When I visit Madrid in early July, I will be staying at a hotel near Puerta del Sol. I would like to visit the Reina Sofia Museum. What is the best way to travel from Sol to the museum: taxi, metro, or just walking there?
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
3113 posts
I find the City Mapper app (or website) to be very helpful with directions and suggestions for routes and it updates in real time. It shows from Puerta del Sol it's a 22 minute walk, 14 minute metro ride, or 20 minute cab ride.
Posted by
MA
29 posts
Hi. Bus #001 is a free city bus that runs from Moncloa to Atocha. One of the stops is about a block away from the Reina Sofia. The bus also stops at the Prado as well as El Retiro Park. When you board the bus there is a ticket machine similar to one you would find at a deli. You need to take a ticket then give it to the driver. It is free but I assume it is done to track the level of usage throughout the day. It is a great service and runs very frequently. Google “bus 001 Madrid” and you can get details regarding all the stops. There is also bus 002 which is free as well.
Have a great trip!!
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
7648 posts
It’s about a 15-20 minutes walk to the museum from the Puerta del Sol. Going to the museum the walk is slightly down hill. Unless you have mobility issues, just walk it and enjoy the city.
The free bus doesn’t go to the Puerta del Sol, so unless you intend on going down the Paseo del Prado/Recoletos at some point after the museum, if will be of no use to you.
Posted by
Reston VA
389 posts
What is the best way to travel from Sol to the museum: taxi, metro, or just walking there?
Walking is my preferred way to get around most European cities. Sure, it takes some time and effort, but it usually becomes a simple way to combine further sightseeing with the place you're headed too. In the case of the Sol -> Reina Sofia, it was a fairly easy walk and through an assortment of streets we enjoyed wandering on.
Unless you're on some time-crunched schedule or mobility-challenged, most of the core Madrid sites can be taken in by walking.
Posted by
North Italy
481 posts
We just walked. It's an easy walk and we stopped in Parque El Retiro on the way back.
https://slowtravelitalyspain.blogspot.com/2025/02/madrid-in-january-day-5-real-academia.html?m=1
But that was in January. Maybe if it's very hot when you go you might prefer a taxi if you're going during the middle of the day?