On August 12, 2026, the path of totality for Europe's next total solar eclipse sweeps across northern Spain — and for a few brief minutes, day turns to night along a narrow band of the country. If you're planning a trip to witness it, here are six places worth putting on your shortlist.
A Coruña and the Galician coast
Galicia sits near the western edge of the path, meaning the eclipse arrives here relatively early in its journey across Spain. The Atlantic coastline makes for a dramatic backdrop, with the potential for striking light as totality approaches — though Galicia's weather in August can be unpredictable, so it's worth having a backup spot in mind.
Ribadeo and the Cantabrian coast
A little further along the path, the Cantabrian coast mixes quiet beach towns with rolling countryside. Crowds here are likely to be smaller than in major cities, which can make for a calmer, more personal experience of totality.
Oviedo and Asturias
Asturias sits comfortably within the path and offers a nice balance of accessibility and scenery — mountains, green valleys, and historic towns. If you'd rather skip big-city crowds but still want totality, this region deserves a serious look.
León
A historic city sitting directly in the path, León has solid infrastructure, plenty of accommodation, and a central location for travellers coming from elsewhere in Spain or Europe. Expect organised public viewing events here given its position in the totality band.
Burgos
Further east, Burgos pairs historic architecture with good transport links — a useful option if you're flying into Spain and need to travel inland to reach the path.
Bilbao and the Basque coast
Towards the eastern end of the path, Bilbao offers a major city with international airport access, making it one of the more convenient options if you're travelling from abroad. The Basque coastline nearby also has smaller towns if you'd prefer to avoid the city crowds.
Wherever you land along this path, one thing is worth planning for separately from the trip itself: the glasses you'll need won't be something you can easily pick up locally once you're there. Shops in towns along the path of totality typically sell through their eclipse stock weeks in advance — sometimes selling out entirely as the date approaches. If you're flying or driving in specifically for this, it's worth treating certified eclipse glasses as part of your packing list, not something to source on arrival.
Before you go
Wherever you end up, remember totality itself lasts only a few minutes — the partial phases before and after last much longer, and that's when certified eclipse glasses are essential for everyone in your group. Check each pair for damage before the day, and make sure no one is left without their own.
If you're travelling with a larger group — a club, school trip, or tour group — it's worth looking into our wholesale options ahead of time so everyone is covered.
Accommodation in northern Spain is likely to fill up fast in the weeks before August 12, 2026 — booking early is one less thing to worry about on the day.