Where to Travel in March: Editor’s Letter

Dear reader,

Every year, somewhere around the end of February, my inbox fills with the same question in a dozen different forms. Where should I go in March? Is it too early for Japan? Too late for Rajasthan? Is Europe still cold? Is it worth trying Southeast Asia before the heat sets in? It is such a simple question, and yet it is one of my favourites, because the honest answer is: almost anywhere, if you choose well.

March is the hinge of the travel year. In much of the northern hemisphere, winter is loosening its grip, but summer has not yet arrived. The days lengthen noticeably, week by week. Flowers arrive before the crowds do. Prices in many places have not yet reached their peaks. And for those of us travelling from India, where March can already feel warm, there is something irresistible about stepping into a spring morning somewhere cooler.

That is why this issue of Travel Viewpoint looks outwards. We have tried to answer the March question properly, not with a list of twenty destinations, but with a handful of journeys and ideas that show you what the month can do.

What is in this issue

We begin with the practical and the affordable. Our guide to affordable international destinations with perfect March weather is for anyone who wants to travel well without spending a fortune, and it is a good place to start your planning.

Then there is Japan. It is impossible to talk about March travel without the cherry blossoms, and our piece on why Japan’s early blossoms make March a dream explains the magic of sakura season. We have followed it with two pieces I am especially fond of. The first, Three Days in Kyoto at Blossom Time, Not a Checklist, is a gentle plan for a city that can feel overwhelming in spring: early mornings, long walks, and the quiet moments between famous sights. The second is our guest slot this month, a portrait of Nara, the ancient capital less than an hour away, which offers temples, sacred deer and cherry trees with a little more room to breathe.

For travellers drawn to warmth, we look at Southeast Asia, which in March often offers less rain and more fun, while reminding you that conditions vary from place to place within the region.

And for those who love history and culture, we travel to Morocco, Spain and Egypt, and then draw one line that connects them: Seville to Marrakech, a slow route from the orange blossom of Andalusia across the Strait of Gibraltar to the medinas of Fes and Marrakech. If you only take one March journey this year, I hope you will consider this one. It is the route that, to me, best explains what this month is about.

A month to travel thoughtfully

This March has a particular rhythm. Ramadan falls across most of the month in 2025, ending around its close with Eid. In Morocco, Egypt, Turkey and much of Southeast Asia, that shapes the daily flow of life, with quiet afternoons and wonderfully lively evenings. Travelling during Ramadan can be a privilege, if you go with respect and a little planning. Our practical pieces explain how.

Later in spring, Holy Week will bring processions to Spain, and the blossom will move north through Japan. All of these are reminders that we are guests in other people’s calendars, and that the best travel happens when we take the time to understand them.

That is also why we have included What to Skip on Your First March Trip Abroad. It is not a list of places to avoid, but of habits: chasing a single bloom date, arriving at the famous sight at midday, trying to cram six countries into ten days, and leaving visas until the last moment. Every one of those mistakes is something I, or someone I know, has made. We wanted to save you the trouble.

And because every great trip depends on the practical details, we close with Food, Stay and Getting Around, a guide to eating with the season, choosing the right base, and moving by train, bus and foot. Alongside it, our packing tips and travel hacks for March travel abroad will help you prepare for the month’s changeable weather.

Why we travel in spring

I have been thinking a great deal lately about why spring travel feels so special. Part of it is simply the weather: walking is a pleasure again, and evenings outdoors are comfortable. Part of it is the sense of renewal that every culture seems to share at this time of year, from the hanami picnics of Japan to the Persian New Year, Nowruz, celebrated in many countries around the equinox, and the spring festivals of our own country.

But I think the deeper reason is that spring makes us notice things. The first blossoms, the first warm afternoon, the first evening when the light lingers. Travel does the same. It wakes us up to details we would otherwise walk past.

So my wish for you this March is simple. Go somewhere new, even if it is not far. Travel a little more slowly than you planned. Get up early at least once to see a famous place before the crowds. Eat what the season offers. And leave some space in every day for the things you could not have planned.

As always, we would love to hear where March takes you. Write to us, share your stories, and tell us what we missed.

Happy travels, and happy spring.

Warmly,

Khushi Anand, Editor