When to Go

Where to Go in March

702 places at their best in March, plus 17 festivals and seasons worth timing a trip around.

Festivals and Seasons in March

Must-See
Festivals & Seasons · Spring

Cherry Blossom Season

Japan's great spring moment, moving north from late March.

Guide Coming Soon
Must-See
Festivals & Seasons · Film

FESPACO

Africa's largest film festival, every two years.

Guide Coming Soon
Must-See
Festivals & Seasons · Parades

Mardi Gras in New Orleans

Louisiana
February or early March, ending on the day before Lent

Two weeks of parades, brass bands and costumes ending on Fat Tuesday. Book a room months ahead.

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Must-See
Festivals & Seasons · Carnival

Rio Carnival

Rio de Janeiro

The world's biggest party: samba schools parade through the Sambadrome, and street parties take over.

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Must-See
Festivals & Seasons · Carnival

Trinidad Carnival

The Caribbean's biggest party, with steel bands and soca, before Lent.

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Worth a Detour
Festivals & Seasons · Colors

Holi

North India

The festival of colors, in spring, at its wildest around Mathura and Vrindavan.

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Worth a Detour
Festivals & Seasons · Spring

National Cherry Blossom Festival

Washington, DC
Late March to mid-April

Thousands of cherry trees bloom around DC's Tidal Basin. The peak lasts only a few days; the Park Service forecasts it.

Full Guide
Worth a Detour
Festivals & Seasons · Festivals

Semana Santa in Seville

Hooded brotherhoods carry ornate floats through the streets in Spain's most famous Holy Week.

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Worth a Detour
Festivals & Seasons · Music

South by Southwest

Texas
March

Austin's giant music, film and tech festival, with hundreds of free shows around town for non-badge holders.

Full Guide
Worth a Detour
Festivals & Seasons · Masked dance

Tshechu Festivals

Sacred masked dances each year.

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If You're Nearby
Festivals & Seasons · Motor racing

Bahrain Grand Prix

A floodlit F1 race.

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If You're Nearby
Festivals & Seasons · UNESCO

Barranquilla Carnival

South America's second-biggest carnival, a masterpiece of African and Indigenous traditions.

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If You're Nearby
Festivals & Seasons · Masks

Carnival of Venice

Veneto

Masked balls and costumes in the two weeks before Lent.

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If You're Nearby
Festivals & Seasons · Rodeo

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

Texas
About three weeks in late February and March

The world's biggest rodeo, with a major concert after the competition every night.

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If You're Nearby
Festivals & Seasons · UNESCO

Las Fallas

Valencia

Valencia's huge satirical statues are burned in March.

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If You're Nearby
Festivals & Seasons · Lanterns

Pingxi Lantern Festival

Thousands of sky lanterns.

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If You're Nearby
Festivals & Seasons · Parades

St. Patrick's Festival

Dublin's huge parade and party in March.

Guide Coming Soon

At Their Best in March

Ranked by how worth the trip they are. Filter by kind of place, or switch between tiers.