Puerta del Sol takes its name from a gate in the old medieval walls, demolished in the 17th century, decorated with a sun. A competition won in 1857 by architects Lucio del Valle, Juan Rivera and José Morer gave it its current semicircular shape.
History & origins
Sol is Madrid's perpetual crossroads: a junction of the city's busiest streets and the starting point of all Spain's major radial roads. Plaza Mayor, 350 metres to the west, changes pace with the hour, a bustling market by day, terraces and street musicians by night.
Heritage & architecture
When Philip II moved the Court to Madrid in 1561, he was already planning to remodel this space, then known as Plaza del Arrabal, the city's public market. It was his son Philip III who commissioned the current building from architect Juan Gómez de Mora, completed in 1617. The equestrian statue at its centre represents Philip III himself, begun by Giambologna and finished by Pietro Tacca in 1616.
A major fire almost entirely destroyed the square in 1790; architect Juan de Villanueva rebuilt it, reducing the buildings to two storeys and creating nine access arches. The Casa de la Panadería, built around 1590 as the city's main bakery, today houses the square's tourist office, its façade covered with frescoes painted in 1992 by Carlos Franco. On Calle Cuchilleros, just off the square, Casa Botín (Sobrino de Botín), founded in 1725, is certified by Guinness World Records as the oldest restaurant in the world still in operation.
Kilometre zero
Casa de CorreosThe official starting point of all Spain's major radial roads.
Statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree
Symbol of the cityA popular meeting point, at the start of Calle de Alcalá.
Casa de Correos clock
New Year's traditionMarks out the 12 grapes at midnight on 31 December.
Equestrian monument to Charles III
"The best mayor of Madrid"A king nicknamed this for his urban reforms.
Arco de Cuchilleros
Monumental archSteep steps down to Calle de los Cuchilleros.
Casa Botín (Sobrino de Botín)
Founded in 1725The oldest restaurant in the world, according to Guinness World Records.
Mercado de San Miguel
Iron-framed market, 1913–1916Converted into a gourmet food market in 2009.
Culture & living traditions
Every 31 December, tens of thousands of people gather at Sol to eat 12 grapes to the rhythm of the 12 chimes of the Casa de Correos clock, a tradition followed live across the whole of Spain. The lanes around Plaza Mayor are packed with bars and tabernas that have been in business for more than a century.
Suggested itinerary
Morning · 9am–12pm: History and kilometre zero
Puerta del Sol, kilometre zero, the Statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree, then Calle Mayor up to Plaza Mayor.
Afternoon · 12pm–5pm: Plaza Mayor and the market
Casa de la Panadería, Arco de Cuchilleros, lunch at Mercado de San Miguel.
Evening · 5pm onwards: Bars and neighbourhood life
Tapas in the lanes around the square, the atmosphere building steadily into the night.
Suggested itinerary, not field-tested.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Puerta del Sol called "kilometre zero"?
A slab set into the ground in front of the Casa de Correos marks the starting point of all Spain's radial roads.
Who built Plaza Mayor?
Architect Juan Gómez de Mora, commissioned by King Philip III, completed in 1617.
What's the oldest restaurant in the world?
Casa Botín (Sobrino de Botín), founded in 1725 on Calle Cuchilleros, certified by Guinness World Records.
What should you do at Plaza Mayor on New Year's Eve?
Join the crowd at Puerta del Sol for the 12 midnight chimes and the traditional 12 grapes.
What's the best neighbourhood to stay in Madrid if you want everything within walking distance?
Sol · Plaza Mayor, at $157/night median, puts every major historic neighbourhood within 20 minutes on foot. GBP prices on this page are converted from EUR at an approximate rate (27 Aug 2026) — to be reconfirmed before publication.
Is Mercado de San Miguel a real market or a tourist attraction?
Both: a neighbourhood market since 1916, converted into a gourmet food market in 2009.
