Top Destinations to Visit in March

By: Ambika Verma|Last Updated: Mon, 25 Feb 2019

Planning to travel in March, but are still struggling to choose your next destination. We’re here to save you endless hours of going through travel magazines and asking people for suggestions that will just further confuse you. Here is our March travel guide with plenty of simple options of places to visit, experiences to enjoy, and amazing weather to discover around the world.

With spring looming in the northern hemisphere, the frost is beginning to thaw in Europe, while it is starting to warm up in the south including the South American continent. March is also a terrific month to head to parts of Asia when the heat won’t be as harsh as in peak summer and year-round destinations like the US, Qatar and Tanzania make for popular travel choices. Whether you’re the type to enjoy winter sports in the snowy peaks, lazing at the beach, festive celebrations in Rio or India, safari time in Tanzania, or just admiring the northern lights. Here is your comprehensive guide for where to travel in March.


Japan


The onset on spring in Japan brings with it blossoming plum and cherry tree that burst into flower early in the month carpeting their surrounding in a wash of bright colour. Cherry blossoms, or Sakura as they are called in Japanese, start blooming across the country including in Tokyo and Kyoto around this time to herald the end of winter.
This year it is predicted that the peak of sakura season in Kyoto will take place during the last week of March. Be sure to take a walk along the Philosopher’s Path river, while the cherry blossoms are blooming, to witness a river of flowers as the surface of the water is covered with fallen blooms. The city itself is also submerged in a layer of flowering trees that make for a picture perfect vacation thanks to the surfeit of umeor plum blossoms there. Go savour the sights of 2,000 such trees at the Kitano-Tenmangu Shrine, or if you wish to explore a less crowded destination head to the secret garden, Shosei-en, which is a fairly short distance from the main train station in the heart of the town.
Also while the weather in March is significantly warmer and more spring-like than February, temperatures can vary across the country. If you would like to take out some time for Skiing and snowboarding, you should visit the resorts in the hills. You could also take a dip in one of popular hot springs that are present all over Japan after you have visited Kyoto and Tokyo.


Spain


Madrid, Valencia and the Canary Islands are all fantastic destinations to visit on your trip to Spain in March. The wintery weather loosens it grip on the country in March with the capital, Madrid’s, expansive parks bursting into bloom and the locals starting to venture out onto the streets. Temperatures stay at a balmy 20ºC during this month which means that you can explore Madrid’s amazing galleries, popular sights without fear of drowning in the summer that will soon envelope the city. It is the perfect time to try the traditional tapas, which are samplers of Spanish cuisine while sipping caipirinhas and dancing till the dawn.
Further along Spain’s eastern coast, lies the port city of Valencia, where the Las Fallas festival is celebrated in March. Every year from 15th to 19th March, the city celebrates spring with a five-day celebration that revolves around the creation of gigantic figurines, usually made of papier-mâché, cardboard, Styrofoam, or wood. These figurines known as ninots, usually portray people and things in popular culture and news and can take up to a year to make. At the end of the fifth day, they are paraded through the city, and then set ablaze in a tremendous bonfire alongside a brilliant fireworks show. The city is also famous for its avant-garde architecture along with spectacular nightlife and expansive shopping arenas.
Those looking for some warm beaches should head to the Canary Island a set of seven islands that make up the archipelago. These islands offer wonderful weather and are the ideal destinations for a host of adventure sports and other outdoor activities. The islands have four national parks perfect for hiking and rock climbing through an exciting volcanic landscape, while offshore you can choose to visit one of the over 60 dive sites or three marine reserves present. All across Spain you will find fantastic food, excellent shopping opportunities and a host of interesting places to explore.


