Where to go for a beach holiday in March?
The 8 best destinations for a beach holiday in March, ranked on the weather actually recorded.
For a beach holiday in March, we kept seaside or island destinations with at least 24 °C in the afternoon, a sea at 22 °C or more where we measure it, and no more than eight days of rain. Temperatures and rainfall are real records, averaged from 2015 to 2024 at each destination's reference point, and the sea is measured at the nearest coastal point. 8 destinations pass this filter, in Africa, Asia and Americas. Top of the ranking: Goa (32 °C in the afternoon, 2 days of rain, sea at 29 °C).
The ranking at a glance
| # | Destination | Afternoon | Rainy days | Sea (°C) | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇮🇳 Goa | 32 °C | 2 | 29 °C | €30-70 a day |
| 2 | 🇲🇽 The Yucatán | 33 °C | 3 | 27 °C | €90-180 a day |
| 3 | 🇴🇲 Oman | 30 °C | 1 | 25 °C | €110-180 a day |
| 4 | 🇹🇭 Thailand | 33 °C | 8 | 30 °C | €30-60 a day |
| 5 | 🇦🇪 Dubai and Abu Dhabi | 29 °C | 1 | 24 °C | €150-300 a day |
| 6 | 🇨🇴 Cartagena | 33 °C | 6 | 28 °C | €60-120 a day |
| 7 | 🇪🇬 The Egyptian Red Sea | 24 °C | 0 | 22 °C | €50-110 a day |
| 8 | 🇵🇭 El Nido | 30 °C | 7 | 26 °C | €55-110 a day |
The 8 destinations in detail
City1 🇮🇳 Goa
🌡️ 32 °C in the afternoon, 2 days of rain, sea at 29 °C · 💶 €30-70 a day
Goa lines up 100 km of beaches on the Arabian Sea, listed baroque churches in Old Goa and ochre Portuguese houses in Fontainhas. India's smallest state is explored by scooter, is best visited from November to March and costs less than €50 a day if you stay in guesthouses.
City2 🇲🇽 The Yucatán
🌡️ 33 °C in the afternoon, 3 days of rain, sea at 27 °C · 💶 €90-180 a day
The Yucatán means the Mayan ruins of Tulum facing the sea, cenotes where you dive into clear fresh water, and the white sand of the Riviera Maya. Caribbean beaches and Mayan culture, side by side.
Countries3 🇴🇲 Oman
🌡️ 30 °C in the afternoon, 1 day of rain, sea at 25 °C · 💶 €110-180 a day
Oman means the turquoise pools of Wadi Shab, the ochre dunes of the Wahiba Sands where you sleep in a desert camp, and the mud-brick forts of Nizwa. An authentic Gulf, far from the bustle, all the way to the fjords of Musandam.
Countries4 🇹🇭 Thailand
🌡️ 33 °C in the afternoon, 8 days of rain, sea at 30 °C · 💶 €30-60 a day
Thailand means the hubbub of Bangkok's markets, golden temples, the green north around Chiang Mai, then the turquoise islands of the south. Street food on every corner, and a first trip to Asia of rare ease.
Countries5 🇦🇪 Dubai and Abu Dhabi
🌡️ 29 °C in the afternoon, 1 day of rain, sea at 24 °C · 💶 €150-300 a day
The Emirates mean the view from the top of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the white marble Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi, and a dune safari at sunset. Futuristic luxury, unashamedly, on the edge of the desert.
City6 🇨🇴 Cartagena
🌡️ 33 °C in the afternoon, 6 days of rain, sea at 28 °C · 💶 €60-120 a day
Cartagena plays in two registers, five minutes' walk apart: the walled city with its ochre façades and wooden balconies, and Getsemaní, rawer and noisier, where the walls are painted and the terraces spill straight onto the street. In between, a heat that will not negotiate and touts who follow you all day long, two realities the brochures forget to mention.
Region7 🇪🇬 The Egyptian Red Sea
🌡️ 24 °C in the afternoon, 0 days of rain, sea at 22 °C · 💶 €50-110 a day
Egypt's Red Sea means 1,000 km of coast down to the Sudanese border, with Sinai opposite, reefs that begin five metres from the shore and water at 22°C in January. Around five hours' direct flight from much of Europe, resorts under €100 and dives such as the Thistlegorm or Ras Mohammed.
City8 🇵🇭 El Nido
🌡️ 30 °C in the afternoon, 7 days of rain, sea at 26 °C · 💶 €55-110 a day
Forty-five limestone islands rising from Bacuit Bay, with enclosed lagoons you paddle into by kayak between cliffs two hundred metres high. Four bangka tours lettered A to D cover the essentials, provided you set off ahead of the other boats.
Frequently asked questions
Where to go for a beach holiday in March?
Goa, The Yucatán, Oman, Thailand and Dubai and Abu Dhabi top our ranking for a beach holiday in March. In first place, Goa: 32 °C in the afternoon, 2 days of rain, sea at 29 °C on average over 2015-2024.
Which is the closest beach destination in March?
The Egyptian Red Sea, about 5h by air from Paris, with 24 °C in the afternoon, 0 days of rain, sea at 22 °C in March.
Where does it rain least in March among these destinations?
The Egyptian Red Sea: 0 days of rain on average in March, with 24 °C in the afternoon.
Where is it hottest in March?
Among these destinations, The Yucatán, with 33 °C in the afternoon on average in March: plan your sightseeing for early morning and late afternoon.
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