Alcalá de Henares

File:Alcalá de Henares banner.jpg Plaza de Cervantes, Alcalá de Henares, España (10) - Plaza de Cervantes. Alcalá de Henares is a town 30 kilometers northeast of Madrid. Its attractive medieval centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is full of interesting old buildings. It's a university and religious centre and famous people born here include Miguel Cervantes, author of Don Quixote and Katherine of Aragon, first wife of England's King Henry VIII. Alcalá is easily visited as a day-trip from Madrid and because it's so close to Madrid Barajas Airport it makes a good first or last night stop on a tour of northern Spain. The main Alcalá de Henares Tourism Board Centre Promoción Turística de Alcalá] is at Plaza de los Irlandeses 4, phone: +34 91 882 13 54. {{Climate | units Metric | janhigh 10.6 | febhigh 12.2 | marhigh 15.6 | aprhigh 17.2 | mayhigh 21.7 | junhigh 27.8 | julhigh 32.2 | aughigh 32.2 | sephigh 27.8 | octhigh 20.0 | novhigh 14.4 | dechigh 11.1 | janlow 0.0 | feblow 1.7 | marlow 3.3 | aprlow 5.6 | maylow 8.9 | junlow 13.3 | jullow 16.1 | auglow 16.1 | seplow 12.8 | octlow 8.3 | novlow 3.9 | declow 1.7 | janprecip 45.7 | febprecip 43.2 | marprecip 38.1 | aprprecip 45.7 | mayprecip 40.6 | junprecip 25.4 | julprecip 10.2 | augprecip 10.2 | sepprecip 30.5 | octprecip 45.7 | novprecip 63.5 | decprecip 48.3 | description See the 10 day forecast for Alcalá de Henares at vel-Alcala-de-Henares-SPXX0002?tab=2 The WeatherChannel

Travel to Alcalá de Henares

GPS 40.481847|-3.364256

Travel by plane to Alcalá de Henares

Madrid Barajas airport is 15 kilometers west, with extensive connections across Europe and beyond. A direct bus #824 runs between Alcalá and Terminals 1 & 2, every 30-40 min weekdays and hourly at weekends from about 07:00 to 22:00, taking 40 min. All these buses run from central Alcalá (corner of Via Complutense and Calle Murillo); some of them continue to the University. Reaching the airport by metro & suburban train involves going into Madrid and changing at Chamartin or Atocha to come out again.

Travel by train to Alcalá de Henares

• Estación de Alcalá de Henares - Alcalá de Henares Railway Station | Plaza de la Estación, s/n 40.48897,-3.36611 ☎ +34 902 240 505 (reservations) 004642 - Alcalá de Henares (5945315519) - Alcalá is connected to central Madrid by madrid Renfe suburban train (cercanias) lines C2 and C7. They run every 5-10 minutes, taking 38 minutes to Madrid's main station Atocha, 47 minutes to Nuevos Ministerios and 52 minutes to Chamartín. Line C7 ends here in Alcalá, line C2 continues NE to the university and Guadalajara. The station is 200 m north of Via Complutense the town's main street.

Buses from Madrid start from Avenida de América, outside the Metro station. Line 223 runs to central Alcalá (Via Complutense) every 15 mins or so between 06:00 and 10:00 and then every 30 min. Journey time is 40 min; last bus into Madrid is at 23:00, last bus out to Alcalá is at 00:00. Bus 227 runs to Alcalá university campus at Escuela Politécnica, Monday to Friday every 15-30 min, taking one hour. This circles the northern burbs of Alcalá and isn't convenient for the centre. Bus 229 runs to Alcalá Virgen del Val bus station, east side of town, Monday to Friday every 15-30 min and hourly at weekends, taking 50 min. This bus serves the south edge of town along Calle Ronda Fiscal and isn't convenient for the centre. Night bus N202 runs to Alcalá between 00:00 and 06:00, hourly Sunday - Thursday and every 30 min Friday Saturday & holidays, taking 40 min. It runs through the centre along Via Complutense and east as far as Calle Avila. Two Alsa buses per day from Madrid stop in Alcalá on the way to Zaragoza (4 hours) and Barcelona (7-8 hours).

