March is the most underrated travel month in the calendar. The northern hemisphere is shedding winter; the southern hemisphere is shedding summer; and the resulting in-between weather suits a surprising number of destinations. Japan’s cherry blossoms begin in the south, India is in its last cool-and-dry window before the heat, and southern Europe is on the cusp of high season without the crowds.
Japan — The First Cherry Blossom of the Year
| Trip types | City break · Culture · Food & drink · Romance |
| Weather | 8°C to 18°C (46°F to 64°F) in central Japan |
| Best for | Photographers, couples, culture and food travelers |
| Getting there | US ~10–11h direct from the West Coast; Europe ~13–14h |
Why go: Sakura season typically peaks in late March in Kyushu and Tokyo and rolls into Kyoto by late March to early April. It’s the most photographed month of Japan’s year — and the most magical if you time it right.
Good to know: It’s also when hotels charge their highest rates: Kyoto’s traditional ryokans book 9–12 months ahead for blossom week, and the Japan Meteorological Agency’s sakura forecasts (updated weekly from February) are worth tracking before you commit.
What’s new & trending: Kyoto’s recently opened Capella Kyoto, a Kengo Kuma design in the Miyagawa-chō geisha district, is the headline opening; in Tokyo, Janu (Aman’s sister brand) anchors the new Azabudai Hills quarter.
Eat & drink: Time a Kyoto kaiseki dinner to the bloom, and in Tokyo head to Bar Benfiddich, where the bartender forages and distills his own botanicals.
Plan it: 1–3 days — a Tokyo blossom-and-food long weekend (Meguro River, teamLab, a Benfiddich nightcap). A week — add Kyoto and a night in a ryokan.
Recommended hotel in Kyoto: HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO (5-star, opposite Nijo-jo Castle)
Recommended hotel in Tokyo: Janu Tokyo (5-star, Aman’s sister brand)
India — Rajasthan’s Last Cool Month, and Holi
| Trip types | Festival · Culture · City & palace stays · Photography |
| Weather | 18°C to 32°C (64°F to 90°F) — warm but dry |
| Best for | Culture travelers, festival-goers, photographers |
| Getting there | US via a Gulf or European hub; Europe ~8–9h direct to Delhi |
Why go: March is the last truly comfortable month in Rajasthan before the punishing summer heat. Holi, the festival of colors, turns the streets of every Rajasthani city into a riot of pigment for 24 hours.
Good to know: Udaipur was named Condé Nast Traveler’s #1 trending destination in Europe or Asia for 2026, riding a Bond-film effect and a wave of new luxury openings.
What’s new & trending: New palace-hotel restorations keep arriving across the state, but the Taj Lake Palace, floating in the middle of Lake Pichola, remains the defining stay.
Eat & drink: Eat your way through Jaipur’s bazaars by day; by night, the palace-hotel dining rooms (and their rooftop bars over the old cities) are the move.
Plan it: 1–3 days — Udaipur for Holi and the lake palaces. A week — the classic Jaipur–Jodhpur–Udaipur triangle.
Recommended hotel in Udaipur: Taj Lake Palace (5-star, in the middle of Lake Pichola)
Recommended hotel in Jaipur: Rambagh Palace (5-star, a Maharaja’s palace from 1835)
Saudi Arabia — AlUla’s Desert Season Finale
| Trip types | Hiking & adventure · Culture · Wellness · Photography |
| Weather | 12°C to 27°C (54°F to 81°F) |
| Best for | Adventurous culture travelers, design and wellness seekers |
| Getting there | US via a Gulf hub; Europe ~6h to Riyadh/Jeddah, then a short hop |
Why go: AlUla runs its cultural season December through March, and March is the most comfortable month to explore Hegra — Saudi Arabia’s UNESCO-listed answer to Petra — before the heat closes the window.
Good to know: Maraya, the world’s largest mirrored building, hosts concerts across the season, and visa barriers for Western travelers have largely dropped.
What’s new & trending: A cluster of design-led desert resorts — Habitas AlUla and Banyan Tree AlUla among them — now operate at high standard, making independent visits genuinely viable.