Brazil


Your first stop at Brazil in March has to be Rio de Janeiro, a city surrounded by lush rainforests, breathtaking mountain ranges, and world-famous beaches. While this bustling city has much to offer any time of year, March is when the city hosts the iconic Rio Carnival. This year the celebrations will take place from 1st to 9th March and while this pre-Lent Carnival is hosted in many countries Rio de Janeiro puts up an extravaganza that arguably makes for the most popular party among them all with 2 million people joining the city to take part in the parade through the city’s streets. Dating back to 1723, over time the carnival has turned into a week-long extravaganza of dancing, feasting, music and much more. All non-parade businesses shut down as the city revels in a week-long celebration with street parties, costume balls, parades, traditional samba dances, and merriment. You should take out some time to visit the world-famous Christ the Redeemer statue, and Rio’s beautiful beaches on your trip to Brazil.
The beaches are also lovely in March, sunny and with mostly clear skies, but they can get crowded, especially beaches such as Copacabana. You can also head to the Amazon areas where small Varzeas occur during this time. These are floodplains that become small rivers that travel twisting through the trees. You can go kayaking through them or set out on safaris to see the pink river dolphins and stunningly colourful birds.

 

Norway

Travelers to Norway in this time will catch the first glimpse of spring coming, and longer daylight hours setting in.March is a fantastic month to visit the uncrowded slopes for some ski action or explore cities, enjoy festivals and catch the Northern Lights before they cease during the summer, only to reappear in October.
If you desire to witness the mystical, almost mythical phenomenon that are the Northern Lights, head to the Arctic region to experience the Aurora Borealis in all their glory.Tromso, often referred to as ‘Paris of the North’ is ideally situated to witness this glorious sight right now. Though they can be quite unpredictable, the chances of spotting them tends to increase around the spring equinox in March. The region is also a terrific base for activities like dog and reindeer sledding, snorkeling with whales, horseback riding, and experiencing Sami culture.
Do spend a few days in Oslo, as a visit to the Norwegian capital offers you a taste of their sophisticated culture, Nordic cuisine and distinctive sights. Other cultural cities worth considering for your March trip to Noway are Trondheim in central Norway, and the natural, architectural gems of Bergen and Ålesund, which offer easy access to stunning fjords.
This time still offers winter sports and festivals in the mountainous regions, specially in the popular region between Oslo and Bergen, as well as at Lillehammer, which lies north of Oslo. For more peaceful snowy surroundings you can choose to visit some smaller towns along the western fjords.

 

India


March is one of the best times to visit India for warm, dry and sunny weather across most of the country. During this time, the north offers clear blue skies and less intense weather in the Southern regions, the hills are still snowed over in some areas. However one of the most popular reasons for visiting India in March is to take part in and witness the festival of Holi. This colourful paint-throwing event is great fun as everyone celebrates the victory of good over evil. The festival of colors as it is so aptly named means that cities across the country including the capital, Delhi, erupts into a riot of rainbow powders, as people throw colours at each and Holi parties pop up all across with DJ’s, street food, and plenty of merriment. Different regions in the country also have their own twist to the celebrating from playing with flowers to folk performance, parades, burning fireworks and effigies of the evil demoness who was defeated on Holi. If you are staying in the capital, do explore the city’s dichotomies, with grand temples set amid dusty bazaars dating back centuries that are close to modern hubs where you will find galleries, fashionable boutiques, happening bars and chic cafés.


Ireland


Travelling to Ireland in March makes for an unforgettable experience if you are there for St. Patrick’s Day. The country comes to life to celebrate the festival that has become synonymous with Irish culture, especially the capital Dublin. Here 14th March marks the beginning of the five-day festival annual festival culminating in the St. Patrick’s Day parade, a decidedly rambunctious event complete with costumes, overflowing pints, and packed pubs where people celebrate Irish culture. On Sunday, March 17, central Dublin’s Temple Bar neighborhood is where all the action takes place. The day celebrates the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick who is known for bringing Christianity to the country. On the day people celebrate by partying, showcasing Irish culture, and many participate in ‘wearing the Green’ or using a Shamrock pingiving raise to claims that everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. While you’re in town, pay homage to Irish tradition by visiting the Jameson Distillery or the Guinness Storehouse, where visitors learn how to pour a proper pint and enjoy the 360-degree city view from its Gravity Bar. You should also visit the Dublin Zoo, Ashtown Castle, and the Irish president’s residence and if you have enough time to explore the rest of the country than Donegal’s wild beaches, the stunning Cliffs of Moher, the Killarney National Park, the Ring of Kerry, the elemental, towering sea crag of Kerry’s Skellig Michael and the towns along the way should be on your itinerary

