MadridNeighbourhoodSol

Sol

During the day: Sol is the city-center when it comes to transport, shopping and tourist destination and is possibly Madrid’s most touristy area. As the center-point of the city it also marks Kilometer Zero, meaning that it’s literally the middle-point of the entire country. Sol is also home to Madrid’s most popular meeting-point: “El Oso y el Madroño” - the bear statue The biggest brands Zara, H&M, FNAC, Top Shop have their shops on Calle Gran Via. In less than hundred years, this street has become the flagship of the city. It houses theatres, movie theatres, department stores and some of the most exclusive shops in Madrid. It is also considered a showcase of early 20th century architecture with unique buildings like Metrópolis and Carrión, Edificio Telefónica or Real Oratorio del Caballero de Gracia.Puerta del Sol another big landmark was the city’s eastern boundaries in the fifteenth century. Today it’s the starting and end of every visitors tour of the city. At night: At midnight on 31 December every year, the square attracts huge crowds that come to welcome the New Year, swallowing a grape for each of the twelve chimes of the clock. Sol has some of the city's best nightlife. Clubs that date back 150 years and now hosting the city’s best DJs, the first Spanish coktail bar that has welcomed Ernst Hemingway among others. There are countless bars, pubs and clubs and a lot of places reserved for fans of flamenco.