The 2027 total solar eclipse in Spain, the travel guide worth booking a year early
On August 2, 2027 the century's longest land eclipse crosses southern Spain, with almost five minutes of darkness in Ceuta and totality over Cádiz and Málaga. Cities, durations, weather odds and why hotels will sell out.
In 40 words. On August 2, 2027, mid-morning, a total solar eclipse crosses the Strait of Gibraltar. Ceuta gets 4 minutes 48 seconds of darkness, Cádiz almost 3, Málaga nearly 2. Southern Spain becomes the world's eclipse destination.
Eclipse chasers rank their trips years ahead, and for 2027 the answer is almost unanimous. Southern Spain. The eclipse of August 2, 2027 is the longest total eclipse on land for the rest of this century, and its path crosses one of Europe's sunniest, best connected coastlines.
The numbers behind the hype
At its maximum, in Egypt, totality will last 6 minutes 23 seconds. The Spanish crossing is shorter but still extraordinary, per official IGN data.
| Place | Totality starts | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ceuta | mid-morning | 4 min 48 s |
| Melilla | 10:48 | 4 min 34 s |
| Cádiz | 10:45 | 2 min 54 s |
| Málaga | 10:48 | 1 min 48 s |
The band covers Ceuta and Melilla, nearly all of Cádiz province, much of Málaga and the southern tips of Granada and Almería. Seville and Córdoba get a deep partial.
Why 2027 beats 2026 (for travelers)
Spain's eclipse this August 12 is historic, the first since 1905, but it happens at sunset with the Sun scraping the horizon. The 2027 eclipse rides high in a mid-morning summer sky, lasts up to four times longer, and lands on a coast where August cloud odds are among the lowest in Europe. It is, plainly, the comfortable one. The catch is that everyone knows. The region has been appearing on travel lists for 2027 for months, and eclipse tour operators are already blocking hotel allotments around the Strait.
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Plan it like a chaser
- Book refundable lodging now inside the band. Tarifa, Cádiz, Vejer de
- la Frontera, the Málaga coast, Ceuta. A year out is not early, it is on
- time.
- Aim for duration if you can. Ceuta and Melilla nearly double the
- mainland's totality time.
- Buy and keep certified glasses. ISO 12312-2 rated,
- stored flat, they will serve both 2026 and 2027.
- Use 2026 as your dress rehearsal. Timings, photos, the feel of
- totality. Everything you learn this Wednesday compounds next year.
- Note the bonus round, an annular "ring of fire" eclipse crosses the
- southwest again on January 26, 2028.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place in Spain to see the 2027 eclipse?
For duration, Ceuta (4 min 48 s) and Melilla (4 min 34 s). On the mainland, the Cádiz coast combines nearly 3 minutes of totality with excellent August weather odds and easy logistics.
How long will the 2027 eclipse last in Spain?
Depending on location, from under 2 minutes in Málaga to almost 5 in Ceuta. Its worldwide maximum, 6 minutes 23 seconds, occurs in Egypt.
When will Spain see another total eclipse after 2027?
After the annular eclipse of January 2028, estimates point to the middle of the century. These three years are a once-in-a-generation window.
Sources
The sky never sleeps.
Eclipses, meteor showers, launches… Every Sunday I send you the week’s sky events you can’t miss. Free.