The Eclipse in Southern Spain

Why southern Spain for this eclipse

This site is mostly about Egypt, and for good reason. The longest totality of the eclipse falls there, with the Sun almost overhead. But the shadow does not start in Egypt. It crosses the Atlantic first and reaches Europe on the coast of Andalusia, where the Strait of Gibraltar and the far south of Spain are well inside the path. For many travellers from the UK, Ireland and the rest of Europe, this is the easiest total eclipse they will ever be able to reach.

The numbers are good. Tarifa gets 4 minutes 38 seconds, longer than anywhere in North America in 2024. The towns around the Bay of Gibraltar get between 4m 05s and 4m 27s, and most of the Costa de la Luz more than four minutes. The Sun stands 38° up, a little south of due east, high enough to clear hills and most buildings. And it all happens mid-morning, between about 10:45 and 10:50 local time, so you can be at lunch by the time it is over.

There are trade-offs, and we would rather you knew them now. It is not Egypt: in our satellite data the Strait is almost clear on about two days in three in early August, against 86% in Luxor. The path covers only the southern edge of Andalusia, so the big inland cities of Seville and Granada are outside it. And 2 August 2027 is a Monday in the busiest month of the year, when the roads to the coast and the ferry ports are already full.

Which area suits whom

The path crosses three quite different stretches of coast. The differences between towns within each one are usually seconds. The differences between the three are about the kind of trip you want.

Costa de la Luz: beaches, wind and the longest totality

The Atlantic coast of Cádiz province, from Tarifa up through Bolonia, Zahara de los Atunes, Barbate, Vejer and Conil to the city of Cádiz. Long open beaches, white towns, surf and kite culture, and the longest totality on the mainland: Tarifa 4m 38s, Bolonia 4m 30s, most of the coast above four minutes. Cádiz itself gets 2m 54s because it lies close to the northern edge. This suits beach holidays, families with a car and anyone who wants the most seconds. The downside is access: one main coast road, the N-340, and small towns that are full in August anyway. Our three-day Costa de la Luz itinerary puts it together.

The Strait and the Campo de Gibraltar: transport and choice

The towns around the Bay of Gibraltar: Algeciras (4m 26s), Gibraltar (4m 27s), La Línea (4m 24s) and San Roque and Sotogrande (4m 17s and 4m 05s). This is the practical choice. Algeciras has a railway station, a big bus station and ferries to Ceuta and Tanger Med. Gibraltar has direct flights from the UK. There are more beds than on the Costa de la Luz, and La Línea and Sotogrande have east-facing beaches that look straight at the eclipse. It suits travellers without a car, UK visitors flying into Gibraltar, and anyone who wants options. Watch for the Gibraltar border queue and the ferry traffic of August.

The Costa del Sol: the most hotels, the least totality

Málaga’s coast has the biggest airport and hotel stock in the region, and it is inside the path. But going east, the coast runs closer and closer to the northern edge of the path, and totality falls quickly. In our calculation Estepona gets 3m 37s, Marbella 3m 17s and Málaga city only 1m 50s. If you are already staying there, you will see a total eclipse from your own beach. If you are choosing where to go, the western end is better, and the drive of about an hour and a half west to the Bay of Gibraltar more than doubles Málaga’s totality. Many people will have the same idea, so do that drive the day before.

Not in the path: Seville, Granada, Córdoba

The great inland cities of Andalusia are outside the path. Seville sees a 98.35% partial eclipse and Granada 99.22%. That sounds close. It is not. At 99% the daylight dims and turns strange, but the sky stays bright, you must keep your eclipse glasses on the whole time, and you never see the corona. If you are touring Andalusia, plan to be on the coast on the night of 1 August. From Seville, the train to Cádiz or a car south on the AP-4 and A-381 gets you into the path; see the eclipse without a car.

And across the water

Tangier in Morocco gets 4m 50s and Ceuta 4m 48s. Crossing from Tarifa or Algeciras takes about an hour, but you should cross the day before, not on eclipse morning. Our Spain and Morocco itinerary covers the time zone trap and the August ferry queues.

Eclipse-day traffic

The coast roads of Cádiz and Málaga are busy on any August morning. In 2027 they carry beach traffic, the Operación Paso del Estrecho (the summer flow of cars heading for the ferries to North Africa at Algeciras and Tarifa), and everyone who wants to see totality.

• A-7 and AP-7 along the Málaga coast to San Roque and Algeciras. Expect people from the Costa del Sol to drive west for longer totality.
• N-340 from Algeciras to Tarifa and along the Costa de la Luz to Vejer. It is the only road into Tarifa and it jams easily.
• A-381 from Jerez to Los Barrios, the main route from Seville and Jerez to the Strait.
• CA-34 from San Roque to La Línea and the Gibraltar border, where the vehicle queue can last hours. Cross into Gibraltar on foot.

The rules are the same everywhere. Sleep inside the path the night before. If you must drive that morning, be parked by about 08:30; the partial phase starts around 09:41. Do not leave at 10:50, when everyone else does: the partial phase runs until just after 12:00, and lunch in Spain starts around 14:00 anyway. Check the DGT live traffic map, and use our eclipse day planner to work out timings from where you are staying.

Getting to southern Spain

• Málaga is the main international airport, with the most flights from the UK and Ireland. Algeciras is roughly an hour and a half away by road in normal traffic.
• Seville and Jerez suit the Costa de la Luz. Jerez is closest to Cádiz and Vejer.
• Gibraltar has direct flights from the UK and is right next to the Bay of Gibraltar towns.
• By train, Seville connects to Cádiz and San Fernando, and the Algeciras line runs inland through Ronda. There is no railway to Tarifa or the coast between.
• By car, remember Spain drives on the right, motorway tolls apply on parts of the AP-7, and a hire car gives you the flexibility to dodge cloud.