Gibraltar’s status as a first-class business hub is growing, thanks to an expanding economy and low corporation tax. The Club explores five ways business travellers can enjoy their well-earned downtime

1. Spring forward
Time your trip to coincide with the Gibraltar Spring Festival, a three-week event that brings together the colourful aspects of Gibraltar’s varied culture in all their glory. Expect to see streets filled with music and dancing, art exhibitions and a wide variety of cultural demonstrations. The festival culminates with the Calentita Food Festival, where the local communities each bring their most celebrated culinary offerings.

2. Get down
Europe’s party loving festival goers head to the Rock every year to see music’s biggest names strut their stuff at the Gibraltar Music Festival. Last year’s event saw headline sets from 1980s new wave legends Duran Duran and tight trousered stadium rockers Kings of Leon. The festival will take place from 3-4 September at the open air Victoria Stadium.

3. Beat the board-om
When the party gets too much and you find yourself in search of a more leisurely pastime, look no further than the Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival. One of the world’s leading chess tournaments, previous years have seen legendary grand masters such as Nigel Short and Viktor Korchnoi attempt to outwit their formidable opponents. Backgammon is also a keenly followed game in the region, with Gibraltar’s own Backgammon Championship attracting some of the world’s leading players to compete every year. 

4. Set sail
Leave the Rock behind and head out on to the Mediterranean Sea. Sailing schools can be found all along Gibraltar’s coast, with the temperate tidal waters and dramatic coastal scenery providing an excellent environment for learning the ropes. There are plenty of legendary shipwrecks to explore if you feel like venturing below the waves with a dive centre, or join a boat cruise and spend some time getting to know the pods of whales and dolphins that live just offshore.

5. Talk shop
The entire jurisdiction of Gibraltar is duty-free and the currency is sterling, meaning that British travellers can take advantage of the lower shopping prices without having to worry about conversion rates. For the best deals head to Main Street, where you’ll find familiar British high street shops in a quaint Mediterranean setting. For more traditional wares walk towards Grand Casemates Square, where you’ll find local artisanal shops and outdoor glass blowing demonstrations.

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This article has been tagged Destination, Travel Tips