By Mark Hodson
Sunday Times Travel Writer
March marks the start of spring in the Mediterranean and it’s a lovely time to visit, with brilliant sunshine, wild flowers and gentle sea breezes. It’s cooler in the northern part of the Med – the South of France, for example, gets around seven hours of daily sun and temperatures of 15ºC.
But go further south and you can enjoy temperatures of 20ºC. You may get a few showers, particularly at the beginning of March, and swimming in the sea is best described as bracing. But you’ll bask in 7-8 hours of daily sunshine.
Expect the warmest beach weather in the Canary Islands (22°C) followed by Cyprus and the Algarve (19°C). For a city break, Seville (22°C) is our top choice, followed by Palermo, Lisbon, Athens and Barcelona.
Where’s hot in Europe in March
| Country | Destination | Average highs | Average hours of sun |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | Algarve | 19°C | 7 hours |
| Cyprus | Limassol | 19°C | 8 hours |
| Portugal | Madeira | 17°C | 7 hours |
| Spain | Tenerife | 22°C | 8 hours |
| Malta | Valletta | 18°C | 8 hours |
| Spain | Seville | 22°C | 8 hours |
1. Algarve
Average highs in March: 19ºC
Average daily sunshine: 7 hours
Flying time from UK: 3 hours
The Algarve region of Portugal is a handy winter getaway because the weather is warm, there’s a huge choice of good-value hotels and apartments and getting there is easy: just three hours flying time from the UK and plenty of low-cost flights from across the country. Although you may experience occasional rain showers, temperatures are reliable and you can come home with a good suntan. Here’s the best selection of luxury hotels I’ve found on the market.
2. Cyprus
Average highs in March: 19ºC
Average daily sunshine: 8 hours
Flying time from UK: 4 hours 30 minutes
It’s a slightly longer flight to Cyprus and although average temperatures are similar to the Algarve, it tends to feel significantly hotter and you can experience highs well into the 20s. March is a good time of year to explore this fascinating island – and get a great deal on a hotel stay. Need more ideas in the Southern Med? See the warmest Greek islands in March.
3. Madeira
Average highs in March: 17ºC
Average daily sunshine: 7 hours
Flying time from UK: 3 hours 45 minutes
Although the average temperatures aren’t scorching,Madeira is a lovely winter destination and the sunshine (6 or 7 hours a day) is surprisingly strong, so you’ll need to wear sunblock. It’s a very scenic, green and mountainous island with great walks, drives, things to see and do and some stylish hotels and traditional quintas. British Airways has direct flights from the UK.
4. Canary Islands
Average highs in March: 22ºC
Average daily sunshine: 8 hours
Flying time from UK: 4 hours
TheCanary Islands is one of our most popular winter sun destination with direct flights from across the UK. The islands are a little warmer than Madeira, as they are further south, with constant Atlantic breezes. Some resorts are more sheltered, thus warmer, than others. And the sun can be strong, especially if you take a trip into the mountains. Stay at one of these hotels in Tenerifeorvillas in Lanzarote. If you want to escape the crowds, head toLa Gomera (a ferry ride from Tenerife)or tinyLa Graciosa near Lanzarote. For more detailed climate information, see the hottest Canary Islands in March.
5. Malta and Gozo
Average highs in March: 18ºC
Average daily sunshine: 8 hours
Flying time from UK: 3 hours 30 minutes
I recommend Maltaif you’re looking for more than a beach. The island is packed with interesting historical sites and is easy to get around. Make time to take a ferry to its sister island,Gozo, which is much quieter and more rural. Many people go straight to Gozo and spend their entire holiday there – the water is especially clear, there are some lovely places to stay and you can rent bicycles and explore the quiet country lanes. The weather is likely to be better towards the end of March.
