Will you experience the next total solar eclipse? On Aug. 12, 2026, the moon’s shadow will trace a narrow path from northern Russia through Greenland, Iceland and Spain, crossing some of Earth’s most magnificent landscapes. The 16th total solar eclipse of the 21st century will be the first to touch mainland Europe since Aug. 11, 1999.
It begins as an eclipsed sunrise in northern Siberia and ends as an eclipsed sunset in the Balearic Islands, with much of northern Spain having to contend with tricky sightlines (though help is at hand from eclipse experts at Besselain Elements, and ShadeMap). Here’s a sample of properties, locations and tours to see the 2027 total solar eclipse:
Ribera del Duero, Spain
Totality: 1 minute and 43 seconds.
If you want to learn how to take images of the totally eclipsed sun, Capture The Atlas is hosting a summit in Valladolid and Burgos, Spain — both in the path of totality, where clouds are least likely. A group of around 80 will learn eclipse photography, solar time-lapses and post-processing from masters of the art, including Alan Dyer, Mike Shaw, Sarah Mathews, Miguel Claro, Dan Stein and Dan Zafra. The eclipse will be imaged from a location within Ribera del Duero wine country.
Olafsvik, Iceland
Totality: 2 minutes and 4 seconds.
Iceland’s otherworldly Snaefellsnes Peninsula is the ideal setting for a total solar eclipse. Led by astronomer Tom Kerss, this tour from Discover The World drives guests from Reykjavik to the tiny historic fishing village of Olafsvik on Snaefellsnes for a long totality. Includes tips on eclipse photography.
Castillo de Peñaranda de Duero, Spain
Totality: 1 minute and 43 seconds.
One of several Spanish fortresses in the path of totality, this one in the Burgos region was built in the 10th century. Visited as part of a custom tour of the Ribera del Duero region, the itinerary includes an astronomer and a chance to watch the peak of the Perseids meteor shower after the eclipse.
Iceland Eclipse Festival, Iceland
Totality: 2 minutes and 7 seconds.
Beginning just as the eclipse gets underway and with special guest speakers through Aug. 15, Iceland Eclipse Festival at Hellissandur on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula has a capacity for 3,333 guests. Just announced are 100 artists and speakers, including NASA astronauts, Meduza3, Booka Shade, Nightmares on Wax, Ryan Crosson and Shaun Reeves.
Alto de la Agenanza, Spain
Totality: 1 minute and 37 seconds.
The beauty of an eclipse happening late in the day is that you have plenty of time to get into position. This tailor-made tour for 8-10 guests from Pura Aventura explores the region of the Picos and La Rioja in Spain — complete with “cheese shepherds, gorge walks and sandy beaches — with totality experienced from the summit of Alto de la Agenanza before a fiesta in a village below.
Blue Lagoon, Iceland
Totality: 1 minute and 32 seconds.
If a luxury spa next to a geothermal power plant seems odd, it gets odder. While you bathe in a geothermal lake within a lava field, you can slap on a silica mud mask and sip a beer from the in-water bar. Totality here will be the hottest ticket in town — so join the waitlist.
Palacio de Samaniego, Spain
Totality: 1 minute and 18 seconds.
Such is the shock of totality that you’ll need a glass of wine after it’s over and the lights come back on. That’s not a problem at the 18th-century Palacio Samaniego Hotel in the heart of Rioja Alavesa, one of Spain’s most celebrated wine regions. Set among vineyards and with only nine rooms, this is where to experience an eclipse in luxury and isolation.
Scoresby Sund, Greenland
Totality: 1 minute and 52 seconds
The only practical way of getting to Greenland — for an exalted view of an eclipsed sun above icebergs and fjords — is to join an expedition cruise. This two-week itinerary takes place aboard Ponant’s Le Lyrial vessel, which explores Spitsbergen and Jan Mayen Island before totality in the world’s largest fjord system at Scoresby Sound. Guest speakers include European Space Agency astronauts Claudie and Jean-Pierre Haigneré.
Monasterio de San Pelayo, Spain
Totality: 1 minute and 42 seconds
If you’re after a historic 10th-century monastery with 15 bedrooms for exclusive use, this mansion in Palencia — predicted to be a cloud-free region — could be an option. Just two hours from Madrid, Monasterio de San Pelayo has an al fresco suite that would be perfect for watching the peak of the Perseid meteor shower just hours after the total solar eclipse.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
