18 of the best places to go on holiday in March - Times Travel - The Times
The solar switchover of the equinox on or around March 20 means the coming of longer days in the north (and shorter ones in the southern hemisphere), but that's one constant in a month where the choice of holiday destinations can be swayed by several variables. An earlier Easter can bring busier travel periods forward into March, while plans for a coat-free city break might be scuppered if winter lingers long in Europe. These 18 holiday picks for March should cover all possibilities, from sun-sure destinations to places where snow is still prized, and plenty of spots that put you first in line to see springtime changes.
Main photo: The famous yellow Tram 28 in the Alfama district of Lisbon, Portugal (Alamy)
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1. Windward Islands, Caribbean
Why go in March? For the driest month to go tropical island-hopping
For anyone who absolutely doesn't want it to rain on their Caribbean holiday, March is the ideal time of year for a jaunt to any of the Windward Islands, in the southeast of that luscious sea. With short island-hopping flights on top of cruises, you don't have to pick just one. But the choice consists of postcard-perfect St Lucia, the spice isle of Grenada, the mini archipelago of St Vincent and the Grenadines, nature-rich Dominica and the odd one out, Martinique — a French overseas department. St Lucia is the most central, and in its twin peaks of the Pitons, has the islands' most enchanting sight.
Where to stay Ti Kaye Resort & Spa has a secluded location on St Lucia's west coast, not far from the Pitons, with Creole-inspired cottages clustered on a hillside overlooking Anse Cochon beach.
Which is the best Caribbean island?
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2. Tokyo, Japan
Why go in March? For cherry blossom parties
It's the regrettably brief window that cherry blossoms are in full splendour that makes them so treasured in Japan. As lovely as it is to view blossoms in the historic surrounds of Kyoto or rural areas such as Mount Yoshino, this is also peak time for hotels getting booked out. Instead, why not enjoy the contrasts of Tokyo, with splashes of cherry-pink reflected in the Imperial Palace moat and glass-fronted office buildings, as everyone heads out for hanami (blossom-viewing) parties. In recent years, full flowering has occurred in the last or second-last week of March in Tokyo, slightly earlier than in Kyoto.
Where to stay The Tokyo Station Hotel has a classical European elegance thanks to its location in the original 1914 central station building, with the avenue in front leading straight to the outer gardens of the Imperial Palace.
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3. Lisbon, Portugal
Why go in March? For a capital city with plenty of heart
If you're after a city break this month, Lisbon is probably your best bet for warmth among the bigger European capitals, with a daily average of around 15C. The nearby Atlantic Ocean that keeps winters here mild can just as well cause fog to roll in, but somehow that only adds to the atmosphere, especially among the steep, cobbled streets of the Alfama district. Still, days are more likely than not to be sunny, and there won't yet be so many visitors to the restaurants and fado bars of Bairro Alto, or the great monuments to Portuguese exploration by the Belém waterside.
Where to stay The appealingly ramshackle streets of Alfama aren't the place you'd expect to find one of the city's most luxurious hotels, but that's just what Santiago de Alfama is — with river views to match.
Best things to do in Lisbon
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4. Mirissa, Sri Lanka
Why go in March? For mighty mammals on and off an Indian Ocean jewel
March is the last month of the winter dry season in the popular southwest of Sri Lanka, and as well as being a good time generally for a mix of beach holiday, cultural discoveries and wildlife-spotting in national parks, the first half of the month is also peak time for catching the blue whale migration off the south-coast beach town of Mirissa. Other whale species have a longer season here, and if you head on east to Yala National Park, you'll encounter elephants and what is likely to be the world's largest concentration of leopards.
Where to stay Four-poster beds and traditional Sri Lankan art give a heritage touch to Morning Star, a restful place despite its location on Mirissa's coast road, and with a beach just a short stroll away.
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5. Mendoza, Argentina
Why go in March? For wine harvests in the foothills of the Andes
The Andes are not just a fantastic backdrop to the vineyards of Mendoza — they are responsible for the combination of a dry climate and plentiful meltwater for irrigation that has put malbecs and other Argentine wines on the map. The fortnight straddling February and March brings the Vendimia: not just a harvest festival but more like a dazzling carnival in the leafy city. March is also a beautiful time in many other parts of this vast country, with summer drawing to a close in Buenos Aires, and autumn colours taking hold in the Patagonian Lake District.
Where to stay Just outside Mendoza on the wine route south, Finca Adalgisa is a small hotel on a family wine estate going back three generations, with the asado (barbecue) a definite highlight.
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6. Chamonix, France
Why go in March? For world-class spring skiing in the shadow of Mont Blanc
Though ski season reaches into late April or even May in some high-up resorts like Val Thorens, March is the last full month of snow across the French Alps. Apart from the first week, it's also not usually holiday time for French schools, so demand should be less than in February. Resorts range from traditional Alpine villages to purpose-built modern ski stations, but none bar Chamonix can boast of the highest mountain in the Alps. The valley at the foot of Mont Blanc has several linked resorts besides Chamonix proper, including Argentière and Vallorcine by the Swiss border.
