The beautifil Promenade walk from Funchal Lido into the fishing viallge of Camara de Lobos on Madeira at sunset
Trip Ideas

The Best Places to Travel in March: Europe Edition

Whether you’re after a balmy beach holiday or a snowy alpine ski break, Europe has a lot to offer in March, when temperatures are generally mild, crowds have thinned out, and hotel rates dip as the continent slips into shoulder season. Below, eight destinations that are prepped to impress every type of traveler, from foodies to culture vultures to outdoor enthusiasts.

A Brooklyn-based writer and editor, Chelsea's work has appeared in Matador Network, The Huffington Post, the TripAdvisor blog, and more. When not planning her next trip, you'll usually find her drinking way too much iced coffee (always iced—she’s from New England) or bingeing a Netflix original series.

See recent posts by Chelsea Stuart

Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England
The lake in Blenheim Palace
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The Cotswolds, England

Looking to star in your own sweeping English drama whose backdrop features Atonement-style palaces and rolling green fields? Head for the Cotswolds, a pastoral region in south central England famous for its quaint villages, bucolic countryside, and rural charm. The intimate Artist Residence Oxfordshire is our hotel (and pub) of choice: the thatch-roof former farmhouse offers just six rustic guest rooms decorated with stone fireplaces, freestanding copper tubs, and exposed beam ceilings. From sleepy Oxfordshire, it’s just an 18-minute drive to Woodstock’s Blenheim Palace, known as the "real Downton Abbey." This is the ancestral home of the Dukes of Marlborough, or the Churchills, as you may know them. (Winston Churchill was born and raised on the Baroque palace grounds.) From there, it’s just another short car ride to Chipping Norton, where you’ll find The Wild Rabbit—a posh, 18th-century inn and kitchen and the perfect place to unwind after a day of sightseeing. On the menu: seasonal British dishes (think slow-roasted chicken and apple tartlets) alongside roaring stone hearths.

jr suite at Belmond Reid’s Palace
Lobby at Belmond Reid’s Palace
Madeira Island in Portugal
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Madeira, Portugal

If you’re looking for warmth, the Madeiras—a four-island archipelago south of Portugal and west of Morocco—enjoys a sunny, subtropical climate year-round. Make your home base Belmond Reid’s Palace in Funchal, the capital city. The dreamy, cliffside property is done up in British period décor and offers three luxe pools that look out over the Atlantic. For a homemade Madeiran meal, head to Arsenio’s in Old Town Funchal, where guests chow down on fresh seafood and barbecue skewers while live Fado performances (Portuguese folk music) are put on every night. When you’re ready for something a little more active, catch the 45-minute bus ride from Funchal to Curral das Freiras—and don’t forget your camera. The tiny 16th-century parish, which is home to only 2,000 residents, sits in a deep valley surrounded by near-perpendicular mountain peaks. Just be ready for a heart-stopping journey as you trundle along some of the city’s sheerest cliffside roads.

RELATED: 7 Regions in Portugal Worth Visiting (Before the Crowds Come)

Skiers on a mountain in Innsbruck, Austria
Skiers on a mountain in Innsbruck, Austria
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Innsbruck, Austria

France’s Chamonix and Switzerland’s Zermatt may steal most of Europe's skiing spotlight, but there’s a case to be made for Innsbruck, Austria, an alpine town that’s twice hosted the Winter Olympics. After throwing your bags down at Hotel Grauer Bär—the modern stay features a rooftop hot tub and views of the Alps—make use of a Olympia Skiworld pass, which grants you access to nine different ski areas and 185 miles of pistes (we're talking options for beginners, pros, families, and joy riders) in and around the city. FYI: Austria enjoys ski season through April, so you’ll have plenty of time to shred. Once you’ve exhausted yourself on the slopes, go for the seven-course tasting menu at Oniriq. An elevated take on a gastro-pub, the largely vegetarian spot switches up its menu every 8 to 10 weeks; previous courses have included cassava with garden peas, elderberry-capers, elderflower puree, and lime-blossom vinaigrette, and pike perch with yellow beet, trumpet chanterelle, and grape seed oil.

The port of San Sebastian with the downtown in background at sunny day
La Concha beach in San Sebastian, Spain
View to San Sebastian from top of the hill.
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San Sebastián, Spain

Looking for idyllic beaches and next-level gastronomy? Beach bums and foodies should try San Sebastián on for size. Second only to Kyoto for its concentration of Michelin-starred venues, the Spanish resort town delivers with its Basque cuisine and Bay of Biscay coastline. First thing’s first: check in at Akelarre Hotel & Restaurant. Just 10 minutes from San Sebastian’s city center, the five-star boutique is a modern masterpiece that unfolds around a show-stopping spiral staircase. Even more impressive than the hotel's gallery-esque digs is the attached three-Michelin-starred restaurant from Spanish chef Pedro Subijana, which draws guests from the world over with its haute seafood-driven menu. Once you’ve stuffed yourself with Iberico carpaccio, lobster salad, and whole red mullet, take the next day to lay out on La Concha Beach or check out the bars, shops, and narrow alleyways of Parte Vieja (Old Town).

