees from £2. "If you don't like crowds and you want more of a quiet and relaxed evening, I'd go to Queensway Quay. It's another marina and it's the upmarket one. "It's really lovely if you want to go and look at the boats and have some drinks as it's usually less busy. "One place that's a hidden gem, is a restaurant at the university called Bistro Point. It's got a great view, you can sit outside and they do a great brunch." Another spot she recommends for anyone looking for quality seafood is the Jumpers Wheel Restaurant. It might not look like much on the outside, but Adele told us it's a great place to enjoy catch of the day, calamari, swordfish and octopus. 10 Saving pennies Remember going on holiday with your mates and dread buying a round? Well there's none of that here. Adele told us: "I've bought a bottle of wine and a beer and it's come to just £17 in a bar before - a breakfast for a family of 10 can come to just £35, it's a very cheap place. "The food in Gibraltar as a whole is cheap and cheerful, you get big portions - I'd say it's Wetherspoons style." The good news for Brits is that Gibraltar does have its own currency, does take British pound too. Holiday hotels As for where to stay, Adele said: "Plenty of people book into the Holiday Inn as it's in a great location and very affordable, what most don't realise is it's beach on one side and next to one of Gibraltar's main cemeteries on the other. "If you do stay there, ask for a room on the rock side rather than a room on the cemetery side." To stay in central Gibraltar, Adele recommended the Sunborn Gibraltar resort which is right in Ocean Village - rooms start at £175 per night. Another great pick for visitors is The Eliott Hotel which has a rooftop pool, and the Rock Hotel which has recently been renovated. All the attractions If you head to Tripadvisor currently, one of the most highly recommended beaches in Gibraltar is Catalan Bay, but it's currently undergoing lots of construction work. Adele said: "There's lots of diggers out on that beach because they're reclaiming some land from the sea - so don't go there for the moment. "Instead, go to Eastern Beach, it's a great spot because you get more sun for longer." The reason the Eastern Beach stays sunnier for longer is because the Rock's shadow can block sunlight on other beaches. Sandy Bay is another popular beach but it can get windy. Other attractions around Gibraltar include the Spirit of the Rock, which is the only distillery in the old town - you can take the tour and have a tasting for £25. If you're looking to catch up with the news, don't try hunting for a newspaper as you won't find one. Adele explained: "Post-Brexit, you can't get them in Gibraltar, but you can buy them in Spain." Tourist traps Like most places that you go, be mindful of the tourist traps. In the town centre, there will be lots of tour operators trying to sell tourists dolphin tours around Gibraltar. Adele said that for anyone wanting to head on a tour, have a look online first and book there instead. Everyone going with the few tour operators selling tickets in the square will then get into a crowded boat so when there's a dolphin, you're less likely to see it. And if you fancy heading up the Rock, do not drive yourself. She said: "Unless you're going to Spain, I wouldn't hire a car because it's quite sketchy to drive in Gibraltar. "Going up the Rock is very narrow, and on one side is just a cliff. Plus there are monkeys roaming around too. "Instead, use the great bus system, as it's very cheap." For more breaks, check out these European holidays that are cheaper than a UK train fare – with £2 prosecco and stunning beaches. Or take a look at the cheeky 48-hour holidays to Europe's best cities, beach towns and islands this summer from £167.
