The Strait of Gibraltar seen from the International Space Station, with Spain to the north and Morocco to the south, 30 July 2024 (Image: NASA)

Solar Eclipse 2 August 2027 in Gibraltar: Exact Times, Totality and Where to Watch

Yes, Gibraltar sees a total solar eclipse on Monday 2 August 2027. In the town centre totality lasts about 4 minutes 27 seconds, from 10:45:36 to 10:50:02 Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2), with the Sun 38° above the horizon, almost due east (azimuth 96°). The partial eclipse starts at 09:41 and ends at 12:01. Europa Point, at the southern tip, gets a few seconds more (about 4 min 31 s); La Línea, just across the border, about 4 min 23 s. Gibraltar sits about 49 km north of the centre line and about 70 km inside the northern edge of the path, so it is safely in totality, not on the edge.

Last updated: 31 October 2026

Gibraltar is one of the most visited places in the path: the Gibraltar Government's tourist survey counted 9.8 million visitor arrivals in 2025 (draft report), for a population of about 38,000. On eclipse day a lot of them will want the same few square kilometres. Below are our exact times for ten spots, where to stand, what the weather does, and how to get in and out.

What time is the eclipse in Gibraltar on 2 August 2027?

All times are local (CEST, UTC+2), to the second, from our own calculation. The partial eclipse runs for about 2 hours 20 minutes; totality sits in the middle of it.

Place Partial eclipse starts Totality starts Maximum Totality ends Partial eclipse ends Totality lasts
Gibraltar town (Casemates Square) 09:41:08 10:45:36 10:47:49 10:50:02 12:01:10 4 min 27 s
Europa Point 09:41:07 10:45:34 10:47:48 10:50:04 12:01:11 4 min 31 s
Upper Rock (about 400 m up) 09:41:08 10:45:35 10:47:49 10:50:03 12:01:11 4 min 28 s
Eastern Beach 09:41:09 10:45:37 10:47:49 10:50:02 12:01:11 4 min 25 s
Catalan Bay 09:41:09 10:45:37 10:47:49 10:50:03 12:01:11 4 min 26 s
Camp Bay and Little Bay 09:41:08 10:45:34 10:47:48 10:50:03 12:01:11 4 min 29 s
La Línea de la Concepción 09:41:09 10:45:38 10:47:49 10:50:02 12:01:11 4 min 23 s
Algeciras 09:41:04 10:45:28 10:47:41 10:49:55 12:01:01 4 min 27 s
Tarifa 09:40:54 10:45:09 10:47:28 10:49:48 12:00:46 4 min 39 s
Ceuta 09:41:01 10:45:22 10:47:46 10:50:10 12:01:15 4 min 48 s

Our calculation with Skyfield and the JPL DE421 ephemeris, sea level unless stated (smooth lunar limb). Published values for Gibraltar range from 4 min 25 s (Space.com, Orbital Radar, and the Gibraltar Chronicle for the airport) to 4 min 28 s (Wikipedia's table, which gives 10:45:39 to 10:50:07) and 4 min 32 s (gibraltar-eclipse.com). The differences come from the exact point used and the shape of the Moon's edge. Plan for about four and a half minutes and you will not be disappointed.

For the rest of Spain and Europe, see our eclipse times in 125 cities and the full path of totality map, country by country.

Where is Gibraltar in the path of totality?

Well inside it. The path of totality is about 237 km wide here. Its northern limit runs from Chipiona on the Atlantic coast, just north of Jerez and of Málaga; the centre line crosses the Strait and runs through northern Morocco, near Tangier and Tetouan. Gibraltar is roughly 49 km north of that centre line, which is why it gets 4 min 27 s while Ceuta, on the African side, gets about 4 min 48 s.

Map: Gibraltar in the path of totality of 2 August 2027 Map of the Strait of Gibraltar showing the shaded path of totality, its northern limit north of Cádiz, Jerez and Málaga, and the centre line through northern Morocco, with totality durations: Gibraltar 4 min 27 s, Algeciras 4 min 27 s, Tarifa 4 min 39 s, Ceuta 4 min 48 s, Tangier 4 min 50 s, Marbella 3 min 17 s, Cádiz 2 min 54 s, Málaga 1 min 50 s.GibraltarAlgecirasTarifaCeutaTangierMálagaCádizMarbella4 min 27 s4 min 27 s4 min 39 s4 min 48 s4 min 50 s1 min 50 s2 min 54 s3 min 17 sTotal eclipse (path of totality)Northern limit of totalityCentre line (longest totality)Tember calculation (Skyfield, DE421). Coastline: Natural Earth
Gibraltar lies well inside the path of totality, about 49 km north of the centre line. Durations are our calculation for each town centre.

