Puerta del Sol image

Puerta del Sol

Tourist attraction Historical landmark Plaza

One of the Most Revieweds in Madrid


Address

Prta del Sol, s/n, Centro, 28013 Madrid, Spain

Rating on Google Maps

4.60 (164.2K reviews)

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Working Hours

  • Monday: Open 24 hours
  • Tuesday: Open 24 hours
  • Wednesday: Open 24 hours
  • Thursday: (Maundy Thursday), Open 24 hours, Hours might differ
  • Friday: (Good Friday), Open 24 hours, Hours might differ
  • Saturday: Open 24 hours
  • Sunday: Open 24 hours

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: Madrid (40) square (24) restaurants (14) shopping (12) Puerta (12) metro (11) shops (9) visit (9) area (9) people (9)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Ouissal B. 2 years ago on Google
    I loved this place, it is located in the heart of Madrid, the atmosphere there is great at night, it might get crowded at times. You can call it the Times Square of Europe. It's close to the metro, and is of a walking distance to many major tourist attractions in Madrid in addition to shops, restaurants.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 snarkyguy 1 month ago on Google • 223 reviews New
    Honestly this square is cool. Very Madrid. Lots of shopping all around. A nice statue of a man on a horse. Some respectful protesting going on near the center. On the edge are some restaurants. As with everything square, there was some street performers mingling with the crowd. The Sol Metro is nearby as well. It's well-kept, clean, and feels very safe.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 One S. 6 months ago on Google • 64 reviews
    Puerta del Sol is an interesting place to see what urban culture is like in Madrid. You can find everything from street performers to important monuments and lots of stores and restaurants. It's good for taking photos and this makes it one of the most popular places for tourists to visit in Madrid. It's easy to transport yourself in and out of the area as there are train stations and bus stations very close by I wouldn't recommend bringing very young kids here though as it can be very busy.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Dan M. 6 months ago on Google • 527 reviews
    The center of the center of Madrid, as our taxi driver said. You start your trip in Madrid there and end it there. Every thing is at less than 15 minutes walk from it, from the Royal Palace to Retiro Park, the Prado, Queen Sofia Museum or the Temple of Debod. Try to find your sleeping accommodation there (as we did) and you won't need metro, trams or buses. You won't have any problem at all either to find restaurants, coffee shop, bars or Tapas. The place to be.

  • 5/5 Rohan S. 1 year ago on Google
    Sol is an amazing place, the atmosphere was very loud with different people busking to protest. When we where there, there was road works which ruined the looks and made the place a bit more tight however it was stunning. I would recommend visiting this place, also there are different roads that lead to a big shopping center.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Shachar P. 1 year ago on Google
    The central public square in Madrid where people used to meet each other. The main building in the square was the post office of Madrid, and there is a famous saying that the news came to the square before the events happened. At the top of the old post office building there is a famous clock, which everyone is watching at New Year's Eve when it comes to midnight. People come with 12 grapes to the square, and at midnight the clock chimes twelve times and at each ring, they eat a grape
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tommey L. 1 year ago on Google
    Love Puerta Del Sol for its architecture, the buildings, the people, the giant Christmas tree they put up during the holiday season, and it being at the Sol metro station along with being close to Plaza Mayor and Calle de Preciados. Has various shops and businesses for Spanish citizens and tourists alike. Definitely a must visit for anyone in Madrid.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Wisam I. 1 year ago on Google
    Cannot visit Madrid without visiting this place, but unfortunately they are renovating all the infrastructure in the area and cannot move freely
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Nima Nurbu S. 2 years ago on Google
    Sol is definitely the heart of Madrid, which almost sounds like "Soul" and it won't be wrong to call it so. Most of the branded clothing lines and shoes and among others are here in Sol. There are a lot of restaurants and bars in Sol which offer the spanish tapas, food, beer and wine. Sol is also a multi cuisine hub. I have seen chinese, thai, turkish, indian, vietnamese, etc. Its also like a stadium or arena for new enthusiastic artists and performers, and sometimes a spot to hold peaceful demonstrations, where their voices are heard. There is access of metro and Renfe also which is almost connected to all the parts of Madrid city. I specially love the buildings with all the grand and elegant architectural designs, many of which still have great historical significance. My point is you will find anything that you want in Sol, marvel yourself with the beautiful architectural monuments, observe vibrant and lively environment while resting by the water fountains or do some shopping or tickle your tastebuds.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Que sera S. 2 years ago on Google
    Very helpful and friendly staffs. Got lots of information about places to see and do.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Ariel S. 2 years ago on Google
    Great big plaza, but just like Plaza Mayor, the place has absolutely no seating or shade. If you got something to eat from the various locations around the plaza - good luck. Try sitting on the edge of a fountain and bake in the sunlight, because there is no other option. So many plazas around the world have seating and shade in such ways that do not detract from the "open space" feel of the plaza, but make it into a much more useful public space.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Gopa k. 3 months ago on Google • 354 reviews New
    Standing majestically amidst the bustling heart of Madrid, the Puerta de Alcalá is an architectural masterpiece that has captivated visitors for centuries. This imposing triumphal arch, commissioned by King Charles III in the late 18th century, stands as a symbol of Madrid's elegance and historical significance.