The Sun
10-07-2025
- The Sun
20 of Europe's most beautiful islands that have direct flights from the UK – and some of the world's best beaches
WHO doesn't love an island holiday? You get the best of both worlds with bustling old towns and of course, incredible beaches. Here are 20 of the best European islands that you can reach directly from the UK with flights from £15. Corfu Corfu is known as Greece 's greenest island, but it also has sandy beaches, mountains, and even flamingos that sit in shallow lagoons. The buildings are orange rather than the classic white and blue because of Venetian influence and the island is famous for its old town full of shops and cafes. One Sun Writer felt like they'd travelled back in time while exploring the island. You can fly from Birmingham airport to Corfu (CFU) in three hours 10 minutes with easyJet one-way flights start at £23.99 (on October 20, 2025). Corsica Corsica is a French island in the Mediterranean that sits 56 miles off the coast of Italy. The island has over 200 beaches and is known for having chic shops, cafés and restaurants. The island is also a great place to hop on a boat tour. There's one that stops off to enjoy a Corsican wine tasting hosted by a sommelier and a local wine-grower while watching the sunset. You can fly from London Gatwick airport to Corsica (BIA) in two hours 14 minutes with easyJet one-way flights start at £39.89 (on September 23, 2025). Crete Crete is the largest of the Greek Islands, and the fifth biggest in the Mediterranean Sea. It has ancient ruins, but also incredible beaches, including one of the best in the world. The TUI guide to Crete from best beaches to passport rules 8 Elafonisi Beach has pink sand and some of the bluest waters in the Med and has been named the best beach in the world for 2025 by Tripadvisor. One Sun Writer visited the Greek island and discovered beautiful sunsets while enjoying some of the Mediterranean's cheapest pints. You can fly from London Gatwick airport to Crete (HER) in three hours 55 minutes with easyJet one-way flights start at £38.99 (on November 2, 2025). Fuerteventura For a summer feeling on sandy beaches head to Fuerteventura. The island is popular for beach holidays and its laid-back atmosphere. Highlights on the island include Corralejo and the Jandía peninsula, and the Betancuria old town. You can fly from London Stansted airport to Fuerteventura (FUE) in four hours 20 minutes with Ryanair one-way flights start at £21.00 (on November 26, 2025). 8 Gran Canaria There's lots to do on the island of Gran Canaria, the largest of the Canary Islands. From exploring the Maspalomas sand dunes and the beach resort on the south of the island, Playa del Inglés. The island also has busy nightlife too with busy bars and nightclubs. You can fly from London Southend airport to Gran Canaria (LPA) in four hours 20 minutes with easyJet - one-way flights start at £15 (on November 14, 2025). Ibiza Ibiza is a popular Mediterranean island when it comes to but beaches, but especially the nightlift. Dubbed the party island, it has recently reopened it's superclub, UNVRS which can hold up to 10,000 people. You can fly from Birmingham airport to Ibiza (IBZ) in two hours 40 minutes with Ryanair one-way flights start at £17 (on August 8, 2025). Kefalonia Kefalonia is is an island in the Ionian Sea and is home to one of Greece 's best beaches - Myrtos. It's never actually reached number one, but Myrtos Beach has been named as one of the best in Greece more than ten times. It's no surprise really as it's adorned with white pebbles, has a cliff backdrop and bright blue waters. When one Sun Writer explored the island, she discovered it's perfect for family getaways. You can fly from Manchester airport to Kefalonia (EFL) in three hours 45 minutes with easyJet one-way flights start at £29.99 (on October 25, 2025). 8 Kos Kos is the third largest island in the Dodecanese group and is full of fantastic coast and historical sites like Kos Castle and natural hot springs at Therma Beach. While visiting the island, one Sun Writer discovered a local restaurant called Taverna Romeo where a meal for three cost 40 euros (£34.50). You can fly from London Stansted airport to Kos (KGS) in three hours 50 minutes with Ryanair one-way flights start at £34.99 (on October 20, 2025). Lanzarote The Spanish island is perfect for a beach holiday with highly-rated Papagayo beaches, like Playa Flamingo, which is known for having golden sand and turquoise waters. Locals revealed to Sun Travel the must-visit spots in Lanzarote including the best places for a white sand beaches and favourite restaurants. You can fly from London Southend to Lanzarote (ACE) in four hours 5 minute with easyJet - one-way flights start at £15 (on November 24, 2025). 