Things to Do in Alcalá de Henares

THE GUIDED TOURS IN ALCALÁ DE HENARES #1 ON GOOGLE AND TRIPADVISOR SINCE 2019, conducted by freelance guides with over 14 years of experience, graduates in history, and with an official guide license.

IMPORTANT: Participation of groups of more than 6 people in the free tours, regardless of whether several reservations have been made from different email addresses, is subject to a prior payment of €10 / person VAT included. Contact us to learn about the participation conditions for large groups in free tours.

Birthplace of the greatest figure in Spanish literature, Miguel de Cervantes, the monumental town of Alcalá de Henares has held the title of UNESCO World Heritage City since December 2, 1998, ranking among the cities with the highest number of cultural heritage sites in all of Spain.
Despite this, and very unfairly, it remains a great mystery to many visitors who have arrived in Madrid and wish to explore its surroundings in addition to the capital. Our tour, approximately 1.5 hours long, proposes a journey through time via its medieval layout, Roman remains, baroque palaces and churches, and its prestigious university, founded over five centuries ago, so that in your travel journal, Alcalá de Henares becomes a must-see.

Places we will visit externally during the tour:

Plaza de Cervantes

Regional Archaeological Museum

Magistral Cathedral

Cisnerian University

Cervantes' birthplace

Complutense gastronomy

Archbishop's Palace

One of the oldest hospitals in the world

The medieval Jewish quarter and much more…

Important Information:

*Participation of groups of more than 6 people in the free tours is subject to a prior payment of €10 / person VAT included.

*Minimum group size to start the tour: 4.

*The tour is conducted entirely on foot and is fully accessible. 

*No tickets are required, the mentioned monuments are visited externally. 

*Minors are not accepted without the accompaniment of an adult. 

*Reservations from travel agencies or wholesalers are not accepted.

*Pets are welcome.

We will take a walk through the Alcalá de Cervantes y Cisneros, a World Heritage city that will not leave you indifferent.

Main stops:

• Cervantes Square.
• Madrid Gate
• Main street
• The Jewish Quarter
• Exterior of the Cervantes Birthplace Museum and the former Antezana Hospital.
• Image Street.
• Archbishop's Palace Square
• Plaza de los Santos Niños and exterior of the Cathedral-Magistral.
• Facade of the university.
• Chapel of the Oidor

The meeting point will be the Puerta de Madrid.

* Groups of more than six people are not allowed, even if they make separate reservations. If there are more than 6 of you, please contact me using the message option to arrange a private tour.

THE GUIDED TOURS IN ALCALÁ DE HENARES #1 ON GOOGLE AND TRIPADVISOR SINCE 2019, conducted by freelance guides with over 14 years of experience, graduates in history, and holders of official guide licenses.

IMPORTANT: Participation of groups of more than 6 people in the free tours, regardless of whether multiple reservations have been made from different email addresses, is subject to a prior payment of €10 / person including VAT. Contact us to learn about the participation conditions for large groups in free tours.

If you already know Alcalá de Henares and are almost an expert, we propose in this tour to delve into one of the city's most unknown areas, the Christian quarter. We will start our route at the Plaza de los Santos Niños, the place where two of our protagonists, the children Justo and Pastor, were beheaded. Next, we will look up to discover the hidden Roman inscriptions in the Cathedral-Magistral, then stroll through the ancient Alcalá "red-light district," unveiling the most unknown intricacies of the old brothel area.

The Peninsular War in the Henares River region will also be one of the topics we will address, guided by one of its most popular and beloved heroes in the Cervantine population: El Empecinado.

We will discover several convents full of history, curiosities, and traditions that are still alive, while we follow the trail of duels, fights, and murders that occurred in dark alleys, cases of witchcraft, renowned inquisitorial processes, and even the origin of the world's oldest profession.

All this and much more awaits us in the Alcalá de Henares Unusual Free Tour.

What you will discover in the Unusual Alcalá de Henares:

The intimate life of Fernando VII

El Empecinado and the Peninsular War

Roman inscriptions of the Cathedral Magistral

The origins of prostitution

Old Hospital of Santa María la Rica

Archbishop's Prison

The Alcalá "red-light district"

Convent of the Augustinians of Santa María Magdalena

The Inquisition in Alcalá and much more…

 Important Information:

*Participation of groups of more than 6 people in the free tours is subject to a prior payment of €10 / person including VAT.

*Minimum group size to start the tour: 4.

*The tour is conducted entirely on foot and is fully accessible. 

*No tickets are required, the mentioned monuments are visited externally. 

*Minors are not accepted without the accompaniment of an adult. 

*Reservations from travel agencies or wholesalers are not accepted.

*Pets are welcome.

Welcome to the Alcalá World Heritage Tour! (For English tours, please contact me)

This tour will give you the perfect introduction to a city with a history spanning over two millennia . You'll learn the intricacies of what was and is the world's first university city, thanks to Cardinal Cisneros, what Alcalá was known as the City of Three Cultures , and the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra , the author of Don Quixote.