If you want more time, the Spanish side of the Strait has it: Tarifa gets about 4 min 39 s (see our Cádiz and Tarifa eclipse guide). In Gibraltar itself, the difference between spots is only a few seconds, so choose for the view and the crowds, not the clock.

Where is the best place to watch the eclipse in Gibraltar?

The Sun will be in the east, 38° up: roughly the height of your fist held at arm's length, stacked about four times above the horizon. That matters in Gibraltar because the Rock itself rises to 426 m between the town and the eastern sky.

  • East side (Catalan Bay, Eastern Beach, Sandy Bay): open sea to the east, nothing in the way. The best sightline on the Rock, but these beaches are small and road access is limited.
  • Europa Point: the southern tip, with open horizons to the east and south and the longest totality on the Rock (about 4 min 31 s). Expect it to fill early.
  • Camp Bay and Little Bay: on the west side, south of town. During the partial eclipse of 12 August 2026 the Gibraltar Chronicle reported thousands watching from Camp Bay and Westview Park.
  • Town side (Casemates Square, Queensway Quay, Ocean Village): these are the spots suggested by the volunteer site gibraltar-eclipse.com. The Rock is to your east here, but with the Sun at 38° it should stand above the ridge from most open squares and quays. Close to the foot of the cliffs it may not. Check your exact spot a few days before at about 10:45: the Sun is in almost the same place in late July.
  • Upper Rock Nature Reserve: a spectacular view, but it opens at 09:30 in summer (last entry 18:45), only 11 minutes before the partial eclipse starts, entry needs a ticket, and vehicle access is restricted. The cable car is closed for a full refurbishment and is "expected to reopen in 2027", with no date given, so don't count on it.

Wherever you stand, the glasses stay on for the whole partial phase. Our guide on how to use eclipse glasses safely explains the routine.

What is the weather like in Gibraltar in early August?

Mostly sunny and warm, with one local catch: the Levanter. Jay Anderson's Eclipsophile, the standard eclipse-weather reference, calls Gibraltar "a special case". Winds in the Strait are almost always easterly (the Levanter) or westerly (the Poniente); the Levanter is the more persistent and can blow for days or weeks in summer, and when it is moderate it builds a banner of cloud on the Rock. Eclipsophile's data give Gibraltar a 74 percent chance of a sunny view, but Anderson calls that figure too pessimistic for anyone who can move: the stratus is usually patchy, and morning fog often thins within an hour or two of sunrise.

August averages are about 28 °C for the daily high and around 309 hours of sunshine (1991 to 2020 data for the airport station, as compiled on Wikipedia from the German weather service DWD). At 10:45 it will be warm rather than hot, but bring water and shade for a long morning outdoors. Eclipsophile also notes that the flatter southern parts of Gibraltar are more likely to see the eclipse when the Levanter cloud sits on the Rock; if the forecast shows one, a short move can make the difference.

How do you get to Gibraltar for the eclipse, and how does the border work now?

The UK-EU agreement on Gibraltar was signed in Brussels on 14 July 2026 and has applied since 15 July 2026 (European Parliament consent was still pending when Spain's foreign ministry published its explainer). Spain's foreign ministry says there will be "no passport controls" between Gibraltar and the Campo de Gibraltar, and that Spain takes over the Schengen checks at Gibraltar's port and airport. The Gibraltar Government says Schengen checks at the airport use e-gates. Check the official pages again before you travel, because the arrangements are new.

  • By air: Gibraltar International Airport lists British Airways and easyJet, with flights to London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol (airport website, checked 31 October 2026). Málaga airport, along the coast, is the bigger alternative.
  • By land: most visitors walk in from La Línea. On eclipse morning, walking is likely to be far easier than driving: the Gibraltar Astronomical Society has said the plan is to move people without cars.
  • By sea: there is no Gibraltar to Tangier ferry at present. Ferries to Tanger Med and Ceuta leave from Algeciras. Across the Strait, Tangier gets about 4 min 50 s of totality: see our Tangier eclipse guide.

