Up to 6 million people could flock to Spain on Wednesday to watch a total solar eclipse, with the path stretching about 200km from A Coruña in the northwest to Mallorca in the Mediterranean.
The moon will cast a shadow over Earth for less than two minutes. Spain is expected to offer some of mainland Europe’s best viewing conditions, although cloud cover remains a concern for people choosing where to watch.
Where the eclipse will be visible
A small strip of Portugal, along with parts of Greenland and Iceland, will also experience totality. Tens of millions more people across western Europe will see the eclipse virtually block out the sun, including in the UK, France, Belgium, Switzerland and northern Italy.
An estimated 460,000 people have travelled to Spain for the event, with hotels reporting bookings made months in advance from countries including Japan and the United States. More than 300,000 visitors are expected to head to rural towns and villages in search of a clear view.
Related coverage: The 2026 total solar eclipse: timings, locations and safety.
Visitors are planning around the weather
Online forums have been filled with discussions about cloud cover and advice on viewing locations. Astronomer and science communicator César González planned to drive north towards Burgos and stop at the first isolated field with a clear horizon.
Travellers are also preparing to change plans. Stéphanie Racco, who travelled from France with her eight-year-old twins, said she might drive for several hours from Salou into the countryside if clouds threatened the view.
Spain prepares for heavy traffic and heat
Officials have prepared for up to 1.5 million additional car journeys. Weather alerts forecast temperatures of up to 40C and a high risk of wildfires, prompting plans to deploy more than 24,000 police officers.
More context: August 12 solar eclipse will cross Europe and the Arctic.
Interest has also spread beyond viewing sites: opticians and pharmacies have reported selling out of solar eclipse glasses, while Iberia plans to share live images from a charter flight viewing the eclipse from 10,000 metres above sea level. Madrid’s Prado Museum has published an AI-generated video imagining how the eclipse could change the light in its artworks.
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