Where to go when guide
Tied to school holidays, keen to miss the monsoon season or hoping for an off season deal?
Where is hot in March?
For many of us, spending March at home is a mixed bag. The spring equinox in northern Europe can be sunny, or it can come in under a cloud. Easter might fall this month, or next. Parts of Europe are under the thickest snow of the year, sea temperatures are only a few degrees from their chilliest and direct flights to beach destinations are a few months from starting up again.
Time to consider warmer climes? We think so. Across the world this is a month of transition – shoulder seasons, wine harvests in the southern hemisphere, and, in some parts of Asia, a warm pause before rainy seasons and humidity. If you’re looking for where’s hot at this time of year, you’re not just looking for heat, but dry days and sunshine hours, too – we’ve got you covered: find out our top hot places in March.
Time to consider warmer climes? We think so. Across the world this is a month of transition – shoulder seasons, wine harvests in the southern hemisphere, and, in some parts of Asia, a warm pause before rainy seasons and humidity. If you’re looking for where’s hot at this time of year, you’re not just looking for heat, but dry days and sunshine hours, too – we’ve got you covered: find out our top hot places in March.
Ecuador & Galapagos: for warmth & wildlife events
There’s no bad time of year to visit Ecuador, where the equatorial climate remains stable year-round, but you’ll avoid the December crowds by travelling at this quieter time. The Galapagos Islands see hatching tortoises, courting frigate birds and massive albatrosses this month, as well as a period of calmer seas and warmer weather. The average daily high in the Galapagos is 31°C in March, and there are eight lovely hours of sunshine a day.
Think March for an Ecuador and Galapagos tour
India: for the last month of peak tourism season
March is one of the best months of the year to visit India, thanks to great weather and the Holi Festival – where you’re more likely to get splattered with colourful paint powder than a rain shower. It’s humid: March and April are the hottest months in Kerala – but it’s also a good time to spot elephants converging at water sources. Temperatures are an average high of 33°C in Kerala and you can expect around eight hours of sunshine a day. It’s cooler in the Western Ghats at around 25°C. Meanwhile, Golden Triangle visitors: it’s around 29°C in Rajasthan; temperatures soar next month.Malaysia: for the country’s warmest weather
Malaysia is hot year-round, but March brings the start of warmest weather and is a good month to visit if you’re spending time on both the east and west coast. The east is coming out of monsoon, while the west enjoys a continuation of the good beach weather that comes at the start of the year. In Borneo, it’s coming up to the start of the dry season and March might be wetter than April, but prices can be lower. Temperatures are in the 30s°C: the average daily max is 33°C in Kuala Lumpur, 31°C in Sarawak, Borneo.
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Maldives: for good sunbathing & even better diving
For March, think the Maldives. The north-east monsoon runs from January to March and brings the dry season to the islands. That means a March of warm seas and hot temperatures. In fact, this month and next can be among the hottest months in the archipelago (not that this tropical destination gets a great deal of temperature variation through the year). The average daily high in March is 31°C and you can expect around nine hours of sunshine a day. Below the waves, March is well known for having some of the best underwater visibility of the year, thanks to a lack of plankton – creating excellent snorkelling conditions.
Think March for a Maldives dhoni cruise
South Africa: for wine harvests & great weather
If you could bottle this good weather, you would – but the next best thing is to bottle the wine from grapes that have grown in it. South Africa’s vineyards harvest their grapes around this time of year, and March sees several festivals in the wine regions. Autumn is a popular time to visit South Africa for a reason: the Western Cape is dry and not too humid; expect a daily high of 25°C in Cape Town with around nine hours of sunshine a day – though the sea temperature remains fairly cool. Kruger is coming out of rainy season and will be green and lush.Spain: skip the snow & celebrate Easter
While Spain’s high mountains remain under a blanket of snow, head south to Andalucia – or hop over to the Canaries – and you’ll get some warmth. Average daily highs reach 20°C in Seville and the Canaries, well above much of Europe at this time of year, and you can expect seven hours of sunshine, though the sea is yet to warm up. If Easter falls early in the year, you might catch Holy Week celebrations this month, whilst up the coast from Andalucia in Valencia, Fallas festival celebrates the arrival of spring with parades and pyrotechnics.Vietnam: a popular month with dry weather
Looking for a beach? March marks the start of Vietnam’s peak tourist season and is a very popular month for heading to the country so start to expect busy beach resorts as the month progresses. The south is hotter than the north: Ho Chi Minh City has an average high of 34°C, while Hoi An has highs of around 28°C. Crucially it’s dry, making March a lovely time for cruising and kayaking in Ha Long Bay, or hanging out on a beach near Hoi An.
Think March for a Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh holiday in Vietnam
More Best places to go in March articles
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