2 August 2027 is a Monday. It is not a holiday in Andalucía (the 2027 regional calendar puts the August holiday on 16 August), and Gibraltar's summer bank holiday falls at the end of the month, so expect ordinary weekday traffic on top of eclipse visitors.

Tember eclipse glasses in four frame colours (Photo: Tember)
Certified eclipse glasses for the partial phases before and after totality (Photo: Tember)

What is Gibraltar planning for eclipse day?

Planning started early. On 16 January 2026 the Gibraltar Government announced a first meeting chaired by Minister John Cortes with the Gibraltar Astronomical Society, the Royal Gibraltar Police, the Ministry of Transport and Public Health. It noted that totality would last "over four minutes" and that visitors could number "possibly in the thousands"; viewing locations and traffic were discussed, but no sites have been named officially yet.

In March 2026 William Recagno of the Gibraltar Astronomical Society told the Gibraltar Chronicle that the event would be "massive", that hotels were already booked, and that ideas included keeping automatic street lights off during totality and talking to schools about safe viewing. He also warned that "not all eclipse glasses are created equal" and that glasses must meet ISO 12312-2:2015. After the partial eclipse of 12 August 2026 he said plans would "ramp up in early 2027". We will update this page when official viewing sites or traffic plans are published.

When can you take your eclipse glasses off in Gibraltar?

Only during totality: from about 10:45:36 to 10:50:02 in town, when the Moon covers the Sun completely. Before that, from 09:41, and after it until 12:01, you are watching a partial eclipse and must use eclipse glasses certified to ISO 12312-2 (in Europe, EN ISO 12312-2 with the CE mark). Sunglasses are never enough. Put your glasses back on the moment the first bright point of sunlight returns at the end of totality.

If you watch from outside the path, for example in Seville or Córdoba, there is no totality at all and the glasses stay on the whole time: see what every Spanish city will see. To check a pair you already own, read ISO 12312-2 explained: how to check a certificate and whether 2026 glasses can be reused in 2027.

Tember eclipse glasses are certified to EN ISO 12312-2:2015 and carry the CE mark; the certificate and test reports are on our compliance documents page. They come in packs of 4 to 100 pairs. See the glasses.

Frequently asked questions

Is Gibraltar in the path of totality in 2027?

Yes. The whole of Gibraltar is inside the path of the total solar eclipse of 2 August 2027, about 49 km north of the centre line and about 70 km from the northern edge. Totality lasts about 4 minutes 27 seconds in the town centre.

What time is totality in Gibraltar?

From about 10:45:36 to 10:50:02 CEST (UTC+2) in the town centre, with maximum eclipse at 10:47:49. The partial eclipse starts at 09:41:08 and ends at 12:01:10.

Where does totality last longest in Gibraltar?

At Europa Point, the southern tip, with about 4 minutes 31 seconds. The east-side beaches get about 4 minutes 25 to 26 seconds. The difference is only a few seconds, so choose your spot for the view of the eastern sky.

Will the Rock block the view of the eclipse?

Not from the east side, Europa Point or open spots in town. The Sun will be 38° high in the east, which is above the ridge from most of the west side, but right below the cliffs it can be hidden. Check your spot at about 10:45 a few days before.

Do I need a passport to cross from La Línea to Gibraltar for the eclipse?

Under the UK-EU agreement applied since 15 July 2026, Spain's foreign ministry says there are no passport controls between Gibraltar and the Campo de Gibraltar, while Schengen checks happen at Gibraltar's port and airport. Carry your ID anyway and check the official pages before travelling.

Is the Gibraltar cable car running on eclipse day?

Nobody can say yet. The cable car is closed for a full refurbishment and is expected to reopen in 2027, with no date announced. The Upper Rock Nature Reserve opens at 09:30 in summer.

Can I look at the eclipse without glasses in Gibraltar?

Only during the roughly four and a half minutes of totality. For the partial phases before and after, from 09:41 to 12:01, use eclipse glasses certified to ISO 12312-2.

Sources

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