Puerta del Sol

Puerta del Sol

Spain's kilometre zero, the bear statue and the Tío Pepe sign

⚠ Pickpocket hotspot

Hours

Open 24 hours

Address

Dead centre of the city, the half-moon square in front of the Real Casa de Correos (regional government seat)

On the pavement outside the clock-tower building on the south side is the Kilómetro Cero plaque, the point all Spanish roads are measured from, and people queue to stand on it for a photo. On New Year's Eve the whole country watches this clock chime as people eat twelve grapes. At the east end stands the bear nuzzling a strawberry tree from Madrid's coat of arms, and on a rooftop the Tío Pepe sherry sign that has glowed over the square since the 1930s. Gran Vía, Plaza Mayor and the Preciados shopping street all branch off from here; if you're lost, head to Sol.