Spring has sprung (or at least limped trembling out the shadowy depths of February) and it’s time to celebrate new life with new horizons. What better time of year could there be to explore a destination you haven’t yet discovered?
Head to Borneo to meet the orangutans, or wrap up and to wander the streets and museums of Copenhagen. Haggle your way through the souks of Marrakech, or bask in the springtime sun of the glorious beaches of Mexico. Do those all sound like good ideas? Well, there’s plenty more where they came from - here’s our list of the very best holiday destinations of an March adventure.
RECOMMENDED:
🌟The best places in the world for stargazing
🌃The best city breaks in Europe for 2024
🎨The best cities in the world for culture
🌊The best places to visit in April 2024
At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines and check out our latest travel guides written by local experts.
One of the world’s most fascinating cities, Istanbul has one foot in Europe and one in Asia, with the mighty Bosphorus strait dividing the city in two. While the Asian side is well worth a visit, most of the attractions can be found in the European part, from the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar to the Hagia Sophia, the Topkapi Palace and plenty, plenty more. March is generally pleasant weather-wise, with sunny days and mild temperatures.
🕌Discover the best things to do in Istanbul
Sure, we all know Italy as a summer vacation spot, but it does get pretty choker. Why not beat the start of the high season and head to Sicily for some springtime sun, before the temperatures reach their scorching summer heights? The breezy March weather will make for a much more enjoyable time to sample all the seafood and explore the gorgeous streets of Palermo and Catania. But it's not just the island’s cities that are worth a peruse - the vibrant town of Cefalu is home to some incredible ancient ruins and even a Norman cathedral.
🏩Discover the best hotels in Sicily
Straddling two coastal islands, Denmark’s capital makes for an excellent city break in March. You’ll want to layer up— temperatures don’t tend to exceed 5C/41F—but it’s a small price to pay to avoid the seething tourist crowds that descend later in the year. Most of the main attractions are open, from the National Museum of Denmark to Amalienborg Palace.
🎨Discover the best things to do in Copenhagen
The frankly glorious Mexican state of Yucatan has more world-class things to see, do and experience than some entire countries, and March is a great time to visit. Laze on paradise beaches (take your pick from Tulum, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya or nearby island Cozumel), explore ancient Mayan ruins, walk around vibrant cities with stunning colonial architecture, and dive into gorgeous cenotes (azure sink-holes).
🏖️Discover the best things to do in Cozumel
This oasis of a city, located in the California desert about a two hour drive east from L.A., is a brilliant spot to soak up some spring (or late winter) sunshine (expect 27C/80F). Other than lounging by a hotel pool, a must-do is the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which will carry you on a rotating cable car through a majestic canyon before depositing you at a viewpoint which presents the entire Coachella Valley in all its glory.
🌵Discover the best things to do in Palm Springs
Jaipur, aka the ‘Pink City’ on account of the blushed hue of its buildings, is one of India’s top highlights, and March temperatures (around 30C/86F at the hottest part of the day) make it all the more agreeable. Highlights include the stupendously impressive palaces of Hawa Mahal and Jal Mahal (the latter sits in the middle of a lake), and Nahargarh Fort, which is one of the finest in a country where there’s plenty of competition.
📍Discover the best things to do in Jaipur
Pleasing alliterations aside, there are some huge pluses to visiting Morocco’s Marrakech in March. The daytime temperatures lounge around a manageable 22C/72F, perfect for a city that begs to be explored on foot, with a tantalising maze of alleyways within the ancient medina walls (not to mention the enormous public square, Jemaa el-Fna, at the heart of it all). Get lost in one of the world’s best souks, and soak up the atmosphere of the street food stalls in the aforementioned square once evening falls.
🌤️Discover the best things to do in Marrakech
March is one of the best times to visit Central America (the dry season runs from December to April), with balmy air and pleasant sea temperatures: Trek to Belize for splendid coral reefs; Guatemala has beautiful Lake Atitlan; Nicaragua, with its surfable volcanoes (bucket list anyone?); and Costa Rica's jaw-dropping biodiversity. It’ll be a trip to remember.
🦜Discover the best things to do in Costa Rica
The Texan capital has firmly established itself as the live music capital of the world (to borrow its self-awarded slogan), and the corresponding highlight that is SXSW occurs in March (March 10-19 in 2023, to be exact). Other than the music scene, there’s a huge amount to experience here, especially outdoors: the city boasts 300 or so parks, and many miles of urban walking and cycling trails. It’s also absurdly friendly, and has an awesome food truck scene.
🏜️Discover the best things to do in Austin
The South East Asian island of Borneo, shared between Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, forms one of the most wonderful natural environments Planet Earth has on offer. Its most famous residents are its orangutans, which can be seen in abundance in their natural jungle home, but there are plenty of other reasons to visit: you can swim with turtles, hike up mountains, and explore jaw-dropping caves.
Discover Time Out original video
