A day plan on foot
Alcalá de Henares: Cervantes' city and university (a trip from Madrid)
- From and to
- 09:45 to 17:00
- Duration
- ~7 hours
- Distance
- 5 km
- Steps
- 9
A half-day to full-day trip from Madrid by commuter train to the old Andalusi “Alcalá”, the university city and Cervantes' birthplace, listed by UNESCO. Suits families; best Tuesday to Sunday (the Cervantes house is closed on Mondays). A day, ~7 hours.
Drawn by Dr. Abdulmajeed Al-Mudarra
- Start
- Alcalá station — Estación de Alcalá de Henares (Cercanías C2/C7)
- Finish
- Plaza de Cervantes
Cervantes' house is closed on Monday; university tours have set times — check at the tourist office on Plaza de los Santos Niños; summer is very hot at midday.
- 09:45
Walk
Alcalá de Henares station
Estación de Alcalá de Henares
Cercanías C2 or C7 train from Atocha/Sol (~35–40 minutes), then a 15-minute walk to the centre via Paseo de la Estación.
Cercanías C2 / C7 - 10:15
Visit
Catedral Magistral
Catedral Magistral de Alcalá de Henares
The Church of Saints Justo and Pastor, and the cathedral square. 30 minutes.
- 10:45
Walk
Calle Mayor
Calle Mayor (Alcalá de Henares)
The longest street with colonnades in Spain (12th century). 30 minutes.
- 11:15
Visit
Museo Casa Natal de Cervantes
A house-museum rebuilding the home of the author of “Don Quixote”, and the statues on the bench in front of it. 45 minutes. Roughly 10:00–18:00 Tuesday–Sunday; closed Monday. Free entry.
- 12:15
Visit
Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso (Universidad de Alcalá)
Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso (Universidad de Alcalá)
The plateresque façade and three cloisters, and the Paraninfo lecture hall where the Cervantes Prize is presented — inside by guided tour only. One hour.
- 13:30
Meal
Restaurant 1888
Restaurante 1888
A family lunch at Plaza de Cervantes 8, on the main square. Book.
- 15:15
Visit
Plaza de Cervantes
Plaza de Cervantes
The main square and the Cervantes monument, and the Corral de Comedias (one of the oldest theatres in Europe). 45 minutes.
- 16:15
Visit
the Archbishop's Palace
Palacio Arzobispal de Alcalá de Henares
An exterior view of the Archbishop's Palace and its wall, near the site of the Islamic “al-Qal'a” (the castle) that gave the town its name. 30 minutes.
- 17:00
Rest
Fino Bar · Alcalá
Fino Bar · Alcalá
A family break or early dinner at C/ Carmen Calzado 15 before the return train.
Cercanías C2 / C7