MADRID, 6 August 2026 — The total solar eclipse set to wow Spain on August 12th is driving a tourism boom, particularly across the rural areas often known as “Empty Spain”, according to new data from revenue management software, PriceLabs.
The event is transforming typical travel patterns, with inland cities like Burgos, Teruel and Zaragoza seeing an unusual surge in demand for short-term rentals in what is usually low season due to the extreme heat. Occupancy has grown in 13 of 15 markets examined, with the highest growth in inland areas.
Unprecedented Growth in Inland Cities
The solar eclipse is proving to be a catalyst for inland tourism, a sector that typically sees low demand in August due to the summer heat. This unusual demand has also pushed prices up significantly from their usual discounted off-season rates.
Occupancy has grown most in Logroño (+35% vs. the same time last year), capital of the famous wine region La Rioja, followed by Segovia (+33%), Zaragoza (+28%), Burgos (+23%), and Soria (+21%).
As demand has spiked, rates have followed, with travellers for the solar phenomenon willing to pay much more for accommodation than on a normal August day, Burgos leads the growth: average paid rates have nearly quadrupled compared to the same time last year, rising from 84 € to 329 €, demonstrating the historic tourism uplift the event will bring. Teruel, Aragon, follows with a 177% increase in rates, while Valladolid (+172%), Soria (+167%), and Logroño (+154%) have also seen dramatic boosts.
Coastal Demand Remains Strong
While inland cities are seeing the highest growth rates, the North coast is achieving the highest absolute occupancy levels, combining typical summer demand mainly from domestic travellers with eclipse visitors:
- Santander: 82% occupancy (+7% year over year)
- Gijón: 77% (+1% YOY)
- A Coruña: 76% (+6% YOY)
On the Mediterranean, Tarragona is at 74% occupancy, Palma de Mallorca 68%, and Castelló de la Plana 65%, again seeing a combination of usual summer demand and astronomical tourists.
While supply has dropped year-over-year due to the national register which limited the number of properties available short-term, properties which are able to operate are seeing very strong demand. Notably, all markets examined are seeing more than 50% occupancy for the dates of the eclipse, with properties in more rural villages likely driving further demand.
Occupancy and Average Daily Rates (ADR) for the 12th August 2026 year-over-year (YOY) in selected Spanish cities
| City | Occupancy | Occupancy ChangeYOY | ADR GrowthYOY |
| Logroño | 75% | 35% | 114% |
| Segovia | 68% | 33% | 28% |
| Zaragoza | 61% | 28% | 154% |
| Burgos | 63% | 23% | 289% |
| Soria | 56% | 21% | 167% |
| Valladolid | 54% | 20% | 172% |
| Castelló de la Plana | 65% | 13% | 37% |
| Teruel | 64% | 12% | 177% |
| Valencia | 65% | 11% | 32% |
| Santander | 82% | 7% | 41% |
| A Coruña | 76% | 6% | 61% |
| Gijón | 77% | 1% | 73% |
| Palma de Mallorca | 68% | 0% | 38% |
| Tarragona | 74% | -1% | 38% |
| Oviedo | 72% | -4% | 95% |
Richie Khandelwal, Co-Founder of PriceLabs, said: “The 2026 solar eclipse is creating a unique travel phenomenon in Spain. Travelers are prioritizing inland locations that don’t typically see high August traffic, leading to historic price increases in those regions. It appears that the appeal of this celestial event is effectively drawing tourists into rural markets that are otherwise off the beaten path.
“With such high pressure on coastal towns and cities, this alternative tourism could be a blueprint to make tourism more sustainable in Spain, spreading demand into regions that don’t usually see the benefits, for activities as diverse as agrotourism or dark-sky tourism.”
More data on how short-term rentals are preparing for the solar eclipse can be found on the PriceLabs website.
About PriceLabs
PriceLabs is a revenue management platform designed for all short- and mid-term accommodation, from vacation rentals to hotels, campgrounds, aparthotels and serviced apartments. Since 2014, PriceLabs has helped property managers optimize their pricing strategies using AI-driven automation, market data insights, and flexible customization. PriceLabs currently prices over 600,000 listings globally. Learn more at pricelabs.co.
