By Cornelius Okechukwu · Last updated: October 2026 · 11-minute read

On Monday 2 August 2027, the Moon will completely cover the Sun along a narrow path from southern Spain across North Africa to Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Near Luxor, day will turn to night for 6 minutes and 22 seconds, which is why astronomers call the total solar eclipse 2027 the “eclipse of the century”. This guide explains exactly where and when to see it, how long totality lasts in each place, the weather odds, how to plan the trip and how to watch safely, plus the total eclipses that follow it.

Why the 2027 eclipse is so special

A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes exactly between the Earth and the Sun and blocks the whole bright disc. Most total eclipses last two to three minutes at any one place. The total solar eclipse 2027 lasts more than twice as long because the Moon will be close to perigee (its nearest point to Earth), so it looks larger than usual, and because the shadow crosses land near the equator, where the Earth’s rotation helps it linger.

It is the second-longest total eclipse of the 21st century (only the 2009 eclipse over the Pacific was longer), and the longest that crosses easily reachable land. It also passes over some of the sunniest places on Earth in August and over world-famous sights: the Strait of Gibraltar, the Roman ruins of Baelo Claudia and the temples of Luxor, part of the UNESCO site of Ancient Thebes.

For Spain it is the second total eclipse in two years, after the one on 12 August 2026. For most of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, a partial eclipse will be visible even outside the path.

Where and when to see the total solar eclipse 2027

Totality is only visible inside a band up to about 258 km wide. Outside it you see a partial eclipse, which is interesting but nothing like the real thing. Times below are local and the cloud figures are long-term August averages.

Place	Totality starts (local time)	Duration	Chance of cloud
Cádiz, Spain	10:45 CEST	2 min 56 s	About 13%
Tarifa (Isla de las Palomas), Spain	10:44 CEST	4 min 39 s	About 14%
Gibraltar	10:45 CEST	About 4 min 26 s	About 16% (watch for the “Levanter” cloud)
Málaga, Spain	10:48 CEST	1 min 57 s	Similar to Cádiz (edge of the path)
Tangier, Morocco	09:44 local	4 min 51 s	About 42%
Oran, Algeria	09:51 local	5 min 08 s	About 47%
Sfax and Kerkennah Islands, Tunisia	10:09 local	5 min 41 s	About 21%
Luxor, Egypt	13:02 EEST	6 min 22 s	Under 1%
Sohag, Egypt	12:58 EEST	About 6 min 20 s	Under 1%
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia	13:22 local	5 min 53 s	About 27%

On the day of the total solar eclipse 2027, the partial phases start about 80 minutes before totality and end about 80 minutes after it, so the whole show lasts close to three hours. The Sun will be high in the sky everywhere (at least 37° above the horizon), so hills and buildings are rarely a problem.

Best places to watch the total solar eclipse 2027, country by country

Spain: the easy option from Europe

The shadow touches mainland Europe only at the southern tip of Andalusia. Cádiz, Western Europe’s oldest city, gets almost 3 minutes; head south to Tarifa and the beach by the Roman town of Baelo Claudia for about 4½ minutes, the longest in Spain. August is peak beach season, so book early and expect traffic on the day. Málaga lies near the edge of the path, so go west of the city for longer totality. Read our travel guide to Spain for entry rules and costs.

Morocco: almost five minutes, a short ferry away

Tangier and the Mediterranean beaches near Martil and Tetouan get close to five minutes of totality, and fast ferries cross from Tarifa in about an hour. The catch is the weather: sea fog and cloud are more common here than in Andalusia. See our travel guide to Morocco.

Tunisia: a quieter, mid-length choice

The coastal city of Sfax and the nearby Kerkennah Islands get about 5 minutes 40 seconds with fairly good weather odds and fewer crowds. Read our travel guide to Tunisia.

Egypt: the eclipse of the century

For the longest totality and almost guaranteed clear skies, go to the Nile Valley. Luxor combines 6 min 22 s of darkness with the temples of Karnak and Luxor and the Valley of the Kings. It will be the busiest place on the whole path, so Sohag, about 6 min 20 s and four hours north by road, and the Red Sea coast near Berenice are calmer alternatives. Be ready for the heat: August afternoons in Luxor are often above 40°C. See our travel guide to Egypt.

Saudi Arabia: Jeddah on the Red Sea

Jeddah gets almost 6 minutes. Tourist e-visas are available to many nationalities. Note that Mecca, also inside the path, is open only to Muslims. Read our travel guide to Saudi Arabia.

⚠️ Places to avoid

The path also crosses Libya, Yemen and Somalia, where most governments advise against all or most travel. See our guide to travel advisory levels before planning anything off the main routes.

Spain, Morocco or Egypt? How to choose

Morocco and Tunisia sit in between: longer than Spain, cheaper than Egypt’s eclipse-week prices, but with a higher chance of cloud. Many experienced eclipse chasers pick Egypt for the weather alone. Whatever you choose, keep a backup plan (a car or a guide who can drive towards clear skies on the morning itself).

Can you see it outside the path? The partial eclipse

Yes, as a partial eclipse. Almost all of Europe, most of Africa, the Middle East and parts of South Asia will see the Moon take a bite out of the Sun. Approximate maximum coverage: Casablanca 97%, Lisbon 93%, Madrid 86%, Athens 78%, Rome 75%, Paris 51% and London 42%. Even 99% is not totality: the sky stays bright and you must keep eclipse glasses on the whole time.

How to plan your total solar eclipse 2027 trip

🏨 Where to stay in the path of totality

Search hotels inside the path in: Cádiz, Tarifa, Tangier, Sfax, Luxor, Jeddah. Check on a map that your hotel is inside the path; a few kilometres can make the difference between totality and a partial eclipse.

How to watch a total solar eclipse safely

Looking at the Sun without protection can permanently damage your eyes, even when most of it is covered. Follow the rules recommended by NASA and the American Astronomical Society:

• During the partial phases, always wear eclipse glasses or use a handheld solar viewer certified to ISO 12312-2. Normal sunglasses are not safe.
• Only during totality, when the Sun is completely covered, can you take the glasses off and look with the naked eye. Put them back on as soon as the first bright bead of sunlight reappears.
• Cameras, binoculars and telescopes need a proper solar filter on the front. Never look through them with eclipse glasses alone.
• Children should be supervised at all times.
• A pinhole projector or a colander held over paper is a simple, safe way to watch the partial phases.

What you will see during totality

As totality approaches, the light turns strange and silvery, temperatures can drop by several degrees, and birds may go quiet. Seconds before totality, ripples called shadow bands can run across the ground, and the last sunlight breaks into Baily’s beads and the brilliant diamond ring. Then the Sun’s pearly corona appears, planets and bright stars come out, and you see a 360° sunset on every horizon. In Luxor this lasts over six minutes, long enough to look, take a photo and still simply enjoy it.

After 2027: the next total solar eclipses

Missed it, or already hooked? These are the next total solar eclipses and where to see them:

We will keep this list up to date, so bookmark this page for your next eclipse trip.

Sources:

• Solar eclipse of August 2, 2027 (local times and durations)
• Space.com: 16 best places to see the 2027 total solar eclipse (cloud statistics)
• EarthSky: when is the next total solar eclipse?
• NASA: eclipse safety
• American Astronomical Society: solar eclipse eye safety