Puerta del Sol is the busy, half-moon-shaped square at the centre of Madrid, where many of the city's main streets meet. A plaque in the pavement marks kilometre zero, the point from which Spain's national radial roads are measured. And every New Year's Eve the whole country watches the clock on the old Post Office building here, eating one grape for each of the twelve chimes at midnight.
Puerta del Sol at a glance
- Where: in central Madrid, between Calle Mayor, Calle de Alcalá, Calle Preciados and Calle Arenal, a few minutes from Plaza Mayor.
- Created: a city gate in the 15th-century wall; the square took its present semicircular shape in a redesign between 1857 and 1862.
- What it is today: a pedestrian square and transport hub, home to the regional government of the Community of Madrid in the Real Casa de Correos.
- Time needed: 15–20 minutes, longer if you stop for a coffee or wander into the surrounding streets.
From city gate to the centre of Spain
The name comes from one of the gates in the wall that surrounded Madrid in the 15th century. It faced east, towards the sunrise, and was decorated with a sun. For centuries this was less a square than a crossroads, and the steps of the church of San Felipe here were one of the city's most famous gossip spots, where people came for news from couriers arriving at the Post Office. The Real Casa de Correos, the Post Office building, was built by the French architect Jacques Marquet between 1766 and 1768 and is the oldest building on the square.
In the mid-19th century, after the Post Office became the Ministry of the Interior, old houses and convents were cleared and the square was rebuilt between 1857 and 1862 with uniform façades in a semicircle. Under Franco the building housed the security police, whose cells were used to hold and torture opponents of the regime; today it is the seat of the President of the Community of Madrid. In 2011 the square was the centre of the 15-M protest movement, and in 2020 it was closed to most traffic.
What to look for
- The kilometre zero plaque in the pavement in front of the Real Casa de Correos, the starting point for Spain's six national radial roads.
- The clock tower on the Real Casa de Correos, whose chimes at midnight on 31 December have been broadcast live on television since 1962.
- The statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree (el Oso y el Madroño), the symbol of Madrid, on the east side of the square.
- The equestrian statue of Charles III, the king nicknamed "the best mayor of Madrid" for his public works.
- The illuminated Tío Pepe sign on top of a building on the square, a Madrid landmark for decades; and the Mariblanca statue near Calle Arenal.
The twelve grapes
On New Year's Eve, thousands gather in the square and millions more watch at home as the clock strikes midnight. With each of the twelve chimes, you eat one grape: twelve grapes for twelve lucky months. The custom became popular in the early 20th century, and the TV broadcast from Sol made it a national ritual. Just before the chimes, a ball drops and four quarter-strokes ring out; locals warn first-timers not to start eating too early. Even if you visit in July, standing under the clock gives you a sense of how central this spot is to Spanish life.
Tips for your visit
- Look for the kilometre zero plaque directly in front of the main door of the Real Casa de Correos; it is easy to walk over without noticing.
- Come early in the morning for photos of the façade without crowds.
- Watch your pockets: Sol is one of the busiest places in the city.
- Combine it with a walk to Plaza Mayor along Calle Mayor or the passages behind the square.
Nearby
- Plaza Mayor: the 17th-century arcaded main square, a few minutes' walk south-west.
- Royal Palace: the vast royal residence, about fifteen minutes' walk west along Calle Arenal.
- Gran Vía: the grand avenue of early 20th-century buildings, a short walk north via Calle Montera.
- Prado Museum: Spain's great art museum, about twenty minutes' walk east along Carrera de San Jerónimo.
See Madrid with World City Trail
Our Madrid scavenger hunt turns the city centre into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around 3 hours, with about 50 minutes of walking. It includes the Prado Museum and the Goya monument. You can play in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish or Dutch.
If you prefer a different format, there is also a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game in Madrid.
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Facts checked in October 2026.