10 Recommended Places to Travel in March for a New Semester

10 recommended places to travel in March

March might just be the most exciting month of the year. Warm spring breezes start to blow, you uncurl a body that had been hunched against the cold, and it’s the season for welcoming a new school semester. I graduated a long time ago, so entrance ceremonies have nothing to do with me anymore, but the feelings from back then still faintly linger — the excitement of meeting new friends and a kind of fear of a new environment. Maybe that’s why a lot of people seem to think of the start of the year as March rather than January.

A trip taken with that fresh, exciting feeling will probably bring an experience even more precious than an entrance ceremony. So the story I’ve prepared is about traveling abroad to welcome a new semester — my recommended places to travel in March. I’ve gathered a varied lineup from Europe to the Americas to Asia, so use it as a reference and plan your trip well in advance!

1. Spain — Valencia

Valencia, Spain

For my March travel pick, I introduce Valencia, Spain. Spain is actually known as a beautiful and romantic country to visit any time of year, but the reason to visit Valencia in March is that Las Fallas — a festival inscribed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage — runs for 19 days. Heralding the start of spring, this festival originates from the old carpenters’ tradition of lighting bonfires. You can take in a distinctive fireworks display called the mascletà, and see a 49-foot (15 m) flower tower displayed in the Plaza de la Virgen.

2. Ireland — Dublin

Dublin, Ireland

Dublin, the capital of Ireland, is also well worth recommending as a March destination — because of the St. Patrick’s Festival held in Dublin every March. Running for 7–10 days, this festival is said to be so grand and passionate that “frenzy” feels like the right word. Folk music fills Dublin’s streets, you can take in traditional parades, and parties spring up at the surrounding restaurants and bars. During the festival you can also try on traditional Irish costumes. Since these are festivals and experiences you can only find in Dublin in March, it seems well worth a visit if you get the chance.

3. Czech Republic — Prague

Prague, Czech Republic

Prague, Czech Republic — one of my bucket-list spots — is also a March recommendation. Like Spain, Prague is romantic any time of year, but there’s a reason you should visit in March: as the temperatures that had plunged all winter climb back up, the weather turns mild and the whole city fills with energy. Around this time every year, Easter markets open in the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, and Easter is considered one of the most important holidays in Eastern Europe. So the markets are large, and you can buy souvenirs, antiques, and carvings available only at Easter.

4. Türkiye — Istanbul

Istanbul, Türkiye

March is the off-season in Türkiye. That means you don’t have to get swept up in huge crowds, hotels and airfare are cheap, and you can travel at your own relaxed pace. Among its cities, Istanbul is counted as one worth visiting at least once before you die, and it boasts mild weather. Istanbul’s signature attractions include the Basilica Cistern, the Grand Bazaar, and the Blue Mosque.

5. USA — Las Vegas

Las Vegas, USA

Las Vegas, USA — where the dazzling lights never go out, day or night — is also a March recommendation. When you think of Las Vegas, a lot of people picture games where huge sums of money change hands, but it also plays an excellent role as a tourist destination. Areas with scaled-down replicas of famous landmarks and buildings full of character welcome you. Nearby, too, are the famous Grand Canyon and the desert. Every March, this desert boasts the perfect temperature for sightseeing, and the Grand Canyon offers helicopter tours. If you want a Las Vegas that’s quiet and relaxed under warm weather, why not plan next year’s trip here?

6. USA — Hawaii

Hawaii, USA

If your travel budget is generous, I recommend Hawaii as a March destination. Hawaii is famous as a top honeymoon spot and a beautiful resort getaway. Go in March and you’ll find Hawaii at a comfortable temperature, with a very low chance of rain. Since March isn’t peak season, there are relatively few tourists, and you can find clean, clear waters and quiet beaches. Leisurely swimming and snorkeling, then eating delicious food — there may be no March more special than this.

7. Mexico — Riviera Maya

Riviera Maya, Mexico

Mexico’s Riviera Maya is a March destination I recommend for those considering a resort getaway. Mexico is generally known as a country with dicey public safety, but interestingly, its tourist areas are about as safe as anywhere. Among them, the Riviera Maya is a popular getaway for Americans, with warm white sand and clear, transparent seas. It’s even called a dream destination for water-sports lovers. And in March, the Riviera Maya has warm temperatures, a low chance of rain, and boasts blue skies. You can also tour Mexican cultural heritage and ancient ruins, so keep that in mind as you plan your trip!

8. Australia — Sydney

Sydney, Australia

The reason I mention Sydney, Australia, as a March recommendation is that it boasts the perfect temperature — cool yet not hot — with a low chance of rain. That means you can clearly admire the Sydney Opera House, known as one of the most famous landmarks in the world, under clear skies. March in Sydney is also called the “month of art,” with all kinds of shows, musicals, and orchestra performances at cheap ticket prices. You can also take in fascinating works by artists at four art galleries, so if you’re into art and culture, set off for Sydney next March.

9. Japan — Kyoto

Kyoto, Japan

Many of you probably expected Kyoto, Japan, as a March recommendation. Japan — close to Korea, with pristine nature, delicious food, and a wealth of attractions — is a top-tier destination. Among its cities, the reason to visit Kyoto in March is that the cherry blossoms bloom around this time every year. When the blossoms burst into full bloom over Kyoto, where Japanese tradition and history remain intact, the scenery is said to look like something out of an anime. To take in this scenery, though, it’s best to time it well: Kyoto’s cherry blossoms are at their best mainly from mid- to late March, and before that, plum blossoms are more abundant than cherry blossoms.

10. Thailand — Phuket

Phuket, Thailand

The last March recommendation is Phuket, Thailand. I’ve gone through the whole list, but if nothing in particular is calling you, Thailand does its job as a tourist destination so well that you could pick it without a second thought. Among its options, the reason I recommend March is that there’s almost none of Southeast Asia’s signature humidity or rainy season, and it boasts perfect temperatures and blue skies. That said, Thailand is unusual in that it’s in peak season with tourists overflowing (…) almost all year round, so cheap airfare or hotels can be hard to expect. Even so, it’s far cheaper than prices in Korea or some European countries, so if you want a satisfying trip on a small budget, I recommend Thailand.

Which March destination drew you in the most? For me, it was Prague in the Czech Republic and Valencia in Spain — the festivals you can only catch in March were just too tempting. But Europe is so far away…… So I’d wanted to focus on Asia, but Asia doesn’t exactly have festivals in March or ideal weather, so the options were inevitably limited. Still, I hope this helped those of you considering a March trip, and if you can’t make it to Europe, well — a chicken will do if you can’t have the pheasant! Why not head to Japan or Thailand instead?!