Craving sunshine or are you still in winter mode? Luckily, the best places to visit in March include an array of brilliant spots. March is a fantastic month to get away as it typically sits before the busy Easter period.
Late-season dumps of snow lead to dreamy conditions for skiers and snowboarders. Meanwhile, temperatures are starting to rise in Europe and North America. As for Asia, March often sees some of its best weather, plus a few unmissable seasonal festivals.
Budget on your mind? Skip to KAYAK’s top data-backed picks based on popularity, flight, and hotel prices.
The best places to visit in March in Europe
While there are still plenty of cold weather picks for those living in the Northern Hemisphere, things are well and truly starting to heat up across much of Europe.
1. Mayrhofen, Austria
- Learn more: Mayrhofen travel guide
- Why visit in March? Snow, plus spa and après ski options galore
When it comes to the best places to ski in Europe, Mayrhofen in Austria is always at the top of my list. Perhaps most recognised for the incredible mountain music festival Snowbombing (which the town has hosted for nearly 20 years), Mayrhofen is a fantastic destination for a more luxurious ski break.
The town is covered in spas and saunas. Which are ideal for helping your muscles recover from a long day of skiing. As for the skiing itself, Mayrhofen has a wide network of runs that are suitable for both beginner skiers and snowboarders, as well as those with a little more experience.
Even if the weather is a tad warmer than it should be, you can ski the incredible Hintertux glacier (3,250m) all year round as it’s way above the snow line. For après ski, I recommend indulging in a few delicious Austrian beers and some mouth-watering schnitzel.
2. Valencia, Spain
- Learn more: Valencia travel guide
- Why visit in March? Experience authentic Spanish culture at Las Fallas festival until March 19th
March is the time of year when the heat of the Mediterranean starts to creep back along the coast of Spain. Valencia is blessed with warmer temperatures and is only a short flight away from London.
Sunshine alone makes Valencia a great place to visit in March. It’s also a cosmopolitan city with superb science and art museums and an enticing food culture. March is an especially brilliant month to visit as it’s when the Las Fallas Festival takes place.
Expect lively parades featuring satirical dummies and puppets representing villainous and controversial figures from Spanish history and modern times. There are also massive fireworks displays and street parties.
3. Whitby, Yorkshire
- Learn more: Whitby travel guide
- Why visit in March? For windswept coastal walks and cosy pubs
The UK has some incredible places to visit in March. Whitby, tucked away on the stunning North Yorkshire coast, is rich in natural beauty and has a fascinating local history. Plus, there’s its well-known connection to the classic Gothic horror novel Dracula.
Fans of the book will recognise Whitby as the place where Dracula first makes landfall in Britain. Supposedly, author Bram Stoker first came upon the novel’s name and its titular character while browsing through Whitby’s private library. A walk around the burnt-out ruins of Whitby Abbey is a must for history lovers keen to see the extent of Henry VIII’s infamous religious reforms.
You’ll also find plenty of options for fossil hunting and stunning coastal views from the hills outside Whitby. Even if you face wet and windy weather, you’ll find Whitby no less beautiful and striking than on a sunny day. There’s always the prospect of warming up in an idyllic old pub afterwards, too.
4. Berlin, Germany
- Learn more: Berlin travel guide
- Why visit in March? Fewer crowds, plus seasonal events like MaerzMusik
Berlin is the perfect March destination for couples and groups of friends who want a blend of culture, shopping, fine food and nightlife. It’s a time of year when creativity comes to the fore, thanks to forward-thinking events like MaerzMusik. The festival has been running since 2002 and combines film screenings, musical theatre and art.
With crowds relatively thin, according to KAYAK data, March is the ideal time to see attractions like the Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie and the Holocaust Memorial. Berlin is also a fantastic food destination. My tip is to visit Hackescher Markt or the street food market at Markthalle Neun, both on Thursdays.
The average daily temperature is still only around 4°C. Nevertheless, you’re still going to be in one of the most vibrant, multicultural and fun cities in the world. Plus, you can visit on a pretty strict budget. KAYAK data shows hotel prices sit at less than £90 per night.
