How Spain is preparing for the August total solar eclipse

"But if 2024's North American eclipse taught anyone anything, it's that the window closes fast. For travellers just booking their August eclipse trips now, cities like Valencia, Bilbao, and Zaragoza may be your best option. Accustomed to managing high-season crowds, the hubs promise modern infrastructure, open restaurants, and more hotel options. The Basque Country's culinary reputation means places like San Sebastián filled early, but nearby alternatives like Vitoria still have scattered availability."

"Sergio Carmona, an IT consultant, lives in Castilla y León in Soria, the country's least densely populated province. Despite only having 10 permanent residents and 0.04 inhabitants per square mile, he says his 10-person village has already received tens of thousands of accommodation requests. Official hotels in Soria's capital are all fully booked, leaving private home rentals on Facebook Marketplace or rural campsites as the only remaining options."

A Coruña, Lugo, Palencia and León still have hotel and vacation rental capacity as of January 2026, with A Coruña gaining a new United Airlines direct flight from Newark in May. Travelers booking late should consider Valencia, Bilbao or Zaragoza for modern infrastructure, open restaurants and more hotel options. The Basque Country filled early, though nearby Vitoria has scattered availability. Rural Castilla y León and Castilla-La Mancha offer pristine skies and natural beauty but limited services. Soria's tiny villages have received massive accommodation requests, official hotels are fully booked, and remaining options include private rentals and rural campsites.

Read at CN Traveller