Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Spain Madrid Kilometre Zero

Kilometre Zero

A stone slab in Madrid marks the point from which the distances of Spain's national roads are measured.

Madrid, Spain

Added By
romi maletz
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
  romimaletz77 / Atlas Obscura User
Placa del Km 0   Kaetzar
Puerta de Sol in Madrid   Manuel
New look in 2023. Now surrounded by a rose wind.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Kilometre Zero   bruceincharlotte / Atlas Obscura User
During the 2022 renovation   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
The center of everything   mocchiatto / Atlas Obscura User
Kilometer Zero is on the sidewalk in front of this building, the Real Casa de Correos.   AAlcazar / Atlas Obscura User
Kilómetro zero and Rubick   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

This small stone slab in Madrid’s city square marks the geographical center of Spain. The marker sets the Zero Kilometer point, the point from which distances are measured in Spain—specifically, it's the starting point for measuring the distances of the country's six national roads, A-1 to A-6.

Kilometre Zero is also the starting point for Madrid’s numbered streets; the closer to the Km 0 mark, the lower the street number.

These traditional markers are common to find in many countries, often located in the capital city. (It's believed they were also traditionally used to measure driving distances in guidebooks, as the spot where drivers marked their odometers at zero.) The most famous milestone marker however is the “Golden Milestone” (Milliarium Aureum) in Ancient Rome, which is believed to be the source of the saying “all roads lead to Rome.”

Spain’s Kilometre Zero is in the middle of Madrid’s Puerta del Sol, the historic semi-circular city square. The slab is quite easy to miss, situated on the ground outside the clock tower on the old Post Office building. (Incidentally the old clock is also believed to have kept official time in Spain.) 

The plaque was placed here in 1950 and replaced with a newer stone in 2002 and again in 2009. It was turned around 180 degrees by mistake in 2002 during a reform of the square. The plaque was renewed in 2009, during the roadworks of the Puerta del Sol square, and this time placed in the right position.

Related Tags

Geographic Markers Marvelous Maps And Measures

Know Before You Go

On the sidewalk directly in front of the Clock Tower of Sun Gate (Reloj de la Puerta del Sol) building.

Community Contributors

Added By

romimaletz77

Edited By

Luis Morato, MrCarl, AAlcazar, Meg...

  • Luis Morato
  • MrCarl
  • AAlcazar
  • Meg
  • bruceincharlotte
  • Xavixavir
  • mocchiatto

Published

August 26, 2016

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.google.com/maps/place/Kil%C3%B3metro+Cero/@40.4166108,-3.703793,21z/data=!4m12!1m6!3m5!1s0xd42290e2fa06349:0x1676419c937a4b0b!2sKil%C3%B3metro+Cero!8m2!3d40.4166359!4d-3.7038101!3m4!1s0xd42290e2fa06349:0x1676419c937a4b0b!8m2!3d40.4166359!4d-3.7038101
Kilometre Zero
7 Puerta del Sol
Madrid, 28013
Spain
40.416636, -3.70381
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Tío Pepe Sign

Madrid, Spain

miles away

Casa Labra

Madrid, Spain

miles away

El Oso y el Madroño (The Bear and the Strawberry Tree)

Madrid, Spain

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Madrid

Madrid

Spain

Places 123
Stories 2

Nearby Places

Tío Pepe Sign

Madrid, Spain

miles away

Casa Labra

Madrid, Spain

miles away

El Oso y el Madroño (The Bear and the Strawberry Tree)

Madrid, Spain

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Madrid

Madrid

Spain

Places 123
Stories 2

Related Places

  • The Belgrade Milestone

    Belgrade, Serbia

    Belgrade Milestone

    This small bronze pyramid marks the center of Belgrade, but some say it is a Masonic symbol.

  • Repère Pierre du Niton

    Geneva, Switzerland

    Repère Pierre du Niton

    This stone in Lake Geneva was once the reference point used to determine altitude in Switzerland.

  • Historical sign in Osborne, Kansas.

    Osborne, Kansas

    Geodetic Center of North America

    This lesser-known geographic marker was the reference point for all surveys of the continent for 75 years.

  • The Amsterdam Ordnance Datum marker in the Town Hall.

    Amsterdam, Netherlands

    Amsterdam Ordnance Datum

    This large copper bolt represents the benchmark for measuring sea levels in most of Europe.

  • Stockholm, Sweden

    1/4 Milestone of Stockholm

    This stone obelisk is a relic of the 17th-century Swedish mile markers.

  • Zero Kilometer Stone

    Budapest, Hungary

    Zero Kilometer Stone

    The geographical center of Budapest is marked with a 10-foot-tall stylized zero.

  • Eastern coast of guatemala, showing what was ehne British honduras (Now Belize).

    Guatemala City, Guatemala

    Mapa en Relieve

    An impressive century-old, to-scale topographical map of Guatemala.

  • Marker at Lambert Centre, the geographical centre of Australia.

    Ghan, Australia

    Lambert Centre of Australia

    Finding the exact middle of a giant land mass is hard to determine, but this spot managed to do the trick.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.