The Strait of Gibraltar, the Alboran Sea and the coast of southern Spain, photographed from the Space Shuttle Endeavour in April 1994 (Image: NASA)

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

Yes: Marbella is inside the path of the total solar eclipse on Monday 2 August 2027. In the old town, totality lasts about 3 minutes 17 seconds, from 10:46:51 to 10:50:08 Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2). The Sun will be 39° above the horizon, almost due east (azimuth 96°), over the sea. The partial eclipse starts at 09:41:40 and ends at 12:01:54. Along Marbella's coast totality runs from about 3 min 17 s in the centre to 3 min 25 s at Cabopino, while the hill villages behind the town get less: about 2 min 59 s in Ojén and 2 min 52 s in Istán.

Last updated: 4 November 2026

Marbella had 159,786 residents on 1 January 2025 (INE), and INE's hotel survey counted 723,994 hotel guests there in 2025, so on eclipse morning a lot of people will be looking for the same strip of beach. Our guide to Torremolinos, Benalmádena and Fuengirola covers the coast to the east. This page is about Marbella itself: times to the second for 13 places from Cabopino to Estepona, how much you lose by going up into the hills, where to stand, and how to get here without a train.

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

All times are local CEST (UTC+2), from our own calculation. The partial phase lasts about 2 hours 20 minutes, with totality near the middle.

Place Partial eclipse begins Totality begins Maximum Totality ends Partial eclipse ends Totality lasts Sun altitude
Marbella old town (Plaza de los Naranjos) 09:41:40 10:46:51 10:48:29 10:50:08 12:01:54 3 min 17 s 39°
Paseo Marítimo / La Bajadilla beach 09:41:40 10:46:51 10:48:29 10:50:09 12:01:55 3 min 18 s 39°
Nueva Andalucía 09:41:37 10:46:45 10:48:24 10:50:03 12:01:47 3 min 19 s 39°
Puerto Banús 09:41:36 10:46:42 10:48:24 10:50:06 12:01:48 3 min 24 s 39°
San Pedro Alcántara 09:41:35 10:46:40 10:48:21 10:50:02 12:01:44 3 min 23 s 39°
Las Chapas 09:41:44 10:46:55 10:48:36 10:50:17 12:02:04 3 min 21 s 39°
Elviria 09:41:44 10:46:56 10:48:37 10:50:19 12:02:06 3 min 22 s 39°
Cabopino beach and port 09:41:45 10:46:56 10:48:38 10:50:21 12:02:09 3 min 25 s 39°
Ojén village 09:41:43 10:47:02 10:48:32 10:50:02 12:01:56 2 min 59 s 39°
Juanar (Refugio de Juanar, Sierra Blanca) 09:41:42 10:47:04 10:48:30 10:49:55 12:01:53 2 min 52 s 39°
Istán village 09:41:40 10:47:00 10:48:26 10:49:52 12:01:47 2 min 52 s 39°
Estepona 09:41:26 10:46:20 10:48:09 10:49:58 12:01:29 3 min 38 s 39°
Fuengirola 09:41:52 10:47:13 10:48:48 10:50:23 12:02:20 3 min 10 s 39°

Our calculation with Skyfield and the JPL DE421 ephemeris, with a smooth lunar edge, at the height of each place (Juanar about 780 m, Ojén and Istán about 300 m). Published figures for Marbella agree within a few seconds: snowy.es gives 3 min 16 s (10:46:51 to 10:50:07), the IGN, as quoted by Eclipseando, 3 min 16 s (10:46:41 to 10:49:57), eclipse-solaire.fr 3 min 18 s, solar-eclipse.info 3 min 15 s, TresEclipses 3 min 20 s and the Wikipedia timetable 3 min 21 s (10:46:53 to 10:50:14). For Estepona TresEclipses gives 3 min 41 s against our 3 min 38 s, and for San Pedro Alcántara 3 min 27 s against our 3 min 23 s. Different sites use slightly different points and lunar-edge models, so plan on "about" the figure shown.

For the rest of the country, see our guide to the total eclipse in Spain and the eclipse times in 125 cities.

How far is Marbella from the edge of the path and the centre line?

Marbella sits about 31 km inside the northern limit of totality, which runs inland behind the mountains (about 36.79° N at Marbella's longitude, by our calculation). The centre line is far out at sea, about 88 km south of the old town, and the path is roughly 237 km wide here. So Marbella is safely inside, but well north of the middle. That is why totality is longer the further south-west you go along the coast (Estepona gets 3 min 38 s) and shorter the further north you go into the hills.

