Puerta del Sol (Kilometre Zero, Bear and Strawberry Tree)

What to expect

Puerta del Sol began as one of the gates in Madrid's medieval wall, named after a sun carved above the east-facing entrance. The wall is long gone, but the square is still where the city's streets meet. The red-brick Casa de Correos, finished in the 1760s, closes the south side and now houses the regional government.

It is a wide, paved, open-air space with no entrance and no queue. You walk in, find the Kilometre Zero plaque in the pavement, and look for the bear-and-strawberry-tree statue, Madrid's emblem. Several metro lines and a commuter station stop below, so you will probably pass through more than once. It is busy all day, and most visits last about fifteen minutes.

Don't miss

• Kilometre Zero plaque in the pavement
• Bear and Strawberry Tree statue
• Casa de Correos clock tower
• Equestrian statue of Charles III
• Tío Pepe neon sign

Tips for your visit

• Use it as a starting point: Plaza Mayor, Calle Mayor and Gran Vía are all a short walk away.
• Come in the evening if you want to see the square lit up and full of locals.
• On New Year's Eve the clock draws a crowd for the twelve grapes, so expect it to be packed then.
• Keep your bag closed, as in any busy central square.