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15 of the best city breaks in March
Where to go and what to see on a short break this spring
Spring is an excellent time to travel and if you're looking for somewhere vibrant to visit this year, you've come to the right place as we've rounded up the best city breaks in March for 2024.
March is the perfect month to celebrate the start of the season, when you can make the most of the sunshine and warmer temperatures while exploring a new destination.
EXPLORE MORE HOLIDAYS IN MARCH
Whether you're looking for city breaks in the UK or somewhere romantic, like Venice or Florence, you'll want to keep reading for our pick of March city breaks at home and abroad.
See our pick of the best places to visit for a short break in March, from a vibrant spot to see the Northern Lights, to a mid-haul location to feel the spring-time heat on your skin...
And for more city break inspiration, take a look at our collection of cultural getaways.
Athens
For many, March is the best month to visit the Greek capital, with poppies and daisies blooming in neighbourhoods and around ancient monuments, mild sunny weather perfect for sightseeing, fewer people, and reduced entry fees to historic sites and museums.
Come to Athens late in the month and you can catch Greek Independence Day on 25th, which is also the religious holiday of the Annunciation. Expect a huge parade and free entry to the Acropolis Museum (although the Acropolis itself and other archaeological sites are closed for a day), and try the traditional Independence Day dish bakaliaros skordalia (fried salted cod with garlic sauce).
Paris
If you luck out with the weather, March in Paris can be delightful, with trees blossoming and spring flowers bringing colour to the streets and parks – plus the exuberance of the quirky Carnaval des Femmes, a Seine-side parade dating back to the 18th century, when washerwomen working on riverboats would pick a queen for a day from among their cohort.
But even if it’s rainy, there’s so much to do indoors in Paris in March, you won’t care: pick from the Banlieues Bleues jazz festival, the Vertical Race up the Eiffel Tower, two film festivals (one for foreign film, one for documentaries) and the Drawing Now Paris Exhibition in the gorgeous Carreau du Temple covered market.
Seville
March sees perfect sightseeing weather in the Andalusian capital but also the fewest crowds, meaning you can amble around its magnificent array of Moorish, Christian and Jewish architecture in comfort, before spending the evening taking in some tapas and a flamenco show.
The best time to come to Seville is the end of the month, when Semana Santa (Holy Week – the week before Easter), brings celebrations including processions of people in traditional robes and pointed hats carrying statues through the streets.
Washington DC
Head Stateside to really celebrate the start of the new season with a trip to Washington DC, where you can see the city transform into a blooming pink wonderland for cherry blossom season.
Gifted by Japan in the early 1900s, the 3,000 cherry blossom trees are celebrated over five weeks from 20 March for the National Cherry Blossom Festival.
Krakow
The southern Polish city with its lovely medieval centre and Jewish district is still chilly in March, but you can warm up with dumplings and vodka shots after bagging some pisanka (elaborately painted wood or ceramic eggs) and other local crafts at its Easter market, which always begins two weeks before Easter itself on the main Rynek Glowny square.
Other treats include Bach Days, a week-long celebration of the classical composer; and the Drowning of Marzanna ritual on the spring equinox (21 March), when Poles bid farewell to winter by burning an effigy of a witch and tossing it into the river.
Venice
Exploring Venice before the summer rush starts, as it awakes from winter and the spring sunshine lights up its magnificent buildings, is simply beautiful.
It’s also a fantastic season for local produce and Venetian cooking is some of the most refined and delicious in all of Italy (with stiff competition!)
Dublin
March 17th celebrates St Patrick’s Day and all things Irish, with Dublin’s biggest festival spanning over five days and attracting more than 100,000 visitors who travel for the huge party, which sees the pubs and streets brimming with revellers from around the world.
Florence
For a serious dose of culture, there are few better cities than Florence, with its sprawling alleyways and dreamy spires. It’s also the epicentre of Tuscan cuisine, where you’ll find mouth-watering street food and traditional trattorias serving up hearty plates of rural fare alongside some of Europe’s most revered wines.
Art-lovers will adore the frescoes on the walls of Florence’s ancient churches, or sculptures, like Michelangelo’s David, housed in the museums here.
Dubai
Want spring-time heat? Dubai’s a great choice for guaranteed sunshine and temperatures in the mid to high 20s in March.
The month also celebrates the Dubai World Cup on 30 March, so and there's plenty to keep you entertained during your trip.
Tromso
For a European city break to remember, head north to combine vibrant nightlife, local food and unique activities with the chance to spot the mystical Northern Lights in Norway's largest city in the north of the country, Tromso.
The lights are best viewed from September to April, with March providing a great chance to spot them in all their glory.
Rome
If you head to Rome towards the end of March, you can enjoy warmer weather and the Easter celebrations.
It's the perfect time to soak up the culture, taste delicious Italian food and stroll the historic streets without the summer crowds.
Istanbul
Istanbul is an excellent city for experiencing a combination of the East and West. March is a great time to visit, when the warm, dry weather provides excellent conditions for browsing the endless streets and bazaars of the cities.
Be sure to explore both sides of the Bosphorus and don't miss the amazing Topkapi Palace and Blue Mosque.
Vienna
The start of spring is a great time to visit Austria's capital city, when you can avoid the summer crowds and soak up the start of a new season on a Vienna city break in March.
There are museum exhibitions to browse and spring flowers to spot. This is your chance to go green and discover the imperial parks, tree-lined boulevards and blooming gardens of Vienna.
Edinburgh
See Edinburgh on a city break in March as Scotland's weather starts to get milder. There's more hotel room availability than during the festival and event seasons and you’ll be able to get a table at some of the city’s hottest restaurants.
The city has a vibrant independent dining scene with some of the country’s most exciting chefs cooking up a storm, as well as Michelin-starred dining on offer.
Palma
March sees a rise in temperatures in Mallorca as spring arrives with highs of up to 17C, making it a pleasant time to explore.
Ancient port city Palma offers a blend of Gothic, Moorish and Renaissance monuments alongside palm trees, harbours and a great selection of shops and restaurants.
More city break ideas:
The best city breaks for 2025
The best Airbnbs in Marrakech
How to plan the perfect trip to Copenhagen
The best cities for solo travel