 

Tanzania

People generally don’t realize that Tanzania is a great place to visit pretty much a year-round, but in March the season additionally offers exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities in both the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater. The grazing is down to stubble all across southern Serengeti, and massive herds of wildebeest accompanied by thousands of month-old calves begin their journey west and north in search of new pastures. Raising giant clouds of dust as they move stoically across the dry land, these herds are stalked by watchful lions, cheetahs and spotted hyenas who snag any stragglers that fall behind when being chased. March is one of the quietest months for this Big 5 hot-spot and is a great time to experience the Migration with uncrowded game viewing. Combined with a visit to the the world's largest unbroken caldera, the Ngorongoro Crater, a trip to Tanzania in March delivers an unbeatable wildlife experience.
At this time of the year, you can enjoy some really great weather, as the humidity has dropped, and the rainy season won’t begin for another month or so. And while very few visit this area, those who do are rewarded with sightings of lions, wildebeests, zebras, crocodiles, gazelles, buffalos, and many more wild animals.

 

Qatar

The capital of Qatar is a highly urbanised amalgamation of the modern and eclectic, with the city boasting of numerous glass and chrome skyscrapers and towers that offer high-end dining and shopping, as well as a few colourful souqs and adventurous excursions. The Pearl-Qatar, a manmade island located off the West Bay coast that’s often referred to as the Arabian Riviera is one of the sights that is definitive of Qatar's modern architecture. March is the transition month from cool to hot weather making it the ideal time to visit with temperatures that are warm during the day and evenings which are pleasantly cool. If your visiting between 15th to 25th March, it is worth attending the Qatar International Food Festival that will take place during this time.
Travelers can enjoy the comforts of the city and get an experience of the desert by taking day tours outside the city, which offer activities such as sandboarding, camel rides, and exploring the Ras Abrouq Rock Formations,” he adds.
One of Qatar's most distinctive feature is the wide area of shimmering sand dunes surrounding an inlet of water from the Persian Gulf that lies in southern Qatar alongside the border with Saudi Arabia. Called Khor al-Adaid, this area is a popular spot for jeep safaris and day trips from Doha.

 

USA

The nation’s capital, Washington DC is a popular tourist destination in March, with its many museums, monuments and points of interest offering a deep insight into the history of the American nation. The pleasant weather in March makes it the perfect time to see the Sights, from visiting Capitol Hill to the Library of Congress, tours of the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the Jefferson Memorial; There is a lot to explore in Washington. Make time to visit some of the 21 Smithsonian Museums and the National Zoo before witnessing the Changing of the Guard at the Arlington National Cemetery. March is also the time the annual Cherry Blossom Festival is hosted is the city with hundreds of blooming cherry trees framing the Nation’s most famous monuments from late March through early April.

Apart from Washington DC, “The Sunshine State” of Florida is our favourite pick for March with 1,350 miles of sandy beaches along with theme parks making for a fantastic vacation.
Visiting Orlando in spring ensures superb weather and thin crowds at the theme parks as March is the begging of tourist season for Orlando. The city is also hosting the exciting Universal Orlando Resort's Mardi Gras celebration during this time which is a fun event to attend.
With all this, we find it difficult to resist Orlando, whose theme parks and hotels guarantee a fun vacation.

 

We hope our list of options for the perfect vacation in March have solved your holiday quandary and helped you find the destination you were searching for.