The easiest way to reach Alcalá de Henares is the Cercanías commuter train from Atocha: lines C-2 and C-7 take 39 minutes with no change, and a single ticket costs 3.40 euros. On weekdays trains leave every 10 to 15 minutes on average during the day. From the airport, intercity bus 824 leaves Terminal 2 and takes about 40 minutes for 3 euros. Get off at the station called simply Alcalá de Henares, 875 metres from the main square. The last train back to Atocha leaves at 23:22 on weekdays.
How do I get to Alcalá de Henares? By Cercanías train from Atocha, 39 minutes on line C-2 or C-7 for 3.40 euros, with the last train back at 23:22 on weekdays. From Madrid airport, bus 824 from Terminal 2, about 40 minutes for 3 euros. There is no direct train from Sol, and the old town’s station is Alcalá de Henares, not Universidad.
- From Sol: change at Atocha.
- Paying: contactless card at the gates, in and out.
- From Terminal 4: free shuttle bus to Terminal 2.
- Last train back: 23:22 weekdays, 23:20 weekends.
How do I get there from the airport?
Bus 824 is the only direct link. It starts at Terminal 2, stops at Terminal 1 and reaches Alcalá’s Vía Complutense in about 40 minutes, for 3 euros paid on board. It runs every 40 minutes from 6:40 to 22:00 on weekdays and every hour from 8:30 to 21:30 at weekends and on holidays.
Arriving at Terminal 4, take the free shuttle bus between terminals, every 5 minutes from 6:00 to 22:00 and every 20 minutes otherwise, to Terminal 2. Alternatively, take Cercanías C-1 to Chamartín and change to the C-2 or C-7, about 68 to 70 minutes on board plus the transfer. Heading back to fly, the last 824 that reaches Terminal 2 leaves Alcalá at 21:10 on weekdays and 20:30 at weekends; later buses stop short of the airport.
Which Madrid station should I leave from?
Atocha is the fastest, and the only easy option if you are staying near Sol, since there is no direct train from Sol: take line C-3 or C-4 towards Atocha, one stop and about 5 minutes, and change there to the C-2 or C-7.
From the north of the city, bus 223 from the Avenida de América interchange is an alternative: about 40 minutes, 3 euros paid on board, every 6 to 15 minutes on weekdays, with the last bus from Madrid at 24:00.
How do I buy a ticket?
The single fare is 3.40 euros from Atocha, Nuevos Ministerios or Chamartín, because the trip crosses five fare zones; a return is 6.80 euros. Buy it from the Cercanías machines and start your trip within 2 hours, or simply tap a contactless bank card or phone at the gates. If you pay by card, tap again when you leave, or you are charged the maximum fare.
| Ticket | Price | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Cercanías single | 3.40 euros | One train trip |
| Intercity bus single | 3 euros | Bus 223, 227, 229 or 824 |
| Renfe monthly pass | 20 euros, subsidised | Unlimited Cercanías trains |
Alcalá is in fare zone B3, so a zone A pass does not reach it; the zone T tourist travel pass, from 15.40 euros a day, covers the whole region. See whether the Madrid tourist pass is worth it.
Which station in Alcalá, and the last train back?
Alcalá has two stations. Alcalá de Henares, the one you want, is 875 metres from Plaza de Cervantes; Alcalá de Henares-Universidad serves the science campus outside town, not the historic university.
The last train back to Atocha leaves at 23:22 on weekdays and 23:20 at weekends. Going to Chamartín, the last direct train can leave earlier, as early as 23:00, as on Sunday 15 November. Once there, see things to do in Alcalá de Henares, where to eat and Alcalá with kids; for Madrid fares, the Cercanías ticket zones guide and day trips by train.
Questions about getting to Alcalá de Henares
How do I get from Madrid to Alcalá de Henares by train?
Take Cercanías line C-2 or C-7 from Atocha, a 39-minute ride with no change; Nuevos Ministerios takes about 49 minutes and Chamartín about 53. A single ticket costs 3.40 euros, or you can tap a contactless bank card at the gates on the way in and out.
How do I get from Madrid airport to Alcalá de Henares?
Take intercity bus 824 from Terminal 2, which also stops at Terminal 1: weekdays 6:40 to 22:00 every 40 minutes, weekends and holidays 8:30 to 21:30 every hour, about 40 minutes to Alcalá, 3 euros paid on board. From Terminal 4, ride the free shuttle bus to Terminal 2 first.
What time is the last train from Alcalá de Henares to Madrid?
The last Cercanías from Alcalá to Atocha leaves at 23:22 on weekdays and 23:20 at weekends. If you are heading to Chamartín, check the board: the last direct train there can leave earlier, for example at 23:00 on Sunday 15 November.
Leave from Atocha, tap your card, and check the last train back before you go.