Hotel prices have surged in key European cities as hundreds of thousands of tourists travel to see the first total solar eclipse visible from the continent this century. Iceland's capital, Reykjavík, has experienced one of the largest increases in hotel room prices.
Tourists in Reykjavík are spending an average of more than $793 (£587) for a room on August 12, a 98% increase compared to the same day last year, according to Lighthouse Intelligence data. This is due to Reykjavík being one of the few accessible locations to see the full eclipse before evening light on Wednesday.
Spain is also preparing for a significant influx of tourists, with the finance ministry expecting 460,000 overseas visitors specifically for the eclipse. Hotel room rates in A Coruña, northern Spain, have risen 135% to an average of $451 compared to last year. Prices in Mallorca are up 24% to about $448, while Santiago de Compostela and Bilbao have seen increases of 34% and 67% respectively.
Spanish authorities are concerned about an increased risk of fires, anticipating 1.5 million more car journeys than usual on Wednesday. Virginia Barcones, secretary-general for civil protection and emergencies at Spain’s interior ministry, stated that extraordinarily dry temperatures mean a small spark could cause devastating forest fires. Parking on hard shoulders or near dry vegetation, barbecues, and fireworks have been banned, and the València region has closed natural parks and restricted walking on rural footpaths.
A massive police operation and safety campaign will see 35,000 officers deployed to minimise risks. As of Monday evening, three large wildfires were burning in Huelva, Segovia, and Huesca provinces. Fires have already scorched approximately 200,000 hectares this year, six times more than by the same date in 2025, according to the environment ministry.
For those unable to travel, NASA has installed four high-powered telescopes in Villalibado, north-west Spain, to live stream the eclipse. A partial solar eclipse will also be visible across the UK on Wednesday, reaching maximum coverage at 7:12pm in London.