A once-in-a-lifetime chance to see a Total Solar Eclipse in Iceland - one of the best locations in Europe! Save the date - August 12, 2026.
Iceland’s first total solar eclipse in over 70 years will bring moments of complete darkness to parts of the country. Perfectly positioned along the eclipse path, it's one of the best places to witness the event. Our guided Solar Eclipse Tours 2026 include expert-led eclipse viewing, carefully planned itineraries, and comfortable transport.
Carefully chosen locations in West Iceland will provide some of the best vantage points and clearest sights of the 2026 total solar eclipse. With our selected routes, you’ll witness day turn into night from dramatic cliffs, black sand beaches, or even lava fields. These day tours include expert-led eclipse viewing, comfortable transport, special glasses, and a seamless itinerary through striking landscapes.
Solar Eclipse Viewing in West Iceland
Eclipse will be visible in West Iceland. Photo by Gunnar Gaukur Guthmundsson.
West Iceland's Super Jeep adventure takes you off-road to the best eclipse observation sites in the country, reaching remote locations that regular tour buses can’t access. This 8-hour tour includes a flexible itinerary to find the ideal location, plus celebratory drinks and special glasses to witness the spectacle.
Location: West Iceland Duration: 8 Hours Includes: Super Jeep ride with free WiFi, eclipse glasses, celebratory drinks, English-speaking guide, and pick-up/drop-off in Reykjavik Book now: Iceland Eclipse Tour by Super Jeep
Total Solar Eclipse in Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Daylight will vanish in Snæfellsnes as the Moon fully covers the Sun. Source: Arctic Adventures.
This tour takes you to Snaefellsnes Peninsula, one of Iceland’s best viewing sites in the full eclipse zone. Enjoy a day tour with pickup in Reykjavík and a scenic minibus ride to a carefully chosen place—a black sand beach, lava field, or coastal cliff.
Location: Snæfellsnes Peninsula Duration: 11 Hours Includes: Pick-up and drop-off in Reykjavik, a bus with free Wi-Fi, an English-speaking guide, complimentary drinks, and special eclipse glasses Book now: Solar Eclipse Tour in Iceland
Best Locations to View the 2026 Solar Eclipse in Iceland
The western coastal areas of Iceland will have the best vistas of the 2026 total solar eclipse, sitting directly in the path of complete darkness. With dramatic shorelines, volcanic landscapes, and open horizons, the panoramas will be unmatched. The following areas are the closest to the point of maximum eclipse near Breiðafjörður Bay.
Westfjords: One of Iceland’s most secluded regions and among the first areas in the country to witness a full solar eclipse. With towering cliffs, deep fjords, and vast ocean views, its remote coastal landscapes will be a unique setting for this rare celestial event.
Snæfellsnes Peninsula: The prime location for the full solar eclipse, as it sits directly in the path of total darkness. With volcanic peaks, black sand beaches, and rugged cliffs, the region provides a dramatic backdrop to watch daylight vanish as the Moon moves across the Sun.
Reykjanes Peninsula: The last place to see total darkness in Iceland. Reykjavík will experience about one minute of daytime darkness, while Reykjanestá, the peninsula’s tip, will witness the final moments of the full eclipse before sunlight returns over the Atlantic Ocean.
2026 Solar Eclipse Timeline in Iceland
The countdown to totality in Iceland has begun. Photo by Sævar Helgi Bragason.
Totality will last about two minutes as it moves through Hornstrandir, Látrabjarg, Snæfellsnes, and Reykjavík. The longest duration, 2 minutes and 18 seconds, will be west of the Látrabjarg cliffs. Even if clouds block the Sun, the sky will still darken, and brighter stars or planets may become visible.
Partial Eclipse begins: 16:42 GMT (Westfjords)
Total Eclipse (Totality) begins: 17:43 GMT (Hornstrandir)
Total Eclipse ends: 17:50 GMT (Reykjanes Peninsula)
Perfect location: Witness the total eclipse darkness from one of the best vantage points on Earth, right in the eclipse path.
Guided experience: Let expert guides handle logistics, weather tracking, and site selection for the best possible experience.
Unmatched scenery and stunning landscapes: Watch the sky darken over volcanic peaks, black sand beaches, and rugged coastlines for a truly unforgettable moment.
Remote viewing locations: Stand in Iceland’s vast open landscapes, where nothing blocks your view of the moment the sky turns dark.
Combination with other adventures: To make the most of your time in Iceland, extend your trip with glacier hikes, lava caves, hot springs, or whale watching.
Solar eclipses are rare because they require the Moon, Earth, and Sun to align perfectly, which doesn’t happen often in the same location. While regular solar eclipses occur 2 to 5 times a year, a total eclipse—where the Sun is completely blocked—only happens about every 18 months and is only visible along a narrow strip of Earth. This makes seeing one from any specific place a rare event.
The solar eclipse in Iceland will take place on August 12, 2026, between 16:42 and 18:49 local time. The partial eclipse will begin at 16:42 GMT in the Westfjords, followed by totality at 17:43 GMT. The total darkening of the Sun will end at 17:50 GMT in the Reykjanes Peninsula, and the partial eclipse will continue until 18:49 GMT in the same region.
A solar eclipse is a local event because it only affects a narrow path on Earth where the Moon's shadow falls. Outside this path, people may see a partial eclipse or none at all. While the eclipse itself is local, it’s tracked globally by scientists and enthusiasts. You can follow these events through resources like National Eclipse and other online platforms.
The August 2026 eclipse path is a narrow band covering Greenland, western Iceland, Portugal, northern Spain, and the Arctic Ocean. Outside of these areas, the eclipse will be partial. The path of totality is the narrow area where the Moon completely covers the Sun.
Iceland is an ideal location to see the solar eclipse in 2026, especially along the western coast, which lies in the path of totality. This area is closest to the maximum point, where the eclipse will last the longest. Additionally, Iceland’s world-famous landscapes, such as lava fields and black sand beaches, make it a perfect viewing spot.
On August 12, 2026, the full eclipse will be visible in the Westfjords, Snæfellsnes, and Reykjanes regions. In the rest of Iceland, including the North, South Coast, and East Fjords, only a partial eclipse will be visible, whereas the Moon will only cover part of the Sun.
The price for our minibus Icelandic Eclipse 2026 tour is around 102 USD (26,990 ISK) per person. Alternatively, our Super Jeep tour costs around 283 USD (39,990 ISK) per person and offers a more off-road adventure. Please note that these prices do not include accommodation or plane tickets.
The next solar eclipse after August 12, 2026, will occur on August 2, 2027. The path of totality will pass over northern Africa, Gibraltar, and the Arabian Peninsula. However, Iceland’s next eclipse will happen on August 23, 2091.
A total solar eclipse can happen in the same location about once every 100 to 400 years, though this varies and is not exact. Even though solar eclipses occur 2 to 5 times a year somewhere on Earth, the path of totality is very narrow. Any given place only experiences the full eclipse every few centuries.
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