By Edu Rodrigalvarez, Head of Locations, Palma Pictures 

After the winter months, spring feels incredibly striking across Spain and Portugal. The landscape is full and vibrant, with colour bursting out everywhere you look. Areas that can feel dry later in the year are alive with green, and familiar locations take on a really fresh energy. From a location point of view, it’s one of the moments when the Iberian Peninsula really shows its range again. 

Spring is always a key moment for filming here, but this year the shift feels stronger. The days get longer, temperatures are easier to work with, and the more popular areas feel active without being crowded. Natural, coastal and urban locations all start to work in a more balanced way. 

From a production point of view, spring is one of the most practical seasons. Temperatures are mild and consistent, shooting days are comfortable, and daylight hours increase quickly, often reaching more than ten hours of usable light. The light itself is clean and soft, much easier to work with than in the summer months. It’s a big reason why we see so many lifestyle, fashion, beauty and automotive projects choosing this time of year. 

This winter’s recent rainfall has made a real difference. Green dominates the landscape in many regions. The Irati Forest in Navarra is dense and deep in colour, La Palma’s volcanic terrain is softened by vegetation, and Los Alcornocales Natural Park shows its subtropical character at its best. Even locations that are usually quite dry have more depth and contrast. Along the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts, the sea is calmer and clear, and locations are still free from peak season pressure. 

Spring is also when some of Spain and Portugal’s more unusual locations really stand out. The Red Canyon in Teruel has an almost unreal, near martian feel, while the pink salt flats of Torrevieja offer a look that’s hard to find elsewhere in Europe. At the same time, fields, mountains and natural parks are at their most vibrant, giving productions a lot of visual options within short distances. 

There is a great flow to filming in spring. Coastal roads in Mallorca and Málaga, mountain routes inland, and cities like Madrid, Barcelona and Lisbon all offer so much at this time of year. 

At its core, spring in Spain and Portugal is about renewal. There’s a sense of fresh energy that comes through naturally on screen. For me, it’s one of the best moments of the year to capture the Iberian Peninsula honestly, when light, landscape and atmosphere all work together. 

For international productions, making the most of this season comes down to understanding the territory. Knowing how locations change after rain, how light shifts week by week, and how to move efficiently between regions is key. Combined with experienced crews and solid production infrastructure, it’s why Spain and Portugal continue to be trusted places to film, year after year. 

If you’d like to discover how spring in Spain can work for your next production get in touch with Palma Pictures and let’s explore the possibilities together.