Map: Marbella and the northern edge of the path of totality, 2 August 2027 Map of the western Costa del Sol with the shaded path of totality and its northern limit, about 31 km north of Marbella, with totality durations: Marbella 3 min 17 s, Puerto Banús 3 min 24 s, San Pedro Alcántara 3 min 23 s, Cabopino 3 min 25 s, Estepona 3 min 38 s, Fuengirola 3 min 10 s, Ojén 2 min 59 s, Istán 2 min 52 s, Juanar 2 min 52 s.MarbellaPuerto BanúsSan Pedro AlcántaraCabopinoOjénIstánJuanarEsteponaFuengirola3 min 17 s3 min 24 s3 min 23 s3 min 25 s2 min 59 s2 min 52 s2 min 52 s3 min 38 s3 min 10 sMediterranean Sea (centre line about 88 km south of Marbella)Total eclipse (path of totality)Northern limit of totalityTember calculation (Skyfield, DE421). Coastline: Natural Earth
Marbella is about 31 km inside the northern limit of the path. On the coast totality lasts 3 min 17 s to 3 min 25 s; the hill villages behind it get less. Durations are our calculation for each place.

The hills are the surprise. Juanar, the pine forest above Ojén in the Sierra Blanca, is only 8 km from the old town, but it is about 8 km closer to the edge too, and totality there drops to about 2 min 52 s: 25 seconds less than the town centre and over half a minute less than Cabopino. Ojén village loses about 18 seconds. If longer totality is the goal, stay on the coast, or drive west towards Estepona and on to the Strait at Tarifa (about 4 min 38 s) or Gibraltar (about 4 min 27 s). Málaga city, about 48 km east and only about 9 km inside the edge, gets just 1 min 50 s: see our Málaga eclipse guide.

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

Somewhere facing the sea. At 10:48 the Sun stands 39° up, almost due east, so any east- or south-facing beach or promenade has a clear view. For the 12 August 2026 eclipse, which happened at sunset in the west, Marbella's town council recommended Cabopino beach, El Cable beach and the promenade between Puerto Banús and San Pedro Alcántara, for their open spaces. In 2027 the Sun is on the other side of the sky, but those same open seafront places work well again.

  • Paseo Marítimo and the town beaches: the promenade below the old town, from the beaches by the centre to La Bajadilla and its fishing port. About 3 min 17 s to 3 min 18 s, with open sea to the east and south.
  • Puerto Banús and the promenade to San Pedro Alcántara: about 3 min 23 s to 3 min 24 s, a few seconds more than the centre. The marina itself is crowded and full of masts; the beaches and promenade either side give a cleaner view.
  • Cabopino and the Artola dunes: the longest totality in Marbella, about 3 min 25 s. Behind the beach is the Dunas de Artola natural monument; keep to the footpaths laid through the dunes, as the Andalusian tourism board asks.
  • Las Chapas and Elviria: the long beaches of the eastern side, about 3 min 21 s to 3 min 22 s.
  • The old town (Casco Antiguo): Plaza de los Naranjos is lovely, but it is a small square ringed by buildings and orange trees. With the Sun 39° up in the east, check from the spot you choose at about 10:48 a few days before: the Sun is in almost the same place in late July. The beach is five minutes' walk away.
  • The hills (Juanar, Ojén, Istán): good views over the coast, but 18 to 25 seconds less totality. Juanar is forest, and 2 August falls in Andalucía's high wildfire-risk season (1 June to 15 October), when driving motor vehicles on forest land is restricted. TresEclipses leaves forest viewpoints out of its rankings for this reason and warns that access may be closed. Check with the authorities before planning a hill site.

Whatever spot you choose, keep your glasses on for the whole partial phase: our guide on how to use eclipse glasses safely explains each step.

What is the weather like in Marbella in early August?

Usually sunny and hot, and this is one of the better parts of the whole European track. Jay Anderson's Eclipsophile, the standard reference on eclipse weather, says Atlantic cloud usually does not get past Tarifa, "so Marbella and other sites along the Alboran coast fare particularly well." The risk he describes around the Strait and Gibraltar is the cool, moist air under the summer inversion, which "often (but not always) turns to fog, stratus, and haze" in the morning; that cloud is often thin and patchy once the Sun has worked on it for an hour or two. eclipse-solaire.fr reports a usable sky in Marbella at the time of maximum on 2 August in each of the last ten years (2016 to 2025); that is a record of the past, not a forecast.

