Where is hot in March?

March in brief

Chiang Mai leads the table with 34°C by day and 21°C at night and 2 rainy days (12 h from London). Ho Chi Minh City leads with 34°C by day and 24°C at night and 5 rainy days (13 h 30 min from London). Bangkok leads with 34°C by day and 26°C at night, a 29°C sea and 6 rainy days (12 h 42 min from London). Guanacaste leads with 33°C by day and 23°C at night, a 27°C sea and 1 rainy days (11 h 42 min from London). Krabi leads with 32°C by day and 25°C at night, a 30°C sea and 13 rainy days (13 h 12 min from London).

Warm rather than hot (20-25°C): Boa Vista 25°C, Hanoi 25°C, Orlando 25°C, Cape Town 25°C, Bahamas 24°C, Hawaii 24°C and 12 more. Hot but wet - over 25°C with more than eight rainy days: Krabi (13 days), Mombasa (16 days), Khao Lak (15 days), Kuala Lumpur (25 days), Zanzibar (21 days). Over 30°C by day: Chiang Mai, Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, Guanacaste, Krabi, Goa and 5 more. For scale, London averages 11°C in March.

Short, mid and long-haul in March

• Short-haul (up to 4.5 h): Agadir 24°C, Marrakech 22°C, Gran Canaria 22°C, La Gomera 21°C, Tenerife 20°C, Sousse 20°C and 72 more - see the short-haul list
• Mid-haul (4.5-7 h): Kololi 29°C, Sharm El Sheikh 26°C, Boa Vista 25°C, Hurghada 24°C, Sal 22°C, Limassol 18°C and 3 more
• Long-haul (7 h+): Chiang Mai 34°C, Ho Chi Minh City 34°C, Bangkok 34°C, Guanacaste 33°C, Krabi 32°C, Goa 32°C and 41 more

By region

• Europe: 78 destinations, warmest Gran Canaria (22°C)
• Asia: 14 destinations, warmest Chiang Mai (34°C)
• Caribbean & Mexico: 14 destinations, warmest Puerto Vallarta (29°C)
• Africa: 12 destinations, warmest Mombasa (31°C)
• The Americas: 6 destinations, warmest Guanacaste (33°C)
• Indian Ocean: 6 destinations, warmest Goa (32°C)
• Middle East: 2 destinations, warmest Dubai (29°C)
• Oceania & Pacific: 2 destinations, warmest Hawaii (24°C)

For heat with little rain, choose Goa or Guanacaste

Goa suits travellers who want hot days and warm swimming water without much rain: daytime highs reach 32°C, the sea is 28°C and March has 1 rainy day. Its 10 h 12 min flight also takes less time than Guanacaste's 11 h 42 min. Guanacaste is a close alternative, with 33°C days, a 27°C sea and 1 rainy day. If swimming is not the priority, Chiang Mai offers stronger daytime heat at 34°C with 2 rainy days, although the flight takes 12 h. In all these destinations, plan strenuous activity away from midday and pack light clothing. Chiang Mai's 21°C nights offer more evening relief than Bangkok's 26°C.

For the warmest sea, accept a greater chance of rain

Krabi suits travellers who put warm swimming water ahead of reliably dry weather. Its sea reaches 30°C, alongside 32°C days, but 13 rainy days make it a less dependable choice for plans built entirely around being outdoors. Goa trades a slightly cooler sea for much less rain. Kerala offers another balance, with a 29°C sea and 8 rainy days, compared with Khao Lak's equally warm water and 15 rainy days. Mombasa has a relatively shorter flight at 9 h 48 min and a 29°C sea, but 16 rainy days are the catch. Zanzibar and Galle also have 29°C water, with rain on 21 and 20 days respectively. Keep outdoor plans flexible rather than assuming uninterrupted sunshine.

For gentler warmth, do not chase the highest temperature

If you want comfortable daytime warmth rather than intense heat, the milder destinations may suit you better. Boa Vista, Hanoi and Orlando reach 25°C, while Cape Town, Hurghada and Agadir reach 24°C. These are better matches for travellers who find tropical midday heat tiring, though daytime warmth alone does not establish comfortable sea swimming. Gran Canaria and Marrakech offer 22°C days; Tenerife and Seville reach 20°C. Treat those as mild-weather choices rather than substitutes for Goa's heat. If you do choose somewhere hotter, consider the nights as well: Bangkok stays at 26°C and Ho Chi Minh City at 24°C, so neither offers much of a cool-down after sunset.