We'll begin in Plaza de las Bernardas , a quiet and less crowded spot in the Old Town, and gradually visit the main tourist attractions , culminating in the University, the highlight of the tour. We'll then delve into everything at the end, like a good novel, full of interesting facts and entertaining explanations 😉

We will visit from the outside (We will enter the Chapel of the Oidor except for the 6:00 PM group):

• Plaza de las Bernardas
• Archbishop's Palace
• Interview House
• Magistral Cathedral of the Holy Children
• Main street
• Cervantes Birthplace Museum
• Former Antezana Hospital
• Cervantes Square
• Corral de Comedias
• Chapel of the Oidor (Where Cervantes' Baptismal Certificate is located)
• Old University of Alcalá

And more! ( With a game included during the Tour, we'll see what happens in the end )

So , I'm waiting for you to discover Alcalá together. I assure you, you'll fall in love with it 😊

Are you visiting Alcalá and want to discover the history hidden in the historic center of Alcalá de Henares?

I'll show you Alcalá de Henares with a comprehensive itinerary, full of verified historical information, anecdotes, and interesting facts. This way, you can enjoy a concise overview that will give you a glimpse into the ancient history of this Complutense city, guided by a local, professional freelance guide .

A friendly and intimate tour with generally small groups where we can get to know each other and you can ask any questions ; it's not uncommon for friendships to develop with the participants.

In addition to telling the story of the itinerary, I am happy to take photos, answer questions, recommend places to eat, etc.

The important thing is to have a good time, have a good experience and enjoy the city.

The stops on the itinerary will be:

📍Puerta de Madrid.
📍Antiquarium and Tower of the XIV.
📍Archbishop's Palace.
📍Plaza de las Bernardas.
📍Cathedral of the Holy Children.
📍Main Street.
🔺Antezana Hospital.
🔺 Synagogue Courtyard.
🔺Danger Alley.
🔺Irish Square
📍Cervantes' birthplace.
📍Cervantes Square.
📍University of Alcalá.

Book for free and you can pay what you want right at the end of the tour.

Finally, thank you for choosing my tour, get ready to enjoy your day in Alcalá, and remember:

• Positive feedback after the tour is greatly appreciated; it helps me grow and gives other users the opportunity to learn about the tour.

A free tour to know the history and beauty of Alcalá de Henares . Our tour consists of a visit that will bring us closer to the fundamental places in the history of Alcalá de Henares. A story linked to the great events in the history of Spain , of which Alcalá de Henares was the protagonist for many centuries.

Some of the places that we will see during the tour are:

• Cervantes Square.
• Main Street
• The Jewish Quarter
• Synagogue Corral
• Exterior of the Cervantes Birthplace Museum and the old Antezana Hospital.
• Image Street.
• Palace Square
• Plaza de las Bernardas and external archaeological museum.
• Plaza de los Santos Niños and exterior Catedral-Magistral
• San Diego Square
• The facade of the university.
• Chapel of the Oidor (Interior)
• And some surprise ...

** It is possible to change the route and schedules depending on the availability of the buildings included in the visit.

Join me as we discover Alcalá de Henares through its convent and university history. Through its secrets and legends, its streets where writers, artists, and legendary figures from our history have passed through. A walk through the history of art that emerges at every turn in this brilliant city of the Renaissance and the Golden Age. We will visit its university colleges, convents, hermitages, and palaces to witness the living history of our city of students, the cradle of knowledge and wisdom.

On our tour we will visit:

-The Magistral Cathedral of the Holy Children: 15th-16th century.

-Archbishop's Palace: 13th-19th century.

-Cistercian Convent of San Bernardo: 17th century.

-Convent of the Mother of God (17th century) and old Muslim quarter (Santiago Street).

-Convent of La Imágen: 16th century.

-Calle Mayor: Cervantes House-Museum, Synagogue Corral and Antezana Hospital (15th century).

-Irish College: 17th century.

-Convent of the Augustinians of Saint Mary Magdalene: 17th century.

-Convent of San José de Los Caracciolos: 17th century-18th century.

-Minor College of Discalced Trinitarians: 17th century.

-College of Malaga: 17th century.

-Tower and ruins of Santa María (15th century) and Chapel of the Oidor (16th-17th century).

-Plaza de Cervantes: Town Hall (Former College-Convent of San Carlos Borromeo (17th-19th century).

-Chapel of San Ildefonso (15th-16th centuries).

-San Ildefonso College (XVI).

-Church of Santa María La Mayor and Chapel of the Holy Forms (17th-18th century).

-Maximum College of the Society of Jesus (17th century).

Imagine arriving in a city where the streets whisper words from the Golden Age, where the walls breathe history, and every corner winks at you...

It's not a dream: it's Alcalá de Henares , and you're about to discover it like never before, with the help of a guide who not only knows it, but lives it .

From the first step you will feel like you are not on just another tour:
You are entering a narrative journey , a story that is built as we advance between walls, squares, cloisters and alleys.

With just the right pace and a guide who loves this city, you'll discover what books don't tell you, what maps don't point out, and what photos don't capture: the essence of Alcalá .

• Madrid Gate and Medieval Walls
• Plaza de las Bernardas and Cathedral-Magistral
• Archbishop's Palace and Palace Square
• Rectorate of the University and College of San Ildefonso
• Calle Mayor and its Jewish history
• Cervantes' Birthplace
• And more corners that only curious eyes will know how to appreciate...

📍 We end at Plaza de Cervantes , the beating heart of the city, where past and present come together.

Explore. Feel. Discover.
Experience history with us.