Where to watch the solar eclipse in Madrid: the definitive list of 64 observation points in 61 municipalities

The Community of Madrid will receive the solar eclipse this afternoon under optimal conditions, with completely clear skies and 93 municipalities in the north and east within the totality band out of the 179 in the region, although, yes, with a wildfire risk between extreme and very high and very hot weather: there is a yellow alert, the minimum, throughout the region and maximum temperatures of up to 39 degrees.

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To avoid environmental risks and ensure public safety, authorities ask to avoid going alone to farms and paths or forest areas and to head to one of the official observation points accredited by the Ministry of the Interior. Finally, there will be 64 points in 61 municipalities, since Ambite, Canencia, and Lozoya maintain their two observatories and, at the last minute, Valdemanco and Quijorna have been dropped. Of the 64 definitive observatories, 28 are in non-urban areas and 36 in urban areas.

Some have parking lots, such as Buitrago del Lozoya (750 spaces), La Cabrera (400 spaces), or Valdepiélagos (300 spaces). However, the recommendation is to always use public transport. But beware, not the entire region will be able to enjoy this wonderful spectacle in its entirety: the 100% obscuration band enters from the northwest, crosses the entire northern third, and exits through the east.

In the capital, the southern edge of the band passes right along the municipal boundary, so it will be seen at 99.95%, a few tenths that, in terms of eclipses, are a world. And within the lucky band, there are points where it will last longer: Somosierra takes the crown of the community with 1 minute and 29 seconds (accessible by intercity bus Line 191). Following in the top three are Prádena del Rincón (1′25s and on Line 191 to Av. Madrid-Real with transfer to 191C) and Braojos (1′22s on Line 195).

Above one minute, which is the norm, are also:

• Piñuécar-Gandullas (1′ 22s and Line 196)
• Berzosa del Lozoya (1′ 21s and 191 to Buitrago del Lozoya with transfer to 191D)
• La Serna del Monte (1′ 21s and 191).
• Gascones (1′ 21s and 195).
• Buitrago del Lozoya (1′ 19s and 191).
• Villavieja del Lozoya (1′ 19s and 191).
• Puentes Viejas (1′ 19s and 191 to Buitrago del Lozoya with transfer to 191E)
• Garganta de los Montes (1′ 13s and 194).
• Lozoya (1′ 12s and 194).
• La Cabrera (1′ 11s and 194).
• Canencia (1′ 11s and 194).
• Valdepiélagos (1′ 08s and 197).
• Cabanillas de la Sierra (1′ 07s and 191).
• Navalafuente (1′ 06s and 197 to Torrelaguna with transfer to 197C)
• Rascafría (1′ 06s and 194).
• Talamanca de Jarama (1′ 04s and 197).
• El Molar (1′ 01s and 191)

Below one minute, good options are Meco (55s), Los Santos de la Humosa (51s), and Colmenar Viejo and Alcalá de Henares (from 35 to 40s). The Community has enabled 51 points with activities, there were 52 but Tres Cantos decided to cancel all festivities as a precaution. Additionally, it organizes a big festival with food trucks, music, children’s games, and workshops in Buitrago with 3,000 free tickets, all sold out.

If we do not want to—or cannot—leave the capital, the City Council has the Valdebebas-Felipe VI Forest Park as an observation point, with large green areas to sit or lie down and less light pollution. Other good locations are the Debod Temple, the large pond area and the Crystal Palace garden in El Retiro, Cerro Garabitas in Casa de Campo, or the parque de las tetas in Vallecas.

The roads will undoubtedly be complicated. The DGT has launched a special operation on the axes of the A-1 and M-607; the A-2 and the Henares corridor; and the A-6 and the Sierra de Guadarrama. According to the Ministry of Transport, the highest influxes are expected in Buitrago, Somosierra, La Cabrera, and El Molar. Specifically, problems are expected around the A-1, M-607, A-6, and A-2. A high concentration is also expected in the Sierra de Guadarrama, especially in the M-607 corridor and in Navacerrada, as well as in San Sebastián de los Reyes, Alcalá, or Meco.

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The lines serving these municipalities depart from the Plaza de Castilla, Moncloa, and Avenida de América interchanges. If demand rises significantly, reinforcements will be activated, especially when the eclipse ends. The lines likely to be reinforced are 191, 193, 222, 223, 227, 256, 275, 691, 681, 682, 683, 684, 725, and 726, among others, as well as the night lines N104, N202, N602, N603, N702, and N904. Additionally, for line 275, specific reinforcements have been established, with a direct route to Los Santos de la Humosa from Alcalá.

Regarding the eclipse weather, the State Meteorological Agency has good news for Madrid: it forecasts clear skies throughout the region. But it will be very hot, so precautions should be taken in the form of umbrellas and sunscreen, as well as certified glasses. Maximum temperatures will be up to 39° in the center and south of the community, while in the Sierra they will be around 36° or 37°, although it should be noted that these values will have dropped five degrees by the time of the eclipse. In Alcalá de Henares it will be 39°, in Aranjuez 39°, in Collado Villalba 37°, in Getafe 38°, in Madrid 38°, and in Navalcarnero 38°.

And finally, security. The Community will have two advanced command posts, one at the headquarters of the Mountain Rescue and Intervention Group of the Civil Guard in Navacerrada and another at the Buitrago pools. According to the Government Delegation, more than 1,700 Civil Guard and National Police officers have been mobilized, joined by the region’s security and emergency services.

In addition to all the resources of the Infoma Plan against fires, the regional government has activated the Territorial Civil Protection Plan for monitoring the main observation points, has mobilized up to 29 forest agent patrols in the morning and 28 in the afternoon to increase surveillance in the northern area, has increased personnel in the fire stations of this area, and has added seven additional managers to 112 in afternoon and night shifts, as well as seven vehicles and 20 Civil Protection volunteers in the Sierra de Guadarrama and the Sierra Norte.