Puerta del Sol, Madrid

About Puerta del Sol

The name means 'Gate of the Sun': in the Middle Ages the eastern gate of the city wall stood here, facing the sunrise, and by one account it bore an image of the sun. The wall is long gone, and the square that replaced it became Madrid's central point. Ten streets meet here, and beneath it lies one of the city's largest metro and commuter-rail stations.

The square is crescent-shaped and lined with elegant 19th-century buildings with balconies and signs. On the south side stands the 18th-century old Post Office with its turret and famous clock. It's always busy: locals arrange to meet 'by the bear', visitors take photos and buskers entertain the crowds.

The bear, Kilometre Zero and the clock

The square's best-loved symbol is the bronze Bear and the Strawberry Tree, El Oso y el Madroño, installed in 1967. A bear reaching for berries appears on Madrid's coat of arms, and a photo with it is a must. Across the square stands the Mariblanca, a copy of an old statue of a goddess that once crowned a fountain here.

In front of the Post Office, a stone Kilometre Zero plaque is set into the pavement, the point from which distances on Spain's radial roads are measured. Above it rises the clock: on New Year's Eve, as it strikes midnight, people on the square and watching on television across Spain eat 12 grapes, one per chime, for luck in the year ahead.

What to see at Puerta del Sol

• The Bear and the Strawberry Tree — Madrid's symbol.
• Kilometre Zero — the plaque by the Post Office.
• The old Post Office clock — Spain sees in the New Year by it.
• The Mariblanca — a copy of an old fountain statue.
• The Tío Pepe sign — the famous neon advert on a rooftop.
• Calle del Arenal — the pedestrian street to the Royal Palace.

Where to go from the square

To the west runs pedestrianised Calle del Arenal, with shops and a famous café serving churros and hot chocolate almost around the clock. It leads to the Teatro Real and the Royal Palace. To the south-west, Calle Mayor takes you to Plaza Mayor and the San Miguel market.

To the north, the shopping streets Preciados and Carmen lead up to Gran Vía and its theatres and cinemas, while Calle de Alcalá heads east to the Cibeles fountain and the Prado. To the south-east lies the literary Barrio de las Letras, with tapas bars and Plaza de Santa Ana.

Tips

The square is best in the evening, when the lights and the rooftop neon come on and street performers gather. Mornings are quieter, good for a photo with the bear without a queue. On New Year's Eve access is controlled and the square fills to bursting, so arrive very early if you want to celebrate here.

Pickpockets work the area, especially by the metro exits and the bear, so keep your bag in front of you. Don't buy 'tickets' or souvenirs from street sellers. Eat in the side streets: the square itself is full of chain cafés, while old taverns and tapas bars are a few steps away.

In December a big Christmas tree and lights go up around the square, and the Christmas market opens next door on Plaza Mayor. In summer the square bakes in the sun, so carry on through the shady lanes of the Barrio de las Letras or into the Retiro.

Places in Madrid: compare and choose

Places in Madrid rated by YesGo. Click a column header to sort.

Nearby and on the way

51

Plaza Mayor

Madrid, Spain

40 min · Free · 6 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Plaza Mayor

43

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

Madrid, Spain

2 h · Paid · 13 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

53

Royal Palace of Madrid

Madrid, Spain

1 h 45 min · Paid · 16 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Royal Palace of Madrid

51

Almudena Cathedral

Madrid, Spain

45 min · Cathedral free · 16 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Almudena Cathedral

How to do it right

• Photograph the bear in the morning.
• Kilometre Zero is by the Post Office.
• Keep your things close.
• The whole centre is within walking distance.

Questions