Madrid, Spain · Europe
Alcalá de Henares works well as a base: 10 minutes from Los Hueros, 24km from Circuito del Jarama.
Alcalá de Henares is a city located in Madrid, Spain. With a population of 193,751, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Alcalá de Henares sits in Spain, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Madrid time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Alcalá de Henares to your route.
Alcalá de Henares (Spanish pronunciation: [alkaˈla ðe eˈnaɾes] ) is a Spanish municipality of the Community of Madrid. Housing is primarily located on the north bank of the Henares. As of 2018, it has a population of 193,751, making it the region's third-most populated municipality.
Predated by earlier hilltopRead more
settlements (oppida) and the primitive Complutum on the left bank of the Henares, the new Roman settlement of Complutum was founded in the mid 1st century on the right bank (north) river meadow, becoming a bishopric seat in the 5th century. One of the several Muslim citadels in the Middle March of al-Andalus (hence the name Alcalá, a derivative of the Arabic term for citadel) was established on the left bank, while, after the Christian conquest culminated c. 1118, the bulk of the urban nucleus returned to the right bank. For much of the late middle-ages and the early modern period before becoming part of the province of Madrid, Alcalá de Henares was a seigneurial estate of the archbishops of Toledo. Under patronage of Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros, Alcalá was transformed into a college town in the 16th century in the wake of the creation of the University of Alcalá.
Its historical centre is one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.
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Alcalá de Henares offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
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Alcalá de Henares is located in Madrid, Spain, Europe. The coordinates are 40.4821 latitude, -3.3600 longitude.
Alcalá de Henares has a population of approximately 193,751 people, making it a city in Spain.
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Essential numbers in Spain
Guardia Civil (traffic police): 062. Two warning triangles required in vehicles.
Full driving guide for Spain5 notable places within an hour's drive.
racetrack
A tight, twisting 3.4km circuit north of Madrid designed by John Hugenholtz that hosted nine Spanish Grands Prix. Still active for club racing and track days, largely unchanged since the 1970s.
24 km · about 30 min drive
museum
Spain's national museum of 20th-century art, home to Picasso's monumental anti-war painting Guernica.
29 km · about 35 min drive
museum
Spain's premier art museum with an unrivaled collection of European art, including masterworks by Velázquez, Goya, and El Greco.
29 km · about 35 min drive
landmark
Grand 17th-century rectangular plaza in central Madrid surrounded by three-storey residential buildings with 237 balconies.
30 km · about 35 min drive
landmark
Largest functioning royal palace in Europe with over 3,400 rooms, the official residence of the Spanish royal family.
31 km · about 35 min drive
April to October
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