Solar Eclipse Drives Accommodation Prices Up by as Much as 100 Percent
The total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026, has sparked a frenzy for accommodation along its path through Iceland and Spain, with prices in some areas skyrocketing.
The total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026, has sparked a frenzy for accommodation along its path through Iceland and Spain, with prices in some areas skyrocketing.
This week, a huge number of visitors will turn their eyes to the sky to observe the total solar eclipse, but those who secured accommodation in advance have already witnessed another phenomenon: a sharp rise in prices. In certain areas of Iceland and Spain, which lie on the path of totality, hotel room and private accommodation costs have increased by tens of percent, and in some cases over 100 percent, according to EuPerspectives.
The Icelandic town of Grundarhverfi is likely what most people imagine when they hear the phrase "in the middle of nowhere." However, staying in a local studio, which is only 14 square meters, during the eclipse period costs around 700 euros. The explanation is clear: the Kjalarnes Peninsula, where the studio is located, is one of the few European locations from which the total solar eclipse will be visible.
In Iceland's capital, the average price of a hotel room for the night of the eclipse exceeds $1,000, an increase of over 140 percent compared to the same date last year, according to data from analytics firm Lighthouse. According to Finnish public broadcaster YLE, the average hotel room price in Reykjavik has reached nearly 1,000 euros per night.
In northern Spain, prices in A Coruña have more than doubled, while in Bilbao and Santiago de Compostela they have risen by 59 and 31 percent, respectively. On the Balearic island of Mallorca, where the eclipse will appear low on the horizon during sunset, prices have increased by about 20 percent. Data from Hotels.com shows that searches for accommodation along the path of totality have jumped 245 percent compared to the previous year. In Valencia, Mallorca, and Reykjavik, average daily accommodation rates are approximately $285, $405, and $610, respectively, and these are the destinations with the highest surge in demand.
Private accommodation has also felt the impact of increased demand. Analytics firm AirDNA reported that prices on short-term rental platforms in Icelandic areas affected by the eclipse rose by 53.7 percent year-on-year. In Spain, which has a much larger number of accommodation options, prices within the path of totality are on average 15.8 percent higher.
"Demand is excessive and coming from all sides," said Helga Maria Albertsdóttir, director of Sky Lagoon in Reykjavik. Visitors to the complex will have the opportunity to watch the eclipse while soaking in geothermal pools.
Tour operators have had to cope with heightened interest for several months. Ryan Connolly, co-founder of luxury travel agency Hidden Iceland, told the Financial Times that he received his first booking for an eclipse-related trip back in September 2024. By March of this year, he had to start turning down new reservations because, as he puts it, "it was already crazy and completely booked across the whole country."
Airlines have also prepared for the eclipse. Icelandair has added extra flights to meet higher demand, especially from the US, and CEO Bogi Nils Bogason notes that the airline will fly with full capacity during the busiest period. Delta has also introduced new flights between New York and Reykjavik. Bogason highlights that interest is strongest in North America, which is why carriers have prioritized these routes.
The wave of tourists has also extended to sea routes. Cruise companies, including Princess Cruises and Virgin Voyages, have organized special eclipse-viewing packages off the coasts of Spain and Iceland, and all are already sold out. The number of available seats on regular flights during the eclipse week has increased by 7.9 percent compared to the same period last year, while hotel bookings for August 2026 are 17.8 percent higher than in August 2025.
Spain has already calculated how much the eclipse could bring. According to a study presented by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Business, the event is estimated to contribute a net 347.6 million euros to the economy. It is projected that around 446,700 tourists will arrive in the 36 Spanish provinces on the path of totality and surrounding areas during the reference week of August 10-16. Their additional tourism spending is expected to reach 342.19 million euros.
Spain, however, has sufficient accommodation capacity to absorb the extra wave of visitors. There are over one million accommodation units in these areas, including hotels, apartments, campsites, rural properties, and private tourist rentals. Interestingly, the eclipse is also drawing tourists to areas that are not typically major tourist destinations in the country. Some demand is directed inland, to the so-called "empty Spain," thereby temporarily diverting tourists from the traditionally most popular southern destinations.
Nevertheless, no one can guarantee tourists that they will see what they paid high prices for. The biggest issue is the weather. In Iceland, for example, cloudy weather could completely ruin the spectacle. If there is thick cloud cover, the eclipse would mostly manifest as a darkening of the sky. Currently, the weather forecast for Reykjavik is good, with only a few clouds.
Most of Ryan Connolly's clients will watch the eclipse from the Reykjanes Peninsula, after touring the volcanic area. Even if clouds cover the sun, tourists have other activity options, so the trip, as he says, still makes sense.
Tour operators are already thinking about the next big opportunity. Bookings are pouring in for Egypt's Luxor, as the next total solar eclipse will be visible there in August 2027. The Financial Times calls this eclipse the "eclipse of the century" because its totality will be the longest visible from land until 2114.
The eclipse also arrives at a time when parts of Spain are still dealing with the aftermath of some of the worst wildfires in the last 30 years. In some areas of Aragon, there are special restrictions on motor vehicles, and certain natural parks in Valencia are closed. According to YLE, Spanish authorities have deployed tens of thousands of police officers to manage traffic, and temperatures in many places still reach 40 degrees Celsius. Spain's Ministry of the Interior has established hundreds of official viewing sites across sparsely populated areas.
The eclipse's totality lasts about two minutes, and NASA's research aircraft can observe it from an altitude of over 15 kilometers. During a total eclipse, temperatures can drop by more than 10 degrees, said Patrick Pelletier of the French Astronomical Society to Franceinfo. Philippe Stée, director of the French Observatory, added that complete darkness can also affect animals; for example, some birds may stop singing when darkness falls.
The eclipse is fully visible in Reykjavik for the first time since 1433, and on the Iberian Peninsula, the last total eclipse was seen in 1912. Finland's Ursa Astronomical Association sold out of protective glasses in no time, and queues for them were recorded across Europe, including France and Spain.
