On 12 August 2026, a total solar eclipse will be visible in the early evening sky over Spain, just as the Sun is setting – and excitement is already building.
Key Spanish cities that will see the full total solar eclipse include Bilbao, Santander, Valladolid, Burgos, Zaragoza and Valencia.
Read more
Madrid and Barcelona will each see a 99.9% solar eclipse – meaning 99.9% of the Sun will be obscured by the Moon – but that still means the two cities will only see a partial solar eclipse.
There are about 12 million people living in those two cities, so visitors should expect a lot of travel into the path of totality on eclipse day.
If you're already planning your trip, you'll need to know which places will give you the best experience.
Here we'll look at some of the best places in Spain to see the 12 August 2026 total solar eclipse.
Observing the solar eclipse from Spain
From Spain, the 12 August 2026 total solar eclipse will occur during sunset.
The Sun will be just 11° above the western horizon when the path of the Moon’s central shadow reaches Galicia at 20:26 local time (18:26 UT).
It will sink even lower as the path moves southeast, ending in totality at 20:31 (18:31 UT). In Majorca, for example, that will be 10 minutes before sunset.
That means you'll need a clear western horizon, especially in the eastern part of the path of totality, to get a full view of the solar eclipse.
Taken in Nerja, Andalusia. South of Spain.
That means the best places to see the August 2026 eclipse in Spain will be those with a flat horizon to the west, which could be tricky, given Spain is the second-most mountainous country in Europe.
Try to avoid views cluttered with trees and tall buildings, for example. You'll want a clear, flat horizon.
The region near Palencia and Burgos is relatively flat and the eclipse there will occur high above the horizon.
Or you could book a tour and get to an observation site chosen in advance by eclipse experts.
However you plan your journey, this is my pick of the seven best places to see the total solar eclipse in Spain, August 2026.
Picos de Europa, Cantabrian Mountains
Totality: 1 minute 43 seconds, 9˚ above western horizon
Observe the eclipse from Pico de la Tabla, framed by the rugged peaks of Picos de Europa. Explore! will lead the tour group.
A Coruña, Galicia
Totality: 1 minute 15 seconds, 12˚
The Tower of Hercules, a Roman-era lighthouse on the northwest coast, is where to see the eclipse from Galicia’s second city.
Sigüenza, Guadalajara
Totality: 1 minute 38 seconds, 7˚
AstroTrails sets up at Sigüenza Castle, overlooking cathedrals, cobbled squares and centuries-old charm in a city declared an Historic-Artistic site in 1965.
Parque Natural Cañón del Río Lobos, Castile and León
Totality: 1 minute, 42 seconds, 7.5˚
This spectacular 16-mile-long limestone gorge and plateau is one of Spain’s most beautiful landscapes.
https://www.xn--caondelriolobos-zqb.com
Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre, Teruel
Totality: 1 minute, 27 seconds, 5˚
Perched in the dark skies of the Sierra de Javalambre, home to widefield sky surveys, this is where the European Space Agency is likely to broadcast the eclipse from.
Ebro Delta Natural Park, Catalonia
Totality: 1 minute, 31 seconds, 4.4˚
This wetland nature reserve on the Mediterranean Sea is one of the few regions on Spain’s east coast with good sightlines to the eclipse.
www.deltadelebreecoturisme.com
Majorca, Balearic Islands
Totality: 1 minute 36 seconds, 2.5˚
View the eclipse from Majorca Cathedral in Palma, hike to Mirador de la Trapa or take a catamaran into the Bay of Palma for a sunset view.
More info
Share your solar eclipse adventures and images with us by emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com
