Best places to travel in March

March can be a cool month in the north of Italy, but the south is sunny and mild, making it a wonderful time to explore Sicily, Puglia, or Naples. We love visiting in March because the country is empty of other visitors when compared to the summer months, so you’ll have more room and quiet to enjoy visits to museums and other sights.

If Holy Week falls in March, you can also soak up the pomp and pageantry of the processions in Rome and across the country — seemingly every village and town has its own celebrations. This is also the month when Roman drivers get their vehicles blessed at the church of Santa Francesca (9th March).

While much of Chile can be visited year-round, the jagged mountains of Patagonia are only easily accessed during the summer. With March falling at the tail-end of Chile’s summer, you can still go hiking in Patagonia and will see fewer visitors compared to earlier in the season.

Visiting Chile in March also gives you the chance to see autumn leaves beginning to show in the Lake District, and as the summer crowds thin out, the national parks become much quieter. It’s also wine-harvesting season, with several festivals taking places across the country’s wine region that feature grape stomping, live music and, of course, wine tasting.

As South Africa transitions from summer to autumn, you’ll experience comfortably warm temperatures and little rain. Visit the Winelands to experience the wine harvest in full swing, and enjoy the beaches around Cape Town and along the Garden Route, where there’ll be fewer visitors than in the summer months (as long as you avoid the Easter break).

On safari in the Kruger region, the rains subside and you’ll experience the bush at its thickest and greenest, with rivers in full flow and animals at their healthiest. Some migratory bird species will still be around, and big cats will spend more time out of the shade during the day as temperatures become more comfortable.

As summer fades and visitor numbers thin, March makes an excellent time to visit New Zealand. Outside of Easter, you can enjoy quieter walking tracks, near-empty beaches and a wide choice of hotels while still experiencing pleasant temperatures and a good chance of sunshine.

Across the South Island, temperatures are slightly cooler. This is reflected in the dazzling displays of red and gold foliage you’ll see while driving, hiking or biking through the landscape of mountains and lakes. Wildlife is still plentiful at this time of year, including sperm whales and orcas off the coast of Kaikōura.

March marks the start of spring in Japan, with milder temperatures and the season’s first blooms. Visit in the first few weeks of March and you’re likely to catch the small, bright-pink flowers of plum blossom, and if you travel to Hokkaido, fields of tulips and phlox in a rainbow of colors.

It can be tricky to predict, but March also sees the start of cherry blossom season, with the first blossoms appearing in Okinawa in the south and moving slowly northward, with peak viewing around late March or early April. Japan’s gardens act as a seasonal showcase, as their protective winter coverings are removed and they sprout fresh foliage and flowers.

With temperatures on the rise, spring flowers in bloom and fewer visitors than subsequent months, March is an excellent time to visit Portugal. While it’s not quite warm enough to spend hours on the beach, it’s a great time for coastal walks, and you can see the last of the huge winter waves that bring surfers to the west coast and the Algarve. Days gradually turn sunnier, and in cities like Lisbon and Porto you can stroll the historic streets, taking in sights without the crowds of summer (as long as you avoid Easter time).