  • 5/5 Ninh L. 3 months ago on Google • 308 reviews New
    COOL WITH CHRISTMAS LIGHTS I was fortunate to stay at the Hotel Europa which banks onto Puerta Del Sol. Especially if you come here at Christmas and at night, this is the heartbeat of the city of Madrid, with it's cool shops, street sellers and buzzing nightlife. The lights are amazing and this'd put London to shame. Please note that this place gets incredibly crowded and you have to watch out for pickpockets here. Other than that, it comes recommended to visit if you're coming to Madrid.

  • 5/5 nora s. 3 months ago on Google • 158 reviews New
    It was very colorful because of Christmas decorations and very amusing but very crowded so you need to be extra careful.

  • 5/5 Adib M. 1 month ago on Google • 154 reviews New
    Interesting square and this is one of most busiest square in Madrid. Lots of people even during off-season. One of the spot that is always people taking photo is the Kilometre Zero.

  • 5/5 Sophia S. 1 month ago on Google • 149 reviews New
    Joined a cool walking tour at Puerta del Sol (shout out to Tourstilla!), and learned a few things about it: - Puerta del Sol means "Sun's Gate," as there used to be a literal gate on the eastern side that folks used to pass through to enter. - There is a historic building there that used to be a post office - In front of said post office, there is an emblem on the floor that says "0 KM" The six routes to the other parts of Spain are all represented from this starting point - You'll see people pose with one or two feet on top of this emblem. One means that you hope to visit Madrid again soon, and two feet means you hope to return to Madrid to stay forever - The statue is of Carlos III (Charles III). He is considered the first "major," despite not having that official title. He is responsible for Madrid having plumbing, as they used to dump their waste off the balcony until the end of the 18th century - The clock above the post office was commissioned by Carlos, but he beheaded the designer who wrote 4 as IIII instead of IV - Subsequent designers were upset with this beheading, and decided to continue using IIII in their designs around the city as a means of solidarity. What's interesting is that even big brands like Rolex use this writing of IIII on watches

  • 5/5 julie l. 6 months ago on Google • 103 reviews
    A great place to sit and enjoy some tapas while people watching. We had patatas bravas and alcochofes at Jacinta's, then did some shopping. So many shops, chocolate, coffee, jamon, and souvenir places. Lots of fun.

  • 5/5 Princy K. 9 months ago on Google
    In Madrid, there once existed a bustling public square, serving as a popular meeting place for the locals. Dominating the square was the renowned post office of Madrid, lending credence to the famous adage that news reached the square even before events unfolded. Crowning the aged post office building, a celebrated clock captivated the attention of all. As the clock's hands approached midnight on New Year's Eve, the square would fill with eager individuals, each clutching twelve grapes. At the stroke of twelve, the clock resounded twelve times, marking the cue for everyone to consume a grape with each chime.

