Puerta del Sol
The heart of Madrid and the “Kilometer Zero” starting point of Spain’s highways. The bear-and-strawberry-tree statue and the clock tower that rings in the New Year are both here.
Puerta del Sol is Madrid’s busiest semicircular square and the “Kilometer Zero” starting point of Spain’s radial national highways. The marker plaque is set into the ground in front of the Real Casa de Correos building, which houses the Community of Madrid’s regional government, and visitors line up to step on it for photos. The bronze statue of a bear and a strawberry tree on the east side of the square is the symbol of Madrid’s coat of arms, and it is the most common meeting point for dates. The clock tower on the post office building rings 12 chimes every New Year’s Eve. The ceremony is broadcast nationwide on TV, and people eat 12 grapes with each chime to welcome the new year. This square was also the site of the May 2, 1808 uprising against Napoleon, which is the subject of a famous Goya painting. Near Km 0 on the north side of the square stands an equestrian statue of Charles III. Since its 2023 renovation, the square has been fully pedestrianized. To the north, it connects to the Preciados and Carmen shopping streets and El Corte Inglés. To the southwest, it is a 5-minute walk to the Plaza Mayor, and to the west you can walk along Arenal Street to the Royal Palace. Sol metro station on lines L1, L2 and L3, as well as the Cercanías commuter rail, serve the square directly. The square is open all day. It is very crowded, and there are many pickpockets, costumed characters who charge for photos, and street vendors, so keep an eye on your belongings.
Opening hours
Open all day
Nearby sights
- Monastery of Las Descalzas Reales
- Gran Vía
- Chocolatería San Ginés
- Plaza Mayor
- Mercado de San Miguel
- Chueca
- Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum
- El Rastro Flea Market