159 destinations scored for March.
Where to travel in March
Cherry blossoms in the east, jacarandas in Mexico, and the last easy month in the desert belt.
The straight answer
The best places to travel in March are Japan as cherry blossom season begins, Mexico City in jacaranda spring, Washington, DC for the Tidal Basin blossoms, and Egypt, Jordan, and Morocco in their last comfortable stretch before summer heat.
March is a transition month, and transition months reward people who read the fine print. In Japan, the cherry blossom wave typically begins in late March in Tokyo and Kyoto, the single most famous timing play in world travel. Washington, DC usually follows the same rhythm around the Tidal Basin. Mexico City turns purple with jacaranda bloom in its dry, sunny spring.
The desert belt has one foot out the door. Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Dubai are all still comfortable in March, and by May parts of them will not be. If a Nile cruise or Petra is on your list, March is one of the smartest months of the year to do it.
The fine print: March is spring break in the United States, which turns Florida beaches and Cancun into a crowd event. Northern Thailand's burning season fills the air around Chiang Mai with smoke. And the Southeast Asian hot season begins its climb. Pick the right March and it is glorious; pick the wrong one and you are sharing it with half a university.
Our March picks, ranked
Each one opens its own month page: weather, crowds, prices and what is on.
The full March board
All 159 destinations we cover, scored for March.
At their best in March
42 places. One of their best months of the year.
Dubai
Warm, highs near 83F (28C)
Jordan
Springlike, Petra highs near 63F (17C)
Egypt
Warm, Cairo highs near 75F (24C), Luxor near 86F (30C)
Morocco
Warm, Marrakech highs near 73F (23C)
Cape Town
Warm, highs near 77F (25C), settled
Tokyo
Warming fast, highs near 57F (14C)
Kyoto
Warming, highs near 56F (13C)
Vietnam
Pleasant nationwide, Hanoi highs near 73F (23C), south hot and dry
Singapore
Hot and relatively dry, highs near 89F (32C)
Maldives
Hot, dry, highs near 87F (31C)
New Zealand
Late summer into early fall, highs near 71F (22C)
Sydney
Warm, settling, highs near 77F (25C)
Mexico City
Warm and dry, highs near 79F (26C)
Costa Rica
Hot and dry, highs near 90F (32C)
Patagonia
Early fall, highs near 55F (13C), winds easing, first frosts late month
The Dolomites
Sunny, valley highs near 45F (7C)
Seville
Warm, highs near 71F (22C)
Finnish Lapland
Cold, highs near 25F (-4C), bright sunny days
Palawan
Hot and dry, highs near 90F (32C)
Sri Lanka
Hot, highs near 89F (32C), mostly dry, humidity rising
Nepal
Kathmandu highs near 77F (25C), warming, occasional haze
Bhutan
Paro highs near 61F (16C), warming, occasional showers
Delhi and Agra
Warm, highs near 86F (30C), dry
Oman
Warm, Muscat highs near 86F (30C)
Abu Dhabi
Warm, highs near 84F (29C)
Jamaica
Dry and warm, highs near 86F (30C)
US Virgin Islands
Dry, highs near 85F (29C)
St. Lucia
Driest stretch, highs near 85F (29C)
Barbados
Driest stretch, highs near 85F (29C)
Punta Cana
Dry and sunny, highs near 84F (29C)
Los Cabos
Dry, highs near 82F (28C)
Puerto Vallarta
Dry, highs near 82F (28C)
Belize
Dry and sunny, highs near 84F (29C)
Guatemala
Dry and warm, highs near 78F (26C)
Panama
Dry and hot, highs near 90F (32C)
Cartagena
Dry, highs near 88F (31C)
Buenos Aires
Warm, highs near 79F (26C), occasional storms
New Orleans
Warm, highs near 72F (22C)
Las Vegas
Warm, highs near 70F (21C), windy days
Savannah
Warm, highs near 71F (22C)
Sedona
Pleasant, highs near 65F (18C)
Melbourne
Warm and settled, highs near 75F (24C)
Also good
56 places. Solid conditions, no major caveats.