  • 5/5 Vanessa “Vannie” S. 1 year ago on Google
    Excellent meeting point. Central point to go to Gran via, Callao, El corte ibglea Callao terrace view, Cibeles. You can find Tapas around, bars and restaurants and all kind of stores.

  • 5/5 Nicole 5 months ago on Google
    Another gorgeous square in Madrid. One spot is known as the center point of Spain.

  • 5/5 Lee W. 4 months ago on Google • 60 reviews
    A must visit while in Madrid,Puerta del sol has many attractions like the bear and the strawberry tree,next to Calle alcala,the famous clock, and the statue of Charles III,the roof terrace at the top of el corte ingles is worth a visit too,for nice views and photo opportunities.

  • 4/5 Ilan K. 8 months ago on Google
    This bustling square offers a variety of restaurants, coffeeshops, shopping opportunities and it's a good place to explore the smaller streets converging to it. There are a few entry points to the metro line "Sol". The square is surrounded by beautiful buildings, architecture typical of Madrid, and features the famous statue of the "Bear and strawberry tree" and the clock tower (not to be mixed with the one from BTTF) Overall a nice place to take some load off and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere.

  • 4/5 Amanda D. 9 months ago on Google
    Good place to take a stroll, shops restaurants galore, very fast easy walk from plaza mayor The center of Madrid is marked here by the 0km mark seal on the ground. Also the bear and the tree statue (coat of arms of Madrid) is in this square Right now there is a a ton of construction around this plaza but still the area is as busy as usual Great spots for some touristy pictures The buildings are gorgeous around this area too Easy place to grab metro

  • 5/5 Anushree J. 10 months ago on Google
    Puerta del Sol in Madrid is an iconic square that captures the vibrant spirit of the city. It's a bustling hub, a meeting point filled with energy. The stunning statue of the bear and the strawberry tree welcomes visitors. The square is always buzzing with activity, featuring street performers and musicians. It's surrounded by shops, cafes, and restaurants, offering diverse options for everyone. Puerta del Sol is well-connected and serves as a convenient starting point to explore Madrid's landmarks like the Royal Palace and Gran Vía.

  • 4/5 Raymond G. 10 months ago on Google
    Puerta del Sol is a very busy square in the centre of Madrid. It leads you into 10 very interesting streets. On one side, it is shaped as one third of a circle and on the other side is straight.

  • 5/5 Mahaveera P. 10 months ago on Google
    Nice open area with plenty of performers, old buildings, restaurants nearby and very lively with access to metro (Sol). Nice easy walk from Plaza Mayor and you will enjoy a good hour or so. Of course the iconic bear hugging the tree is there as well !!

  • 4/5 Latoyaa R. 1 year ago on Google
    Very lively square and withing the shopping district. The famous bear statue is there also.

  • 4/5 Neil S. 1 year ago on Google
    Some beautiful buildings and great shopping around this area. Easily accessed by metro. Unfortunately most of the Puerta was ripped up and under construction when I was there so it was quite ugly at the time

  • 5/5 Dennis Meisner (. 5 years ago on Google
    Aneked man bathing in the water arrested by Police. Besides this a great place to listen to Street musicians.

  • 4/5 Laura B. 2 years ago on Google
    Go to the bustling hub of Madrid to see Km O, where all highways in Spain radiate from, the Bear statue, symbol of Madrid, and for people watching

  • 5/5 Ewelina B. 2 years ago on Google
    Such a beautiful, historic place!! Must see if you're in Madrid!

  • 4/5 Angela G. 2 years ago on Google
    Big crowd, nice to see but nothing special. A bear climbing a tree is interesting to photograph.

  • 5/5 Patricia B. 2 years ago on Google
    Puerta del Sol is a very busy square. It is a good starting point to walk to Gran Via or Plaza Mayor. It is also a good area for shopping.