Where to stay The four-star Chalet-Hotel Hermitage in Chamonix village is everything you'd want from an Alpine hotel, with cosy wood-and-stone interiors and a log fire in the lounge.
Best ski resorts in Europe
7. Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
Why go in March? For mesmerising landscapes under clear skies
The varied regions of Vietnam hit their high note at different times of year, but March happens to be dry season at all points of the country's slender S-curve, and is just when Ha Long Bay is in its sweet spot between the end of winter haze and the start of spring rains. It's a popular time to see Vietnam's best-loved landscape, but there are enough limestone islands dotted around the bay for everyone to share. It's a demanding day trip from Hanoi; best to stay in the capital to enjoy its own heritage charms and take an overnight cruise in the bay.
Where to stay Hanoi E Central Hotel is a small but well-turned-out base for city exploration, occupying a townhouse from the French colonial era a short distance from Hoan Kiem Lake.
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8. Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Why go in March? For Mayan ruins and beach escapes before the rains arrive
At the Mayan city of Chichen Itza, the days around the March and September equinoxes see a curious effect at the Temple of Kukulcán, with the pyramid's steps appearing to cast a snake-like shadow that ends at a carved stone serpent's head. Tricks of ancient astronomy aside, it's late in the dry season here and in Mexico generally — though for the beaches around Cancun, try to avoid US spring break. A hotel on site at Chichen Itza gets you to the ticket gate earlier, but the colonial-era city of Valladolid also makes a great central base, on the way to other Maya cities such as beachside Tulum and less-visited Ek' Balam.
Where to stay The colonnades and courtyard garden of Hotel Posada San Juan are a great place to cool off in Valladolid, 30 minutes by road from Chichen Itza.
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9. Valencia, Spain
Why go in March? For a cathartic end to winter in Spain's third-largest city
The Spanish festival calendar barely lets up: between Carnival season (February or early March) and the parades of Holy Week (late March or April), the citizens of Valencia make their own fiery contribution with Fallas, or Falles in Valencian Catalan. Daily barrages of firecrackers sound out from March 1 up to the feast of St Joseph on the 19th, but it's the last five days that see the city taken over by giant sculptures, many satirising recent events, all of which are ceremonially burnt at the end. With temperatures mainly in the mid-teens, it's a mild if not especially quiet time for a city break in this trove of historic and modern architecture, and home of paella.
Where to stay On the edge of Valencia's historic centre, the Vincci Lys Hotel allows a visual reset from the festival outside, with an eclectic mix of decorative styles smoothed through with muted tones.
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10. Washington DC, US
Why go in March? For America's own National Cherry Blossom Festival
Whether or not the politics is boiling over, March in the US capital is usually mild, unlike the summer months in this notoriously humid city. The end of the month is peak season, but with good reason: clouds of pink cherry blossoms reflected in the Tidal Basin. As in Japan, which first gifted the trees more than a century ago, the timing can be unpredictable — the best flowering may even be in early April. But coming to Washington DC to find bare branches is no disaster when you have one of the world's greatest concentrations of museums and fine monuments at the heart of it all.
Where to stay It's hard to beat the sense of occasion at Riggs Washington DC: housed in a former art deco-era bank, between the White House and Capitol, and on the same block as Ford's Theatre, of Lincoln notoriety.
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11. Auckland, New Zealand
Why go in March? For culture and outdoor beauty on lingering summer days
In March, New Zealand begins the switch from late summer to autumn. It's usually a busy time for the wine harvest on the North and South Islands, but otherwise quieter than in December and January, even though temperatures are down only slightly from their summer highs. The Auckland Arts Festival takes up most of the month in the nation's biggest city, while the capital Wellington sees the tail end of the New Zealand Fringe Festival. It's a fabulous time for hiking and though March may be a bit early for autumn colour, remember that the country's native tree species are in any case evergreen.
Where to stay Hotel DeBrett is a 25-room boutique hotel in the heart of Auckland, whose unassuming heritage exterior amid the high-rises belies the colourful 1960s and art deco touches within.
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12. Sicily, Italy
Why go in March? For a sweet start to spring under the almond trees
Warmer days begin to work their way up the boot of Italy this month, but it's the island of Sicily that signals early spring most beautifully, as almond trees come into flower. Head to the city of Agrigento and its proud ancient Greek temples in the first week of March for the Festa del Mandorlo in Fiore, with dances and delicacies celebrating the almond blossoms. Across Sicily it should be sunny and fresh, with average temperatures in the mid-teens: a great time to visit ahead of the tourist curve, although some hotels may not be open before Easter.
Where to stay Foresteria Baglio della Luna is a traditional Sicilian fortified farm from medieval times turned country hotel, between Agrigento and the Mediterranean, overlooking the Valley of the Temples.
