European hotels see record profits from solar eclipse despite wildfire risks

Hotel prices in major European cities have surged as hundreds of thousands of tourists arrive to witness the first total solar eclipse visible from Europe this century.

Reykjavik, the Icelandic capital, has seen one of the steepest increases in hotel room rates, as it is among the few accessible locations for viewing the total eclipse before Wednesday evening, according to a report by the UK’s Guardian newspaper.

Tourists there are paying an average of $793 for a room on Wednesday, a 98% increase compared to the same day last year, according to data from Lighthouse Intelligence, a travel and hospitality analytics group.

Spain is also preparing for a major influx of visitors, as it is considered one of the best places in Europe to view the total solar eclipse. The Ministry of Finance said on Monday it expects 460,000 foreign tourists to arrive specifically for the event.

The average room rate in La Coruña, northern Spain, has jumped 135% from last year to $451, while prices in Mallorca—where the eclipse is expected to be visible above the horizon at sunset—have risen 24% to around $448. In Santiago de Compostela and Bilbao, hotel room rates have increased by 34% and 67% respectively.

Accommodation in small towns and villages along the eclipse’s path, as well as temporary observatories set up by local enthusiasts, was booked months in advance. Reports also indicate that American travelers have arranged home swaps with residents in Spain’s Castilla y León region, considered one of the best areas for eclipse viewing.

However, Spanish authorities are concerned about heightened wildfire risks. Police expect 1.5 million more car journeys than usual on Wednesday, and officials have warned that extreme drought and high temperatures mean even a small spark could trigger devastating wildfires. Increased traffic could also hinder emergency vehicles if fires break out in rural areas.

Authorities are launching a major security and safety campaign, with plans to deploy 35,000 officers to help reduce risks. Virginia Barcones, Secretary General for Civil Protection and Emergencies at the Ministry of Interior, said, “We have experienced an extremely difficult summer in Spain, with another series of major wildfires. That’s why we must restrict any activity that could generate a spark.”

Spain has banned parking on roadsides or near dry vegetation, prohibited barbecues and fireworks, and closed natural parks and rural trails in the Valencia region.

As of Monday evening, three major wildfires were burning in the provinces of Huelva, Segovia, and Huesca. Fires have already consumed about 200,000 hectares this year—six times the area burned by this date in 2025, according to the Spanish Ministry of Environment.

For those unable to make the trip, NASA has set up four high-powered telescopes in the small northwestern Spanish village of Villalibado to livestream the eclipse to more than 10 million viewers.