Why March Works for a Honeymoon
March gives you options in every direction. You can chase snow and the northern lights, wander temple gardens as blossoms open, hike slot canyons in mild sunshine, or lie on a white-sand beach in Turks & Caicos with humpbacks passing offshore. Few months offer such distinct experiences at the same time.
It is also an underrated month for the Arctic. Compared with midwinter, March usually brings more daylight for activities, slightly milder temperatures and still-dark nights. Some aurora watchers note that geomagnetic activity often seems to tick up around the equinoxes. For couples who married in winter, March is also a natural time to finally take the trip, once the post-wedding dust has settled and before summer pricing kicks in.
Our Top Picks for March
Kyoto tops our list if your dates fall in the last week or so of March. Cherry blossoms typically open in late March and peak around early April, transforming the Philosopher's Path and Maruyama Park. Hoshinoya Kyoto (reached by private boat along the river in Arashiyama) and Aman Kyoto (set in a forest garden in the north of the city) both offer calm retreats from the crowds. Book far in advance; blossom season is Kyoto's busiest.
Fairbanks is our favorite aurora destination for March. The nights are still long and dark, yet there is more daylight for dog sledding and hot springs. The cold is usually less extreme than in January. Borealis Basecamp, with its clear-roofed igloo-style rooms in the boreal forest north of the city, lets you watch the sky from bed.
Sedona and Southern Utah are glorious in March. Spring brings warm days, cool nights and comfortable trail conditions to the red rocks. In Sedona, Enchantment Resort sits inside Boynton Canyon, L'Auberge de Sedona rests along Oak Creek and Ambiente, A Landscape Hotel offers kid-free glass atriums facing the formations. Across the border, Amangiri is a desert sanctuary for couples who want stillness and bold architecture.
Grace Bay in Turks & Caicos is a beach pick with a wildlife bonus: humpback whales typically migrate through nearby waters from about January through April. Grace Bay Club is one of the most romantic places to stay on the beach itself.
Phuket remains dry and sunny. March is often slightly better value than peak December through February. Trisara's private bay and Keemala's whimsical treehouse-style villas both make great honeymoon bases.
Tulum is still in dry season, too. To escape spring break energy, choose a quieter, design-forward stay like Azulik Tulum, which is kid-free, or Be Tulum on the southern hotel strip toward Sian Ka'an.
Weather & Crowds
In the Southwest, March temperatures are generally pleasant by day and chilly at night, with occasional late-winter storms possible. Kyoto can feel crisp, with mild days and cool evenings. In Fairbanks, temperatures can still be well below freezing, so dress for real cold.
The Caribbean and Mexico stay warm and mostly dry, with highs in the low to mid 80s Fahrenheit. Phuket is hotter and still dry.
Crowds vary. Japan's blossom season is extremely busy. Spring break creates pockets of high demand in Mexico, the Caribbean and parts of Arizona and Utah. Weekdays are easier everywhere and kid-free resorts help avoid the family rush.
Where to Avoid (or Go Anyway)
French Polynesia and Fiji are near the end of their wet, cyclone-prone season. Late March can bring improving weather, but the reliable dry months begin around May. If you are flexible, wait. If not, buy travel insurance and choose a resort like The Brando, whose enclosed lagoon stays calm.
Santorini and Mykonos are still largely closed. Newfoundland's travel season does not begin until later in spring; Fogo Island Inn typically opens around April.
One more caution: in Chiang Rai & the Golden Triangle, late February to April can bring haze from seasonal agricultural burning. If you are sensitive to smoke, avoid northern Thailand in March and head to Phuket or Krabi instead.
Festivals & Seasonal Moments
- Cherry blossom season usually begins in Kyoto in late March. Each year Japan's weather agencies publish forecasts, which are worth watching closely.
- The World Ice Art Championships are typically held in Fairbanks from late February into March, with sculptures that glow at night.
- The spring equinox, around March 20, is a popular time for aurora watchers across the Arctic.
- Humpback whales are still present in the Turks & Caicos, Los Cabos, Banderas Bay and Hawaii.
- Semana Santa, the week before Easter, can fall in March or April and brings big domestic crowds to Mexico's beaches.
- Pasola, the mounted ritual in western Sumba, usually continues into March.
Booking Tips
If cherry blossoms are your dream, book Kyoto hotels as early as possible, but remember that bloom dates shift with the weather each year. Building three or four nights in Kyoto gives you a better chance of catching peak bloom.
For Arizona and Utah, reserve dinners and popular guided hikes ahead of time, especially on weekends. Check whether any park requires timed entry reservations for your dates.
For beach trips, compare your dates with major university spring breaks and look at kid-free properties if you want a quieter vibe. In the Arctic, keep at least one evening free and flexible for a last-minute aurora chase when the forecast looks promising.