Missed your chance to see the best view of the eclipse? Don’t make the same mistake twice – 2027 will have the longest of the century
If you left it too late to bag a front-row seat for this month’s total solar eclipse, you’re not alone. The good news is you won’t have to wait long for another opportunity. On 2nd August 2027, a total solar eclipse, which is being referred to as the ‘eclipse of the century’, will be visible. Experts from Viva Holidays are warning that you need to start planning now if you want to see it before the best spots get booked up, as they did this year. Viva Holidays saw a 15% increase in bookings for Spain in August 2026 vs August 2025, and they’ve already seen a 20% increase in bookings for Spain in 2027.
This year’s eclipse may be quite difficult to see as it’s due around sunset time on the horizon over northern Spain. Next year’s is happening late morning, with the sun high up overhead (easily visible), and its path cuts straight through the Costa del Sol, which is one of the most popular, easiest-to-reach holiday destinations for British travellers.
Why 2027 is the one to book
It’s the longest total eclipse most of us will ever see. Totality will last up to 6 minutes and 23 seconds at its peak – the longest total solar eclipse visible from land anywhere in the world until the year 2114.
Totality between roughly 3 and 4.5 minutes will be visible from Spain hotspots including Tarifa, Cádiz and Málaga; this is longer than the two minutes or so in 2026.
Andalucía typically sees cloud cover of less than 10% in early August, making it one of the more weather-reliable places along the entire eclipse path.
With totality expected around 10:45 am local time and the sun high in the sky, there’s no need to panic about this year’s viewing plans – just look up.
Act now or miss out, again
Demand is already building; some cruise lines have opened bookings for ‘2027 eclipse sailings’, and Viva Holidays have seen a 20% increase in bookings to Spain in August for 2027.
Expert tips for getting the best view of the eclipse in 2027
With the whole eclipse path running through one of Europe’s most in-demand summer regions (the Costa del Sol), hotels are expected to book up earlier than usual – make sure to book your trip as soon as you can.
Build in a buffer day either side of the 2nd August, so you have plenty of time to get settled/get to the airport when leaving. Roads are expected to be busy in the run-up to and aftermath of the eclipse, so try not to book a flight home on the same day.
Don’t assume a beach spot is the best viewing spot. Coastal haze and cloud can build later in the day; we’d recommend finding your ideal viewing location in the days before, not just turning up on the morning of the eclipse.
Eclipse glasses are a non-negotiable. Proper ISO 12312-2-certified eclipse glasses are essential for keeping your eyes safe when looking at the eclipse.
Shubhang Gupta, Director from Viva Holidays, said, “Nobody wants to be the person who says ‘I wish I’d booked’ twice in two years. The 2026 eclipse caught a lot of people out because it happened somewhere tricky to reach at an awkward time of day; 2027 doesn’t have either of those problems. It’s a longer eclipse, in broad daylight, in a part of Spain that Brits already holiday in every summer. That combination means it’s realistically going to be one of the most in-demand travel dates of the decade, and the accommodation will go the way prime spots did this year. If it’s on your bucket list, now is genuinely the time to start looking”.
https://viva-holidays.co.uk/
