It’s part of a growing travel trend often called eclipse tourism or astrotourism. Two years after millions of people traveled to see the 2024 total solar eclipse across North America, travelers are doing it again.<\/p>\n
Where travelers are going to see the 2026 total solar eclipse![\"Bilbao](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/https:\/\/d29szjachogqwa.cloudfront.net\/images\/user-uploaded\/bilbao-spain-2026-solar-eclipse-travel_37.jpeg\"\/)
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Bilbao is seeing one of the biggest eclipse travel surges in Spain, with Amadeus reporting hotel bookings up 366% ahead of the Aug. 12 total solar eclipse.<\/p>\n
(Shutterstock.com)<\/p>\n
Spain has emerged as the center of the rush.<\/p>\n
The Aug. 12 eclipse will be the first total solar eclipse visible from mainland Spain in more than 120 years<\/a>, and it arrives at an unusually dramatic time: shortly before sunset.<\/p>\n The path of totality crosses northern and eastern Spain, including A Coru\u00f1a, Oviedo, Santander, Le\u00f3n, Bilbao, Zaragoza, Valencia and Palma.<\/p>\n A Coru\u00f1a will experience totality starting around 8:28 p.m. for 76 seconds, according to Spain’s tourism board. In Palma, maximum totality arrives at about 8:32 p.m., shortly before sunset.<\/p>\n Madrid and Barcelona come tantalizingly close \u2014 but not close enough. NASA says both will see roughly 99% of the sun covered rather than totality.<\/p>\n That remaining 1% matters. Inside the path of totality, the moon completely blocks the sun’s bright surface and the solar corona becomes visible. Outside it, viewers still experience a partial eclipse.<\/p>\n Travel demand is especially strong in northern Spain. Amadeus says hotel bookings are up 366% in Bilbao and 292% in Asturias, while Valencia is up 137%.<\/p>\n The Balearic Islands are another major draw. Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera all sit within the path of totality, giving travelers the chance to watch the eclipse with the sun hanging low over the western horizon.<\/p>\n Iceland is also in the path. NASA’s eclipse map<\/a> shows totality passing across western Iceland, including Reykjav\u00edk, before heading toward Spain.<\/p>\n Northern Spain and the Balearic Islands have emerged as two of the biggest eclipse travel destinations.<\/p>\n Bilbao’s 366% booking surge puts the Basque city at the top of Amadeus’ list, while Asturias is up 292%.<\/p>\n Those destinations also give travelers plenty to do if clouds interfere with the eclipse itself.<\/p>\n Bilbao can be paired with San Sebasti\u00e1n and the Basque Country’s food scene. Asturias combines mountains, beaches and small coastal towns. Galicia offers A Coru\u00f1a and the Atlantic coast, while La Rioja gives travelers the option of building a wine trip around eclipse day.<\/p>\n The Balearic Islands offer a different version of eclipse tourism.<\/p>\n Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera sit within the path of totality, bringing the eclipse to islands already packed with summer vacationers.<\/p>\n In Palma, Spain’s tourism board says maximum totality comes at about 8:32 p.m., shortly before sunset.<\/p>\n That makes location especially important. With the eclipsed sun sitting low in the sky, mountains, buildings or even trees could block the view.<\/p>\n Spain’s tourism board recommends scouting viewing locations in advance and finding a clear view of the western horizon.<\/p>\n Eclipse tourism is getting expensive<\/p>\n Some travelers are turning the event into a very high-end vacation.<\/p>\n A recent AFAR report<\/a> found hotels, cruises and specialty eclipse packages still available along the path of totality \u2014 including a few with extraordinary price tags.<\/p>\n Gran Meli\u00e1 created four-night eclipse packages at Hotel de Mar Gran Meli\u00e1 in Mallorca and Villa Le Blanc Gran Meli\u00e1 in Menorca priced from $200,000 per package.<\/p>\n Guests head out to sea Aug. 12 aboard a private Riva yacht in Mallorca or a traditional wooden lla\u00fct in Menorca, with food, drinks and eclipse-viewing equipment included.<\/p>\n Jumeirah Mallorca has also partnered with Mallorca’s Astronomy Institute on multi-day eclipse programming.<\/p>\n At the other end of the spectrum, some travelers are still trying to pull together trips at the last minute.<\/p>\n On Sunday night, TikTok creator @bolts.on.points posted that award seats were still available from the U.S. to Spain on several airlines, giving points-and-miles travelers another potential way to get there with only days to spare.<\/p>\n Amadeus’ data suggests these aren’t all long European vacations, either. Short eclipse trips of one to five days are up 57% year over year, while solo travel to destinations along the eclipse route is up 48%.<\/p>\n Spain is preparing for huge eclipse crowds<\/p>\n The travel boom is also creating a logistical headache.<\/p>\n The Guardian reported Aug. 10<\/a> that Spain’s finance ministry expects roughly 460,000 overseas visitors to come specifically for the eclipse. Police expect about 1.5 million additional car journeys on Aug. 12.<\/p>\n That is especially concerning because parts of Spain are extremely dry and dealing with wildfire risk.<\/p>\n Authorities have banned parking near dry vegetation and on some road shoulders, while Valencia has closed natural parks and restricted access to rural footpaths.<\/p>\n In Somosierra, a village north of Madrid with just 93 residents, The Guardian reported<\/a> that as many as 2,000 eclipse visitors could show up.<\/p>\n The Balearic Islands have also announced traffic restrictions on 20 major roads across Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m.<\/p>\n How to safely watch the Aug. 12 eclipse<\/p>\n