Your March weather guide

Mild

Weather in Costa Blanca in March

March is a good time for Costa Blanca if you want mild days outdoors rather than a beach holiday built around swimming. Average daytime highs of 17.6°C make exploring on foot comfortable, but nights around 10°C call for a jacket. The sea is cold at 14.3°C, so sunshine does not mean swimming weather. For a UK traveller, the appeal is a gentler climate, provided you pack for changeable spring conditions rather than summer.

Long-term climate averages for Alicante, not a forecast · 1991-2020

Costa Blanca, month by month

Your snapshot

At a glance

The useful details for Alicante.

Average daytime high
17.6°C
9 in 10 days stay below 22°C
Average night-time low
10.0°C
coldest 10% of nights: 7°C or lower
Compared with London
+7.1°C
London averages 10.5°C in March
Sea temperature
14.3°C
year to year: 14°C to 15°C
Sunshine per day (est.)
6.7h
57% of 11.7 h of daylight
Rainy days (1 mm+)
6
41 mm over the month
Humidity
68%
Days over 25°C
1%
none over 30°C
Record high 1991-2020
30.8°C
2017-03-10
Record low 1991-2020
0.6°C
2005-03-08
Flight from London
≈ 2 h 30 min
1424 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 9th warmest month of the year in Costa Blanca. Within Spain it is 35th of 87 (Spain in March). Against London's average high of 10.5°C in March, Costa Blanca is 7.1°C warmer by day and 6.7°C warmer at night.

Daytime and night-time in March

The typical March day in Costa Blanca peaks at 17.6°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 21.5°C or more. Roughly 1 in 100 days top 25°C. Nights average 10.0°C; one night in ten drops to 7.0°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 30.8°C (2017-03-10) and the coldest night 0.6°C (2005-03-08).

Rain in March

Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 6 days with 1 mm or more, 41 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest March was 2020 with 146 mm, the driest 2014 with 1 mm. Humidity averages 68%.

Sea temperature in March

The sea averages 14.3°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 13.5°C to 15.1°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (26.4°C).

Sunshine and daylight

Around 6.7 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 11.7 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:13 and sets about 19:09 local time in mid-March. Average cloud cover is 43%.

Is March a good time to visit Costa Blanca?

March is not the strongest month here: mild days. The best months for Costa Blanca on our scoring are July, June, August; months averaging 25°C or more: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.

Warmer than London, but not reliably hot

Costa Blanca's average daytime high is 7.1°C above London's March figure of 10.5°C, a useful difference if you want to spend more time outside. The warmest days reach 21.5°C or more, so lighter clothes can be useful around midday. That is not the same as dependable heat: only 1% of days reach 25°C. Pack layers rather than relying on shorts and T-shirts throughout your stay. Evenings need a warmer layer, and the coldest nights fall to 7°C or below. March suits walking and relaxed outdoor plans better than a trip where hot weather is essential.

Useful sunshine, with room for wet-weather plans

March brings about 6.7 hours of sunshine within 11.7 hours of daylight, giving you a useful window for outdoor plans without suggesting clear skies all day. There are about 6 rainy days during the month, so rain is something to allow for rather than a reason to rule the trip out. A light waterproof is a sensible addition to your bag, alongside layers you can remove when the sun comes out. Keep your plans flexible enough to swap an outdoor afternoon for time indoors if needed. This is a reasonable month for travellers who can enjoy mild weather without needing uninterrupted sunshine.

The sea is the main compromise

At 14.3°C, the sea is cold, not merely a little fresh. The March range of 14°C to 15°C leaves little reason to expect comfortable swimming even in a warmer year. You may enjoy sitting by the sea when conditions feel pleasant, but do not make long swims the purpose of the holiday. A warm afternoon can make the coast inviting without making the water comfortable. If your priority is time outdoors in mild air, that trade-off may be fine. If swimming is central to your plans, March is a poor fit, regardless of how sunny the day looks.

A little perspective

Costa Blanca through the year

March is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.

Monthly climate averages

Swipe sideways on a phone; the month stays in view.

Costa Blanca monthly climate averages, 1991-2020; March is the selected month.
MonthDayNightSeaSun/dayRain mmRainy daysDays 25°C+
January15.0°C8.1°C14.6°C5.54660%
February15.5°C8.3°C13.8°C6.23560%
MarchSelected17.6°C10.0°C14.3°C6.74161%
April19.7°C11.9°C15.7°C7.34363%
May22.7°C15.0°C18.3°C8.231521%
Junebest26.9°C18.9°C22.0°C10.613275%
Julybest29.6°C21.8°C25.1°C11.96198%
Augustbest30.1°C22.5°C26.4°C10.017398%
September26.9°C20.0°C24.9°C7.260776%
October23.1°C16.4°C22.1°C6.060725%
November18.5°C12.1°C18.9°C5.45572%
December15.7°C9.2°C16.1°C5.04860%

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
  • Sea
Bars show average daytime highs and night-time lows; circles mark the average sea temperature. Same scale for every month. Exact values are in the table.

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.

A little more detail

Costa Blanca in March FAQs

Plain answers, grounded in the averages.

Is Costa Blanca hot in March?

Costa Blanca is mild in March: the average daytime high is 17.6°C and nights average 10.0°C. Roughly 1 in 100 March days reach 25°C.

Can you swim in the sea in Costa Blanca in March?

The sea around Costa Blanca averages 14.3°C in March, which is cold for swimming without a wetsuit. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 14°C to 15°C depending on the year.

How much does it rain in Costa Blanca in March?

Costa Blanca sees about 6 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 41 mm of rain in a typical March. The wettest March between 1991 and 2020 was 2020 (146 mm) and the driest was 2014 (1 mm).

How sunny is Costa Blanca in March?

Costa Blanca gets around 6.7 hours of sunshine a day in March out of 11.7 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).

How does Costa Blanca compare with the UK in March?

Costa Blanca is on average 7.1°C warmer than London by day in March (17.6°C against 10.5°C).

What is the hottest March on record in Costa Blanca?

Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest March day in Costa Blanca reached 30.8°C on 2017-03-10, and the coldest night dropped to 0.6°C on 2005-03-08.

Is March worth considering for a short break from the UK?

Yes, if you want mild weather rather than summer heat. The flight from London is about 2 h 30 min, making it a practical short-haul option. Pack for cool evenings and possible rain, and treat any particularly warm afternoons as a bonus.

Which months should I consider instead for a summer holiday?

June, July and August are the strongest choices overall. March is better viewed as a mild-weather option for spending time outdoors, not a substitute for summer. Choose it if avoiding strong heat matters more to you than hot days.

About these averages

ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020

Averages computed from daily values at Alicante. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 3 km from that point. 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