You Can Watch August’s Total Solar Eclipse From the Beach in Spain — and Bookings Are Going Fast

A unique moment where our solar system’s celestial mechanics become visible to the naked eye, watching a total solar eclipse is often described as a life-changing experience. Totality is the only time the outermost atmosphere of the sun, the corona, is seen as a shimmering halo of light. 

The next total solar eclipse to touch North America will occur on March 30, 2033, but it will be visible only in Canada and Alaska. You’ll have to wait until August 22, 2044 to catch a total solar eclipse over the contiguous United States. 

With such a long wait to see the event in most of the U.S., it’s no surprise that a recent report by Airbnb shows that the 2026 eclipse, starting in Russia before crossing into Greenland, Iceland, and Spain’s northern coastal areas from Galicia to the Basque Country and the Balearic Islands, has resulted in a surge in bookings.

Spain is especially popular. It’s seen three times the number of bookings it typically receives. But Airbnb notes that bookings in non-urban destinations along the entire path of the eclipse have jumped threefold for the week of the event, adding that accommodation searches in some interior regions like Aragon have risen by over 450 percent. 

Whether you’d like to watch from the Arctic or prefer a sunnier climate, those numbers reveal that if you haven’t booked your accommodation yet, you’ll want to do so now. Still haven’t decided where to go? Start the planning process by considering some of the top viewing spots. Then, take a look at the availability in each location.

A Coruña, in the northwesternmost province of the same name, is a prime location for eclipse-viewing. There will be nearly a minute and 20 seconds of totality during a sunset over the Atlantic. You’ll want an unobstructed view of the west-northwest horizon, which means the world’s oldest working lighthouse, the Tower of Hercules, will provide the perfect, elevated spot. Or, for a guided experience, tours including transportation and viewing equipment are available from Santiago de Compostela, a 50-minute drive southwest.

An epic view of the eclipse will be possible from Mirador del Alcázar y los Dos Valles in Segovia. Plus, it will include the inspiration for Walt Disney’s castle in Sleeping Beauty, the Alcázar de Segovia. Like the other locations, it’s a short totality, lasting about one minute. 

Located in Soria, Spain’s least populated province, El Burgo de Osma is home to the 11th-century Osma Castle, which overlooks the Ucero River. From here, you’ll not only have a spectacular view of the total eclipse for a minute and 43 seconds, but a sweeping view of the Castilian landscape.

The world’s northernmost settlement of Longyearbyen in Svalbard will experience an hour and 51 minutes of near totality. For adventurers and wildlife enthusiasts, this destination is hard to beat as an accessible Arctic location inhabited by everything from reindeer and polar bears to large walrus colonies.

Iceland’s capital city will experience about one minute of totality, although the entire event, including partial phases, will last approximately two hours. Watching from Hallgrimskirkja, the country’s tallest church, would provide a breathtaking 360-degree view over the city, the Atlantic, the surrounding mountains, and beyond. Of course, your odds of getting a ticket to enjoy that vantage point are slim. If you aren’t one of the lucky few, some of the other elevated, unobstructed western-facing locations to try include the Grótta Lighthouse and Perlan’s observation deck. 

The Sky Lagoon, just minutes from the city center, wouldn’t be a bad spot either. Just imagine soaking in the warm geothermal waters while watching the magic begin