August 5, 2026, 3:17 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
A solar eclipse is a special event for many nature enthusiasts around the world. Such an event will be visible next week, specifically on August 12, 2026, on the already extremely popular vacation island of Mallorca. This coincides with the peak holiday season. A spectacle that poses a significant challenge for Mallorca. The more people venture out to find the supposedly best view of the solar eclipse, the higher the likelihood of traffic chaos–and possibly related issues. TRAVELBOOK has looked into what precautions are being taken to prevent this.
Reducing unnecessary movement is the goal of the Federación Empresarial Hotelera de Mallorca (FEHM), the island’s hotel association. Preparations have been underway since April. At that time, the FEHM informed the hotel industry about how to encourage guests to stay near their accommodations on the evening of the solar eclipse.
At the end of July, the FEHM updated its information and summarized the traffic and safety measures announced for August 12. The association also points to the official app “Horitzó 2026,” which allows visitors to check from which location the solar eclipse will be visible.
Official Viewing Zones for the Solar Eclipse
The Govern de les Illes Balears, the regional government of the Balearic Islands, generally recommends observing the eclipse from one’s accommodation. However, for guests who wish to visit a public place, official viewing zones have been established on the Balearic Islands as part of the solar eclipse safety concept named ECLIPBAL 26. This aims to manage visitor flows and reduce pressure on particularly sensitive natural areas. The zones were selected from more than a hundred possible locations and offer ample space and parking facilities. They are also intended to be easily accessible for emergency services.
Extreme Solar Eclipse Rush Expected on Mallorca
It can hardly be called overcautious. In fact, an extreme influx of visitors to Mallorca has been apparent for months, related to the solar eclipse on August 12. As the “Mallorca Daily Bulletin” reported in December 2025, hotels received unusually early bookings for the period around the event. This development particularly affects the municipality of Sóller, where the solar eclipse is expected to be very visible: According to local hoteliers, about 80 percent of hotel accommodations were already reserved for the eclipse date by December–eight months before the event.
Others were even earlier. As early as August 2025, a full year in advance, the Mallorcan newspaper “Ultima Hora” reported on particularly early and sometimes multimillion-euro hotel bookings. For instance, a group of 150 Italian astronomy fans reserved rooms in a five-star hotel on Mallorca for around two million euros.
Traffic Restrictions as a Protective Measure
The ECLIPBAL safety concept includes–in addition to the official viewing zones and, of course, additional emergency and rescue personnel–further targeted measures for visitor management and traffic control.
Particularly extensive are the planned traffic restrictions. On the day of the solar eclipse, the government plans to control and partially stop traffic on about 20 roads. This affects access to natural areas, viewpoints, beaches, and other heavily frequented places. On the Ma-10, the main connecting road through the Serra de Tramuntana, access is to be restricted by 3 p.m. at the latest. The measures are generally to remain in effect until 9 p.m.; residents and people with proven reasons for being there are exempt.
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Hotels Host Solar Eclipse Parties
To keep their guests on-site with their own events, hotels and other tourist providers are offering all-day programs around the solar eclipse. An example is the Purobeach Resort Santa Ponsa, which offers a fun package on August 12 with meditation and yoga, live music, Mediterranean cuisine, and the opportunity to observe the solar eclipse with special protective glasses.
Speaking of protective glasses, the Balearic government explicitly points out that the solar eclipse should only be observed with approved solar eclipse glasses during the entire partial phase. Only during the brief totality phase can the glasses be removed. The glasses must comply with the ISO 12312-2 standard.
This applies not only to Mallorca: While a total solar eclipse will be visible in Spain, Iceland, and Greenland, a partial eclipse can be seen on August 12 in Germany and other parts of Europe; more information is available from the European Space Agency (ESA). A regular pair of sunglasses is not sufficient for observation. Those wishing to follow the eclipse in Germany must ensure they have appropriate eye protection. In Spain, this is expected to be available free of charge for many viewers.
Free Solar Eclipse Glasses on Mallorca
The Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and the organization for the blind, ONCE, are distributing a total of two million certified solar eclipse glasses for free. Of these, 1.7 million will be distributed through the ONCE sales network and another 300,000 through the FECYT to research institutions, science museums, and other public facilities. ONCE is represented with its sales outlets throughout the Spanish territory–making the glasses available on the Balearic Islands as well.