# Puerta del Sol, Madrid > Puerta del Sol is Madrid's central square, the heart of the city where ten streets meet. Here stands the Bear and the Strawberry Tree, the city's symbol; here lies the Kilometre Zero plaque from which Spain's roads are measured; and on the old Post Office hangs the clock the whole country watches on New Year's Eve. It's always open and free; allow 20 to 30 minutes. Web page: https://yesgo.io/spain/madrid/puerta-del-sol - City: [Madrid](https://yesgo.io/spain/madrid), Spain - YesGo score: 52/100 (Yes, go) - Time on site: 25 min - Opening hours: Always open - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free, 24 hours - Highlights: The bear, Kilometre Zero, the old Post Office clock - Time needed: 20–30 minutes - New Year: 12 grapes on the chimes - Nearby: Plaza Mayor, Gran Vía, Calle del Arenal - Location: Centre, Sol metro (L1, L2, L3) - Coordinates: 40.41694, -3.70361 - Facts checked: 11.11.2026 ## Key facts - **Km 0** — where Spain's radial roads are measured from (source: English Wikipedia) - **1967** — the bear statue was installed (source: English Wikipedia) - **18th c.** — the old Post Office and its clock were built (source: English Wikipedia) - **10 streets** — meet at the square (source: English Wikipedia) ## 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. > **A handy starting point** Puerta del Sol is a great place to start any walk: 5 minutes to Plaza Mayor, 10 to Gran Vía and 15 to the Royal Palace or the Prado. There's a station for three metro lines and Cercanías commuter trains. Keep your things close in the crowds. ## 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](https://yesgo.io/spain/madrid/royal-palace-madrid). To the south-west, Calle Mayor takes you to [Plaza Mayor](https://yesgo.io/spain/madrid/plaza-mayor-madrid) 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. ## How to get to the square 1. Metro: **Sol** station on lines L1, L2 and L3, exiting right onto the square. 2. **Cercanías** commuter trains stop at Sol, including from Atocha station. 3. From the airport, metro L8 with a change, or the Exprés Aeropuerto bus to Atocha, then one stop. 4. On foot, 10 minutes from Gran Vía and 15 from the Prado. ## 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. ## Checklist Tick off what's ready — your ticks are saved in this browser. - [ ] Take a photo with the bear - [ ] Find the Kilometre Zero plaque - [ ] Look up at the old Post Office clock - [ ] Have churros and chocolate on Calle del Arenal - [ ] Walk on to Plaza Mayor ## Places in Madrid: compare and choose Places in Madrid rated by YesGo. - [Puerta del Sol](https://yesgo.io/spain/madrid/puerta-del-sol) — YesGo score 52/100 (Yes, go) · 25 min · Free - [Plaza Mayor](https://yesgo.io/spain/madrid/plaza-mayor-madrid) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 40 min · Free - [Plaza de España](https://yesgo.io/spain/madrid/plaza-de-espana-madrid) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free - [Retiro Park](https://yesgo.io/spain/madrid/retiro-park) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 45 min · Free - [Ávila](https://yesgo.io/spain/madrid/avila) — YesGo score 27/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 6 h · Town free ## Don't mix it up Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor are different squares, five minutes apart. Plaza Mayor is the enclosed rectangular square with arcades. ## Tips - 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 ### What is there to see at Puerta del Sol? The bear and strawberry tree statue, the Kilometre Zero plaque and the old Post Office clock. ### Why is it called the Gate of the Sun? The city's eastern gate, facing the sunrise, once stood here. ### Where is the Kilometre Zero plaque? In the pavement in front of the old Post Office on the south side. ### How do I get to Puerta del Sol? By metro to Sol, lines L1, L2 and L3. ### What is the grape tradition? On New Year's Eve people eat 12 grapes, one for each chime of the clock, for luck. ## How we checked Facts from English Wikipedia. Walking times are approximate. ## Sources - English Wikipedia: Puerta del Sol - Madrid tourism portal, esmadrid.com --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.