La Línea de la Concepción

La Línea de la Concepción is a municipality in Cádiz province at the southern tip of Spain, situated on a narrow strip of land between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic directly next to Gibraltar. The urban area extends along the bay, with residential neighborhoods on one side and port infrastructure on the other side of the center.

Spanish forces built fortifications here in the 18th century during repeated sieges of Gibraltar and established a military camp. The settlement gained independence from San Roque in 1870 and grew into a border town with its own administration.

The name refers to the Spanish defensive lines once built facing Gibraltar, now replaced by a modern border crossing facility. Local shops often price goods in both currencies and multilingual signage reflects daily encounters with British visitors.

The border crossing can cause longer waiting times during peak hours, especially mornings and evenings on weekdays. The center is walkable and the beach promenade runs parallel to the coast eastward.

This is the only land route between mainland Spain and Gibraltar, crossed daily by thousands of workers commuting in both directions. People often queue at the border to collect cigarettes and other goods from Gibraltar or to shop there.

Location: Cádiz Province

Inception: 1870

Capital city: La Línea de la Concepción

Elevation above the sea: 5 m

Part of: districte notarial de San Roque, Mancomunitat de municipis de la Comarca del Campo de Gibraltar espanyol, Campo de Gibraltar

Shares border with: Gibraltar, San Roque

Address: 11300 La Línea de la Concepción, Cádiz, Spain

Website: http://lalinea.es

GPS coordinates: 36.16111,-5.34861

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:46