Driving to northern Spain for the 2026 Solar Eclipse
There’s a total solar eclipse this summer, and you could be there to see it.
Have a once in a lifetime experience by witnessing the total solar eclipse in northern Spain in August 2026. Grab your safety glasses, head to Calais and chase the sun all the way to Spain.
What is the Solar Eclipse 2026? (and why northern Spain is a top place to see it)
Watch the eclipse safely in northern Spain
Do you remember the solar eclipse in the UK in 1999? There won’t be another total solar eclipse visible from this country until 2090, but that doesn’t mean you can’t see one very soon – if you’re up for a road trip to Spain!
When is the solar eclipse in Spain in 2026?
The solar eclipse will take place on Wednesday August 12th, 2026, between 7.30pm and 8.30pm in the evening.
Solar eclipse basics: partial vs total
During a partial solar eclipse, the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, but only blocks some of the sun’s surface and light. In a total eclipse, the sun is completely covered by the Moon. There are usually one or two total and partial eclipses every year, but there hasn’t been a total eclipse of the sun visible from mainland Spain since 1905.
How long totality will last – and what you can expect to see
For people watching in Iceland, totality will last around two minutes. In Northern Spain, in regions like Asturias and Cantabria, the total eclipse could last between 1 minute 10 seconds and 1 minute 50 seconds. People will see the disc of the Moon, darkened because of the Earth’s shadow, passing in front of the sun and completely obscuring it, except for a white halo of light – the sun’s corona or outer atmosphere.
An eerie darkness will descend during totality, which confuses birds and animals. In times gone by eclipses also terrified people, who did not understand what was happening.
Where to see the 2026 solar eclipse in northern Spain
Bilbao from Mount Artxanda, sure to be a popular spot during the eclipse
The path of totality – why location matters
Every eclipse is different. For this one, the path of totality – the area on the Earth’s surface from which the total eclipse can be observed – sweeps from the Arctic, across Greenland and the west coast of Iceland, over the Atlantic Ocean until it reaches northern Spain. This is where millions of people will get their chance to catch this awesome celestial phenomenon.
The path of totality moves eastward from Galicia, where the eclipse makes landfall at around 7.30pm, across the coastal regions of Asturias and Cantabria, to Zaragoza, Valencia and finally the Balearic islands, just before sunset.
What a way to start a summer night in Ibiza!
Best places to watch in the Basque Country
There are sure to be large crowds in Bilbao, capital of the Basque Country, watching the moment of totality. It’s likely one of the best spots around Bilbao will be the viewpoints on Mount Artxanda overlooking the city. You can get to these by using the funicular railway – although getting there early will be essential. The coastline will also see throngs of people at the headlands near Barrika, where light pollution is low and the sunsets are spectacular.
Best places to watch in Cantabria
Crowds will gather near Cabo Mayor lighthouse
With the eclipse taking place in the early evening as the sun is low in the sky, coastal areas in Cantabria will be popular places to watch. The port city of Santander offers some of the most amazing unobstructed views of the Bay of Biscay, especially areas around the Cabo Mayor lighthouse. Head to any of the beaches on the Cantabrian coast, like Playa de Oyambre or Playa de Merón, and they will be buzzing with a party atmosphere as totality gets closer!
Best places to watch in Asturias
One of the first regions in Spain to get their first glimpse of totality will be the western region of Asturias. Its two main cities, Oviedo and Gijón, are well connected and offer an ideal base for your eclipse road trip. They may not be the best vantage points, however. For darker skies and higher ground you should head to Monte Naranco, overlooking Oviedo, or the beaches and cliffs near Llanes. Once you’ve seen the eclipse, stay for a while in Oviedo. It’s a major stop on the Camino pilgrimage route, with a wealth of historic buildings and great restaurants.
Other options: Navarre and the Pyrenees foothills
Head out to the Bardenas Reales desert for an unforgettable eclipse experience
Coastal regions offer the best chance of seeing the eclipse, but for a unique eclipse experience, why not head into the Navarre and the other-worldly desert landscapes of the Ebro valley? The famous rock formation of Castildetierra might still pull in the crowds, but you’ll get big, dark skies, and it will definitely be quieter than nearby Pamplona.
Planning your eclipse road trip from the UK
Driving routes from Calais
Obviously distances and driving times will depend very much on where you are heading in Spain to watch the eclipse. Bilbao is the nearest major city in Spain to Calais, and it can take as little as 11 ½ hours to drive there from the LeShuttle terminal. You’ll be taking the most direct route, via the A28, A10 and A63 autoroutes, and avoiding the high passes of the Pyrenees. If you’re driving to Zaragoza, you’ll drive on mountain roads and cross the Pyrenees through the Somport tunnel, and this stunning route will take 15-16 hours.
Make sure you wear your eclipse glasses!![]()
Overnight stop ideas
Driving to Spain will take at least 2 days, so make sure you plan an overnight stop on the way. Poitiers and Bordeaux are ideal halfway points on your journey. You’ll still get a good view of the eclipse from the south of France, so you might even decide to stay there. Biarritz on the French Basque coast is just about as close as you can get to crossing the border, and you’ll still experience complete totality by watching from its elegant beaches.
Driving in Spain
You’ll find driving in Spain very similar to driving in France. It’s a legal requirement to have a warning triangle, first aid kit and hi-vis jackets for each person in the vehicle, as well as headlamp deflectors fitted if you’re driving a UK car. The speed limit is 130 km/h on autoroutes and motorways, and 110 km/h on dual carriageways.
Start planning your solar eclipse road trip
Whether you’ve already planned a summer holiday in Spain, or the solar eclipse is the excuse you need for a spot of sun worshipping, we’ll help get you there. It’s just a 35-minute crossing from Folkestone to Calais, but we recommend booking early for this peak period.
FAQs
How do I watch a solar eclipse safely and what equipment do I need?
You must never look directly at the sun, and to safely watch the total eclipse you should do so through a pair of solar eclipse glasses. These block the dangerous UV rays and must be certified to ISO 12312-2. There’ll be lots of these types of glasses for sale in Spain, but check they have this ISO standard.
Will the 2026 eclipse be visible in the UK?
Yes, people in the UK will be able to see the eclipse, but it will only appear as 90% of totality. It will be the closest to a total eclipse visible from the UK since 1999.
How often is there a total solar eclipse?
There will be 214 total eclipses in the 21st century, so they are not as infrequent as they might seem. There is an average of two per year, somewhere in the world, and more partial eclipses.
Is the eclipse guaranteed?
Yes, the timing and location of solar eclipses are predicted accurately. Cloud cover could make a difference to how much of the Moon and sun are visible, but darkness will fall during totality.
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