With fewer crowds and mild weather, Spain in March is glorious. At this time of year, Spain is emerging from winter and entering early spring, when longer, warmer days are embraced.
Destinations such as Barcelona in Catalonia and Palma in Mallorca offer historic landmarks, wonderful food markets, and golden beaches to discover. Spring also brings the arrival of fragrant almond, cherry, and peach blossoms in the countryside and green spaces.
Take your time to explore Spain’s many museums, churches, and natural landmarks, such as the peaks of Monsarrat and the Serra de Tramuntana, with fewer travelers than during peak season. From what weather to expect to the best things to see and do, here’s everything you need to know about Spain in March.
Mild Spring Weather
Old Town Palma, Mallorca
Though spring officially begins on March 20, Spain in March is typically mild and pleasant, with an average daily maximum temperature of 63°F. The climate is often sunny, with occasional showers. With this in mind, it’s worth packing layers so you can add or take away as required.
Pack a light jacket or a raincoat to explore city attractions and natural landmarks, from churches and castles to mountains and waterfalls.
It’s also a good idea to pack comfortable pants and jeans, t-shirts, shirts, and light sweaters. Wear sneakers or comfortable walking shoes to enjoy strolling around historic old towns, shopping boulevards, and seaside promenades.
Fewer Crowds
Sagrada Familia, Barcelona
Naturally, March in Spain sees fewer crowds than summer. This is a huge win for culture-thirsty travelers who are keen to explore some of the country’s most famous landmarks, such as the Antoni Gaudí-designed Sagrada Família in Barcelona, where shorter lines and fewer crowds are likely.
The same goes for beaches, museums, galleries, and castles, such as Mallorca’s Castell de Bellver, lying on a hilltop above Palma. Walk the pine-scented trail to reach this commanding, 14th-century castle. It’s a former royal residence and is Spain’s only circular castle, offering far-reaching views of Palma Bay and the Tramuntana mountain range.
Castell de Bellver, Mallorca
In March, visit the Picasso Museum in Barcelona and you won’t find yourself jostling for space with other travelers as you browse some of the 4,000 pieces on display.
Similarly, at the hilltop Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, you can enjoy exploring the extraordinary Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Modern Art. From European Renaissance pieces by Titian and Velázquez to modern works by Gaudi and Picasso, it’s all waiting to be admired at a serene pace.
Gothic Quarter, Barcelona
If your favorite thing to do on vacation is shop, browse department stores, such as Spain’s upmarket El Corte Inglés, or the independent boutiques of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter, unhurried, at a more tranquil tempo.
Wondrous Waterfalls
Salto de Sallent, near Barcelona
Spain in March also presents the opportunity to see some of the country’s tremendous waterfalls in action.
Since many parts of Spain tend to be sun-baked during summer, waterfalls often dry up during this period. March is considered the best time to see waterfalls in Spain, when any mountain snow has melted and winter rain contributes to waterfalls gaining power.
In Catalonia, roughly 90 minutes north of Barcelona, Salto de Sallent tumbles 328 feet from a canyon near the hilltop village of Rupit.
You can walk from the village to Salto de Sallent’s lofty summit in around 30 minutes, crossing the Hanging Bridge of Rupit, a picturesque suspension bridge that crosses the Riera de Rupit.
There are some excellent scenic spots to see Catalonia’s highest waterfall and watering hole along the route and close by is a beautiful Gothic church, Iglesia de San Juan de Fàbregues.
Salt des Freu, Mallorca
In Mallorca, Salt des Freu waterfall, between the hilltop villages of Bunyola and Orient, is also at its most powerful in early spring. You can see it by traveling around 15 miles north of Palma and following the easy hiking trail that leads off Mallora’s M-2100 route. Salt des Freu is nestled among a pine and holm oak forest, with several small waterfalls cascading into a watering hole.
Gorgeous Blossom
Almond blossoms
Like many parts of the world, Spain in March means some trees turn gorgeous hues of delicate white and candy-floss pink. One of the best places to witness beautiful cherry blossoms is Catalonia, including the village of Sant Climent de Llobregat, 30 minutes from Barcelona.
From late March, pastoral fields around Sant Climent de Llobregat are bursting with cherry blossoms, with several walking routes guiding travelers through canopies of pink.
