Market Place Terminus, Gibraltar, Bezoekersgids & wat te doen in de buurt

Market Place Terminus is the bus terminus in the town centre of Gibraltar, where several of the territory's local bus routes begin and end. It is a working transport hub rather than a sight in its own right, but it sits at the edge of the old town, which makes it a handy starting point for exploring Gibraltar on foot.

The story behind it

A bus stop has little history of its own, so the story people tell around here is about the animal that made Gibraltar famous: the Barbary macaque. Gibraltar has the only wild monkey population in Europe, roughly 300 animals, descended from North African macaques. They live mostly in the Upper Rock Nature Reserve above the town and are known for snatching food from visitors' bags.

Nobody knows for certain how the macaques first arrived, and several theories compete. Local lore adds a saying that as long as the monkeys remain on the Rock, Gibraltar will stay British. It is folklore rather than fact, but you will hear it repeated, and it shows how closely the animals are tied to the identity of the place.

What to look for

• Look at the buses lined up at their stands and the route boards, which show how the town connects to the rest of the territory.
• Look up at the Rock rising behind the rooftops, the home ground of the macaques and the best way to understand the town's setting.
• Notice the mix of English and Spanish you hear around the stands, a small sign of Gibraltar's position at the meeting point of two countries.
• Take in the contrast between the busy terminus and the narrow streets of the old town that begin a short walk away.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about 10 to 15 minutes if you are simply passing through, and longer if you are catching a bus. Check current timetables and routes before you travel.
• It is an open, everyday public space, so there is no ticket to buy and nothing to go inside.
• Main Street and the old town centre are a short walk away, so it works well as the start or end of a walking day.
• If you want to see the macaques, head up to the Upper Rock Nature Reserve. Keep food out of sight and do not feed the monkeys.

See it on a quest

The best way to see this corner of Gibraltar is as one stop on a longer walk. Discover Gibraltar Town Center: A Story Adventure takes you through the town centre on foot, and the app tells you about each place as you reach it, including the story of the macaques. At each stop you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you, so you look at the streets properly instead of rushing past. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start whenever you like, with no guide and no set time.