Where are the best places to travel in March?

How we chose, and what this list leaves out

March is a month of hand-overs. North of the equator winter is ending and spring is starting, while in the southern hemisphere summer is giving way to autumn. That makes it a useful month for trips built around a change in the weather rather than a single extreme. This page gives eight places that suit March for a stated reason, with the trade-off that comes with each.

This is our own selection, not a ranking. The criteria were simple: the place needed a monthly climate figure from the WMO World Weather Information Service, which republishes the long-term averages of national weather services, and, where possible, a dated seasonal event from an official or industry-body page. We looked for a spread of regions and for places that are not already the main picks on our February page. Averages describe a long run of years at one station; any single week can be warmer, colder or wetter.

Dubai: warm, dry days before summer heat

Dubai suits March because the very hot months have not started. At the Dubai station the WMO lists an average March high of 27.9 degrees Celsius and a low of 17.0, with 22.4 mm of rain over 3.8 days (1974 to 1991 normals). The same table gives an average May high of 36.8, so the pleasant window is short and closes quickly.

The trade-off is the age and brevity of the record: it covers only 1974 to 1991, so recent years may differ, especially in the built-up city. Evenings are cooler than the daytime figure suggests, with an average low of 17, so a light layer is useful. Our guide to Dubai areas for longer stays explains how the districts differ, and Dubai has the current range of apartments.

Osaka: cherry-blossom timing in a cool, damp month

Osaka is the March pick for blossom. The Japan National Tourism Organization page, which carries Japan Weather Association data, lists an average first-bloom date of 27 March for Osaka and 24 March for Tokyo. For the 2026 season it showed a forecast first bloom in Osaka on 26 March with a trend marked normal. That season has passed, so treat the dates as a pattern for planning, not a promise for next year, and note the page itself says forecasts change with the weather.

The weather is cool. The WMO lists an average March high of 14.2 degrees Celsius and a low of 6.0 in Osaka, with 103.1 mm of precipitation over 9.1 days (1991 to 2020 normals). That makes it the wettest March in our table. Pack a coat and an umbrella. If you plan a longer base in the region, our comparison of Kyoto and Osaka for a long stay may help, and you can browse Osaka directly.

Melbourne: early autumn in the southern hemisphere

In the southern hemisphere, March is early autumn, and Melbourne is a mild example. The WMO figures for the Melbourne Regional Office station show an average March high of 24.4 degrees Celsius and a low of 14.5, with 40.7 mm of rain over 9.3 days (1981 to 2010 normals). That is comfortable for walking and outdoor cafes.

Melbourne's weather is changeable, and an average high hides large swings from day to day. Events are the other reason to look at March: the organiser's page for the 2027 Formula 1 Melbourne race, read in October 2026, did not yet list dates or tickets and invited visitors to sign up for notifications, so we give no date here. See Melbourne for stays.

Mexico City: the dry season, before the rains build

Mexico City in March sits at the end of the dry months. The WMO lists an average March high of 25.7 degrees Celsius and a low of 9.2, with only 10.1 mm of rain over 3.1 days. The normals cover 1951 to 1980, so they are the oldest in this list and a rough guide only. Rain builds quickly afterwards: the same table shows 56.0 mm over 12.7 days for May.

The gap between day and night is large, about 16.5 degrees on these averages, so mornings and evenings call for a jacket even when midday is warm. If you plan to spend a few weeks working remotely, a kitchen helps for simple breakfasts. Browse Mexico City to compare stays.

Athens: mild spring sightseeing before the heat

Athens suits March for sightseeing on foot. The WMO lists an average high of 15.7 degrees Celsius and a low of 6.7, with 40.7 mm of rain over 10.2 days (1955 to 1997 normals). It is cool rather than warm, and rain is fairly frequent but light in total. By May the same table shows a high of 26.0 and only 22.7 mm of rain, so travellers who want swimming weather will find March too early.

The long gap between the normals period and today is a limit worth remembering. Check the opening hours of museums and archaeological sites on the official Greek culture ministry pages before you go. Stays are listed under Athens.

Orlando: warm, but one of the wetter Marches here

Orlando suits families who want warmth without July heat. The WMO lists an average March high of 25.2 degrees Celsius and a low of 14.0, with 96.3 mm of rain (1981 to 2010 normals). The page does not give a count of rain days for this station. By May the average high rises to 31.1 and the low to 19.9, so March is the more moderate choice.

The rainfall figure is the second highest in our March table, behind Osaka, so allow for wet afternoons. Theme-park queues and school holiday dates vary by year and are not covered by climate data, so check them separately. On a family trip of a week or more, an apartment with a kitchen and laundry can cut daily costs; see Orlando for options.

Santiago: dry autumn days with a large day-night gap

Santiago is another southern-hemisphere autumn pick. The WMO lists an average March high of 27.4 degrees Celsius and a low of 11.4, with just 6.1 mm of rain over 1 day (1981 to 2010 normals). That is the driest March in the table. A temperature gap of 16 degrees between the afternoon high and the night low means warm days and cool evenings.

Autumn changes fast here. The same station shows an average April high of 23.1 and 16.3 mm of rain, and a May high of 18.5 with 55.5 mm over 6 days, so conditions turn damp and cool within eight weeks. These are averages for one city station, and the Andes or the coast differ. See Santiago for stays.

Amman: a cool spring start

Amman is a pick for travellers who want to avoid the summer heat; the same station gives an August average high of 32.4 degrees Celsius. The WMO lists an average March high of 17.2 degrees Celsius and a low of 6.1 at Amman Airport, with 43.1 mm of rain over 8.0 days. The WMO page does not state the normals period. Nights are cold, and rain is still part of the month.

Conditions shift quickly. The same table shows an April high of 22.6 and 13.7 mm of rain, and a May high of 27.8 with 3.3 mm, so early spring is the cooler end of the visiting season. As with any trip, read your own government's current travel advice for Jordan before booking. See Amman for stays.

March climate at a glance

The table collects the March figures quoted above. All come from the WMO World Weather Information Service station pages, and the normals period differs by station, so compare patterns rather than small differences.

Practical notes for March trips

March is often a shoulder month, which can help with availability, but it also holds some busy dates, such as blossom weeks in Japan or Easter in years when it falls late in the month. Our when to book guide explains how to compare timing and rates. Next month's page, best places to travel in April, covers places where April has the stronger case.

None of the figures on this page are forecasts, and none describe entry rules. For visa and immigration questions, use the official immigration website of the country you plan to visit. The table below shows our own aparthotel figures for the countries on this list.