Filming and photoshoot locations in Valencia: how to choose a venue and what to ask

Choosing the right location saves hours of production and money. A venue with the light you need, enough power, easy access for the kit and nobody interrupting the take keeps the day on schedule. One that falls short on any of these forces you to improvise.

This guide covers what a location for a film or photo shoot in Valencia needs, which permits are required, what to ask before booking and how to plan the shoot day.

The essentials in 30 seconds

• Always do a tech recce: with the director of photography and the production manager, at the time you will be shooting.
• Light comes first: natural for photography and lifestyle, controllable for video and interviews.
• Power and sound: available power, sockets and background noise.
• Logistics: loading and unloading, a lift or goods lift, room for the crew, dressing rooms.
• In writing: times, overtime, what can be moved and what cannot, and the cancellation policy.
• In a private venue the owner's authorisation is enough; on the street you need a city permit.

What a good location needs

• Natural light you can work with, or the option to black the space out completely.
• Backdrops with character that work as a set without dressing, or neutral ones to build on.
• Several settings in one place, so you can shoot different scenes without moving location.
• Height and space for lights, tripods, cranes or a dolly.
• Enough power and well-spread sockets, so you do not always depend on a generator.
• Controllable quiet: no building work, traffic or nearby music at shooting time.
• A central location: less travel for crew, talent and client.

Which venue for which production

• Fashion or lifestyle shoot: natural light, terraces, designed interiors. Golden hour is gold.
• Commercial or brand video: several settings and light control to keep continuity between shots.
• Interview or corporate piece: a quiet corner with a good backdrop and good sound.
• Music video or music content: a stage, show lighting and a night-time look.
• Show or podcast with an audience: a room with a stage, sound, lighting and space for the audience.
• Audiovisual presentation or live stream: screens, sound engineering and a stable internet connection.

Filming permits in Valencia

• In a private venue, such as a bar, a terrace or a function room, the owner's authorisation is enough. It is best signed in writing, with the dates, times and spaces included.
• On public roads or in municipal buildings you need authorisation from Valencia City Council, which handles permits for filming and for occupying public space.
• Valencia Film Office, the filming support service of Fundación Visit València, helps productions with locations, permits and contact with the authorities.
• If recognisable people appear, get signed image releases. If third-party brands or logos appear, check whether you need permission.
• The production company's public liability insurance: many venues ask for it.

What to ask before booking

1. Which spaces are included and at exactly what times?
2. How much is overtime if the day runs long?
3. Are there slots with no public or activity for shooting?
4. How much power is available and where are the sockets?
5. Where is kit loaded and unloaded? Is there a lift or goods lift?
6. Can furniture or decoration be moved? Can lights be rigged?
7. Is there a space for dressing rooms, make-up and wardrobe?
8. Can the crew be fed on site?
9. Can the venue's name be shown or must it be hidden?
10. What deposit is required and what is the cancellation policy?

How to plan the shoot day

• A shooting schedule shared with the venue: arrival, set-up, each scene and take-down.
• A venue contact reachable throughout the day.
• Set-up and take-down within the booking, not outside it.
• Crew meals sorted: catering on site saves an hour.
• A plan B for exteriors: an indoor alternative in case of rain or wind.
• Leave the space as you found it, and take photos when you arrive and leave.

Common mistakes

• Visiting the venue at a different time from the shoot: light and noise change.
• Not asking about power until the day.
• Planning the day with no margin for set-up and take-down.
• Forgetting image releases for the audience or extras.
• Not putting in writing what can be touched and what cannot.

Film and photo shoots at Palau Alameda

Palau Alameda, on Paseo de la Alameda in the centre of Valencia, brings together three spaces with very different looks in the same building:

• Àtic: a panoramic restaurant with a terrace and views over the Alameda, with plenty of natural light. It suits fashion and lifestyle shoots, interviews and brand pieces with the city as a backdrop.
• La Gran Sala: stage, sound, show lighting and screens. It works for music videos, shows with an audience, audiovisual presentations and live streams.
• Azza: the club, with a night-time look, for music videos, campaigns and content with character.

Having all three in the same building means you can shoot several settings in one day without moving the crew. Productions recorded here include the Europa FM show «Tómatelo menos en serio» with Chenoa, with an audience in La Gran Sala.

If you are preparing a launch with press and filming, see our guide on how to organise a product launch. And you will find all the details, with the form to tell us about your project, on our private events page.

Frequently asked questions

What does a venue need for a film shoot?

Natural or controllable light, enough power, quiet at shooting time, easy access for loading kit, room for the crew and, ideally, several settings in the same place.

Do you need a permit to film in Valencia?

In a private venue the owner's authorisation is enough, ideally in writing. On public roads or in municipal buildings you need authorisation from Valencia City Council. Valencia Film Office helps productions with locations and permits.

What should you ask before hiring a location?

The exact times and the cost of overtime, available power, loading and unloading, what can be moved or rigged, whether there are dressing rooms, whether there are slots with no public and the cancellation policy.

Which venue is best for a fashion shoot?

One with good natural light and backdrops with character, such as a terrace or a designed interior. Visit it at the same time of day as the shoot.

Can you record a show with an audience in an event venue?

Yes, if the room has a stage, sound, lighting and capacity for the audience. At Palau Alameda, for example, a Europa FM show was recorded with an audience in La Gran Sala.

How do you plan a shoot day at a location?

With a shooting schedule shared with the venue, a venue contact throughout the day, set-up and take-down within the booked hours, crew meals sorted and a plan B if you are shooting outdoors.