Shoulder seasons like spring offer an affordable way to combine better hotel rates and fewer crowds with high-season weather, a canny work-around for any savvy traveler.
We’ve pulled together some of the best places to visit in March, whether you want to experience the Caribbean’s toniest superyacht race, Bali at near-standstill, or a Civil Rights sight that’s celebrating a major anniversary.
Here are the 11 best places to visit in March.
1. Modesto, California
March is great for: swapping cherry blossoms for a farmland stand-in.
California’s agricultural heartlands are often eclipsed by their snazzier coastal counterparts, but pause to consider a trip to the Central Valley, home to some of America’s finest farmland—and in particular, almond groves.
The trees are planted across 1.5 million acres of land here, and a riot of pink and white flowers carpet the horizon from mid-February to mid-March. Modesto, a city with 120,000 acres of those groves, has cannily devised what it’s dubbed the Almond Blossom Cruise, a self-guided driving tour with two routes (and plenty of detours) that allow you to explore the area and see as many blossoms as you can; the western circuit is an hour or so, while the east will require up to three hours.
Insider tip
Eight miles outside of Modesto is Dos Rios, California’s newest state park, which opened in summer 2024. The 1,600-acre former floodplain is great for hiking and birdwatching: Keep an eye out for sandhill cranes and neotropical migratory songbirds, nonprofit conservation group River Partners notes.
Where to stay: DoubleTree by Hilton
The 260-room hotel downtown is an affordable base, right off Highway 99 and within walking distance of many local landmarks—don’t miss the superbly restored McHenry Mansion, a Victorian-Italianate masterpiece dating back to the 1880s.
The 90 or so islands on Saudi Arabia’s coast are pristine, and the mainland features sweeping dunes, ample historic sites, and remarkable open countryside.
Photo by Yakov Oskanov/Shutterstock
2. The Red Sea, Saudi Arabia
March is great for: a pioneering trip without the crowds.
Even though there’s enormous development planned in Saudi Arabia‘s The Red Sea destination—50 hotels should be open by 2030—Red Sea Global aims to protect the landscape that’s so appealing, promising that the ground-up infrastructure will emphasize renewable energy and zero-waste operations.
The peak period to visit ends in February, but the weather remains appealing this month thanks to the still-clear skies—ideal conditions for stargazing. Spend a night out in the dunes around a desert campfire, with local guides sharing stories and legends that connect the centuries-old culture here with the modern developments transforming Saudi Arabia at time-warping speed.
Insider tip
While you’re at the Red Sea, snorkel and scuba dive at the Ummahat islands, recommends Afar contributor Laura Dannen Redman. “The Red Sea is one of the northernmost tropical seas, with super salinated, cobalt-blue water home to 1,200 fish species and 200 kinds of soft and hard coral,” she says. “It’s the kind of barely visited snorkel and scuba site that draws enthusiasts like [The St. Regis Red Sea Resort] manager Andrea Colla to come work here.”
Where to stay: Six Senses Southern Dunes
- Book now: sixsenses.com
This property includes open-plan villas intended to connect guests with the surrounding sand dunes, plus a signature spa (which, by the way, is two floors and includes a fitness suite with views of the desert).
The Iditarod takes mushers up to two weeks to cover the entire course, and many will fail to finish.
Photo by Troy Perano/Shutterstock
3. Anchorage, Alaska
March is great for: marveling at man’s best friend.
The ceremonial starting line for the world’s most famous dog race, the Iditarod, is right in downtown Anchorage, kicking off a 1,000-mile endurance test across the frozen wilds of Alaska.
Up to 90 mushers (or drivers of the dog-powered sleds) start the race with a team of up to 16 huskies; it will take them up to two weeks to cover the entire course, and many will fail to finish, though last year’s winner Dallas Seavey managed it in just over 9 days and 2 hours. While you idle to await the results, keep an eye out for the northern lights—solar conditions this winter suggest that it’ll be a prime time to spot this natural phenomenon.
Insider tip
Go to the Kobuk for a raft of locally made goodies, including candles, soaps, and jewelry, says Wildbirch Hotel general manager Peter Kolka. “They also have a café where you can get some of the best glazed old-fashioned donuts in America.”
Where to stay: The Wildbirch Hotel
- Book now: wildbirchhotel.com
Hyatt-owned JdV debuts the Wildbirch Hotel in the heart of Anchorage early 2025. The 251-room property includes its own on-site brewery and cozy, lodge-inspired rooms.
Las Fallas started centuries ago, when carpenters burned the pieces of wood used to prop up their winter lights at the arrival of spring.
Photo by Helena GARCIA HUERTAS/Shutterstock
4. Valencia, Spain
March is great for: a distinctly Spanish riff on satire.
After the devastating floods in fall 2024, Valencia’s tourism board has announced that the city has nearly fully recovered. Besides offering material assistance or making monetary donations, travelers can contribute to Valencia’s recovery with a visit—and there’s plenty of reason to check out this Spanish spot.
