Madrid hotels near Sol metro station

Lines: 1, 2, 3
Zone: A

The epicentre of the city, Puerta del Sol (known to all as simply Sol) is the most famous and historic square in the city. Flanked by landmarks such as the beautiful old post office headquarters, the famous sign for Tio Pepe sherry, and the statue of the symbol of Madrid, the bear and the madroño tree, any visitor to Madrid is bound to pass through it at some point in the day. While most of the food offerings in the square itself are limited to the usual chains, be sure to sample something from the famous La Mallorquina bakery, open since 1894. Another must-visit is the Chocolatería San Ginés just off nearby Calle de Arenal – no stay in Madrid is complete without sampling their delicious churros con chocolate.

From here you can walk southwest up the Calle Mayor to the historic Plaza Mayor; to the southeast lie the bars and attractions of Huertas, while the streets running north between Sol and Gran Via have a great range of shops to suit all budgets, though take care, as these streets do become a little seedier at night.

Sol probably contains the highest concentration of places to stay in the city, so if you want to be right in the centre you’re spoilt for choice. The square itself contains mainly hostels, so travellers looking for something a little more upmarket should try for something on a nearby side street, such as the Sercotel Liabeny or the Petit Palace Plaza del Carmen.