I wanted to go watch the New Year's Eve broadcast from Puerta del Sol but I don't know where to position myself to see the fireworks well without being in the middle of the plaza crowds. Are there other good spots in the city or is it better to watch them from home?
The Puerta del Sol gets absolutely packed that night, so you're better off finding a high spot like parks on the outskirts (Retiro, Casa de Campo) or someone's rooftop you know, where you can see without the chaos. Otherwise, honestly from home nice and quiet watching it on TV you don't miss much, the broadcast gives you pretty much the same thing.
If you want to avoid the crowds but still enjoy the show, hills and elevated parks like Templo de Debod or the northern area of Retiro give you a pretty decent view without being stuck in the absolute madness of Sol 🎆 I once went to a rooftop of someone I knew in Malasaña and you could see the whole thing without the chaos, plus you could move around and have a drink in peace. If you don't have that option, any high spot in the north of the city (Chamberí, Chamartín) works really well because you can see the fireworks from far away. TV is also honestly a valid option, but you'd miss that feeling of being there when they go off in the sky.
Do you really want to be at the broadcast or would you prefer to see the fireworks in person? Because here's the thing: at Puerta del Sol there aren't actual fireworks, just the ball that drops at midnight. If you're looking for a real pyrotechnic show, Madrid usually has displays in other places depending on the year, but honestly, your best bet is to check directly with the city council or the municipal website because that changes. If you end up watching it from home, you avoid the massive crowds and can watch any broadcast without hassle, even though you lose some of that vibe of being out in the street.
Wait, are you sure you want to see actual fireworks or just the broadcast of the ball dropping? Because honestly in Madrid the real fireworks aren't the main event on New Year's Eve at Puerta del Sol, so if you're looking for a pyrotechnic show you'd be better off getting Netflix or watching it on TV from home with a beer and without the crazy crowds.
If what you really want is to see actual fireworks and not just the ball dropping, Madrid actually doesn't have that massive show at Puerta del Sol like other cities do. But you've got alternatives: some nearby towns like Torrejón de Ardoz or Alcalá de Henares do have fireworks on New Year's Eve, so you can check which municipalities in the region have them scheduled. If you'd rather stay in the capital without the crowds, rooftops or balconies in neighborhoods like Malasaña or Chueca let you enjoy the atmosphere without being in the chaos, though honestly the explosive fireworks spectacle isn't really what's characteristic of Madrid that night.
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