Madrid, Barcelona and Seville will miss Spain’s total eclipse entirely, here’s where to go instead

Spain’s first solar eclipse since 1905 has already seen a huge tourism surge, with some towns seeing as much as a 76% YoY increase in bookings due to the cosmic event. Welcome Pickups, the global airport transfer service, is sharing the locals’ advice on how to get the best view of the solar eclipse if you’re travelling to Spain. 

The eclipse is the first that Spain has experienced in over a century, and the first to be seen in continental Europe since 2006. Hailed as a once-in-a-lifetime experience, search interest for the event has soared as Brits plan a Spanish getaway to see it. In the UK, searches for eclipse spain 2026 have seen a 30% increase over the last month.

Unfortunately, according to a map tracking the eclipse’s viewing locations, some of Spain’s biggest tourist hotspots sit on the edge of the path, such as Madrid and Barcelona, whilst Seville, Benidorm and Malaga will miss it entirely. The path enters Spain on the Galician coast, then crosses Asturias, Cantabria, Castilla y León, La Rioja, Navarra, Aragón and Valencia, before crossing the Balearic Islands (Mallorca and Ibiza).

Whilst the likes of Barcelona and Madrid might still be offering viewing parties, viewers might be left underwhelmed, and it’s recommended to travel further inland to get the best experience. Alex Trimis, CEO & Co-Founder of Welcome Pickups, has shared the best spots across the country to see the eclipse, but has also issued a warning for those who are planning a trip:

“Figures show a huge increase in flight and accommodation bookings for the eclipse, but almost no one’s thinking about the last leg of the journey, and that’s the part most likely to go wrong. Towns like Burgos, León and Soria don’t have their own airports, so you’re relying on a transfer from Madrid, Bilbao or Valladolid, and on the day itself, that road could be one of the busiest in Spain, so it’s important to plan and book that leg of the trip in advance.

Both Madrid and Barcelona do sit on the edge of the path, and will be hosting viewing events, but if you really want to experience the spectacle first hand, it’s definitely worth considering travelling inland.

If the weather’s your main worry, I’d advise not to fixate on totality duration alone. Check you’ll actually have a clear run to the western horizon, because a mountain in the wrong place will ruin the view as fast as a cloud will,” he advises.

The best spots to see the solar eclipse in Spain:

Zaragoza has been widely recommended as the best all-round option, combining a strong totality duration with the highest odds of clear skies on the mainland

Burgos, León, Valladolid and Soria will all have the longest totality in Spain at 1 min 42–45 secs. They’ve also had clear skies on roughly 17 of the last 21 Augusts, and are an easy journey from Madrid

Valencia is a great spot, as totality there falls right at sunset (around 8.32–8.33 pm), giving a dramatic low-horizon eclipse. It also has better transport links from major airports than most other totality towns

Mallorca and Ibiza, two of Spain’s most popular destinations, have the most reliable weather odds of anywhere on the path, especially on the west coasts where sea breezes keep cloud cover down. Either of these spots would be a good option for anyone combining the eclipse with a beach trip.

Because the eclipse happens close to sunset, viewers need a clear, unobstructed view to the west. This is actually trickier than it sounds in Spain, the second most mountainous country in Europe. Flatter spots around Palencia and Burgos are a safer bet than valley towns

Transport is the real bottleneck as towns like Burgos, León, Soria and Cuenca have no airport of their own. Visitors flying into Madrid, Bilbao or Valladolid are recommended to book onward transfers or transport well in advance rather than trying to arrange a taxi on the day as roads are likely to be busy.

Only remove eclipse glasses during full totality. It’s important to know that for every second of the partial phases, either side, glasses stay on, no exceptions, even when the sky looks dark enough to seem safe.

Watch for the “diamond ring” effect and Baily’s beads in the seconds right before and after totality, when the sun breaks through the last valleys on the Moon’s edge. It’s one of the most photographed moments and the easiest to miss if you’re still fiddling with a camera when it happens.

Expect a temperature drop during totality, even in August.  Several degrees is typical, so it’s worth having a layer to hand rather than being caught out.

Because totality falls near sunset here, the effect isn’t just a dark sun; it’s a 360-degree glow around the whole horizon, not only where the sun sits. It’s worth picking a spot with an open view all round rather than just to the west.

During totality, look southwest for Venus (unmistakably bright) with Spica just beside it, then up to Arcturus high in the south and the Summer Triangle rising in the east. This is a real reward for anyone who came for the astronomy as much as the spectacle.

If you’re shooting on a phone, hold a solar filter or spare eclipse glasses over the lens for the partial phases and only remove it for totality. A tripod or a wall to brace against will also help get a clear picture. Shaking ruins more eclipse photos than bad light does