Seasonal calendar · Spain
From the Iberian lynx in winter to brown bears in spring and roaring stags in autumn: this is the year in Spanish nature, month by month. For each month you can also see what is in season on the Spanish coast and in the kitchen.
Inland Spain is often hot in summer: animals are then mostly active early in the morning and late in the evening. Plan your outings for those hours.
Winter
| Month | In nature | In the kitchen |
|---|---|---|
| December | Good chances of the Iberian lynx in the Sierra de Andújar; tens of thousands of cranes winter in the dehesas of Extremadura | Seafood on the Christmas menu, such as cigalas (langoustines); in Madrid besugo on Christmas Eve |
| January | Iberian lynx mating season: the best month to see one | Galician seafood; sea urchins (oricios) in Asturias |
| February | Griffon and cinereous vultures nest in Monfragüe; the cranes leave | Sea urchins and octopus |
Spring
| Month | In nature | In the kitchen |
|---|---|---|
| March | Lynx kittens are born; the first brown bears emerge from hibernation | Seafood from Galicia; the anchovy moves to the Cantabrian coast |
| April | The bee-eaters are back; bears with cubs on the slopes of Somiedo; bluefin tuna pass through the Strait of Gibraltar | Sea bass (lubina); the anchovy costera begins |
| May | Bear mating season: one of the best months in Asturias; young vultures and imperial eagles in Monfragüe | The first sardines; tuna weeks in Barbate |
Summer
| Month | In nature | In the kitchen |
|---|---|---|
| June | Bears are still easy to see; bee-eaters nest in sandbanks | Sardines on the night of San Juan (23 June); start of the albacore season (bonito del norte); gamba festival in Palamós with the blue and red shrimp |
| July | Thousands of flamingo chicks at the Fuente de Piedra lagoon; orcas in the Strait of Gibraltar; animals are mostly active at sunrise and sunset | Sardines and bonito |
| August | The bee-eaters leave for Africa; bears eat the first fruit; orcas still off Tarifa | The octopus festival (Festa do Polbo) in O Carballiño, Galicia, with octopus á feira |
Autumn
| Month | In nature | In the kitchen |
|---|---|---|
| September | Start of the berrea, the red deer rut, in Monfragüe and Andújar; bears eat berries and nuts | Sardines and octopus |
| October | Peak of the berrea; tens of thousands of cranes rest at the Gallocanta lagoon | Venison and wild boar stews inland |
| November | The cranes arrive in Extremadura; the lynx is seen more often in daytime again | The seafood season in Galicia gets going |
Out and about: read where to see brown bears in Asturias, spot the Iberian lynx and go vulture watching in Monfragüe.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about the seasons in Spain
When is the best time to see the Iberian lynx?
From December to February, with January as the highlight. Read more in our guide to the Iberian lynx.
When can you see brown bears in Spain?
The best months are April to June and September to October. Read where in our guide to brown bears in Asturias.
When is the berrea in Spain?
The red deer rut runs from about mid-September to mid-October. Good areas are Monfragüe, Cabañeros and the Sierra de Andújar.
Other countries: The Netherlands · Belgium · Germany · France. Or see the general seasonal calendar.
