You don’t have to be on spring break to take a vacation this March. From the peaks of the Himalayas to the low-lying Dead Sea, these travel destinations will make you spring into action.
How big of a deal is St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin? Big enough to turn it into a multi-day festival. From the parade floats to the packed pubs, there’s no better time to visit Dublin than when it turns green every March.
Perfect for: An authentic St. Patrick’s Day Party
Average March Weather: 39 - 50 degrees, 16 days of precipitation
What to do
As a former seat of Islamic power and the port from which Spain launched its transatlantic empire, Seville was shaped by an eclectic set of influences. Summer temperatures can exceed 100 degrees, but March is perfect for strolls through its historic plazas.
Perfect for: History buffs and music lovers
Average March Weather: 49 - 71 degrees, 4 days of rainfall
What to Do
Long hours of daylight may make summer seem like the best time to visit Iceland, but if it’s the northern lights you seek, plan a trip around the vernal equinox. The quaint-yet-cosmopolitan capital of Reykjavik puts the aurora borealis and Iceland’s many other natural treasures within your reach.
Perfect for: Amateur geologists
Average March Weather: 28 - 38 degrees, 14 days of precipitation
What to do
Though known for its mild winters, British Columbia’s biggest city is just 75 miles south of Olympic-class skiing at Whistler-Blackcomb. Whether you prefer mountains, forests, or harbors, Vancouver’s an outdoor playground with the cultural and culinary amenities to match.
Perfect for: Nature lovers and ski bums
Average March Weather: 38 - 51 degrees, 18 days of precipitation
What to do
Nepal’s second-largest city, Pokhara is an optimal starting point for a trek through the Himalayas. Even if you don’t fancy yourself a mountain climber, the area’s topography and religious shrines are enough to inspire a deep sense of awe.
Perfect for: Mountaineers and meditators
Average March Weather: 55 - 80 degrees (though colder at higher elevations), 4 days of rainfall
What to do
Between the golden Buddhist temples and the monks who roam the streets collecting alms each morning, Luang Prabang is like stepping into a fairy tale.
Perfect for: Archaeologists and mystics
Average March Weather: 64 - 91 degrees, 3 days of rainfall
What to do
Amman is equal parts antiquity and modernity; the kind of place where you’re just as likely to find classical ruins as trendy coffeehouses.
Perfect for: Getting a taste of the Middle East
Average March Weather: 43 - 63 degrees, 8 days of precipitation
What to do
Most of the Maldives’ islands are too small to fit on a world map, but you’ll be glad you took note. There isn’t a more picturesque place to disconnect from the outside world.
Perfect for: Going totally off the grid
Average March Weather: 80 - 88 degrees, 5 days of rainfall
What to do
The black sand beaches, blooming flowers, and historic sites make this Caribbean island ideal for saying au revoir to your worries.
Perfect for: Caribbean living with a French twist
Average March Weather: 72 - 83 degrees, 13 days of rainfall
What to do
For balmy weather in a charming beach town, give Aruba’s laid-back capital of Oranjestad a try. National Day falls in March, making for a jubilant atmosphere. The miles of beaches that await don’t hurt either.
Perfect for: Spring break fun without the college crowds
Average March Weather: 77 - 88 degrees, 2 days of rainfall
What to do
Fun and Sun in Western Europe
Dublin, Ireland
How big of a deal is St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin? Big enough to turn it into a multi-day festival. From the parade floats to the packed pubs, there’s no better time to visit Dublin than when it turns green every March.
Perfect for: An authentic St. Patrick’s Day Party
Average March Weather: 39 - 50 degrees, 16 days of precipitation
What to do
- Line up early on O’Connell street for a good view of the St. Patrick’s Day parade
- Cheer on Ireland’s top Hurling and Gaelic football teams at Croke Park
- Dance a jig at Festival Céilí, where Irish step dancers teach traditional moves to crowds of revelers at St. Stephen’s Green park
- Tour the grounds of Trinity College — alma mater of Samuel Beckett and Oscar Wilde — making sure to see the famed Berkley Library and Douglas Hyde Gallery of Modern Art
- Learn about Dublin’s brewing history at the Guinness Storehouse, or visit the Old Jameson Distillery for a taste of something stronger
Seville, Spain
As a former seat of Islamic power and the port from which Spain launched its transatlantic empire, Seville was shaped by an eclectic set of influences. Summer temperatures can exceed 100 degrees, but March is perfect for strolls through its historic plazas.
