3 weeks ago
Solar eclipse sends Europe's hotel prices soaring
On Wednesday, a very special thing will happen in the sky: the Moon will move in front of the Sun and block it out completely.
This is called a total solar eclipse, and it will be fully visible from parts of Iceland and Spain.
It is the first time this century that people in Europe can see a whole total eclipse.
Lots of people want to watch it, so they are booking hotel rooms in those places.
Because so many people want rooms, the prices have gone up a lot.
In one Spanish city, prices went up 135 per cent.
Spain expects 460,000 visitors who are coming just to see the eclipse.
The country is also very dry, with wildfires burning, so police are working hard to keep people safe.
They have banned barbecues and fireworks in some areas and are watching the roads carefully.
If you cannot go to Spain or Iceland, NASA will show the eclipse live on the internet for millions of people.
People in the UK will only see a little bit of the eclipse, not the whole thing.
A total solar eclipse visible in parts of Iceland and Spain on Wednesday is the first fully visible from Europe this century.
Hotel prices have soared ahead of the event, up 135% in A Coruña (to about £334) and 98% in Reykjavík (to about £587) versus the same date last year.
Spain's finance ministry expects 460,000 overseas tourists to travel specifically for the eclipse, and authorities are preparing for up to six million people nationwide.
Spain is deploying about 35,000 officers amid wildfire concerns, with roughly 1.5 million extra car journeys expected and about 200,000 hectares already burned this year.
NASA will livestream the eclipse from four telescopes in Villalibado, north-west Spain; the UK will see only a partial eclipse, reaching maximum coverage in London at 7.12pm.
- Who
- Spain's finance ministry, Spanish authorities and police, NASA, and tourists travelling to view the eclipse.
- What
- A total solar eclipse visible in parts of Iceland and Spain is driving hotel price surges and a large tourism and wildfire safety operation.
- Where
- Iceland (notably Reykjavík) and Spain (including A Coruña, Bilbao, Santiago de Compostela, Mallorca, Castilla y León and Villalibado), with a partial view in the UK.
- When
- Wednesday 12 August; the UK partial eclipse will reach maximum coverage in London at 7.12pm.
- Why
- Tourists are racing to find the best places to watch the first total solar eclipse fully visible from Europe this century.
Tourism opportunity
Wildfire and safety concerns
Eclipse-driven travel boom
Tourism opportunity
The eclipse is a major opportunity for the tourism industry, especially for smaller Spanish towns that normally attract few international visitors, with hotels reporting strong demand and rooms selling for far more than usual rates.
Wildfire and safety concerns
The surge comes at an awkward time amid a severe wildfire season, with about 200,000 hectares already burned, prompting restricted parking, bans on barbecues and fireworks, and closed natural parks in affected areas.
Key facts
- Event
- Total solar eclipse - first fully visible from Europe this century
- Main viewing countries
- Iceland and Spain (UK gets only a partial eclipse)
- Reykjavik hotel price
- About £587 average, 98% higher than last year
- A Coruna hotel price
- About £334 average, 135% higher than last year
- Overseas visitors expected
- 460,000 travelling to Spain specifically for the eclipse
- People preparing for in Spain
- Up to six million
- Safety operation
- About 35,000 officers deployed; ~1.5 million extra car journeys expected
- Wildfires in Spain this year
- About 200,000 hectares burned, roughly six times the area by the same point in 2025
Sources
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