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A total solar eclipse darkened skies across parts of Europe on Wednesday, with the path of totality crossing Greenland, Iceland, the Arctic Ocean, northern Spain, a small section of Portugal, and northern Russia. The event marked the first total solar eclipse visible from the Iberian Peninsula since 1912, according to multiple European news outlets .
In Spain, the eclipse drew significant attention, with authorities anticipating up to 460,000 foreign tourists and 1.5 million additional domestic travelers, straining transportation networks and prompting heightened wildfire precautions amid extreme heat warnings. Temperatures in some regions, including Córdoba, were expected to reach 42°C (108°F), while storms and high winds posed additional risks in parts of Andalusia and Castilla-La Mancha . The total phase was visible in a narrow band stretching across 36 Spanish provinces, with A Coruña among the first to experience the eclipse at 19:31 local time, peaking at 20:28 .
In Germany, the partial eclipse began around 19:10 local time, with maximum coverage of 90% in Freiburg and 85% in Berlin. Observers were advised to seek elevated locations with unobstructed western views, as the eclipse occurred near sunset . The phenomenon lasted 4 hours and 28 minutes globally, with the longest totality—2 minutes and 18 seconds—observed off the coast of Iceland .
Romania experienced a partial eclipse, with the best visibility in the northwest, particularly in Beba Veche, where 38% of the sun was obscured. The eclipse began at 20:24 and ended at sunset, 20:53, with other cities like Oradea, Satu Mare, and Arad seeing over 30% coverage. In Timișoara, Cluj-Napoca, and Baia Mare, the obscuration exceeded 20% .
The eclipse coincided with the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, adding to the celestial spectacle. In Portugal, the total eclipse was visible only in Bragança, the first such event in the country in 114 years .
Hotel prices surged in key viewing locations, with Reykjavik’s average room rate reaching $793, a 98% increase from the previous year, as tourists flocked to witness the event . Specialized eclipse glasses sold out in many regions, including Spain and the Netherlands, where nearly 16,000 pairs were purchased from a single museum shop in Antwerp .
The eclipse’s path began at 17:34 UTC off Alaska’s west coast and concluded at 21:58 UTC south of the Cape Verde Islands, with the moon’s shadow traversing the Earth for 1 hour and 36 minutes .
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