Reykjavik, Iceland's capital, saw the sharpest increase in room rates due to its prime location for observing the phenomenon before dark. On 12/8, the average room rate reached 793 USD (approximately 20,8 million VND), nearly double that of the same period last year.
Spain, offering the best viewing conditions in Europe, expects to welcome nearly 500,000 domestic and international tourists this week, according to estimates from its Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Enterprise. Northern cities like A Coruna and Bilbao also experienced significant room rate increases, with some areas seeing prices more than 1.5 times higher than the previous year. Many hotels and guesthouses in towns along the eclipse path were fully booked months in advance. Some American tourists even resorted to home exchanges with locals to secure a viewing spot.
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Illustration of a solar eclipse. Photo: Science Daily
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun. Those within the central shadow experience a total solar eclipse, while surrounding areas observe a partial eclipse. On the evening of 12/8, the path of totality crossed northern and central Spain, parts of Portugal, Greenland, and Iceland. The United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Switzerland, and northern Italy only observed a partial solar eclipse at sunset.
For those unable to travel to Europe, the phenomenon was also available via livestream. NASA installed four high-power telescopes in the village of Villalibado, northwestern Spain, to broadcast the eclipse live to over 10 million viewers.
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European countries where the eclipse was observable on 12/8. Photo: NASA
Carys Herbert, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, advised viewers to find open, west-facing locations, free from tall buildings or trees, as the sun would be low on the horizon.
Experts recommended finding clear, west-facing spots, avoiding obstructions. Crucially, they warned against looking directly at the sun with bare eyes or regular sunglasses. Specialized eclipse glasses are essential to prevent permanent eye damage.
Tuan Anh (According to Guardian)
