Hotel prices surge across Europe ahead of total solar eclipse

Hotel prices in Iceland and Spain rose sharply in early August 2024, as hundreds of thousands of tourists arrived to watch a total solar eclipse. It was the first total eclipse visible from continental Europe this century.

In Reykjavík, room prices went up 140%, reaching over $1,000 per night. In northern Spain, some cities saw even bigger increases. In Zaragoza, Leon, and Burgos, average prices rose more than 500% compared to the week before. In Soria, a small Spanish province with a clear view of the eclipse, rooms cost around €900, up from under €150 the previous week.

Short-term rentals also became much more expensive. In Bilbao, these prices jumped 339%. Spain expected 460,000 foreign visitors to come specifically for the eclipse.