Alcala de Henares is a city in central Spain. It lies 35 kilometres northeast of Madrid. The city has a population of 194,000 and is a part of the Community of Madrid. It is a popular destination for day trips for visitors to Madrid.
The city is known for the University of Alcalá which has around 30,000 students. It is also famous as the birthplace of Cervantes, Spain’s most famous writer and author of Don Quixote.
The University of Alcalá is a beautiful campus with many buildings dating back to the sixteenth century. It is well known in the Spanish literary world for the Cervantes Prize. This award is presented each year by the King of Spain.
The historical centre of Alcala de Henares is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The centre is where you will find most of what you are likely to want to see in the city.
Museo Casa Natal de Cervantes or Cervantes Birthplace Museum is the birthplace and former home of the great writer. It features rooms as they were in Cervantes’s time and some first editions of his work. It is a must-see for fans of Spanish literature or those who’d like a glimpse of life at the time of Cervantes.
Nearby is the Regional Archaeological Museum of Madrid.
The museum building was an old convent and has been converted to a museum displaying archaeological finds from the area. These include items from prehistory, the roman period and various periods since.
The Plaza de Cervantes is a large, tree-lined square with flower beds that bloom roses in summer. The plaza is one of the central attractions and places to socialise in the city.
The nearest major airport is Madrid. A taxi from the airport will take between 18 and 30 minutes depending on traffic. The cost will be about 40 Euros.
You can catch a regular commuter train from Atocha Station in Madrid. The trip will take between 42 and 52 minutes.
For a fun way to get to Alcalá de Henares, you can try the Cervantes train. During the 30 minute trip (there are no stops), entertainers perform works by Cervantes. The train leaves from Atocha station, check here for details.
To drive from Madrid will take between 35 and 55 minutes depending on traffic.
Another option for getting to Alcalá de Henares is using Blablacar. At the end of the week there are lots of students and staff heading to their home towns. Read our Blablacar article to learn more.