March 2023 events europe

Category:March 2023 events in Europe

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With spring in the air, here's our view on the best places to visit in March

Where to go on vacation in March

As the Northern Hemisphere welcomes the first signs of spring, festivities are in full swing across the world from the holy celebrations of Easter in Catholic countries to the colorful street events of Holi in India. Temperatures are starting to rise across southern Europe and flowers are beginning to bloom, making it a particularly pretty time to be out exploring Japan where pink cherry blossoms grace parks. It's still dry in Central America with clear skies and plenty of opportunities to explore ancient ruins and search for wildlife and in the Middle East temperatures are still bearable so it's a good time to imitate Indiana Jones and visit the region's many archaeological sites.

With World Wildlife Day taking place on 3rd March, this month represents a time when we recognize the serious threat facing many of our beloved species around the globe. While you may not realize it, in many destinations tourism is key to ensuring the survival of these species and you can play your part in conservation by simply being there so consider a wildlife vacation. Here are some of our top picks for where to go in March 2023.

Top Destinations and Experiences in March

Active Adventures in March

Trekking in Nepal

With your New Year’s resolution to be more active securely underway, perhaps you’re feeling up to a challenge this March? If so, Nepal is the ideal destination, with the start of the warm and dry season meaning bearable temperatures and good visibility. This time of year also brings colourful blooming flowers along the lower altitude trails, so it's incredibly scenic.

Recommended tour: Annapurna Panorama

Hill tribe trekking and beachside lounging

Sightseeing in Vietnam

The month of March is the ideal time to visit Vietnam, with pleasant weather conditions from the north to the south - something of a rarity for a country that experiences such diverse climates. It's dry and not too sticky in the northern highlands, so great for hill tribe trekking, while in the south the absence of rain, blue skies and sunshine make those idyllic beaches the perfect addition to a busy sightseeing schedule.

Recommended tour: Very Vietnam →

Meeting the endangered icon

Pandas in China

Thanks to massive reforestation and conservation, wild pandas are bouncing back in China. However, they remain near impossible to see in the wild. At the Chengdu Research Base, you can come face-to-face with the pandas and learn about the ongoing work that will ensure their survival. As luck would have it, March is a great time to visit China, especially Chengdu, with the start of spring and the weather warming up.

Recommended tour: Great Wall & Giant Pandas →

Cololurful Hindu celebration

Holi Festival in India

The Holi Festival is celebrated by Hindus across the globe, to welcome in spring and signify the victory of good over evil. People hit the streets dressed in white and armed with water and coloured powder, eager to transform their fellow revellers into walking rainbows and no doubt become one themselves. Cities and towns all over India come alive with riotous water fights and bonfires are held in the evenings. It's one of the most colourful times to be in India and shouldn't be missed.

Recommended tour: Holi, Festival of Colour →

Best City Breaks in March

Perfect weather for exploring

Jaipur

Considered one of the best times to explore Rajasthan, March marks the end of the cool winter season. Expect dry, warmer weather, that hasn’t yet reached the sweltering temperatures of summer, perfect for discovering all that the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur has to offer. Whether that be marvelling at the iconic Amber Fort, exploring the spectacular City Palace complex or wandering the twisted alleys of the city’s colourful bazaars.

Colours and culture

Fes

March marks the start of spring in Morocco, making this the perfect time to explore the imperial city of Fes. Dating back over 1,200 years, Fes is considered the country’s cultural centre and boasts a UNESCO-listed ancient medina. Amongst its winding streets you’ll discover beautiful mosques, colourful market stalls and pungent tanneries which, without the modern intrusion of cars, feel worlds apart from 21st century life.

Ancient history

Athens

As Greece’s stunning islands are yet to open for the summer season, March is the ideal time to explore the mainland and its historic capital. One of the world’s oldest cities, Athens is home to the iconic Acropolis, the 5th century Parthenon and the Temple of Olympian Zeus, each echoing the past power of Ancient Greece. History buffs will also love the Archaeological Museum, which boasts more than 11,000 exhibits.

Avoid the summer crowds

Florence

One of Italy’s most popular destinations, Florence tends to draw quite a crowd in the summer months. However, if you time your visit in March, you’ll be catching the end of the low season and be able to enjoy top attractions such as the Uffizi Gallery with a far quieter atmosphere. You’ll also find accommodation to be cheaper, perfect for those travelling on a budget, and temperatures slowly starting to warm up.