5. Bordeaux, France
- Learn more: Bordeaux travel guide
- Why visit in March? To indulge in vintage wine tasting during En Primeur
Are you wondering where the best place to visit in March is for a good glass of wine? Bordeaux definitely comes up trumps. Thanks to its world-famous nearby vineyards, the city is a joy to explore and a paradise for wine lovers.
It’s one of the finest holiday destinations in March for serious wine lovers as it’s the time of En Primeur — the first tastings of the year’s latest vintages. If you’re interested in sampling your way around Bordeaux, book well in advance.
Prefer to explore more of the incredible history of the surrounding province of Aquitaine? Take a short train ride to the beautiful town of Saint-Émilion and learn more about its distinct vintage wines. If you love walking, venture to the beautiful seaside town of Arcachon and hike up the Dune du Pilat. It’s Europe’s highest natural sand dune and essential viewing in March when there are fewer crowds.
The best places to visit in March: Africa, Asia and beyond
March is also an ideal month for visiting longer-haul destinations —including Japan for cherry blossom season and India for the vibrant Holi Festival.
6. Delhi, India
- Learn more: Delhi travel guide
- Why visit in March? To enjoy the magic of the Hindu Holi festival on March 14th
India’s capital comes alive in March when locals throw themselves into Holi celebrations. Hinduism’s ‘Festival of Colours’ is a must-see spectacle. Streets become vibrant works of art as people cover each other in powdered dyes. The buzz doesn’t end there, with all-night DJ sets and food events that keep festivities going into the early hours.
Delhi is a lively place to visit, so experiencing the city during Holi can be quite full-on. If you’d rather avoid all the hubbub, visit the city earlier or later in the month. You can tick off iconic landmarks like the Lotus Temple and the Red Fort which will be much quieter after the partygoers have left town.
7. Osaka, Japan
- Learn more: Osaka travel guide
- Why visit in March? To admire the city’s breathtaking blossom
Osaka is one of the best places to visit in March to explore Japan in the spring. As well as being a prime destination to experience Japan’s magical cherry blossom, Osaka also has a rich and diverse culture. Its incredible landmarks include the famous Osaka castle and the iconic Shitennō-ji temple: one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan.
One of the biggest draws for me is the food. Osakans take their food very seriously, so much so that it’s become something of a joke throughout Japan about how much people are willing to spend on food. Must-try dishes include okonomiyaki (a local fried pancake), takoyaki (battered octopus), udon noodles and, of course, sushi.
8. Las Vegas, USA
- Learn more: Las Vegas travel guide
- Why visit in March? For sunshine, live stage shows and St Patrick’s Day celebrations
Whether you’re keen to make a bet at one of the Strip’s iconic neon-decorated casinos or you want to spend sun-soaked days by the pool, Las Vegas is surely one of the best places to go in March. The weather in Sin City averages around 22°C — perfect for wandering around town or fitting in a round of golf.
Las Vegas is equally famous for its on-stage entertainment as it is for trying ol’ lady luck at the tables. Artists like funny man Kevin Hart and smooth-talking Maroon Five will be in town if you can get a ticket to their shows. Plus, Las Vegas sure knows how to celebrate St Patrick’s Day on March 17th.
If you want to escape the city for the day, take a trip to the incredible Death Valley National Park. It’s just a short drive out of town (which is a great excuse to rent a convertible and cruise through the desert). Failing that, an afternoon on the shores of Lake Mead is a nice alternative to the hotel pool. Or, why not book a helicopter ride and over the nearby Grand Canyon?
9. Fez, Morocco
- Learn more: Fez travel guide
- Why visit in March? To shop for handmade souvenirs or venture into nearby national parks
Searching for one of the best places to visit in March that’s only a short flight away? Look no further than the Moroccan city of Fez (or Fes). Perhaps most easily recognised for its association with the iconic headpiece, this ancient city is also full of surprises.