Get around

The historic centre is compact and easily explored on foot. Alcalá bus service has a flat fare of €1.30 per ride, buy tickets from the driver.

What to See

The heart of the old town is Plaza de Cervantes, with all the main sights close by and storks nests teetering on the rooftops. North side of the Plaza leads into the colonnaded Calle Mayor, with many bars and eating places.

• La Universidad de Alcalá 40.482898,-3.363215 - Opening Hours: Daily 09:00-16:00 Adult €6, concessions €4 University of Alcalá - Universidad de Alcalá de Henares. Fachada 43904 Founded in 1499 by Cardinal Cisneros and the centre of academic excellence in Spain in the 16th and 17th centuries. Visit by guided tour only, hourly in (Spanish), in English at 14:00. The tour takes in the ornate plateresque façade and the three interior patios and the mudejar chapel and the Paraninfo auditorium where the Cervantes Literary Prize is presented by the King annually on April 23.
• Casa Natal de Cervantes - Cervantes birthplace | Calle Mayor 48 - Opening Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 10:00-18:00 Miguel de Cervantes# Thit is the house where the famous author of El Ingenioso Hidalgo don Quijote de la Mancha was born in 1547 and lived his early days. The museum recreates life in a Spanish house of that period, though perhaps a more stable, prosperous household than Cervantes' own. His father was a barber-surgeon, so the old shaving & blood-letting bowl foretells Don Quixote's mad helmet. The book was widely translated soon after Part One was published in 1605 and there's an impressive collection of translations and other Books and manuscripts from around the world. Free admission but to avoid overcrowding they only let in a dozen or so at a time, so there may be a queue.

Next to the Casa Natal and the Hospital de Antezana is a 15th C charity hospital, probably the oldest in Europe in continuous use. Nowadays it's a care home for the elderly. The Gothic Church or Lonja de la Magistral was originally 15th C, but rebuilt after fire damage in 1939. It's called a "magisterial" cathedral because its clerics were all masters, ie graduate teachers of the university. Contains the Cripta de los Santos Niños and the tomb of persecuted Catholic children. Open Monday to Friday 08:00-14:00 & 16:00-20:30, Saturday Sunday 09:00-13:00 & 18:00-20:30. Archbishop's Palace: built as a fortress in the 14-15th century, turned into an episcopal palace in the 16th century, but much of it burnt down in 1939 during the Civil War. It saw the birth of England's Katherine of Aragón and Germany's Emperor Ferdinand and the death of John I of Castille and the first interview where Christopher Columbus pitched his idea to Queen Isabel of sailing west to reach India. You can't visit the interior. However the interview room is recreated, along with other exhibitions, in the nearby House of the Interview (Casa de la Entrevista, Calle San Juan 2). The building was a 16th-century convent for Franciscan nuns. Open Tuesday - Saturday 11:00-14:00 & 17:00-20:00, Sunday 11:00-14:00. Archaeological Museum: housed in the 17th C Madre de Dios monastery-college on Plaza de las Bernadas. Prehistoric and Roman finds from the area. Open Tuesday - Saturday 11:00-19:00, Sunday 11:00-15:00. Other Roman ruins are the House of Hippolytus, west end of town by Av de Madrid, probably a 3rd- or 4th-century college, with well preserved mosaics (Open Tuesday - Sunday 10:00-14:00 and Saturday Sunday 17:00-20:00). 500 m south off Camino del Juncal is the Complutum, near the fragmentary remains of the Moorish fortress of Al Qalat (Open Tuesday - Sunday 10:00-14:00 & 16:00-18:00).

What to do in Alcalá de Henares

See a play or show at Corral de Comedias and the old courtyard theatre at 15 Plaza de Cervantes. In early summer 2022 they're doing "Hamlet"; their 2018/19 programme is not yet posted.

