It may still feel like winter at home, but March finds wildflowers blooming in many parts of the world, and festivals of all sorts happening around the globe. Here’s a round-up of destinations that are at their prime in March.
Cape Town, South Africa
By March, temperatures have begun to cool, and the fierce southeasterly wind calms down—which means that outdoor activities (sea kayaking, shark diving, trips to Robben Island) are seldom canceled due to weather. It’s also one of the best months for hiking and cycling, and the “March lilies” are flowering all over the city. This being harvest time, there is frenetic activity at the nearby wine estates, accompanied by many jovial festivals.
To learn more about South Africa click here.
Cape Town, South Africa
Norway
In March there is still a lot of snow for all of Norway’s great winter activities—skiing, of course, but also dogsledding, snowmobiling, reindeer sledding, snowshoeing, and so on—but also lots of sunshine, average daytimes highs in the 30s, and long days. Statistically, this is also the best month to see the Northern Lights.
To learn more about Norway click here.
Northern Lights, Norway
Malta and Gozo
March sees few of the cruise-ship visitors who arrive daily in Malta come summer. With highs in the mid-60s and a lush green coating on the hills brought out by winter rains, this is a particularly great time of year for countryside walks and cycling in neighboring Gozo, which is smaller and more rural than Malta.
To learn more about Malta click here.
Belize
The Caribbean trade winds that prevail in March and April make for ideal sailing conditions. The summer humidity hasn’t yet arrived, and evenings are fresh and breezy. You can charter a crewed catamaran that will take you wherever you want to go: tiny, palm-studded islands with hardly another soul in sight, or busier spots with beach bars, boutiques, and restaurants.
To learn more about Belize click here.
Belize
Queenstown, New Zealand
It’s the end of summer down south, and the weather is just warm enough: around 85 degrees Fahrenheit in the day, with nice cool evenings. You have access to all of the back-country activities that bring people to this world's capital of outdoor adventure.
To learn more about New Zealand click here.
Mount Nicholas Station, Queenstown
Bermuda
April is when the cruise ships start to arrive for the summer season, letting off up to 4,000 passengers at a time. A month earlier, hotel rates are half their summer peak, temps are in the low 70s (great for golf and tennis, if not bikinis), and there are free tours, lectures, and art demonstrations all over the island.
To learn more about Bermuda click here.
Bermuda
Andalusia, Spain
By late March in southern Spain, temps are in the 60s, the aroma of orange blossoms is in the air, the light is beautiful, and there are fiestas (and bullfights) all over the region. Before the crowds descend for Holy Week and the spring festivals, March is a great time to visit the iconic sites in Seville and Granada or go off the beaten path in Ubeda and Baeza.
To learn more about Spain click here.
Seville, Spain
Cartagena, Colombia
February and March are great months to visit Cartagena because of sunny days, clear skies, and a fresh breeze that makes the temperature much more comfortable; March sees fewer crowds since the low season is about to start. January has similar weather conditions and famous literature, cinema, and classical music festivals, but hotel rates are much higher, and the old town is much more crowded.
To learn more about Colombia click here.
Cartagena, Colombia
Crete, Greece
While many Greek islands go into hibernation in the winter, with resorts and restaurants shuttering for the season, Crete is large enough that it stays vibrant year-round. It’s also Greece’s most southern—and thus warmest—island. Not everything will be open in March, but it’s a great time to get a dose of local culture, and hotel rates are lower than you’ll find later in spring.
To learn more about Greece click here.
Elouda Villa in Crete, Greece
Chile
Chile is rough twice the length of California, so it covers vast latitudes and corresponding climates. March and mid-November to mid-December see the best weather throughout the country: warm temperatures in Patagonia, dry days in the Lakes District, and lacking the oppressive summer heat in central Chile and Easter Island. You’ll also avoid the high season, which picks up before Christmas and lasts through February.
To learn more about Chile click here.
Torres del Paine
London
If you think Notting Hill couldn’t get any more colorful, you should see it in the early spring, decked out with blossoms on its tree-lined streets. March brings glorious fields of daffodils to Kensington Gardens too—and everything’s in bloom in Chelsea. The icing on the cake is Kew Gardens, just a short trip outside central London and the perfect spot to celebrate the arrival of spring.
To learn more about England click here.
Jordan
By March, the weather is warming up—making it possible to spend a night out in Wadi Rum—the almond and olive trees, should still be in blossom, and the crowds are thin.
To learn more about Jordan click here.
Petra, Jordan
Northern India
The date for Holi—India’s famous festival of colors—is set by the Hindu calendar, but it almost always falls during March; in 2023, the date will be March 8. (This is one celebration where you simply can’t be a bystander, and you don’t want to show up in your best attire: Everyone throws vibrantly colored powder and water at one another.) Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Udaipur are all great places to be during the merriment that is Holi.
To learn more about India click here.
The Galapagos, Equador
In March, water temperatures and clarity are the best they get all year, making it ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and diving. It’s also hatching season for Galapagos tortoises, and male frigate birds can be seen with their telltale neck pouches puffed up and flared out to attract females. For those adults who don’t want to travel with lots of kids, avoid the spring-break weeks that can range from late March to mid-April. The opposite is true for families: Book way ahead for those peak spring-break weeks that often feature specific family departures.
To learn more about The Galapagos click here.