Perfect for: History buffs and music lovers
Average March Weather: 49 - 71 degrees, 4 days of rainfall
What to Do
- Get swept up in the passionate rhythms of flamenco at a tablao bar, where locals listen to this Andalucían style of music late into the night
- Lounge in the Plaza De España, a square designed for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929 that highlights each of Spain’s 48 provinces with beautiful ceramics
- Find the Tomb of Columbus inside Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See, the world’s largest Gothic cathedral
- Get lost in the Alcázar of Seville, a Moorish palace that’s still used by Spain’s royal family
- Walk the winding pathways of the Metropol Parasol, a towering wooden structure offering extensive views of Seville’s old town
Snow-Capped Scenery
Reykjavik, Iceland
Long hours of daylight may make summer seem like the best time to visit Iceland, but if it’s the northern lights you seek, plan a trip around the vernal equinox. The quaint-yet-cosmopolitan capital of Reykjavik puts the aurora borealis and Iceland’s many other natural treasures within your reach.
Perfect for: Amateur geologists
Average March Weather: 28 - 38 degrees, 14 days of precipitation
What to do
- Melt your stress away in the mineral-rich waters of the Blue Lagoon, a man-made geothermal spa
- Gaze over Reykjavik from the top of Hallgrímskirkja, a church whose design mimics an Icelandic lava flow
- Drive around the Golden Circle, stopping to snap photos of geological phenomena like the Gullfoss waterfall, Strokkur Geyser (erupting about once every ten minutes), and the red volcanic walls that surround Keri∂ Crater Lake
- Stroll down the main drag of Laugavegur, a trendy shopping district by day and bustling hotspot by night
- Watch the luminous ribbons of the aurora borealis (northern lights) dance across the night sky
Vancouver, Canada
Though known for its mild winters, British Columbia’s biggest city is just 75 miles south of Olympic-class skiing at Whistler-Blackcomb. Whether you prefer mountains, forests, or harbors, Vancouver’s an outdoor playground with the cultural and culinary amenities to match.
Perfect for: Nature lovers and ski bums
Average March Weather: 38 - 51 degrees, 18 days of precipitation
What to do
- Shred the 16 alpine bowls and 200 marked trails that make up Whistler and Blackcomb, two mountains linked by the massive Peak 2 Peak gondola
- Get an up-close look at more than 800 species of Canadian sea creatures at the Vancouver Aquarium
- Ride an Aquabus around False Creek, disembarking at the Granville Island Public Market to buy some fresh produce or local artwork
- Immerse yourself in the forest with a walk across the 230-foot-high Capilano Suspension Bridge
- Survey hand-carved canoes and totem poles from the Northwest Coastal People at the University of British Columbia Museum of Anthropology
The Wonders of Asia and the Middle East
Pokhara, Nepal
Nepal’s second-largest city, Pokhara is an optimal starting point for a trek through the Himalayas. Even if you don’t fancy yourself a mountain climber, the area’s topography and religious shrines are enough to inspire a deep sense of awe.
Perfect for: Mountaineers and meditators
Average March Weather: 55 - 80 degrees (though colder at higher elevations), 4 days of rainfall
What to do
- Canoe to the middle of Phewa Lake for some scenic solitude, then stop for a picnic lunch on the small island that houses Hindu & Buddhist Temple, Tal Barahi
- Investigate the exhibits of the International Mountain Museum for inspiration before you set off on your Himalayan journey
- Hike through mountainside villages and rhododendron forests on the Poon Hill Trek, a 4- to 5-day trip that includes one of the world’s most astonishing sunrise vantage points
- Burrow your way into the Gupteshwar Mahadev Cave, an underground shrine to Shiva that runs beneath the streets of Pokhara
- Mountain bike up or paraglide down Sarangkot, a high-altitude village offering panoramic views of Pokhara, Phewa Lake, and the surrounding mountain ranges
Luang Prabang, Laos
Between the golden Buddhist temples and the monks who roam the streets collecting alms each morning, Luang Prabang is like stepping into a fairy tale.
