Solar eclipse drives surge in travel bookings to Spain and Iceland

Flight bookings to destinations along the path of the 12 August 2026 total solar eclipse have increased by 3% compared with the same period last year, according to the latest Amadeus Travel Intelligence data. Demand has been particularly strong for northern Spain, where Santander has emerged as the fastest-growing destination with a 105% year-on-year increase in arrivals, followed by Asturias (+99%) and Bilbao (+93%).

International demand is also rising, with arrivals expected to peak on 10 August, up 39% year-on-year. The United States remains the largest long-haul source market, accounting for 23% of all international arrivals and recording a 30% increase over 2025. Denmark (+40%), the United Kingdom (+38%) and the Netherlands (+33%) are among the fastest-growing European origin markets.

Travel patterns show that many visitors are making dedicated eclipse trips. Short stays of one to five nights have increased by 11% and now account for nearly one-third of all bookings. Solo travel has risen by 14%, while bookings for groups of six or more are up 16%, reflecting growing interest from organised tour groups and astronomy enthusiasts.

Booking activity began unusually early, with the first reservations for eclipse week made as far back as August 2025, highlighting strong anticipation for one of the decade’s most significant astronomical events.

Among the destinations within the eclipse path, Santander, Asturias, Bilbao, Valencia, La Coruña and Reykjavík are experiencing the strongest growth in demand, underscoring the appeal of Spain’s northern coast and Iceland as prime viewing locations.