  • 5/5 M A. 2 years ago on Google
    Open square with many shops and activities. Good place to hang out.

  • 4/5 Oscar B. 2 years ago on Google
    Always nice to visit. And with police always watching during night-time you feel safe.

  • 5/5 R K. 2 years ago on Google
    Absolutely beautiful Building. Right opposite to Sol station. Perfect tourist destination. Must visit

  • 4/5 Tolga 2 years ago on Google
    Grab a spanish beer and watch the street performers, it is a hive of activity especially at night. in the center of many attractions. there are some budget hostels around. you can stay at them, head to carrefours in the morning for a fresh baguette.

  • 4/5 Ailine L. 1 year ago on Google
    A very huge metro station named Sol, walking shopping district too. There are co construction ongoing, so didn't take much photos. Very crowded & busy place. We went into Mac shop for aircond. Hehehe!

  • 5/5 Alex B. 1 year ago on Google
    Nice big plaza and major transport stop. Worth stop by when in Madrid, nice architecture and plenty of shops and restaurants. Also it’s close to other sights in the centre of Madrid…

  • 3/5 Henry 1 year ago on Google
    some fancy buildings, but way too crowded. There are loots of shops and the place is easily accessible

  • 5/5 Chris L. 1 year ago on Google
    Under some serious renovation to rejuvenate the area. Looking forward to seeing what the new plaza will look like.

  • 5/5 Pervaiz S. 2 years ago on Google
    Originally the site of one of the city's gates. It's one of the Madrid most famous cite. Surrounded by famous clock that when it strucks midnight chimes of new year, people cross country eat 12 lucky grapes with each chime. It is close to lot of shopping areas.

  • 5/5 Alfred A. 1 year ago on Google
    Lovely views of the city, can get super crowded as the day goes by. Plenty of restaurants along the way and definitely a good positive energy around!

  • 5/5 Personal A. 1 year ago on Google
    Sol is definitely the heart of Madrid, which almost sounds like "Soul" and it won't be wrong to call it so. Most of the branded clothing lines and shoes and among others are here in Sol. There are a lot of restaurants and bars in Sol which offer the spanish tapas, food, beer and wine. Sol is also a multi cuisine hub. I have seen chinese, thai, turkish, indian, vietnamese, etc. Its also like a stadium or arena for new enthusiastic artists and performers, and sometimes a spot to hold peaceful demonstrations, where their voices are heard. There is access of metro and Renfe also which is almost connected to all the parts of Madrid city. I specially love the buildings with all the grand and elegant architectural designs, many of which still have great historical significance. My point is you will find anything that you want in Sol, marvel yourself with the beautiful architectural monuments, observe vibrant and lively environment while resting by the water fountains or do some shopping or tickle your tastebuds.

  • 3/5 Jeffrey J. 1 year ago on Google
    September 2022 MASSIVE construction project area right now so you can't see the true beauty of the plaza. This looks to be something that is ongoing for at least a couple of months if not half a year. One tourist told us she saw someone's backpack pulled or cut off another tourist, and we were told by Spanish friends it was a common pickpocket location, so we just used money belts and were not bothered. The worst thing was that the entire square was fenced off and being repaired. It will be amazing once this is finished, as the city of Madrid does a great job of restoring and maintaining historic neighborhoods.

  • 5/5 Prasad V. 1 year ago on Google
    Beautiful square in the city of Madrid. My stay was nearby hence took a metro from airport till here. There are some construction work going on…

  • 4/5 Janne H. 2 years ago on Google
    Good place to start your journey to Madrid. All the best shopping places, restaurants and cafeteria you can find from this location. Good spot ä to start your day walk and sightseeing and also end it here.

  • 1/5 Kathryn L. 1 year ago on Google
    There are 3 separate construction projects here right now, killing the vibe.


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Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✗ Wheelchair accessible parking lot

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