Total solar eclipse sends European hotel prices soaring

The solar eclipse has driven up hotel prices in Europe

The total solar eclipse is turning European hotels into a hotbed of price hikes: in some popular destinations, hotel room rates have more than doubled compared to last year. In Spain, where hundreds of thousands of tourists are preparing to arrive to witness this rare celestial event, hotels are already seeing a sharp rise in demand, while authorities are simultaneously preparing for record traffic on the roads and an increased risk of wildfires.

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In Reykjavík, one of the few European capitals from which the total phase of the eclipse will be visible, the average price of a hotel room has reached $793, according to The Guardian. According to the analytics firm Lighthouse Intelligence, this is 98% higher than on the same day a year earlier.

Prices have risen even more sharply in Spain, which is considered one of the best places in Europe to view the eclipse. The country’s Ministry of Finance expects about 460,000 foreign tourists to arrive specifically for this event.

In La Coruña, the average hotel room rate has increased by 135% over the past year—to $451. In Mallorca, where the eclipse is expected to be visible on the horizon at sunset, accommodation costs have risen by 24%, to $448. In Santiago de Compostela and Bilbao, the increases were 34% and 67%, respectively.

The frenzy has also spread to small towns along the eclipse’s path. Accommodations there were booked several months before the event. According to local media reports, some American tourists arranged home exchanges with residents of Castile and León—one of the best regions for viewing the eclipse.

The tourism boom creates new risks

The massive influx of tourists is simultaneously placing a serious strain on Spain’s infrastructure. Police expect approximately 1.5 million more car trips than usual on Wednesday. Amid extremely dry weather, authorities fear that even a small spark could trigger a wildfire, and heavy traffic will hinder the work of emergency services.

To ensure safety, authorities will deploy about 35,000 personnel. Parking near dry vegetation, as well as the use of barbecues and fireworks, is prohibited nationwide. In Valencia, nature parks are closed and access to rural routes is restricted.

The scale of the threat is illustrated by the statistics: since the beginning of the year, wildfires have already destroyed about 200,000 hectares, which is roughly six times more than during the same period in 2025.

For those who won’t be able to see the eclipse in person, NASA has set up four telescopes in the Spanish village of Villalibado. The agency is organizing a live broadcast that more than 10 million people will be able to watch.