For temperature and sunshine we use the normals of AEMET, Spain's met office, for its main station at Málaga airport, about 40 km up the coast: it averages a high of 30.8 °C in August, with 316 hours of sunshine and 17.1 clear days in the month (1981 to 2010). At 10:48 the beach will be warm rather than at its hottest, but you will be outdoors for well over two hours if you watch the whole eclipse: bring water, a hat and some shade.

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

How do you get to Marbella for the eclipse?

  • No train: Marbella is the largest town on the Iberian Peninsula without a railway station. The nearest trains are the Cercanías C-1 line at Fuengirola, about 27 km east.
  • By air and bus: the nearest airport is Málaga, itself in the path with about 2 min 17 s of totality. Avanza runs direct buses from the airport to Marbella bus station; on the timetable valid from 2 January 2026 the trip takes about 35 to 40 minutes. Other Avanza buses continue to San Pedro Alcántara and Estepona. Check the 2027 timetable before you travel.
  • By car: two roads run along the coast: the free A-7 and the AP-7 toll motorway, with toll points at Calahonda and San Pedro Alcántara. The A-7 is often jammed in summer and has only one lane each way in places. 2 August 2027 is an ordinary working Monday in high season, so drive early and park legally; on 12 August 2026 the council asked people to arrive early and avoid illegal parking.

2 August 2027 is not a public holiday in Andalucía; the regional August holiday is Monday 16 August (Decree 84/2026). Marbella's two local holidays for 2027 had not been published when we checked.

Is Marbella planning anything for the eclipse?

Not yet. We found no 2027 eclipse event, viewing area or traffic plan from Marbella town council as of 4 November 2026. The Junta de Andalucía lists Marbella among the 58 municipalities in Málaga province (115 in Andalucía) where the eclipse is total. On 31 July 2026 it proposed a test day for councils and residents to check logistics on the ground: access, parking, shade, water, medical cover and public transport. It plans a "mirror day" on 10 May 2027 to check the Sun's height and direction from viewing sites. For the 2026 eclipse, the council's environment councillor, Diego López, published viewing advice (glasses to ISO 12312-2 for the whole observation, no unfiltered cameras or binoculars, supervise children). We will add official 2027 plans here when they are published.

When can you take your eclipse glasses off in Marbella?

Only during totality: in the old town from about 10:46:51 to 10:50:08, when the Moon covers the Sun completely. Before that, from 09:42, and after, until 12:02, you are watching a partial eclipse and need eclipse glasses certified to ISO 12312-2 (in Europe, EN ISO 12312-2 with a CE mark). Sunglasses are never enough. Put your glasses back on the moment the first bright point of sunlight returns. If you are not sure the eclipse is total where you stand, keep them on.

Already have a pair? Read ISO 12312-2 explained: how to check a certificate, whether 2026 glasses can be reused in 2027 and what doctors know about eclipse eye damage.

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, for families, groups and hotels. See the glasses. Equipping a hotel or a group? See bulk eclipse glasses.

FAQ

Is Marbella in the path of totality in 2027?

Yes. The whole coast of Marbella is inside the path of the total solar eclipse of 2 August 2027, about 31 km south of the northern limit. Totality lasts about 3 minutes 17 seconds in the old town and up to about 3 minutes 25 seconds at Cabopino.

What time is the total eclipse in Marbella?

In the old town totality runs from about 10:46:51 to 10:50:08 CEST (UTC+2), with maximum at 10:48:29. The partial eclipse starts at 09:41:40 and ends at 12:01:54.

Where in Marbella is totality longest?

On the coast west and east of the centre: about 3 minutes 25 seconds at Cabopino, 3 minutes 24 seconds at Puerto Banús and 3 minutes 23 seconds in San Pedro Alcántara. Estepona, just west of Marbella, gets about 3 minutes 38 seconds.

Is it better to watch from the mountains above Marbella?

Not for totality. The hills are closer to the northern edge of the path, so Ojén gets about 2 minutes 59 seconds and Juanar and Istán about 2 minutes 52 seconds, up to half a minute less than the beaches. August is also the high wildfire-risk season, and access to forest areas may be restricted.

Is there a train to Marbella?

No. Marbella has no railway station. From Málaga airport take a direct Avanza bus (about 35 to 40 minutes on the 2026 timetable), or drive on the A-7 or the AP-7 toll motorway.

Can I look at the eclipse in Marbella without glasses?

Only during the roughly three and a quarter minutes of totality. For the partial phases before and after, from 09:42 to 12:02, use eclipse glasses certified to ISO 12312-2.

Sources

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