Shop for exquisite hand-made leather goods or savour heaps of freshly baked pastries in the Medina. Roman ruins are also close by at Volubilis. You’ll also find mountains of colourful, locally made carpets to buy (have fun figuring out how to get one back home to your living room).
When you’re done exploring the city, the surrounding area is brimming with truly stunning landscapes. The Tazekka National Park is a must-visit. It’s just under two hours’ drive from Fez and located within the Middle Atlas range, part of the stunning Atlas Mountains that stretch across Morocco. The park is filled with incredible cedar forests, and you may even be lucky enough to see snow still on many of the higher peaks.
10. Vietnam
- Learn more: Vietnam travel guide
- Why visit in March? Dry and pleasant weather for a myriad of cultural and outdoor activities
While this Southeast Asian gem attracts visitors all year round with its warm culture, outstanding food and fascinating history, March is an especially good month to visit. .
The weather is generally dry and hot – perfect for trips to coastal hot spots like Ha Long Bay and Phú Quốc Island. It’s also much less humid. This makes exploring key cultural attractions like Hue’s imperial palaces or the Cu Chi Tunnels just outside Ho Chi Minh City much more comfortable. Cooler climes in Northern Vietnam additionally make it an ideal month for a guided hiking adventure in the lush rainforests around Sapa.
Another reason Vietnam is one of the best places to travel to in March? Price. According to KAYAK data, flights to Ho Chi Minh City come in at under £700, while hotels are less than £40 a night.
FAQs about where to travel in March
If you’re keen to explore more than one place this March, consider Vietnam. Dry, warm weather make it an ideal time to explore the big cities and the country’s beautiful countryside. For somewhere closer to home, choose Spain. Spring there is typically much warmer than in the UK, plus you’ll experience far fewer crowds than the summer months.
For those hoping to avoid the usual peak season crowds, a trip to Berlin in March is ideal. Alternatively, check out other touristy European hot spots from the KAYAK data table below such as Vienna, Prague or Porto.
Data-backed picks from KAYAK
If seasonal events aren’t on your wishlist, why not consider one of the destinations below? These destinations are based on KAYAK flight and hotel data, taking into account budget, weather, and popularity (so you can avoid the crowds). For personalised recommendations based on your location and chosen destination check out the Best Time to Travel tool.
Explore more great destinations
The following information refers to the destinations listed in the table.
Recommendation ranking within table:
Our recommendation ranking of where to go is calculated based on average flight prices, average hotel prices, popularity, average temperature, and average precipitation. Flight prices, hotel prices, popularity, and precipitation constitute inverse factors, meaning the lower the better. Average temperature optimal values are taken as the median for the destination, and a difference is calculated for the month from this reference point. The smaller the difference, the more desirable the city is to visit in this month. This temperature factor weighs twice as much as popularity and precipitation.
From the ranked destination lists, destination exclusions may have been applied in cases of insufficient data or according to the official travel advisory at the time when the data analysis was conducted.
Flight and hotel prices:
Average prices are estimated from KAYAK internal data from the search period ‘01-07-2024’ to ‘15-11-2024’ for the travel period ‘01-01-2025 - 28-02-2025'. Flight prices include economy class return trips for one traveller, and hotel prices represent the nightly rates for a standard double room for hotels with three stars or below. Price insights may vary depending on the exact departure airport and over time as travel dates are approaching.
Popularity:
Monthly crowd estimates for each destination are determined by internal flight and hotel search data. This incorporates the latest historical insights from the past year collected on ‘15-01-2024’. For each destination, this popularity estimate is pulled for the particular month to gauge where it might not be too crowded.
Weather (average monthly temperature and precipitation):
Weather data is pulled from a third-party site, Weatherbase, and has not been verified by KAYAK. Monthly average temperature and precipitation data isbased on historical insights from the past 102 years. Weatherbase data is updated in real-time from the US Census Bureau and other databases worldwide.
The post Spring Fever: 10 best places to visit in March appeared first on KAYAK Blog UK.