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13. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Why go in March? For shoulder season in the islands that inspired Darwin
There's no bad time to visit the Galapagos: their equatorial position keeps temperatures from big swings, and even the December–May wet season is marked more by short showers than constant downpours. In this naturalist's paradise, there's always some astonishing animal behaviour going on. Timing then might involve human considerations, in avoiding popular holiday periods in December–January and July–August (cruise passengers note: seas can be choppy then). March is a perfect time to see the islands in bloom, with marine iguanas nesting on Fernandina and male frigatebirds displaying their red throats.
Where to stay Rooms come with tropical and beachcomber vibes at La Casa de Marita, as well as a choice beachfront spot in Puerto Villamil — the only town on Isabela, the largest of the islands.
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14. Jebel Akhdar, Oman
Why go in March? For perfumed breezes in some of the Middle East's highest mountains
Though the term now includes the coast around the capital Muscat, "Oman" once referred only to the interior, between the endless sand dunes of the Empty Quarter and the Al-Hajar Mountains, which reach up almost 3,000 metres at Jebel Akhdar. March is a fine time to be by the Arabian Sea, but it's worth coming inland too, to see the circular fort and livestock market in the old capital Nizwa, mudbrick villages amid date plantations, and the great canyons around Jebel Akhdar, whose mountain communities are now beginning to harvest their prized damask roses.
Where to stay Set on a promontory jutting out into a canyon, Alila Jabal Akhdar promises stirring views from its cluster of luxury suites, designed on the outside like a stone-built village.
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15. Svalbard, Norway
Why go in March? For adventures in sun and snow on Arctic islands
Longyearbyen is the world's northernmost settlement that visitors can get to (relatively) easily and on March 8 it welcomes the sun back. Norway's Arctic archipelago of Svalbard actually leaves polar night behind in February, it's just that the mountain walls flanking its main town continue to block the low sun. March temperatures can be unpredictable, but for those who want to try winter activities in single rather than double digits below zero, this is usually a great month for dog-sledding, snowmobiling and (freeze permitting) ice cave tours, as daylight rapidly conquers the skies.
Where to stay You can still have full-service comforts at latitude 78 north, as shown by Funken Lodge — on a hillside overlooking Longyearbyen's valley, with a 300-strong wine list in the restaurant.
Best things to do in Norway
16. Paphos, Cyprus
Why go in March? For divine walks in the eastern Mediterranean
If you're looking to emulate the goddess Aphrodite, said to have been born in the waves along the coast near Paphos, you're better off visiting later in spring for less chilly bathing. But if your priority in Cyprus is touring the remains of ancient temples and taking hikes in the mountains with wildflowers bursting forth all around, then come in March, when seaside temperatures are mostly in the high teens, and the sun is a friend to outdoor activities. Not all hotels will be open yet, but you'll certainly be ahead of the crowds. West of the beach resort-cum-heritage site of Paphos lies the Akamas Peninsula, a national park with glorious hikes — as far away from Ayia Napa as you can get on the island.
Where to stay The first five-star hotel in Paphos when it opened in 1985, Annabelle is still a winner, with its large seaside gardens, through which weave a series of palm-shaded pools.
Best hotels in Cyprus
17. Sydney, Australia
Why go in March? For an Indian summer on the Pacific Ocean
Summer takes its slow leave from Sydney across the month — though visitors from more sun-deprived climes aren't likely to feel short-changed. With sea temperatures still at max, there are many days yet for splashing about on the city's legendary beaches. School holidays don't start until early April, so it's not a crowded time, with the possible exception of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, right at the start of March. In even-numbered years, the three-month long Biennale of Sydney arts festival kicks off in mid-March. More moderate sun makes this an ideal time for activities low on shade — time to try the Sydney Harbour Bridge climb? — and if you're using Sydney as a gateway to the rest of Australia, while the tropical far north of the country is still in rainy season, you're good to go everywhere else.
Where to stay Mrs Banks Boutique Hotel was once indeed a bank. The 1914 building has suavely styled rooms in the Paddington neighbourhood, near Centennial Park and Sydney Cricket Ground.
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Best things to do in Sydney
18. Atlantic Coast, The Gambia
Why go in March? For reliably sunny days in mainland Africa's smallest nation
When a continued cold spell drives you to seek an instant blast of heat in March, consider the western end of the African continent — rain is a rarity in March, unlike in much of eastern and central Africa. The Gambia is one of the world's oddest-shaped countries, thanks to colonial borders: essentially 200 miles of languid riverbanks ending in a short but beach-blessed stretch of Atlantic shore. Many visitors never leave the resorts that cluster here, between Bakau and Kololi, but venture just a short distance inland and you'll find forest reserves and mangroves visited by a fabulous variety of migratory birds.
Where to stay A new addition to Kotu Beach in 2019, the adults-only Kalimba Beach Resort follows a contemporary African design, and has a series of long pools zigzagging through the complex.
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