Paris
Waking up, highs near 54F (12C), changeable
London
Cool and changeable, highs near 53F (12C)
Rome
Mild, highs near 62F (17C), changeable
Florence
Mild and changeable, highs near 61F (16C)
Venice
Cool, waking up, highs near 54F (12C)
Barcelona
Warming, highs near 63F (17C)
Lisbon
Spring arriving, highs near 64F (18C)
Amsterdam
Chilly, warming late, highs near 50F (10C)
Prague
Thawing, highs near 46F (8C)
Iceland
Cold, highs near 39F (4C), near-equal day and night by late month
Swiss Alps
Softening, highs near 41F (5C) low down, spring snow up high
Istanbul
Warming, highs near 55F (13C), changeable
Thailand
Heating up, highs near 93F (34C)
Seoul
Thawing, highs near 51F (11C), occasional yellow dust
Washington, DC
Changeable, highs near 56F (13C), can swing 30 degrees in a week
New York City
Unpredictable, highs near 50F (10C), wind off the rivers
Sicily
Spring arriving, highs near 63F (17C)
Madrid
Mild, highs near 61F (16C), changeable
The Algarve
Spring, highs near 66F (19C)
Porto
Mild, highs near 63F (17C), showers
Madeira
Mild, highs near 67F (19C)
Vienna
Cool, highs near 50F (10C), changeable
Budapest
Cool, highs near 52F (11C)
Bruges
Cool, highs near 52F (11C)
Athens
Warming, highs near 62F (17C), spring arriving
Malta
Pleasant, highs near 64F (18C), wildflowers
Canary Islands
Mild and sunny, highs near 72F (22C)
Mallorca
Pleasant, highs near 64F (18C), some rain
Taiwan
Mild, highs near 72F (22C), changeable
Osaka
Warming, highs near 57F (14C)
Okinawa
Warming, highs near 71F (22C)
Rajasthan
Warming, highs near 88F (31C)
Kerala
Hot and humid, highs near 91F (33C)
Goa
Hot, highs near 90F (32C), humidity rising
Shanghai
Cool, highs near 57F (14C), changeable
Borneo
Highs near 88F (31C), drier on most coasts
Kuala Lumpur
Highs near 92F (33C), afternoon storms increase
Uzbekistan
Cool and changeable, highs near 59F (15C), spring rain
Puerto Rico
Sunny and dry, highs near 84F (29C)
Aruba
Dry, highs near 86F (30C)
Turks and Caicos
Dry and warm, highs near 84F (29C)
Oaxaca
Dry and warm, highs near 86F (30C)
Medellin
Warm, highs near 82F (28C), rains starting late
Galapagos Islands
Hottest month, highs near 86F (30C), showers
Rio de Janeiro
Hot, highs near 88F (31C), storms easing
Atacama Desert
Warm, highs near 79F (26C), storms fading
San Francisco
Mild, highs near 62F (17C), showers tapering
Charleston
Warming, highs near 69F (21C)
Nashville
Mild, highs near 62F (17C), rain
San Diego
Mild, highs near 66F (19C)
Key West
Warm, highs near 79F (26C), dry
Los Angeles
Mild, highs near 70F (21C)
Banff
Brighter, highs near 38F (3C), still full winter up high
Grand Canyon
Cool, highs near 52F (11C), changeable
Zion
Mild, highs near 63F (17C), changeable
Napa Valley
Mild, highs near 66F (19C), showers
Quiet value
36 places. Fewer crowds and lower prices, with honest tradeoffs.
CroatiaSpring stirs and sights are uncrowded, but the sea is cold and much of the island infrastructure is still shut.
The Amalfi CoastHotels start reopening late in the month, often around Easter. Ferries may not have started yet.
Lake ComoVillas and hotels begin reopening in the second half of the month. Camellias bloom; check opening dates before you book.
Cinque TerrePlaces reopen toward Easter. Check which trails are open; spring rain can still close sections.
ProvenceVillages begin reopening. The mistral can make sunny days feel cold.
The French RivieraMimosa and early spring blooms. Quiet and good value; the sea is still cold.
BerlinStill wintry most years. Good for museums and a fair price.
MunichStrong-beer season in Lent at the Paulaner Nockherberg and other halls. Still wintry some years.
CopenhagenDays lengthen quickly, but spring is late this far north. Still a museum month.
StockholmLonger days but still winter on the ground. Cheap and quiet.
Norway's FjordsDays lengthen fast and ski season peaks in the mountains. Still winter on the high roads.
Scottish HighlandsDays lengthen quickly. Some seasonal businesses reopen around Easter.
EdinburghDays lengthen and spring flowers appear in the parks. Good value.
SalzburgSpring is late in the Alps, but Easter Festival concerts begin in some years.
KrakowSpring arriving late. Prices still low and Easter markets start in some years.
CreteThe island turns green and blooms. Many coastal hotels are still closed until around Easter, and the sea is cold.
