Vibrant wildflowers and lively festivals make March a delightful time to visit many parts of the world. Keep in mind when Easter falls—March 27 this year—because the holiday can be an attraction or a distraction, depending on the destination and your disposition.
London, England
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.— Madelyn Byrne Willems, Trusted Travel Expert for London Apartments
Read Madelyn’s Insider’s Guide to London Vacation Rentals, and contact her to get the best possible trip.
Lake Como, Italy
On Lake Como, March is when the camellias, azaleas, and rhododendrons bloom, giving visitors an infusion of spring color. It’s also the “pre-season” in terms of tourists, so there are good rates for rental villas. The weather is generally mild, but if there’s a chilly day, just repair to the fabulous spa at Casta Diva Resort.—Mara Solomon, Trusted Travel Expert for Italy Villa Vacations
Read Mara’s Insider’s Guide to Italy Villa Vacations, and contact her to get the best possible trip.
Andalusia, Spain
By late March in Granada and the rest of Andalusia (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. Keep in mind that during Holy Week, Seville is full of people, with processions day and night.—Virginia Irurita, Trusted Travel Expert for Spain
Read Virginia’s Insider’s Guide to Andalusia’s Cities and Seasides, contact her to get the best possible trip.
Seville, Spain
Being in Spain for both Easter and St. Joseph’s Day (which fall eight days apart in 2016) will make for quite the memorable trip, as long as you don’t mind crowds. Seville’s Easter Week fiestas—a combination of religious devotion, music, and color—date back to the 16th century. St. Joseph’s Day is best witnessed in Valencia, where towering wooden figures are set ablaze in a celebration known as the Falles. Both events are truly indicative of Old Spain.—Mary Vaira, Trusted Travel Expert for Spain Villa Vacations
Read Mary’s Insider’s Guide to Spain Villa Vacations, and contact her to get the best possible trip.
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. (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.—Sanjay Saxena, Trusted Travel Expert for India
Read Sanjay’s Insider’s Guide to Agra and the Taj Mahal, and contact him to get the best possible trip.
Morocco
March means colorful wildflowers in the High Atlas and in the valleys of the desert south; you might even see snow on the Atlas Mountains, just above the palm groves of Marrakech. The weather is ideal for hiking. Plus, there’s much to do culturally speaking: The Marrakech Biennale is in full swing through all of March, and the Festival of Andalusian Music runs from March 5–12; the latter is very much under the radar, and many of the concerts are held in small, atmospheric palaces.—Joel Zack, Trusted Travel Expert for Morocco
Read Joel’s Insider’s Guide to Marrakech and the Atlas Mountains, and contact him to get the best possible trip.
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 cancelled 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.—Julian Harrison, Trusted Travel Expert for Southern Africa Safaris
Read Julian’s Insider’s Guide to Cape Town and Winelands, and contact him to get the best possible trip.
Asia Cruises
March is one of the driest months for cruises hitting a range of ports in Asia. In Myanmar, while it gets hot in the middle of the day, temps are comfortable first thing in the morning and late in the afternoon, and there are a number of festivals in Myanmar in March. In Japan, you will experience the famed cherry blossoms in full bloom. And there are signs of spring in Southern China—in Hong Kong, Macau, Hainan, and Yunnan. Northern China can be chilly, but the Great Wall is gorgeous with a dusting of snow.—Mary Jean Tully, Trusted Travel Expert for Ocean and River Cruises
Read Mary Jean’s Insider’s Guide to Asia Cruises, and contact her to get the best possible trip.
China
March is one of my two favorite months to travel in China (October being the other one). It’s the tail end of the low season, so prices are relatively low, and because there are no public holidays, hordes of domestic Chinese travelers are few. Plus, since Beijing’s coal heat is turned off in March, the city’s air is cleaner.—Mei Zhang, Trusted Travel Expert for China
Read Mei’s Insider’s Guides to Beijing and to China’s Big Cities and Small Villages, and contact her to get the best possible trip.
Vietnam
Some places are ideal to visit at a certain time because of local festivals that you can witness. March is perfect in Vietnam for exactly the opposite reason: Tet (Vietnamese New Year) brings the entire country to a halt in February, but by March everything is back up and running. March is also the best overall option for weather across the length of the country, as it’s not too hot and generally there isn’t much rain.— Andrea Ross, Trusted Travel Expert for Southeast Asia