Best Festivals and Events in March

Many festivals in March centre around the arrival of spring, celebrating the light and colour the season brings. It's a time to clear out the old and welcome the new with spirited festivities and unique natural phenomenons. Here's our pick of the best festivals happening in March.

Holi Festival

Where? Countrywide, India

Celebrated on the day of a full moon on the vernal equinox, the Holi Festival is India's most popular and celebrated by Hindus across the globe to welcome in spring and signify the victory of good over evil. Cities and towns all over India come alive with riotous water fights and bonfires held in the evenings leading up to the main day of festivities.

Las Fallas

Where? Valencia, Spain

This exuberant festival is rooted in traditions welcoming the arrival of spring, when carpenters would burn their wooden wick holders. Today it's an incredible display of elaborate sculptures, pyrotechnics and live music. The festival concludes with a huge bonfire on which the sculptures are burned before the city parties the night away.

Spring Equinox

Where? Chichen Itza, Mexico

On the spring equinox the impressive Temple of Kukulcan (more commonly known as El Castillo) in Chichen Itza plays host to a mysterious event as the sun's rays create the illusion of the serpent deity slithering across the step pyramid. The spectacle may only last a few minutes but in nearby Cancun festivities last days. Compared by some to Egypt's famous Abu Simbel Sun Festival.

Grape Harvest Festival

Where? Mendoza, Argentina

One of the largest wine festivals in the world, the Grape Harvest Festival draws everyone from local winemakers to national celebrities to the city of Mendoza. Festivities are spread over six days, with the highlight being the election of the annual Harvest Queen in the Greek Theatre. With 20,000 attendees, the show is a spectacle of dance, music and lights culminating in a magnificent firework display.

Best Beach Destinations in March

For those of us in the northern hemisphere, March may not offer the warmth and length of daylight hours that we crave after months of winter so this can be a good time to head elsewhere for a beach break. Outside of popular holidays, such as Easter when services are at a premium and costs are at their highest, a beach break can be good value for money in March. Here's our selection of the best beach destinations around the world for this time of year.

South Africa

For the southern hemisphere, March is the end of the summer and beginning of autumn, so the beaches around Cape Town and along the coast in South Africa are a good option. It's also a good time to consider the Garden Route, making stops at various coastal towns along the way.

Thailand

The islands in southern Thailand are also a good bet with sunny days still the norm, though temperatures and humidity are beginning to rise, so you won't want to leave it much later unless you want things to get stifling hot! The same goes for the island of Phu Quoc in southern Vietnam.

Vietnam

March is the best month of the year to visit Vietnam if you'd like to hit the beach AND enjoy some sightseeing, with pleasant weather across the country. This is especially true in the south, with clear skies and sunshine perfect for unwinding in Da Nang or Nha Trang.

Best Wildlife Destinations in March

In general, the best time for game viewing in Africa is during the dry season, when the animals can be more easily spotted through the thin vegetation. During these dry months, herds of animals tend to congregate around watering holes as other sources dry up. In March it's the wet season across most of southern Africa, so for this reason we recommend East Africa as a more reliable safari destination for this time of year. It's a great time of year to go tiger-spotting in India, too.

Kenya

If you're planning a safari in March then Kenya is one of the better options, with dry, mild weather and good game viewing opportunities. With the light vegetation, animals are more easily spotted and rangers know where the watering holes are and where the herds will be.

Tanzania

Tanzania is also enjoying a mini dry season, with the calving season drawing to a close - so March is still a good time to see thousands of calves being born. It can rain at any time in East Africa, but these rains keep the wildebeest herds on the grass plains in the southern parts of the Serengeti.

Botswana

It's the wet season in Botswana, with heavy rainfall which is not ideal for game viewing as the verdant vegetation hides the animals. However, this is the perfect time for keen bird-watchers to visit as dozens of migratory species are in Botswana at this time and the scenery is beautiful.

India

It's also still the dry season in India at this time of year and the national parks across the country are open for business. This is a good time to head to India for a tiger spotting safari. The rising temperatures dry out the scrub, making it easier to spot the majestic creatures as they hunt for food and water.

Recommended Tours for March

Are you still struggling to decide where to travel in March? Here's a selection of our tours that are perfectly suited for travel in March, from the peaks of the Himalayas to the coastline of South Africa.

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