SardiniaExcellent hiking weather in the interior and along the Gulf of Orosei. Most beach businesses remain closed.
KotorSpring arrives with fewer storms. Good for the fortress climb and bay drives; not yet swimming weather.
CappadociaWinter loosens its grip. Flights become more reliable and crowds are still light, though weather can swing quickly.
Hong KongArt Basel and the arts calendar peak, but haze and sea fog can hide the skyline for days at a time.
HokkaidoSpring skiing is good and prices drop. Drift ice usually lingers into early March on the Okhotsk coast, varies by year.
Angkor WatHeat builds fast. The spring equinox sunrise, when the sun rises over the central tower, draws a crowd around March 20 to 21.
BeijingWarming fast, still quiet. Spring winds can bring dust from the north on some days.
BermudaHumpback whales pass Bermuda on their northward migration, roughly March and April. Spring break brings some visitors.
ChicagoThe river turns green for the St. Patrick's Day parade weekend, the one big reason to come.
BostonThe South Boston St. Patrick's parade is the highlight. Late snow is possible.
SeattleCherry blossoms at the University of Washington quad in late March.
VancouverCherry blossoms begin and spring skiing is strong. Pack a rain shell and layers; this is a sleeper pick.
Quebec CityThe ice hotel usually runs into March and sugar shacks open for maple season, but slush takes over the streets as the month goes on.
MontrealSugar shack season begins outside the city. The streets are gray and wet as the snow melts.
YosemiteWaterfalls start to build and the Valley is uncrowded. High country still closed.
Glacier National ParkStill winter in the park. Plowing of Going-to-the-Sun Road typically begins in spring.
Great Smoky MountainsEarly wildflowers at low elevations late in the month. Spring break crowds begin in the gateway towns.
Victoria FallsFlow nearing its peak. Thunderous and dramatic, but expect to get soaked and for spray to block much of the view.
ZanzibarGood early month, increasingly stormy late month as the long rains approach. Discounts begin.
SeychellesWarm water and fading rains. A good value month as the monsoon winds die down.Tradeoffs
18 places. Real upsides and real downsides. Read the month page before booking.
SantoriniThe island starts waking: painting, repairs, first reopenings. Late March can be lovely, but many doors stay shut until Easter.
IrelandSt. Patrick's week floods Dublin and prices spike around it. The rest of the month is quiet and good value.
East Africa SafariStill strong early month around Ndutu; the long rains begin building late March and the season winds down.
BaliTransition month, and usually the month of Nyepi, when the whole island including the airport shuts for 24 hours. Plan around it, or plan to experience it.
FijiCyclone season winds down but is not over. Rain arrives in bursts; the reefs and rainforests are at their greenest.
HawaiiSpring break waves roll through all month. Whales linger, surf mellows late month, prices stay firm.
Riviera MayaPerfect weather colliding with spring break, especially in Cancun's hotel zone. Tulum and the quieter beach towns feel it far less.
PeruThe trail reopens and the landscape is at maximum green. Still gamble-y for trekking early in the month; improving fast by the end.
AzoresStill unsettled, but days lengthen and the first migrating whales can appear late in the month.
Lake BledThe in-between month: snow melting, trails muddy, and the gorge not yet open. Low prices are the main reason to come.
The BahamasSpring break turns Nassau and Paradise Island into a party. The Out Islands stay far calmer the same weeks.
AustinThe best weather of early spring meets SXSW and spring break. Wonderful city energy, peak hotel prices, and downtown gridlock mid month. The last week, after the festival, is a sweet spot.
NamibiaStill green and quiet. In a wet year the Etosha Pan can hold shallow water and draw flamingos.
Okavango DeltaRains ease and the flood pulse starts arriving in the northern Panhandle. Still green-season pricing.
MauritiusStill cyclone season and wet, particularly on the central plateau. Maha Shivaratri often falls around now.
Great Barrier ReefStill wet and in cyclone season, with stingers present. Rainforest waterfalls are at their fullest.
TahitiRain gradually eases. Good value, but the weather can still be unsettled.
UluruHeat easing slowly, but still hot enough to close some walks. Lower prices and fewer crowds.Think twice
7 places. Heat, storms, closures, or the year's worst crowds.
OrlandoSpring break season: wave after wave of school vacations from across the country. Lovely weather, brutal waits.
AlaskaThe Iditarod starts and aurora viewing around the equinox is excellent. Everything summer-related remains closed.
YellowstoneOversnow travel ends mid month and spring plowing begins. The park enters its awkward in-between; only the northern road serves regular cars.
