Hotel prices in Europe jump ahead of total solar eclipse

Hotel prices across Europe have dramatically increased as hundreds of thousands of tourists converge to witness the continent's first total solar eclipse of the century.

Reykjavik, Iceland, has seen one of the most substantial jumps in hotel room rates. Tourists are reportedly paying an average of over $793 (£587) for a room on August 12, a 98% increase compared to the same day last year, according to Lighthouse Intelligence. Spain is also bracing for a significant influx, with the finance ministry expecting 460,000 overseas tourists specifically for the eclipse.

In Spain, hotel room rates in A Coruña have risen by 135% year-on-year to an average of $451, while prices in Mallorca are up 24% to about $448. Santiago de Compostela and Bilbao have also seen price increases of 34% and 67% respectively. Accommodation in smaller towns and villages along the eclipse's path, as well as makeshift observatories, have been booked for months. Some U.S. travelers are reportedly participating in house exchanges with residents in Spain's Castilla y León region, a prime viewing area.

However, Spanish authorities are expressing concern over an elevated risk of fires. Police anticipate 1.5 million more car journeys than usual on the day of the eclipse. Exceptionally dry temperatures mean that even the smallest spark could trigger devastating forest fires. To mitigate these risks, a large police operation involving 35,000 officers will be deployed. Measures include banning parking on hard shoulders or near dry vegetation, as well as prohibiting barbecues and fireworks. The València region has closed its natural parks and banned walking on rural footpaths. This year, fires have already scorched approximately 200,000 hectares in Spain, six times more than by the same date in 2025.

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We’ve had an extremely tough summer in Spain, with yet another series of major forest fires. That’s why we must restrict any kind of activity that could generate a spark.