Eat & drink: Dining is resort-led and surprisingly good; sundowners over the sandstone canyons are the experience to plan around.
Plan it: 1–3 days — Hegra, Maraya and Elephant Rock at golden hour. A week — add Riyadh and a Red Sea coast extension.
Recommended hotel in AlUla: Habitas AlUla (5-star, tented villas in the desert)
Portugal — Madeira in Bloom and the Quiet Algarve
| Trip types | Hiking & adventure · Wellness · Beach · Family |
| Weather | 15°C to 22°C (59°F to 72°F) |
| Best for | Walkers, value-minded travelers, families |
| Getting there | US via Lisbon; Europe ~3–4h direct to Funchal/Faro |
Why go: March is Portugal’s sweet spot — the Algarve is warming up with low rainfall, and Madeira is at its most floral as the spring bloom begins.
Good to know: Tripadvisor named Madeira its #1 trending destination for 2026, citing the volcanic hikes, natural pools and low crowds; Funchal hotels can run 30–40% below July rates.
What’s new & trending: Madeira’s levada walking network and Porto Santo’s golden-sand beaches are drawing a new wave of active, off-season travelers.
Eat & drink: On Madeira, lean into espetada (skewered beef) and a glass of namesake fortified wine; the Funchal market is the place to graze.
Plan it: 1–3 days — Funchal plus a levada hike and a natural-pool swim. A week — add Porto Santo or an Algarve coast stay.
Recommended hotel in Madeira: Belmond Reid’s Palace (5-star, where Churchill painted)
Recommended hotel in the Algarve: Pine Cliffs Resort (5-star, Albufeira)
You can also explore Porto Santo, next to Madeira, but less crowded.
Brazil — Salvador and Bahia After Carnival
| Trip types | Culture · Beach & sun · Music · History |
| Weather | 24°C to 32°C (75°F to 90°F), afternoon storms |
| Best for | Culture and music travelers, history buffs |
| Getting there | US via São Paulo; Europe ~9h to São Paulo, then a domestic hop |
Why go: Bahia in March is hot but past Carnival’s peak, and Salvador’s Afro-Brazilian cultural depth is, for most visitors, the most surprising part of any Brazil trip.
Good to know: Salvador’s Pelourinho district is UNESCO-listed, and its capoeira, candomblé and live-music traditions run year-round.
What’s new & trending: Converted-convent and colonial-mansion hotels keep restoring the old town; the Convento do Carmo is the standout.
Eat & drink: Eat moqueca (Bahian seafood stew) and acarajé from a street vendor; cool off with a coconut on Porto da Barra beach.
Plan it: 1–3 days — Pelourinho, the beaches and a live-music night. A week — add the Chapada Diamantina or the Bahia coast.
Recommended hotel in Salvador: Pestana Convento do Carmo (5-star, in a 16th-century convent)
Ananda in the Himalayas
Why We Recommend Ananda Spa Luxury Resort in India at Locals Insider
Located in the serene Himalayan foothills (India), Ananda retreat is more than just a wellness luxury spa hotel —it’s a transformative journey. Perfect for a March escape, this renowned holistic sanctuary offers tailored programs designed to rejuvenate the mind, body, and soul.
Ananda’s location, steeped in spirituality as the birthplace of Ayurveda and yoga, sets the tone for an immersive experience. Guests can choose from a variety of wellness programs, including stress management, meditation retreats, and holistic detoxes. Whether you’re battling burnout, seeking better sleep, or simply wanting to reset, Ananda offers personalized therapies in a setting that feels both luxurious and grounding.
- Luxury Meets Tradition: Residing in a Maharaja’s palace estate, Ananda combines royal charm with world-class wellness.
- Custom Wellness Programs: Options include Panchakarma detox, Yogic Detox, and stress management tailored to your needs.
- Tranquil Surroundings: The 100-acre estate, lush gardens, and Himalayan vistas provide the perfect backdrop for healing and relaxation.
- Unique Offerings: From Ayurvedic treatments and emotional healing to guided yoga and meditation sessions, Ananda integrates modern science with ancient traditions.