MykonosPainting and repairs ahead of the season. Very few visitor businesses are open yet.
Luang PrabangBurning season smoke often blankets the valley. Poor air quality and hidden views.
AcadiaMud season. Loop roads are still closed and carriage roads may be closed to protect the surfaces during the thaw.
MadagascarStill cyclone season and heavy rains. Some eastern rainforest parks remain workable, but the west is largely inaccessible.The US in March
11 states are in their best window.
Arizona
Spring training baseball, desert wildflowers, and 75F (24C) hiking weather in Sedona and the Superstitions. March is Arizona's headline month.
Texas Hill Country
Bluebonnet season typically begins in late March along the roadsides between Austin and Fredericksburg, in the state's best weather window.
Southern Utah
Zion, Bryce, and Arches in mild spring temperatures before the summer heat and the biggest crowds. Watch for busy spring break weeks.
Great Smoky Mountains
The early wildflower season stirs at lower elevations, and March weekdays are some of the quietest of the year in America's most visited national park.
Think twice about: Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
March events worth flying for
Humpback Whale Season in Maui
Maui, Hawaii
Roughly December to April, with the peak from January to March
Holi in India
India nationwide, best known in Mathura, Vrindavan & Jaipur
Late February or March, on the full moon of the Hindu month of Phalguna; the date moves with the lunar calendar
Carnival in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The week before Ash Wednesday, usually in February and sometimes early March; the dates move with Easter
Mardi Gras in New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
Fat Tuesday falls in February or early March, moving with Easter; the parade season builds for weeks before, peaking in the final two weekends
Cherry Blossoms in Washington, DC
Washington, DC
Late March into early April, with peak bloom varying a week or two year to year
Cherry Blossom Season in Japan
Japan nationwide, sweeping south to north
Late March through April, moving south to north across the country
Tulip Season in the Netherlands
Lisse & Amsterdam, Netherlands
Mid March through mid May, with the fields at their boldest in mid-to-late April
Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race
Anchorage to Nome, Alaska
Starts on the first Saturday of March in Anchorage, with the winners reaching Nome roughly eight to ten days later
Holidays and breaks in March
A holiday week has its own crowds and prices. These guides rank the world for that exact week.
Where to go for Spring Break
The week the whole country goes somewhere warm at the same time. Pick the right warm, or pick a different week.
Where to go for Easter Week
The week half of Europe and all of Latin America goes on holiday. Go where Easter is the show, or go where it is not a holiday at all.
Where to go for Winter Break Ski Trips
Four holiday weeks, every family on the same lifts. Pick the resort by the snow and the calendar, not the brand name.
Hidden gems in their March window
68 places from our lists whose best window includes March.
America's Coolest Small Towns Nobody Talks About- Marfa, Marfa, West Texas. Mar-May · Oct-Nov
- Bisbee, Bisbee, Arizona. Mar-May · Oct-Nov
- Beaufort, Beaufort, South Carolina. Mar-May · Oct-Nov
The Best National Parks Nobody Visits- Congaree National Park, Hopkins, South Carolina. Oct-Nov · Mar-May
- Guadalupe Mountains National Park, West Texas. Oct-Nov · Mar-Apr
- Pinnacles National Park, Central California. Mar-May · Oct-Nov
Europe's Most Charming Small Towns- Sintra, Sintra, Portugal. Mar-May · Oct
- Ronda, Ronda, Spain. Mar-May · Oct
Japan Beyond Tokyo and Kyoto- Onomichi, Onomichi, Hiroshima. Mar-May · Oct-Nov
- Kinosaki Onsen, Kinosaki Onsen, Hyogo. Nov-Mar
- Hagi, Hagi, Yamaguchi. Mar-May · Oct-Nov
Asia's Most Underrated Places- George Town, Penang, Penang, Malaysia. Dec-Mar
- Hoi An, Hoi An, Vietnam. Feb-Apr
- Ella, Ella, Sri Lanka. Jan-Mar
- Taitung, Taitung, Taiwan. Oct-Apr
- Ipoh, Ipoh, Malaysia. Jan-Mar
Beach Towns That Are Still Cool- Isla Holbox, Isla Holbox, Mexico. Nov-May
- Caye Caulker, Caye Caulker, Belize. Dec-May
- Nosara, Nosara, Costa Rica. Dec-Apr
- Paternoster, Paternoster, South Africa. Nov-Mar · Aug-Sep
- Sayulita, Sayulita, Mexico. Nov-Apr
Skip the Crowds: Where to Go Instead- Valencia, Valencia, Spain. Mar-Jun · Sep-Oct
Whale Watching by Month: Where the Whales Are, All Year- Humpback season on Maui, Maui, Hawaii. Jan-Mar
