Sol Metro Station Closed: What's Happening and How to Get Around Central Madrid
In 30 seconds
What: Sol Metro station has been closed since midday on Friday 16 October 2026, with no reopening date for now.
Lines affected: L1 (light blue), L2 (red) and L3 (yellow). Trains are still running, but they pass through Sol without stopping.
What still works: the Cercanías (commuter rail) station at Sol, lines C-3 and C-4, is still open.
What to do: get off one stop earlier or later (Gran Vía, Tirso de Molina, Sevilla, Ópera, Callao…) and walk 5–10 minutes.
If you tried to get off at Sol today and the train sailed straight past, you didn't take the wrong line. Madrid's most central (and one of its busiest) Metro stations has closed at short notice, and the closure is likely to last at least through the weekend. As guides who work in the centre every day, here's what happened, exactly what's affected and the simplest way to carry on with your plans without losing time.
Why is Sol station closed?
Metro de Madrid has closed Sol to clean the station's ventilation shafts. According to the company and the regional government (Comunidad de Madrid), organic waste linked to the housing protest camp that has occupied Puerta del Sol since late September has built up in the shafts, and the regional government describes the conditions as unsanitary for staff and passengers.
Some background: the camp began on 26 September after a protest against the eviction of an 87-year-old tenant, and at times has grown to more than a thousand tents. It's a hotly debated political issue and we won't go into it here. What matters for this post is something very practical: how to get where you're going.
What's affected (and what isn't)?
Metro de Madrid: closed
Lines 1, 2 and 3 run normally along the rest of their routes. The only change is that they don't stop at Sol – not to board, not to get off and not to change lines. If you usually change at Sol, you'll need to do it somewhere else (see the best options below).
Cercanías (Renfe commuter trains): open
Renfe has confirmed that the Cercanías station at Sol remains in service. Lines C-3 (Aranjuez – El Escorial) and C-4 (Parla – Alcobendas/Colmenar Viejo) still stop at Sol. You get in through the glass entrance on the square, known locally as “la ballena” (the whale). Because Metro and Cercanías share the same concourse, you can't transfer between them inside the station: head up to the street and walk to the nearest Metro station for your destination.
Good to know: the Cercanías tunnel under Sol has had engineering works throughout 2026, and the Cercanías station has also closed on several weekends. If you're travelling on the C-3 or C-4 at the weekend, check the Cercanías app first.
Where to get off instead of Sol
Central Madrid is compact and very walkable. These are the alternative stations and the walking time to Puerta del Sol:
Line 1 (light blue): Gran Vía (5 min) or Tirso de Molina (7–8 min).
Line 2 (red): Sevilla (4–5 min) or Ópera (6–7 min).
Line 3 (yellow): Callao (5 min) or Lavapiés (12–15 min).
Cercanías C-3 / C-4: Sol is still open. Alternatives: Atocha or Nuevos Ministerios.
How to change lines without Sol
L1 to L3: they only meet at Sol, so the quickest option is to get off at Gran Vía (L1) and walk 3–4 minutes to Callao (L3).
L1 to L2: change at Cuatro Caminos, or get off at Gran Vía and walk to Sevilla (about 8 minutes).
L2 to L3: without leaving the Metro, change to L5 at Ópera and then to L3 at Callao. On foot, Ópera or Sevilla to Callao takes 8–10 minutes.
Royal Palace and Plaza Mayor: Ópera (L2 and L5) is closer than Sol anyway.
Barrio de las Letras and Huertas: Sevilla (L2) or Antón Martín (L1).
Getting around by bus
Line 001 (Atocha Renfe – Moncloa): free and electric. It runs along Paseo del Prado, Cibeles, Alcalá, Gran Vía and Princesa. It doesn't stop at Sol, but drops you a few minutes away. Runs from 7:00 to 23:00 from Atocha and until 23:30 from Moncloa.
Line 002 (Puerta de Toledo – Argüelles): also free, handy for La Latina and Ópera.
Other lines through or near Sol (3, 50, 51…): check the EMT app before you set off, as some stops may be diverted while the square is occupied.
What about Puerta del Sol itself? Can you visit?
Yes, you can still walk through the square, but much of it is currently covered with tents. If you were planning the classic photo with the Bear and the Strawberry Tree or at Kilometre Zero, bear in mind the atmosphere is very different from usual, and there may be more police and occasional gatherings. Our tip: don't arrange to meet “at Sol” these days. Pick a quieter spot nearby, such as Plaza Mayor, Plaza de Santa Ana, Plaza de Callao or the Ópera Metro exit.
Practical tips for the next few days
Check the status before you leave: the official apps and accounts of Metro de Madrid, Cercanías Madrid and the transport authority (crtm.es) will announce the reopening first.
Allow 10–15 extra minutes, especially at rush hour.
Fridays and weekends are busier: avoid peak times if you can, or simply walk.
With luggage or a pushchair, choose stations with lifts and short transfers, such as Gran Vía or Ópera.
Bookmark this post: we'll update it as soon as there's a reopening date.
Booked a tour with us?
Don't worry: all our tours are going ahead. None of them starts inside the station, and most meeting points are just a few minutes from a station that is open. Our Lavapiés urban art tour, for example, starts at Plaza de Tirso de Molina, right above the L1 station. If you're unsure how to get there, message us on WhatsApp at +34 614 500 379 and we'll tell you the quickest route from your hotel.
No plans yet? Have a look at our tours: a good tapas tour through Barrio de las Letras is the best way to forget about the Metro for a while.
Updated 16 October 2026 with information from Metro de Madrid, the Madrid Regional Transport Consortium (CRTM), Renfe Cercanías and EMT Madrid. The situation can change quickly – always check official sources before travelling.
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