Ananda offers comprehensive and intensive detox programs tailored to rejuvenate the body and mind:
Yogic Detox: Available in 7, 14, and 21-night durations, this program incorporates Asana (posture) and Pranayama (breathing techniques) to activate organs and prepare for holistic rejuvenation.
Panchakarma: A 21-night Ayurvedic cleanse that detoxifies and revitalizes, offering a complete healing experience rooted in traditional Indian wellness practices.
Holistic Detox: Starting at 7 nights, this program introduces Ananda’s signature detox experience, combining Ayurveda, international therapies, and wellness consultations.
March’s temperate weather makes it an ideal time to embrace the peaceful solitude of the Himalayas. If you’re seeking tranquility, cultural depth, and a chance to reconnect with yourself, Ananda promises an unforgettable experience.
Locals Insider Tip: Book the Holistic Detox Program for a comprehensive introduction to Ananda’s transformative offerings.
California, USA
For domestic travel, March is a great time to tackle the hiking trails and dramatic landscapes of Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Sequoia and other national parks, before the summer highs (and wildfires) arrive later in the year. It’s the season for wildflowers to bloom too, adding a scenic element to the landscape.
Temperatures are pleasant for outdoor exploration without being stifling, averaging around 15°C to 20°C (59°F to 68°F) along the coast, and a little more inland. Cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco are bathed in warm sunshine, and crowds are way down on the summer months too – this also means you’ll spend less on flights and accommodation.
Ireland
If it’s good March weather you’re after, then perhaps give Ireland a miss. The country is still pretty cold and wet, averaging 8°C to 12°C (46°F to 54°F), though some brighter spring days may be starting to appear. The main reason to consider a trip to Ireland in March is that on 17 March each year, the country erupts into festivities in honor of Saint Patrick.
March · quick reference
Where to Go in March — Pick Your Trip by Mood & Region
A side-by-side of where to go this month depending on what you want and where you’re flying from. US picks favor short-to-medium-haul; Europe picks favor short-to-medium-haul within Europe.
| Why to go | From the US | From Europe |
|---|---|---|
| City break | Washington DC Cherry blossom peaks late March | Lisbon 20°C, restaurants pre-peak |
| Beach & sun | Tulum, Mexico Spring break but boutique pockets calm | Madeira Tripadvisor’s #1 trending 2026 |
| Adventure | Utah’s Zion Pre-summer hiking, snow off trails | Atlas Mountains, Morocco Day-treks from Marrakech |
| Wellness | Sedona, Arizona Energy vortex retreats, 18°C | Marrakech riads Gardens at peak, hammam season |
| Festival | New Orleans Jazz Spring fests ramp up | Jaipur for Holi March 14, color festival peak |
| Family | Yucatán cenote route Spring break alternative | Amsterdam tulip start Keukenhof opens mid-month |
March rewards travelers who plan around festivals and shoulder-season pricing. Spring in Japan, the last cool month in Rajasthan, AlUla’s final big-event month and Portugal’s quiet beauty all line up. Spain’s pre-Easter window, Marrakech in cool weather and the early Greek islands all work too. Start planning today.
Editor’s pick · New & noteworthy
Bruges, Belgium
Bruges has long been a day trip; now there’s a reason to stay the night. BRUSK, the city’s new museum and exhibition hall, has opened with large-scale shows including Refik Anadol’s AI-driven Latent City and Bigger Picture, a look at medieval Bruges as one of Europe’s great trading cities. Pair a morning there with a table at Michelin-starred Sans Cravate and a night at Hotel Van Cleef instead of rushing back to Brussels.
Happening in March 2026
Annual festivals and ticketed events live this month, refreshed daily.
- Las Fallas — Valencia, Spain March 15–19
- Holi — India Mid-March
- St Patrick's Festival — Dublin, Ireland Around March 17
- SXSW — Austin, Texas Mid-March
Planning the months after? Check where to go in April for blossom and Semana Santa, or get May ideas for 1–3 days around the Mediterranean.
