Experience in Alcalá De Henares, Spain

What is it like to live in Alcalá De Henares? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

I think Alcalá de Henares is a very special city. I was born here, so I know it pretty well and I believe there is always something to do. The city is perfectly sized, not too small, not too big.

You can find anything: tons of bars, clubs, shopping centers, etc., but if you want even more, the city is very close to Madrid. It just takes 30 minutes by car and 45 minutes by public transport.

I would recommend getting a travel pass, because only for 20 euros, you can use it 30 days around all the cities within the Comunidad de Madrid and it allows you to take the bus, train and metro. Excellent deal! Oh, and you can also go to the cities of Guadalajara and Toledo, they are included for the same price even though they are not in Madrid.

Besides that, the weather is quite nice all year long.

What is the student lifestyle like in Alcalá De Henares?

Alcalá de Henares is well known for being a student city. The University of Alcalá is very popular and highly recognized.

For instance, I study Modern Languages and Translation, and only 3 people in my class were from Alcalá, the rest were from other parts of Spain.

Besides, with the University card you get many discounts, specially at bars and clubs, so you can eat and drink for a very good price.

It is a very diverse city, lots of people come here to do their Erasmus exchange, so you can come across with people from all over the globe.

How much does it cost to live in Alcalá De Henares?

Alcalá de Henares is not an expensive city, if we think of the standard salary.

If you search well, you can find a nice and good located apartment for a fairy price. I have friends who pay 250 euros for a room in a shared apartment, five minutes from downtown.

Regarding food, you can get really cheap things at fast food restaurants, you can also get tapas, which is basically a kind of snack included in a drink price. You can get drunk and a full belly by just spending a few euros.

There are many restaurants which serve elaborated meals, and during the week the menu is around 10 euros. There are even vegan and vegetarian restaurants which taste amazing (Mamá Eco, La Huella, etc. ).

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Alcalá De Henares? Is there any advice you can give?

I'd recommend looking in advance. As I mentioned, many students come to this city not only from abroad but also from other parts of Spain, so it is highly demanded.

There are dorms and lots of apartments specially offered to students.

What is the food like? Which are your favourite dishes?

The food is very good. You can get "tapas", like I said before, with Spanish traditional meals, typical Spanish dishes such as "paella", "tortilla de patatas", "jamón serrano", "patatas bravas" and so forth.

There are also many international restaurants such as Italian, Turkish, Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, Indian and many more.

One of my favourite dishes from the Spanish gastronomy is "salmorejo" which is a cold soup made out of tomatoes, garlic, bread, olive oil and spices, blended until smooth. It is eaten with bread crumbs and it's delicious and very refreshing in summer.

It's very common to meet up for breakfast. On average you will just spend 2,5 euros for a couple of yummy toasts and a cup of coffee/tea. A very traditional breakfast is some toasts with shredded tomato, olive oil and salt.

What places would you recommend visiting in Alcalá De Henares?

I recommend visiting:

• The city center, where you can find the main University building, which is from the Renaissance period
• The house of Cervantes, a very famous Spanish writer
• The Cathedral
• And also the path though the river and the mounts called "Los cerros", if you are into hiking, nature or want to have a nice bike ride

The rest you can discover for yourself by coming here; )

Is it good to eat out in Alcalá De Henares? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

1. There are lots of bars in the city center with tapas such as: El quinto tapón, El Hemisferio, Lizarrán, La posada, 100 Montaditos and many more.
2. For a nice breakfast, a good lunch menu or dinner I would recommend La Rollerie, Complutum, Restaurante Lía or Martilota.
3. For a drink, a great places are TDK, Viva la vida, Urban Alcala, Noah and Kingston Pub.
4. And if you wanna go out to a club, go to The Green Irish Pub, Juana La Loca, Hanoi or El casco.

Is the nightlife good in Alcalá De Henares? Where is it good to go?

Yes, as I just mentioned before there are many pubs and clubs. Many of them have free entry and student discounts, such as The Green Irish Pub and Juana La Loca.

What advice would you give to future students heading to Alcalá De Henares?

Don't think it twice, it will definitely be an unforgettable experience.