Come this month for the Las Fallas Festival, which runs from March 15–19. The event traces back to old carpenters centuries ago, who burned the pieces of wood used to prop up their winter lights at the arrival of spring. Slowly, they started throwing rags and other offcuts into the fires, before realizing they could turn these logs into effigies. Now, the city is festooned with papier-mâché figures, known as ninots, whether traditional or satirical, perhaps tweaking Spain’s current political turmoil. All but two of them—saved by public vote on March 15—will be burned at the festival’s conclusion, the event known as La Cremà.
Insider tip
Paella was invented right here, and travel specialist Virginia Irurita of Made for Spain & Portugal says the best place to try it is Borja Azcutia restaurant. Take home some nougat, too. “Turrones Ramos is a century-old company with a store in the center of Valencia,” she says.
Where to stay: Hospes Palau de la Mar Hotel
- Book now: hospes.com/en/palau-mar
A one-time nobleman’s mansion right in the heart of the city is now a 66-room luxury hotel, set amid a large garden that was once home to his horses. The chic, minimalist rooms combine whitewashed walls with rich chocolate wood fixtures.
This Bucket Regatta is a reminder that St. Bart’s is an outdoorsy, active destination, too, with almost three-quarters of the land here designated as a green zone, and so precluded from construction.
Photo by Nancy Pauwels/Shutterstock
5. St. Barths
March is great for: seeing an alternative side to this party-powered island.
There’s far more to St. Barths than super-sized bottles of rosé—it’s an outdoorsy place too, with almost three-quarters of the land here designated as a “green zone” (and so precluded from construction). Those pristine waters are home to the Bucket Regatta, which takes place from March 13 to 16.
This race first arrived in St. Bart’s in 1995 from its original home in New England, and is a four-day race that’s a point of pride for superyachts worldwide. There’s no prize money, of course, and nothing as grubby as a sponsor; superyacht owners don’t need the cash, but prefer the chance to lift the Bucket Cup. (Entry fees are donated to charity).
Insider tip
Wade out in the waters off Grand Cul-de-Sac Bay, says Sébastien Maingourd, the regional general manager of Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spa. “You can snorkel among dozens of sea turtles in a vibrant coral reef ecosystem,” he says. For the perfect St. Barths sunset, head to Gustavia Lighthouse and keep an eye out for neighboring islands, like Saint Martin and Saba, if the sky is clear.
Where to stay: Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spa
- Book now: lebarthelemyhotel.com
The 44-room property has a fitting spritz of je ne sais quoi, sitting on the eastern reaches of Grand Cul-de-Sac beach and with understated, ultra-luxe décor from French designer Sybille de Margerie.
Head to Canberra, Australia for some goofy and beautiful hot-air balloons.
Photo by Olia Photography/Shutterstock
6. Canberra, Australia
March is great for: watching an alternative balloon parade.
Every morning during the nine-day Canberra Balloon Spectacular (which starts March 15), the dawn skies will be filled with up to 50 hot air balloons, in a raft of shapes and colors—think T-Rex, Yoda from Star Wars, or a bagpiper. Each year there’s a signature addition: In 2024, that was Lucy, a cartoon girl with a bow in her hair from Bristol, England. Expect a similarly goofy entry for 2025.
Though there are no direct, non-stop flights to Australia’s ACT (Australian Capital Territory) from the U.S., there’s a new option for travelers. Hop the Fiji Airways–operated flight from Dallas via the capital of Nadi to Canberra, which started December 2024.
Insider tip
If you head to the Royal Mint in Canberra, you can see Australia’s coinage being made from Monday through Friday, according to Ovolo Nishi’s general manager Nick Wright. “A uniquely Canberra souvenir that’s only available from the Mint? You can mint your own coin,” he says, of the best keepsake to take home.
Where to stay: Ovolo Nishi
- Book now: ovolohotels.com
The five-star outpost of the Hong Kong–based chain is right in the center of the CBD, walkable from most of the major attractions, with décor that’s an appealing mashup of mid-century mod and industrial-chic.
While many people spend New Year’s with loud celebrations, Balinese New Year is spent in quiet reflection.
Photo by del_selenio/Shutterstock
7. Bali, Indonesia
March is great for: a spiritual moment to pause and reflect.
Nyepi, or the Day of Silence, falls on March 29 this year. It marks the Balinese New Year, and local culture here treats that fresh start as a chance to reflect and contemplate in total silence for 24 hours. Crowds and traffic that bedevil Bali year-round are near absent, as the island comes to a total standstill; indeed, community police will make sure that even tourists observe this chance to pause, staying off the streets and creating as little noise as possible. Spend the day meditating, and the night stargazing, as the lack of human activity in this humming hub means the skies will be at their inky blackest.
Insider tip
Ni Wayan Suarniti, the butler supervisor from the Mandapa, recommends a cocktail or two at the 15-seater Kawi cocktail bar in Ubud. “The vibe is minimalist and moody, with a stripped-back design that keeps the focus on what really matters: your cocktail. Try “Rice,” which is an experimental mix of spiced rice milk, tape (fermented rice or cassava), sake, and cincau grass jelly.”
