Madrid Essentials: Sol to Plaza de la Villa in an Hour

The stops, in walking order

1. 1

   

   Stop 1: El Oso y el Madroño

   ~3 min here

   El Oso y el Madroño is the public sculpture of a bear leaning against a strawberry tree, and it embodies Madrid’s coat of arms.

2. 2

   

   Stop 2: Puerta del Sol

   ~3 min here

   Puerta del Sol is the busy public square spread around Madrid’s symbolic kilometre zero, with the Royal House of the Post Office forming its most recognisable historic building.

3. 3

   

   Stop 3: Plaza Mayor

   ~3 min here

   Plaza Mayor is Madrid’s principal public square, enclosed by residential buildings and arcaded walkways.

4. 4

   

   Stop 4: Mercado de San Miguel

   ~3 min here

   Mercado de San Miguel is Madrid’s covered gourmet market, housed in an iron-and-glass building beside Plaza Mayor.

5. 5

   

   Stop 5: Plaza de la Villa

   ~3 min here

   Plaza de la Villa is a historic urban square beside Calle Mayor, enclosed by buildings that preserve some of Madrid’s oldest surviving civil architecture.

More walks in Madrid

• HighlightsMadrid Essentials10 stops · ~1 hr 50 min · 4.9 kmSee the walk
• Royal HeritageRoyal Madrid: Palaces, Convents and the Medieval Walls7 stops · ~1 hr 30 min · 3.3 kmSee the walk
• Food & DrinkTaverns, Chocolate and Convent Sweets6 stops · ~45 min · 2.2 kmSee the walk
• Art & GardensArt Walk to the Retiro7 stops · ~2 hr 20 min · 4.6 kmSee the walk
• ArchitectureGrand Madrid: Cibeles, Alcalá and Dalí’s Dolmen6 stops · ~1 hr · 3.2 kmSee the walk
• Local LifeMalasaña and Chueca: Squares, Markets and Legends5 stops · ~55 min · 2.0 kmSee the walk
• Hidden GemsPalace Gardens and Goya’s Chapel4 stops · ~1 hr 50 min · 2.3 kmSee the walk