As winter gracefully bids adieu, Europe emerges from its cocoon, offering a splendid array of destinations that beckon travelers seeking a perfect March escape.
Whether you’re drawn to the timeless allure of historical cities, the vibrant burst of colors in picturesque landscapes, or the delectable flavors of local cuisines, Europe in March promises a captivating journey.
Let’s explore the charm and warmth that this season brings to some of the continent's most popular destinations, creating memories that will linger in your heart for years to come.
Travelin Europe is still limited in March, though spring is appearing in southern and middle regions and days are not too short. The Tourist GoZone now extends north to include England and France. Note that the though the weather can still vary greatly at this time.
Note:Around Easter, major tourist locations are likely to be:
- overcrowded
- overpriced
- overbooked
Easter is sometime between February and April, depending on the year, but otherwise March is unlikely to be a busy month for Europe tours.
For those who are into music festivalsas well as for those who want to participate in or witness Catholic religious rites, you may consider visiting these European destinations: a. Hungary
- Budapest Spring Music Festival (all sorts of arts, music, drama, poetry)
- 10 days
- end of March
b. Italy
- visit the city of Taranto and the island of Sicily
- both have extravagant pre-Easter parades
- on Easter Sunday, its Florence’s time to shine
- Florence and Sicily are perfect destinations for Semana Santa(Holy Week) activities
c. Portugal
Travel to Lisbon for pre-Easter parades.
d. Spain
- spend the Holy Week in Seville
- hundreds of parades and singing
These are great urban spaces that are always worth a wander even though cold and/or rain is always a possibility:
a. Italy
The southern part of Italy has generally mild winters with blue skies; so, these are excellent cultural targets:
- Herculaneum
- Naples
- Pompeii
- Rome
- Sicily
The town of Amalfi in Salerno takes good care of those who need a scenic uplift.
Venice is chilly, damp, and foggy, but has an interesting, spooky quality and a wacko carnival, Florence has an especially colorful Easter procession.
A smiling adult woman in a white dress with floral prints inside a cave with stalactites in Cote d’Azur b. France
The Côte d’Azur (French Riviera) should be warm and getting a reliable quota of sunshine this month.
They are all attractive, sometimes interesting, and uncrowded in March:
- Cannes
- Nice
- Menton
- Monaco
- St. Tropez
The same can be said for these delightful little towns along the French Riviera:
Don’t even think about swimming in the Med - the Mediterranean Sea, that is - but you could make a side trip to ski, around an hour away.
The best ski resorts nearby are:
- Auron
- Isola 2000
- Valberg-Beuil
However, there are many smaller resorts that offer low-cost lift passes and are in easy reach for a day or weekend trip.
Skiing is a big business all over the Alps and Pyrenees in March.
North and southwest France will still be very chilly while a month in Provence will freeze tourists with irregular blasts of the bitterly cold Mistral wind down the Rhone valley.
c. Greece
March is OK in Athens; it’s warming up, crowds and pollution levels are down.
Central Greece and the Peloponnese peninsula are loaded with sights, ruins, and landscapes (e.g., Meteora in Thessaly).
The islands are gorgeous though it’s still chilly.
The Med’s too cold for comfortable swimming and tourist/ferry services are limited.
d. Spain
With the exception of Madrid (cold) and the North (wet), Spain is generally warm and pleasant in March.
The best bet for a dry cultural experience is in the south, visiting:
- the magical Moorish cities of Seville, (especially for Semana Santacelebrations the week before Easter)
- Cordoba and Granada, where the days are warm and the nights cool
Barcelona, too, is a lively, interesting city, though it can be a little chilly/wet in March.
Swimming in the Mediterranean or even hanging out on beachesis no fun at this time. So, for your European vacations in March, where do you plan to head first?