Muslim Friendly Shopping

Alcalá is not the place to find dozens of stores teeming with tourist goods. Typical products of the region include ceramics and jewellery.

Muslim Friendly Food & Restaurants in Alcalá de Henares

Alcalá is known for its almendras garrapiñadas, a sugar-coated almond Candies. You can buy them at El Convento de San Clarisas de San Diego (Calle Beatas 5), a cloistered abbey where the nuns make the Candies with nothing but "almonds, sugar and love." There are frequent gastronomic events very tenuously linked to passages in Don Quixote, whose woeful hero ate next to nothing and enjoyed less.

• Barataria - C de los Cerrajeros 18 | ☎ +34 918 88 59 25 Opening Hours: Monday - Tuesday Thursday - Saturday 12:00-16:00 & 20:00-00:00; Sunday to 16:00; closed West Restaurant & tapas café. Good for grilled meat; its specialty dish is ribs with honey.

The Parador restaurant Hosteria del Estudiante (Calle de Colegios 3) is excellent.

Drink

The main strip for bars is along Calle Mayor.

Buy Muslim Friendly Condos, Houses and Villas in Alcalá de Henares

eHalal Group is a prominent real estate company specializing in providing Muslim-friendly properties in Alcalá de Henares. Our mission is to cater to the specific needs and preferences of the Muslim community by offering a wide range of halal-certified residential and commercial properties, including houses, condos, and factories. With our commitment to excellence, client satisfaction, and adherence to Islamic principles, eHalal Group has established itself as a trusted name in the real estate industry. At eHalal Group, we understand the importance of meeting the unique requirements of Muslim individuals and families seeking properties that align with their cultural and religious trainings. Our extensive portfolio of Muslim-friendly properties in Alcalá de Henares ensures that clients have access to a diverse selection of options tailored to their needs. Whether it's a luxurious villa, a modern condominium, or a fully equipped factory, our team is dedicated to assisting clients in finding their ideal property. For those seeking a comfortable and modern living space, our condos are an excellent choice. Starting at US$ 350,000 and these condominium units offer contemporary designs, state-of-the-art facilities, and convenient locations within Alcalá de Henares. Each condo is thoughtfully designed to incorporate halal-friendly features and facilities, ensuring a seamless integration of Islamic values into everyday living. If you are looking for a more spacious option, our houses are perfect for you. Starting at US$ 650,000, our houses provide ample living space, privacy, and a range of customizable features to meet your specific requirements. These houses are located in well-established neighborhoods, offering a harmonious balance between modern living and Islamic values. For those seeking luxury and exclusivity, our luxury villas are the epitome of sophistication and elegance. Starting at US$ 1.5 million and these villas offer a lavish lifestyle with private facilities, breathtaking views, and meticulous attention to detail. Each luxury villa is meticulously designed to provide a serene and halal environment, allowing you to enjoy the finest living experience while adhering to your Islamic principles. For further details please email us at info@ehalal.io

Ramadan in Alcalá de Henares

Ramadan 2025 in Alcalá de Henares

Ramadan concludes with the festival of Eid al-Fitr, which may last several days, usually three in most countries.

The next Ramadan shall be from Friday, 28 February 2025 to Saturday, 29 March 2025

The next Eid al-Adha shall be on Friday, 6 June 2025

The next day of Raʾs al-Sana shall be on Thursday, 26 June 2025

The next day for Mawlid al-Nabī shall be on Monday, 16 September 2024

Muslim Friendly Hotels in Alcalá de Henares

• Parador de Alcalá de Henares Colegios, 8 40.481671,-3.360668 ☎ +34 918 88 03 30 4-star hotel in centre of this University town. Grouped around the 17th-century Dominican Convent of Santo Tomas de Aquino, but the lodging is modern and spacious. Guest parking €10 per day, no pets allowed.

Where to go next after Alcalá de Henares

Heading north & east towards Barcelona, spare a day for Zaragoza, which deserves to be better known. Most other onward destinations will involve transiting Madrid. Copyright 2015 - 2024. All Rights reserved by eHalal Group Co., Ltd.
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