Why go

Puerta del Sol is the beating heart of Madrid. A broad, semi-circular square where ten streets meet, it takes its name from a gate in the old city wall that once stood here, said to have faced the rising sun. Today it is a meeting place, a transport hub and the symbolic centre of Spain: road distances across the country are measured from a plaque in its pavement.

Almost every visitor passes through Sol several times. Calle Mayor leads west to Plaza Mayor and the Royal Palace, Calle del Arenal to the opera house, Calle de Preciados to the shops of Callao, and Calle de Alcalá east towards Cibeles and the Retiro.

What to see

  • Casa de Correos. The 18th-century former post office on the south side, now the seat of the Madrid regional government, crowned by the famous clock.
  • Kilometre Zero. The plaque on the pavement in front of the Casa de Correos main entrance, the starting point for Spain’s radial roads.
  • El Oso y el Madroño. The bronze Bear and the Strawberry Tree, the symbol of Madrid, at the start of Calle de Alcalá.
  • Charles III. An equestrian statue of the king often called Madrid’s best mayor, for the avenues, fountains and buildings he gave the city.
  • La Mariblanca. A copy of a 17th-century statue of Venus at the start of Calle del Arenal; the original is kept in the Casa de la Villa.

New Year’s Eve

Sol is where Spain sees in the new year. On 31 December crowds fill the square to eat twelve grapes, one on each stroke of the Casa de Correos clock at midnight, a tradition broadcast live on national television. The 2026 celebration takes place on the night of 31 December. If you want to join in, arrive many hours early, expect security checks and controlled access, and bring your grapes; many people buy tins of peeled grapes for speed.

Plan your visit

The square is a pedestrian area, open at all times and free. Twenty minutes is enough to see the statues and stand on Kilometre Zero, but it is best treated as a crossroads rather than a destination. It is crowded at almost any hour, so keep an eye on bags and phones.

Sol station, beneath the square, serves Metro lines 1, 2 and 3 and Cercanías commuter trains, which connect directly with Atocha and Chamartín stations. Ópera, Callao and Sevilla stations are all within a few minutes’ walk.

At Christmas the square is one of the centrepieces of the city’s lights, and the Casa de Correos usually displays a large Nativity scene. Calle de Preciados and Calle del Carmen, leading north to Callao, are among the busiest shopping streets in Spain, especially in December and during the January sales.

Nearby

Plaza Mayor is five minutes west, Gran Vía five minutes north, and the Barrio de las Letras and Plaza de Santa Ana, full of tapas bars, start just to the south-east. Chocolatería San Ginés, famous for churros, is a short walk along Calle del Arenal.