- Gray whale lagoons of Baja, Laguna San Ignacio and Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Feb-Mar
- Samana Bay and the Silver Bank, Samana Peninsula, Dominican Republic. Jan-Mar
- Blue whales off Mirissa, Southern coast, Sri Lanka. Dec-Apr
Winter Sun Escapes: Where It Is Actually Warm in January- Canary Islands, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and Lanzarote, Spain. Nov-Mar
- Madeira, Funchal, Portugal. Nov-Mar
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Nov-Mar
- Oman, Muscat, Nizwa, and the Wahiba Sands. Nov-Mar
- Sri Lanka's south and west coast, Galle, Mirissa, and Bentota, Sri Lanka. Dec-Mar
The Best Scuba Diving by Season: Where to Dive, Month by Month- Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia. Oct-Apr
- Palau, Western Pacific, Republic of Palau. Nov-Apr
- Tubbataha Reefs, Sulu Sea, Philippines. Mar-Jun
- Maldives, Ari and North Male Atolls, Maldives. Jan-Apr
- Red Sea wrecks and reefs, Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada, Egypt. Mar-May · Sep-Nov
The Best Ski Destinations by Month: Where the Snow Is Best, and When- Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia, Canada. Jan-Mar
- Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise, and Norquay, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. Feb-Mar
- Little Cottonwood and Park City, Wasatch Range, Utah. Jan-Mar
- Colorado's big resorts, Vail, Aspen Snowmass, and Breckenridge, Colorado. Feb-Mar
- Jackson Hole, Teton Village, Wyoming. Jan-Mar
Safari Timing Guide: When to Go, Park by Park- Serengeti calving season, Ndutu and the southern Serengeti, Tanzania. Jan-Mar
- Central Kalahari green season, Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana. Dec-Apr
The Best Stargazing Destinations, and When the Skies Are Clearest- Wadi Rum, Southern Jordan. Mar-May · Sep-Nov
- Big Bend National Park, West Texas. Mar-May · Oct-Nov
- Death Valley National Park, California and Nevada. Oct-Apr
- Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve, Iveragh Peninsula, County Kerry, Ireland. Oct-Mar
- Finnish Lapland, Inari and Saariselka, Finland. Sep-Mar
Wildflower Superblooms and Flower Seasons: Where and When to Go- Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California. Feb-Mar
- Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, Lancaster, California. Mar-Apr
- Carrizo Plain National Monument, San Luis Obispo County, California. Mar-Apr
- Texas Hill Country bluebonnets, Fredericksburg, Ennis, and the Hill Country, Texas. Mar-Apr
Monsoon-Safe Asia: Where to Go From June to September- Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Mar-Sep
Where March works against you
- Northern Thailand. Burning season: agricultural fires around Chiang Mai and the north typically push air quality to its worst from roughly February into April. The islands are a better Thailand play this month.
- Cancun and spring break Florida. March is peak US spring break. Beaches, flights, and hotel rates across Cancun, Miami, and the Florida coasts surge with the college crowd. Go elsewhere or go in April.
- The plains of India. The heat is building fast: Delhi, Agra, and Rajasthan push into the 90s F (mid 30s C) by late March, and it only gets worse from here until the monsoon.
- Yellowstone by car. Still winter at altitude, with most park roads closed to regular vehicles until spring plowing, which typically runs from late April into May.
March travel, quick answers
Where is hot in March?
The Riviera Maya, the Caribbean, Costa Rica, and Thailand's islands are reliably hot and dry. Dubai and Egypt run warm without summer's extremes, and the southern hemisphere is still warm in Cape Town and Sydney.
Where should I avoid in March?
Northern Thailand during burning season, Cancun and Florida during peak spring break, and the Indian plains as the pre-monsoon heat builds. Yellowstone's roads remain closed to cars.
When exactly do the cherry blossoms bloom?
It varies year to year. Tokyo and Kyoto typically begin in late March with peak bloom often in early April, and Washington, DC usually peaks from late March into early April. Build a trip with a few flexible days rather than betting on one date.
Is March a good time for Europe?
It is a sleeper. Paris, Rome, and Barcelona are waking up with early spring weather, soft prices, and short lines, though you should pack for changeable days. It is one of the best value windows before Easter crowds arrive.
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