By March, spring is stirring across the northern hemisphere, thawing a number of high-profile destinations from their chilly, off-peak periods – with the added bonus that the crowds have yet to arrive. Meanwhile, in the southern hemisphere, the mercury is starting to slide in the opposite direction, attracting thrill seekers and bargain hunters for low-season adventures.
No matter what you’re looking for, it’s a rewarding time to hit the road. Find out some of the best places to go in March 2025.
1. Gran Canaria, Spain
Best for relaxation
Gran Canaria is a perfect destination for a wellness escape amid sand dunes and blissfully balmy weather, with temperatures reliably above 20°C (68°F) and over seven hours of sunshine daily in March. The beautiful belly button of the Canary Islands is a hotbed of yoga, meditation, tai chi and qigong retreats, with several clustered around Las Palmas, Gran Canaria’s culturally diverse capital. Pick a location according to your interests – after your early-morning tai chi session, you’ll have plenty of time to relax or get active. You’ll find beaches galore on which to get horizontal, but consider striking out onto the island’s hiking trails, too.
Planning tip: Base yourself in Las Palmas for sand and city life, Maspalomas for lively beach action and vast sand dunes, Puerto de Mogán for a picturesque harbor or the central north for hiking.
2. Sedona, USA
Best for a spiritual journey
The flaming-red sandstone formations of central Arizona, a backdrop for countless movies, might be the most recognizable emblems of Sedona. But a less visible attraction draws many of today’s visitors. A cluster of major “energy vortexes” identified in the 1980s lures crowds of New Age adherents, who enjoy various mystical and spiritual healing practices and workshops (as well as some top-notch restaurants to nourish body as well as mind and soul). March brings warm weather, wildflowers and lots of opportunities for outdoor adventure. Pack loose clothes and a mat for yoga sessions at one of the many studios, but also cycling gear and hiking boots – more than 200 trails traverse the surrounding countryside, notably among the striking outcrops of Red Rock Crossing – and an empty memory card for this most photogenic city.
Planning tip: Several companies offer vortex tours; save money by picking up a free map from shops around the city.
3. Morocco
Best for surfing
A string of surf camps stud Morocco’s coast between Agadir and Essaouira, mostly clustered around Taghazout and the quieter fishing village of Tamraght. The surf is reliably good between October and March, when the weather starts to warm up but waves are still big, long and consistent. Most camps offer a simple recipe: limber up with sunrise yoga, then grab a board and find the best breaks, sparing time to explore the galleries and souqs of Essaouira’s fortified medina.
Planning tip: The Atlantic is at its coolest during March – you’ll want at least a 3/2mm wetsuit.
4. Costa Rica
Best for outdoor adventures
A tiny country with a huge range of landscapes and wildlife, Costa Rica also has huge weather – hence the lush rainforests. Come in March to hit the dry(er) season on both Pacific and Caribbean coasts and in the highlands (though showers are always likely). It’s also after the peak US holiday period, so crowds are thinner. The hardest part will be deciding what to do while there.
5. New Brunswick, Canada
Best for sweet treats
March is maple syrup month in New Brunswick, a Canadian province as peaceful and little-touristed as it is packed with natural beauty and history. In this “fifth season,” temperatures start to nudge above freezing and the sap rises in maple trees. Sugar camps (or shacks) welcome hungry visitors to sugarbush events with cooked breakfasts of eggs, bacon, sausage, beans and pancakes – all smothered with that irresistibly sticky syrup, of course. With snow lingering on the ground, work up an appetite cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or winter hiking in spectacular settings such as Fundy National Park.
6. Istanbul, Türkiye
Best for foodies
Istanbul always astounds – and in March, as things begin to warm up toward the end of the low season, you can enjoy discounts, smaller crowds and more forgiving weather. Be sure to save some time for the greatest legacy the Ottomans left the world: food. Why else would the Spice Bazaar be so huge and bustling? From simple kebabs to meze feasts and that luscious aubergine masterpiece imam bayıldı, there are few cuisines as indulgent as that of Türkiye. Over the past couple of decades, a roster of excellent food-themed walking tours and cooking schools has sprung up in Istanbul, providing the opportunity to combine a springtime city break with a culinary reboot.
7. Naples, Italy
Best for an Italian holiday
Naples is unapologetic. This southern Italian sprawl is scruffy around the edges, yet has an indefatigable spirit, a dramatic location (on the Bay of Naples, in the shadow of Mt Vesuvius) and, of course, the best pizzas in the country. Off-season March is neither too hot nor too cold, and well before most visitors descend. That means unmissable sights such as the Museo Archeologico Nazionale (packed with Pompeiian artifacts) are crowd-free – as is Pompeii itself, just a 45-minute train ride south.
Planning tip: Circumvesuviana and Campania Express trains connect Naples and Pompeii; avoid crowds at the archeological site by starting with the areas furthest from the entrance and working back.
8. Kyūshū, Japan
Best for cherry blossoms
A cherry tree in bloom is a delightful sight – sure. But 2000 cherry trees blossoming in the clear spring air? That’s a mind-boggling spectacle. Japan’s warmer southwestern island of Kyūshū blushes with blossom before the better-known spots on Honshū. Its somei yoshino and yamazakura trees bloom from mid-March in parks around Fukuoka, at the magnificent castle in Kumamoto, and in Yoshino Park in Kagoshima, set against the dramatic backdrop of aptly named Mt Sakurajima.
9. Tobago
Best for wildlife
This emerald isle afloat off the coast of South America is everything you’d expect from a Caribbean paradise: palm-fringed beaches, a relaxed pace of life, sunshine. And plenty you might not expect, too. Rather than big cruise ships and package tourists, little Tobago attracts nature lovers, snorkelers and divers. March brings the fine weather you’d want on a beach holiday, but also nesting sea turtles – green, leatherback and hawksbill – who return to lay their own eggs on the patches of sand from which they hatched. Watch (with care!) as the lumbering females haul themselves ashore, or join monitoring and conservation programs to help these threatened beauties.
10. March’s dream trip: Follow the Overseas Highway in South Florida
Miami is the land of art deco architecture, palm-fringed beaches and Latin-infused nightlife. It’s also the starting point for the fabled drive down the Florida Keys, following the Overseas Highway past tiny islands, nature reserves and vestiges of old-school Americana. Before hitting the road, visit Miami’s Wynwood Walls, where some of the world’s top street artists have (literally) left their mark. From there it’s 167 miles (267km) to the highway’s end, bohemian Key West, a city known for its colorful Bahamian cottages and even more colorful nightlife – including the odd clothing-optional bar.
While it’s possible to complete the drive in under four hours, it’s better spread over a few days, enjoying impromptu adventures on the way: snorkeling amid the marine life of John Pennekamp State Park, paddling the mangroves near No Name Key and strolling Bahia Honda’s white sand beaches. Just be sure that when late afternoon arrives, you find a table at the nearest waterside bar: the sunsets here are legendary.
Planning tip: Prices are sky-high from December to February. You’ll save on accommodation (and still avoid hurricane season) by traveling in March.
Find more epic adventures in our new book, Dream Trips of the World.