Perfect for: Archaeologists and mystics
Average March Weather: 64 - 91 degrees, 3 days of rainfall
What to do
- Bathe in the cascading pools beneath the Kuang Si Falls, an ethereal grove where bright blue water rushes over limestone rocks
- Wander through the local World Heritage villages to see how French Colonial design effortlessly blends with traditional Laotian influences
- See where Lao kings were crowned at the Wat Xieng Thong, notable for its intricate gilded designs and rare statue depicting the reclining Buddha
- Ascend the steps leading up Mount Phousi for a sweeping view of the Mekong river
- Fill up on street foods ranging from papaya salad to pig’s head at the Luang Prabang Night Market
Amman, Jordan
Amman is equal parts antiquity and modernity; the kind of place where you’re just as likely to find classical ruins as trendy coffeehouses.
Perfect for: Getting a taste of the Middle East
Average March Weather: 43 - 63 degrees, 8 days of precipitation
What to do
- Observe the contrasting styles of the Roman Temple of Hercules and the Umayyad Palace at the Citadel, a hilltop settlement that doubles as the site of The National Archaeological Museum
- See King Hussein’s vast collection of vintage cars and motorcycles at the Royal Automobile Museum
- Float in the salty waters of the Dead Sea, a public resort that’s just an hour’s drive outside of town
- Take an overnight excursion to the “Rose City” of Petra, where the narrow walls of the Siq canyon hide sandstone cliffs that have been carved into marvelous structures
- Browse the contemporary Arab art galleries of Darat Al Funun
Island escapes
The Maldives
Most of the Maldives’ islands are too small to fit on a world map, but you’ll be glad you took note. There isn’t a more picturesque place to disconnect from the outside world.
Perfect for: Going totally off the grid
Average March Weather: 80 - 88 degrees, 5 days of rainfall
What to do
- Snorkel, swim, or just watch the sunset on one of the 1,192 coral islands that make up the country’s 26 atolls
- Visit the Malé Friday Mosque, a 350-plus year old place of Islamic worship constructed entirely from local coral
- Dine at one of the Maldives’ two underwater restaurants
- Surf the reef breaks of the Malé atolls
- Spot fearsome hammerhead sharks on an early morning dive from the aptly-named Hammerhead Point
Fort-de-France, Martinique
The black sand beaches, blooming flowers, and historic sites make this Caribbean island ideal for saying au revoir to your worries.
Perfect for: Caribbean living with a French twist
Average March Weather: 72 - 83 degrees, 13 days of rainfall
What to do
- Tour the fortifications of Fort Saint Louis, an operational French naval base that has watched over the coastline since 1638
- Stroll among the orchids and other brilliant flowers of the Jardin de Balata
- Taste Martinique’s finest export at rum distilleries like La Favorite or Saint James, which also houses Martinique’s Musée du Rhum
- Sunbathe on the palm tree-lined, black sand beaches of Martinique’s southwestern coast, or head further afield to Le Diamant, an unspoiled oasis that’s perfect for escaping the crowds
- Stop by the St. Louis Cathedral, a Romanesque structure that rivals some of the finest churches you’d find in France
Oranjestad, Aruba
For balmy weather in a charming beach town, give Aruba’s laid-back capital of Oranjestad a try. National Day falls in March, making for a jubilant atmosphere. The miles of beaches that await don’t hurt either.
Perfect for: Spring break fun without the college crowds
Average March Weather: 77 - 88 degrees, 2 days of rainfall
What to do
- Celebrate National Day (March 18th) in the Plaza Betico Croes, where you’ll experience Aruban folk music, dancing, and plenty of favorite local delicacies
- Gaze at the colorful winged insects that populate Oranjestad’s Butterfly Farm
- Explore the caves and observe the migratory birds and iguanas of the Arikok National Park
- Set sail on a catamaran cruise through the waters at Eagle Beach
- Dive beneath the surface at the Pedernales Wreck, a shallow, beginner-friendly scuba site where reef fish dart in and out of the wreckage of a World War II-era tanker