Where to stay: Mandapa
- Book now: ritzcarlton.com
The decade-old property was one of the first sites for Ritz-Carlton’s ultra-luxe sibling Reserve, with 60 rooms in the heart of the island, the spiritual center of Ubud. Book a private villa for the ultimate chance to disconnect.
While in Montgomery, walk along the Alabama River.
Photo by Kevin Ruck/Shutterstock
8. Montgomery, Alabama
March is great for: commemorating a Civil Rights landmark.
The Equal Justice Initiative’s projects in Alabama have included a museum and a memorial, both thought-provoking and well-considered commemorations of Civil Rights. In March 2024 it added a new 17-acre site to its portfolio: the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park. The site honors the lives of those who were enslaved in America through various mediums, including historical artifacts and nearly 50 sculptures, with sections of the park dedicated to the history of the slave trade and acts of resistance.
Visit the park this month and you can combine it with a cycle ride with purpose: the annual Selma to Montgomery Relay and Bike Ride, which crosses three counties as the Freedom March did 60 years ago before climaxing with Martin Luther King Jr.’s “How Long? Not Long!” speech at the state capitol.
Insider tip
You can’t go home without picking up a cap or T-shirt emblazoned with Monty, the mascot of the Montgomery Biscuits. Trilogy Hotel Montgomery general manager Michael Blackley calls the smiling biscuit “the most adorable Minor League baseball mascot.” Pick up souvenirs at the Biscuit Basket at Riverwalk Stadium.
Where to stay: Trilogy Hotel Montgomery
- Book now: trilogyhotelmontgomery.com
This 117-room hotel is housed in three historic buildings downtown, including a pair of early 20th century warehouses and a Greek Revival mansion from the 1850s. Stay here and make the most of Waterworks, its rooftop bar.
Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day parade has been a staple for the city since 1824.
Photo by Ron Dylewski/Unsplash
9. Savannah, Georgia
March is great for: a Southern riff on Ireland’s favorite holiday.
Savannah, Georgia’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are among the best in the nation, thanks to Georgia’s legacy as a longtime hub for the Irish community since the colony was established in the 1700s. Nowadays, the major event includes an elected grand marshal and citywide festivities, featuring the classic combo of floats, marching bands, and Irish dancers. Make sure to snap a picture of the Forsyth Park Fountain, which is dyed green for the occasion.
Insider tip
JW Marriott Savannah hotel managing director Simon Pettigrew recommends visiting SCADstory, which is an immersive exhibition about the namesake art & design college.
Where to stay: JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District
- Book now: marriott.com
The 419-room riverfront hotel incorporates elements of the power plant that was decommissioned here in 2012—hence the name—and sits in the heart of the city’s arts and entertainment district. If you’re feeling particularly inspired, book a session at the on-site recording studio.
10. Nassau, Bahamas
March is great for: gourmet gorging in a gorgeous setting.
Atlantis Paradise Island will yet again host one of the Caribbean’s best food fests this month, running from March 12–16. The Nassau Paradise Island Wine & Food Festival’s roster of talent is a who’s who of TV chefs, with Michael Symon and Katie Lee debuting in 2025, and José Andrés and Alon Shaya among the returning boldfacers. Bobby Flay will host dinner at the Ocean’s Edge bluff, and Shaya will be holding court at Silan, his Med-inspired restaurant that’s a permanent fixture of the hotel. Keep an eye out for famous faces among your fellow diners, too—last year, Martha Stewart chowed down at the bash.
Insider tip
As soon as you arrive, head down to the Straw Market in downtown Nassau, says Atlantis concierge Mateo Hunt. The straw hats there, made locally, are great souvenirs—and even better sunshades while you’re on the beach.
Where to stay: Atlantis Paradise Island
- Book now: atlantisbahamas.com
Obviously, you don’t have to walk too far after a supper (or two) and there’s ample room at the 3,805-room, two decade-old resort—book a room in the Royal Towers, as that’s where the most recent renovation took place.
Forget Oktoberfest and head to Starkbierfest instead.
Photo by Sven Hansche/Shutterstock
11. Munich, Germany
March is great for: toasting the halfway point to Oktoberfest.
Are you brave enough to tackle Starkbierfest? Starkbier means strong beer, and the brews on tap at that Lenten bash are stiffer than ever, with a minimum of 7% ABV. They were first cooked up as a workaround by hungry monks during the fasting period, stronger and richer to sustain the monastic orders when they abstained from solid food over that window.
Now, you don’t need to take a vow to enjoy them but you should brace (and pace) yourself at a beer hall this month. Most major breweries offer their own riff on this recipe—look for a name ending in -ator, as many strong beers have this suffix—and will have beer halls running for some of the month; Paulaner’s, for example, kicks off on March 14 and runs for three weeks.
Insider tip
Charles Hotel head concierge Lena Speckmeyer always takes chocolates from Dallmayr with her when she visits friends overseas. “They have a box with the typical Bavarian Dachshund, which is Munich’s favorite dog,” she says.
Where to stay: Charles Hotel
This property in the Rocco Forte empire just underwent a major renovation, steered as usual by interior designer Olga Polizzi. It’s handily located close to the historic Königsplatz, in the Lenbachgärten quarter.