6. Seville
Average highs in March: 22ºC
Average daily sunshine: 8 hours
Flying time from UK: 2 hours 45 minutes
If you want an exciting city break with good weather in March, it would be hard to beatSeville in southern Spain. This is the home of tapas and flamenco, as well as bullfighting, and is packed with beautiful sights and great food. It’s easy to reach with a short flight from the UK and quick transfer into the city centre. Don’t even think about going in July or August – it’s roasting – but March is just about perfect for sightseeing and al fresco lunches. Other cities you may want to visit with warm weather in March include Palermo in Sicily and Barcelona (both 17ºC), and Lisbon and Athens(both 18ºC). Find where else is hot in Spain in March.
What’s the best beach destination in March in Europe?
If you want sunbathing weather in March, your best bet is the Canary Islands, a four-hour flight from the UK. Expect temperatures averaging 22ºC. The Algarve and Cyprus are also strong contenders, both with average highs of 19°C. Both offer bargains in March although the flying time to Cyprus (4 hours 30 minutes) is longer than to the Algarve (3 hours), hence flights a little more expensive.
What’s the best European city break in March for warm weather?
Seville in southern Spain is the strong winner. It’s a beautiful compact city, the home of tapas and flamenco with a walkable historic centre. In March you can expect temperatures of 22ºC and 8 hours of daily sunshine. Other excellent destinations in March include Palermoand Barcelona (both 17ºC), and Lisbon and Athens (both 18ºC).
What are the sunniest cities in Europe in March?
The sunniest cities are not necessarily the warmest. If your only focus is on average daily hours of sunshine, the winner is Valletta, the capital of Malta (7.6 hours), followed by Marseilles (7.3 hours), Lisbon (7.2 hours), Athens and Madrid (both 7.1 hours), Rome (6.9 hours), Barcelona, Seville and Valencia (each 6.8 hours) and Nice (6.7 hours). Bear in mind that cities like Marseilles and Madrid may be sunny but will feel chilly in March, with temperatures around 11ºC.
Where is really hot in March?
Just outside Europe, Moroccois our top pick with 22ºC temperatures and 8 hours of daily sun. It’s only a three-hour flight from the UK to Marrakech. If you want genuinely hot weather, it’s a seven-hour flight to the Arabian Gulf where you can expect 29ºC in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. It’s only six hours to the beaches of The Gambia (34ºC) where you’ll find excellent deals at beach hotels.
Where is warm enough to swim in March?
Unless you’re a fan of cold-water swimming, European seas are not going to be warm enough in March. A comfortable temperature to swim is around 22-26ºC. To find that you’ll need to travel to a destination such as the Arabian Gulf, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean or South East Asia. For example, Barbados sees average sea temperatures of 26ºC in March. In the Maldives, it is up to 29ºC which feels like a warm bath.
Best festivals in March in Europe
Spain – Las Fallas. Las Fallas in mid-March is a fiery, colourful festival with masquerade parades, fireworks, concerts and paella feasts across Valencia. It culminates in the burning of giant papier-mâché and wood sculptures known as fallas.
Portugal – Festa da Mãe Soberana. The Mother’s Day festival in Loulé features flower markets, handicraft fairs, folk music and a candlelit procession through the streets of the historic town. It takes place on the fourth Sunday of March.
Malta – Feast of St. Joseph. On March 19, this feast day honouring St. Joseph is marked with religious processions and reenactments in the town of Rabat. Locals hand out traditional treats like fried doughnuts to celebrate.
Greece – Independence Day. Military parades, political speeches, concerts and school events on March 25 celebrate the start of Greece’s revolt against the Ottoman Empire in 1821.
Croatia – Zagrebdox. This international documentary film festival hosts new releases, retrospectives and workshops for a week every March in the capital Zagreb. See our guide to the weather in Croatia in March.
Cyprus – Carnival. Limassol holds a grand carnival parade with floats, costumes and live music to mark the days preceding Lent and Orthodox Easter.
Try another month
October | November | December | January | February | March | April | May
If you don’t mind a longer flight, see our expert guide to where’s hot in March along with detailed climate information about the popular long-haul destinations, including the Caribbean (30ºC), the Maldives (32ºC) and Mauritius (26ºC).
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Last updated: 30 January 2024
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