U.S. Program Orientation

Many of you will be arriving in Alcalá de Henares on Monday morning/afternoon, either directly from the airport or from Madrid city center. It is very easy to get to the hotel, and you have a few transportation options, though we recommend you take the bus:

1) BUS FROM THE AIRPORT

For those of you landing at Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez airport on Monday, you will need to take the 824 bus from T1 or T2. It is a large green bus (known as an interurbano, because it goes between towns in the Comunidad de Madrid). If your flight lands at T4, take the internal airport shuttle bus that stops at all of the terminals to either T1 or T2. This bus takes approximately 40 minutes to get to Alcalá.

The 824 runs every 40 minutes, and a one-way ticket to Alcalá de Henares costs 3,60€. Bus drivers are not required to have change for bills greater than 5€, so if you arrive with large bills, ask for change at one of the cafés in the terminal. You will have to put your luggage in the storage area below the bus.

You will get off at the stop “Avenida de Madrid-Puerta de Madrid” which is in a large roundabout just outside the beginning of the historic center of Alcalá de Henares. The bus stop is right across the street from the hotel.

2) BUS FROM MADRID CITY CENTER

For those of you leaving Madrid city center on Monday, the bus is likely your best option. Take the 223 bus from platform (dársena) 07 at the Avenida de América intercambiador (many urban bus lines stop here, as well as metro lines 4, 6, 7, and 9). This bus takes 30-50 minutes, depending on traffic conditions.

The 223 runs every 10-20 minutes and a one-way ticket to Alcalá de Henares costs 3,60€. Bus drivers are not required to have change for bills greater than 5€. You will have to put your luggage in the storage area under the bus.

You will get off at the stop “Avenida de Madrid-Puerta de Madrid” which is in a large roundabout just outside the beginning of the historic center of Alcalá de Henares. The bus stop is right across the street from the hotel.

3) RENFE (REGIONAL RAIL, OR CERCANÍAS) FROM MADRID CITY CENTER

Both the C-2 and C-7 cercanías trains go to Alcalá de Henares. You can get on these trains at the following cercanías stops: Nuevos Ministerios (M: 6, 8, 10), Recoletos, Atocha (M: 1), and Asamblea de Madrid-Entrevías. The train takes approximately 50 minutes from Nuevos Ministerios to Alcalá de Henares.

A one-way ticket from Madrid city center (any of the stops listed above) to the Alcalá de Henares cercanías stop costs 3,40€. Keep your ticket, as you will need it to exit through a turnstile at the Alcalá train station. From the train station to the hotel is a 20 minute walk, so we discourage you from taking cercanías if you are arriving with a lot of luggage. There are some taxis in Alcalá, but they are not always easy to find.

4) TAXI FROM THE AIRPORT OR MADRID CITY CENTER

This option is expensive (60 -75€, depending on traffic conditions and exact departure location).

5) TRAVEL INFORMATION TO HOST REGION AFTER ORIENTATION

The airport or train/bus station you take from Madrid to your Host Region will greatly depend on your own travel plans and your host region and city. Generally speaking, most of you will likely fly or take ground transportation to your host city. For Canarias TAs, some of you will need to take a flight from Madrid to one of the major islands, and then take a ferry or another flight to your home island and city or town. You can find information about some of the airports or other methods of transportation regional or city guides. Most airports in Spain and Europe have connections to some combination of local buses, long-distance buses, RENFE (which is the Spanish train system), and subway systems.