8 La Palma La Palma is another of the Canary Islands known for forest landscape and beaches with volcanic black sand. La Palma is another of the Canary Islands known for forest landscape and beaches with volcanic black sand. One of the most famous landmarks is the Roque de los Muchachos found at the highest point of the island. Visitors who reach the top can gaze at the valley below from 8,000 feet in the air. You can fly from London Gatwick to La Palma (SPC) in four hours 25 minute with TUI - one-way flights start at £136 (on November 13, 2025). Madeira Madeira is a region of Portugal which comprises four islands off the northwest coast of Africa. The islands have even been compared to Hawaii with subtropical forests, vineyards - and it has black and golden sand beaches. You can fly from London Luton to Madeira (FNC) in three hours 55 minute with easyJet- one-way flights start at £41.99 (on October 13, 2025). Majorca Trusty Majorca is always popular with Brits for its reliable sunny weather and high summer temperatures. It's the most popular of the Balearic Islands, the capital city of Palma is always bustling with top attractions being the Palma Cathedral and castle. You can fly from Manchester to Majorca (PMI) in two hours 35 minutes with Ryanair - one-way flights start at £15 (on July 23, 2025). Menorca Menorca is known for being the more relaxed sister of Majorca and Ibiza. It has four main towns, including, Binibeca Vell which is a fishing village with white-washed houses and has been dubbed to being similar to Santorini. You can fly from London Stansted to Menorca (MAH) in two hours 25 minutes with Ryanair - one-way flights start at £21.99 (on August 21, 2025). 8 Mykonos Mykonos is probably one of, if not the most famous islands in Greece, instantly recognisable for its iconic windmills, white-washed buildings and beachside restaurants. Over the years it's become popular with celebrities too like Beyonce and the Hemsworth brothers. There's even a famous pelican that is the unofficial mascot of the sun-soaked island. You can fly from London Gatwick to Mykonos (JMK) in three hours 50 minutes with easyJet- one-way flights start at £38.99 (on August 25, 2025). Rhodes Dubbed as the quieter neighbour of Crete and Santorini, Rhodes is the place to be, and as one Sun Writer discovered it's much cheaper too. They discovered the nightlife too with rooftop bars and fine dining at Mystilli Roof Garden. You can fly from London Luton to Rhodes (RHO) in four hours and 10 minutes with easyJet- one-way flights start at £32.99 (on October 21, 2025). Santorini While some try to steer away from the busier Greek islands, there are some you have to see for yourself - like Santorini. Popular sites are the blue-domed churches and views of the houses carved into the cliffs. You can fly from London Stansted to Santorini (JTR) in three hours 50 minutes with Ryanair - one-way flights start at £34.99 (on September 28, 2025). Sardinia Sardinia is an Italian haven for celebrities and British holidaymakers. You can explore the island by speedboat, adventure up hiking trails or laze about on sunbeds. You can fly from London Stansted to Sardinia (AHO) in two hours 30 minutes with Ryanair - one-way flights start at £18 (on September 28, 2025). 8 Sicily Just under two miles from the Italian mainland is the island of Sicily. With ancient ruins, incredible food, plenty of vineyards and beautiful coastlines, the island is understandably a popular destination for Brits. You can fly from London Stansted to Palermo (PMO) in three hours 10 minutes with Ryanair - one-way flights start at £21.99 (on October 30, 2025). Tenerife Sun, sea and sand, Tenerife has it in spades. It's the largest of the Canary Islands and has volcanic landscapes and beautiful beaches too. One Sun Writer visited Tenerife and discovered that it's a haven for surfers as well as fun resorts and rooftop bars. You can fly from London Luton to Tenerife (TFS) in four hours 20 minute with Ryanair - one-way flights start at £21 (on September 17, 2025). Zante Also known as Zakynthos, Zante is a very popular summer resort. It's a great location for holidaymakers wanting to relax and have fun during the evening at local bars and clubs too. In 2023, Navagio Beach was named one of the best beaches in the world by the travel website World's Best Beaches. You can fly from London Stansted to Zante (ZTH) in three hours 25 minute with Ryanair - one-way flights start at £29.99 (on October 21, 2025). 8
