Your March weather guide
CoolWeather in Budapest in March
Budapest in March suits a cool-weather city break, not a trip for warmth. Average daytime highs are 10.6°C, nights fall to 1.3°C, and about 8 days have rain. Go if you are happy walking in layers and making room for indoor breaks. The main catch is the cold after dark: a comfortable afternoon does not mean a comfortable evening. For a UK traveller, the daytime temperature will feel familiar rather than noticeably warmer.
Long-term climate averages for Budapest, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Budapest, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Budapest.
- Average daytime high
- 10.6°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 17°C
- Average night-time low
- 1.3°C
- coldest 10% of nights: -3°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +0.1°C
- London averages 10.5°C in March
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 4.7h
- 41% of 11.6 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 8
- 41 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 71%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 21.5°C
- 2019-03-31
- Record low 1991-2020
- -14.3°C
- 2006-03-07
- Flight from London
- ≈ 2 h 36 min
- 1447 km, short-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How March compares
March is the 8th warmest month of the year in Budapest and ranks 129th of 134 destinations we compare for March - see where else is hot in March. Against London's average high of 10.5°C in March, Budapest is 0.1°C warmer by day and 2.0°C cooler at night.
Daytime and night-time in March
The typical March day in Budapest peaks at 10.6°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 16.7°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 1.3°C; one night in ten drops to -3.3°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest March day here reached 21.5°C (2019-03-31) and the coldest night -14.3°C (2006-03-07).
Rain in March
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 8 days with 1 mm or more, 41 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest March was 2013 with 128 mm, the driest 2012 with 2 mm. Humidity averages 71%.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 4.7 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 11.6 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 05:57 and sets about 17:49 local time in mid-March. Average cloud cover is 60%.
Is March a good time to visit Budapest?
March is not the strongest month here: cool days. The best months for Budapest on our scoring are August, July, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jul, Aug.
Pack for cold evenings, not just mild afternoons
The average high makes March workable for spending time outdoors, provided you dress for cool conditions rather than spring sunshine alone. Milder days can reach 16.7°C or more, but the colder nights drop to -3.3°C or below. That spread makes removable layers more useful than relying on a light jacket. Bring a warm coat for evenings, with gloves or a scarf if you feel the cold. Plan longer walks around the warmer part of the day and keep evening plans flexible. This month suits travellers who prefer walking without heat; it is a poor choice if sitting outside comfortably after dark is central to the trip.
Keep outdoor plans flexible around rain and sunshine
About 8 rainy days means rain is a consideration, but it need not dictate the whole trip. A water-resistant outer layer and shoes you can comfortably walk in when it is wet are sensible choices. There is about 4.7 hours of sunshine within 11.6 hours of daylight, so do not confuse a reasonably long day with continuous sunshine. Use brighter spells for time outdoors and leave indoor breaks flexible rather than fixing everything in advance. March works best if you are content with mixed conditions. If your enjoyment depends on reliably sunny afternoons, the limited sunshine is a stronger reason to reconsider than the rain alone.
A little perspective
Budapest through the year
March is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3.1°C | -2.9°C | 2.7 | 36 | 8 | 0% |
| February | 5.5°C | -2.3°C | 3.5 | 36 | 8 | 0% |
| MarchSelected | 10.6°C | 1.3°C | 4.7 | 41 | 8 | 0% |
| April | 16.6°C | 6.3°C | 6.1 | 46 | 9 | 2% |
| May | 21.2°C | 11.3°C | 6.6 | 67 | 12 | 20% |
| Junebest | 24.8°C | 15.3°C | 7.4 | 71 | 11 | 48% |
| Julybest | 26.9°C | 17.2°C | 8.1 | 72 | 10 | 68% |
| Augustbest | 26.9°C | 17.0°C | 8.1 | 58 | 9 | 69% |
| September | 21.4°C | 12.6°C | 5.8 | 58 | 8 | 21% |
| October | 15.7°C | 7.7°C | 4.4 | 52 | 8 | 1% |
| November | 9.2°C | 3.0°C | 2.8 | 52 | 9 | 0% |
| December | 3.6°C | -1.8°C | 2.4 | 44 | 8 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in March
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
Bulgaria · 11°C by day · sea 7°C
Sunny Beach
Turkey · 11°C by day · sea 8°C
Istanbul
Slovenia · 10°C by day
Bled
Greece · 12°C by day · sea 12°C
Thassos
France · 12°C by day
Paris
A little more detail
Budapest in March FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Budapest hot in March?
Budapest is cool in March: the average daytime high is 10.6°C and nights average 1.3°C. Days over 25°C are rare in March.
How much does it rain in Budapest in March?
Budapest sees about 8 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 41 mm of rain in a typical March. The wettest March between 1991 and 2020 was 2013 (128 mm) and the driest was 2012 (2 mm).
How sunny is Budapest in March?
Budapest gets around 4.7 hours of sunshine a day in March out of 11.6 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Budapest compare with the UK in March?
Budapest is on average 0.1°C warmer than London by day in March (10.6°C against 10.5°C).
What is the hottest March on record in Budapest?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest March day in Budapest reached 21.5°C on 2019-03-31, and the coldest night dropped to -14.3°C on 2006-03-07.
Is Budapest warmer than London in March?
Not meaningfully during the day. Budapest averages 10.6°C, compared with London's 10.5°C, a difference of just 0.1°C. Choose Budapest for a change of city rather than warmer daytime weather, and pack for nights averaging 1.3°C.
Should I choose March or wait for warmer weather?
Choose March if cool-weather walking appeals and you do not mind cold evenings. If warmth matters more, look towards June, July or August, the strongest months overall for weather here. March is not a warm-weather option.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid), 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Budapest. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C