Inside the path, not beside it
The band of totality crosses the Strait and comes ashore over Cádiz and southern Málaga. Marbella is inside it. A few kilometres further north you only get a partial eclipse, which is nothing like the same thing.
Monday 2 August 2027
The total solar eclipse, from the terrace
On the morning of 2 August 2027 the Moon will cover the Sun completely over Marbella. Marbesa sits inside the path of totality, and at that hour the Sun will be in exactly the piece of sky you can see from the terrace.
The facts, plainly
- When
- Monday 2 August 2027
- Totality
- Around 10:48 in the morning
- How long
- Just over 3 minutes (3 min 16 s, IGN)
- Where to look
- East-southeast, some 40° above the horizon
Minute by minute, in Marbella
- The partial eclipse begins: the Moon starts covering one side of the Sun. Without eclipse glasses you notice nothing.
- Totality begins. Day turns to night in a few seconds. Now, and only now, you can take the glasses off.
- Maximum eclipse: the Sun is about 39 degrees high, to the east.
- The first point of sunlight returns. Glasses back on.
- The Moon moves fully away and the eclipse ends.
Why Marbella, and why this part of it
Nearly twice as long as in Málaga city
In Marbella totality lasts 3 minutes 16 seconds, according to Spain's National Geographic Institute. In Málaga city it is 1 minute 48 seconds: almost twice as long here.
August on the Costa del Sol
One of the least cloudy months of the year. No forecast means anything a year out, but if you have to bet on clear sky, this stretch of coast is among the best places in Europe.
How long totality lasts in each place
It depends on how close you are to the centre of the path. Along this coast, the further west, the longer it lasts. Seville and Granada fall outside the path and only see a partial eclipse.
| Place | Totality |
|---|---|
| Ceuta | 4 min 48 s |
| Tarifa | 4 min 38 s |
| Algeciras | 4 min 26 s |
| Manilva | 3 min 47 s |
| Estepona | 3 min 36 s |
| Marbella | 3 min 16 s |
| Fuengirola | 3 min 10 s |
| Torremolinos | 2 min 40 s |
| Málaga city | 1 min 48 s |
| Nerja | 1 min 39 s |
| Ronda | 1 min 18 s |
| Seville | Partial only |
| Granada | Partial only |
Estepona, Manilva or Tarifa gain a few seconds. Marbella gives you more than three minutes with a whole town of services around you, less than an hour from Málaga airport.
Without going anywhere
The terrace faces southeast with nothing in front of it. At 10:48 the Sun will sit about 40 degrees up and east-southeast: exactly where the view reaches from the breakfast table. No car, no parking, no fighting for a spot on a packed beach.
And if you would rather watch it with your feet in the sand, the beach is a seven-minute walk away.
Where to watch it in Marbella
At 10:48 the Sun will be about 39 degrees high, to the east. At that height almost nothing blocks it: any beach, terrace or viewpoint with a clear eastern sky will do.
It is a Monday in August with thousands of visitors. The A-7 and the beach access roads may be very busy that morning: the calmest plan is to sleep near where you will watch it and walk there.
What you will see and feel
- During the partial phase the light dims in a strange way and shadows turn very sharp. Under the trees, hundreds of tiny crescents appear.
- Just before totality, the last points of light shine through the Moon's valleys (Baily's beads), followed by one flash: the diamond ring.
- During totality you see the Sun's corona, a white halo you cannot see any other way, and the brightest planets and stars come out.
- The temperature drops and the whole horizon glows like a sunset.
Glasses, cameras and children
- Eclipse glasses certified to ISO 12312-2, bought from an optician or a shop you trust. Before using them, check for scratches or holes. Sunglasses, however dark, are not safe.
- Camera, phone, binoculars or telescope only with a solar filter in front of the lens. Looking through an unfiltered device damages the eye instantly, even with eclipse glasses on.
- You can follow it without glasses too: a pinhole in a piece of card, or a kitchen colander, projects the Sun's image onto the ground.
- With children, glasses on and supervised throughout the partial phase.
Booking those nights
Those dates are let by full weeks and bookings for August 2027 are already open: pick your nights in the calendar and pay online, by card or in crypto. Inside the path of totality accommodation sells out far earlier than people expect, and booking direct means no portal fees.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the total eclipse visible from Marbella?
- Yes. Marbella is inside the path of totality. According to the IGN, totality begins at 10:46:41 and lasts 3 minutes 16 seconds.
- What time is the 2 August 2027 eclipse in Marbella?
- It begins at 09:41, totality runs from 10:46:41 to 10:49:57 and it ends at 12:01, Spanish peninsular time.
- Where does totality last longest on the Costa del Sol?
- The further west, the longer: Estepona 3 min 36 s and Manilva 3 min 47 s. In all of Spain, the maximum is in Ceuta, with 4 min 48 s.
- Is the total eclipse visible in Málaga, Seville or Granada?
- In Málaga city yes, but only for 1 minute 48 seconds. Seville and Granada are outside the path and see a partial eclipse.
- What glasses do I need?
- Eclipse glasses certified to ISO 12312-2. Only during the minutes of totality can you look without them.
- What if it is cloudy?
- If clouds cover the Sun you will not see the corona, although it will still go dark for a few minutes. August is one of the clearest months on this coast, but no forecast is useful until a few days before.
- When should I book accommodation?
- As early as possible. During the total eclipse of August 2026, cities in the path such as Zaragoza had almost no accommodation left in the days before.
Times and durations from the municipal table of Spain's National Geographic Institute (IGN), in Spanish peninsular time. The Marbella figure is for the town centre; in the eastern part (Las Chapas, Marbesa) totality is a few seconds shorter.