Malin Head rocks in Republic of Ireland
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County Donegal, Ireland

Ready to hole up in a castle and quell those royal fantasies? Head off for County Donegal, a wild slice of Northern Ireland where remote mountain passes meet a rugged Atlantic coast. There, you’ll find Lough Eske Castle, a 14th-century estate that was previously the seat of the O’Donnell clan. Today, the five-star hotel treats guests to a taste of the high life with four-poster beds, spa-influenced bathrooms, and unmatched service. Once bags are unpacked, take a day trip to Malin Head, the most northerly point of the country. The rough, romantic scenery is such a surreal sight that it was even cast in a Star Wars movie. When you’re ready to pick up some souvenirs, opt for the Donegal Craft Village, just a 10-minute drive from Lough Eske. There you can interact with artists in their workshops and pick up hand-woven tapestries, landscape paintings, hand blown glass jewelry, and more. Gifts secured, cap off your night with a local brew at The Old Castle Bar, a traditional stone pub that’s one of the most photographed buildings in the county.

RELATED: 7 Castle Hotels in Ireland We'd Love to Sleep In

view of Neuschwanstein Castle
Inside of Neuschwanstein castle
Aerial view of Munich over Theatine Church of St. Cajetan
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Munich, Germany

Centuries-old beer halls and storied Baroque palaces meet ultra-modern landmarks like BMW’s car engine-shaped headquarters in Bavaria’s bustling capital. Though many visitors plan a fall visit in order to throw back steins during Oktoberfest, March is a great time to go thanks to lower prices and fewer crowds. Check in at the sleek, moody Roomers Munich, which sits on busy Landsberger Strasse, just a 10-minute ride from the city center and Marienplatz. The 281-room hotel is nothing if not high-design, with deep soaking tubs, sensual black-and-white prints, and mirrors galore. With a home base established, head out to the ornately frescoed Asam Church, one of Munich’s absolute must-sees. After getting your fill of German Rococo architecture, spend the rest of the night Dinner Hopping. Guests board a vintage coach bus that stops at some of Munich’s best restaurants for a three-course, three-hour meal that also zips you past some of the city’s most famous sights. Before you leave town, be sure to plan a day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle, a Romanesque Revival palace that served as Disney’s inspiration for Sleeping Beauty's digs

Saint John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta, Malta
Interior of St John's Co-Cathedral - Valletta, Malta
skyline of Valletta, Malta
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Valletta, Malta

When it comes to Mediterranean sojourns, Greece, Italy, and Croatia may be your first considerations, but Malta will always be ready and waiting. Named the official European Capital of Culture in 2018, Valletta is no city to sleep on. A fortified town established way back in the 1500s, Valletta bills itself as an open-air museum, and true to form, the tiny UNESCO World Heritage Site is chock full of Baroque landmarks, modernist piazzas, and harbor-view gardens. For convenient access to the city center, check in at The Saint John, a converted 19th-century townhouse that’s now kitted out with industrial decor and an urban-casual restaurant that serves up a Maltese breakfast and late-night bites. A three-minute walk up the street, guests will find one of the city’s most impressive sights — St. John’s Co-Cathedral. The 16th-century church’s plain limestone facade belies its insanely ornate interior which is done up with marble carvings and one of Caravaggio’s most famous paintings. Once you’ve gotten your historical fill, drinks and mezze platters are to be had at Kingsway Valletta, a stylish bar-cafe on pedestrian Republic Street.

RELATED: 11 Secret European Beaches You Need to Discover

Spring near the the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest, Romania
Architectural indoor details from the Romanian Palace of Parliament
Lobby of Athenee Palace Hilton Bucharest
Bedroom of Athenee Palace Hilton Bucharest
Bucharest Old Town Sunny Summer Day - Romania
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Bucharest, Romania

If you’ve already made multiple trips to Italy, France, and Spain, it's time to expand your horizons to eastern Europe. Bucharest may be overshadowed by other capital cities, but it's still a surprisingly delightful mix of museums, nightlife, and crazy communist-era buildings—not to mention the fact that it’s super affordable. Before you do anything, drop your bags at Athénée Palace Hilton Bucharest, an Art Nouveau property that once was WWII’s most notorious spy den. Today, the heritage hotel’s décor—we're talking Belle Époque flourishes in the lobby, marble columns, and crystal chandeliers—still very much reflects its 1914 origins. What’s more attention-grabbing than Athénée’s architecture, however, is the Palace of Parliament. One of the world’s largest administrative buildings, the palace is a highly contentious symbol of Bucharest’s communist past. Once you’ve taken in the building’s colossal scope on a guided tour (the only way you can get in), head for a drink and some light shopping at The Urbanist. In recent years, Bucharest has seen its café culture boom, and this little spot is a shining star on the emerging scene. A combined bar/coffee shop/tattoo parlor/denim purveyor/barbershop, you’ll find something for everyone here.

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