The village of Arbeca is a lesser-known spot to see beautiful white and pink almond blossoms, less than two hours by car northwest of Barcelona. The best way to reach Arbeca is to rent a car, ideally in early March, which is the best time to witness almond blossom in this bucolic setting.
Aitona
Around two hours from Barcelona, more sweet-smelling blossoms fill fields around Aitona throughout March. Orchards are mostly packed with rows of peach and nectarine trees, with some cherry, almond, and fig varieties creating a jaw-dropping sea of pink, with cycling and walking routes linking the blossom fields.
Golden Beaches
Barcelona
Spain is home to over 3,000 miles of beaches and March is a fantastic time to explore them. Naturally, the warmest place in Spain in March is Andalucia, in the south. That said, with an average national temperature of around 60°F, you can enjoy any of Spain’s Mediterranean, cashmere-soft beaches in March. The sea will still be a little bracing but walking on the beach or enjoying a coffee in the spring sunshine is uplifting.
Barcelona, for example, is home to miles of sensational coastline right in the city center. Beach after beach offers something different for travelers, with the buzziest tending to be those closest to the harbor, including San Sebastian and Barceloneta, some of Barcelona’s best beaches.
Wander between the palm-tree-lined promenade and sandy shores. There are restroom facilities, restaurants, cafés, and bars on the seafront, along with Rebecca Horn’s towering L’Estel Ferit sculpture of four cubes stacked on top of each other on Barceloneta Beach. The 33-foot steel sculpture pays homage to the former fishing neighborhood of Barcelona.
Platja de Alcúdia, Mallorca
In Mallorca, enjoy the gentle Mediterranean breeze on the sweep of creamy sand at Platja de Alcúdia, on the northeast coast. You might even find you have the whole stretch, roughly 1.5 miles, to yourself in March.
A lovely, quiet beach is Portitxol’s half-moon shore in a former fishing village on the edge of Palma. You can walk to Portitxol from Palma’s lavish waterfront cathedral, La Seu, in 40 minutes, with tall palm trees and a cluster of bars and restaurants close to the Mallorcan beach. Stop at Platja de Can Pere Antoni, a golden beach next to Portitxol’s marina, and gaze back at the gleaming cathedral in the distance.
Seasonal Spring Produce
Mandarins
Spain’s fresh market produce is available year-round, with spring offering plenty of rewards. Fragrant wild garlic and spears of green asparagus are in season, as are button mushrooms, artichokes, mandarins, oranges, kiwis, and early-season strawberries.
You’ll see it all at Mercat de la Boqueria, off Barcelona’s La Rambla. You might also sniff out the exquisite smell of in-season black truffles, foraged in forested regions across Spain, including Castile and Leon, Aragon, and Catalonia.
Jamón ibérico
Snack on slithers of delicious Jamón ibérico, cones of fried fish, plump olives, and nutty squares of Manchego cheese as you soak in this vibrant Spanish market.
You’ll find myriad scents and flavors at Palma’s Mercat de Santa Catalina, with cherries, chard, loquats, strawberries, oranges, asparagus, and artichokes in season, along with wonderful displays of fish, charcuterie, bread, and wine.
Soccer Season
Camp Nou, Barcelona
Spain has one of the biggest soccer cultures in the world, with clubs Real Madrid, F.C. Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, and Mallorca dominating the country’s La Liga soccer league.
In March, Spain is in the midst of its annual soccer season, with games played across the country between August and May. If you can’t get matchday tickets, visit a football museum and join a stadium tour.
Get a behind-the-scenes look at F.C. Barcelona’s stadium, the historic Camp Nou. See trophies, a collection of photos, and sporting memorabilia, such as jerseys and soccer boots of past famous players. There are works by famous local artists, including Miró, Dalí, and Tàpies at a permanent art exhibition within the museum.
Hilly Hikes & Monasteries
Serra de Tramuntana, Mallorca
Spain in March also presents the perfect opportunity to explore the country’s rugged outdoors, including the UNESCO-listed Tramuntana mountain range in Mallorca. The Serra de Tramuntana is often referred to as the backbone of Mallorca because it covers a huge swathe of the island, from the southwest to the northwest.
There are green-covered mountains, dry stone terraces, verdant orange and olive groves, and charming hilltop towns and villages. The region is laced with hiking trails, while the coastline boasts hidden coves and magnificent beaches.
Santuari de Lluc, Mallorca
One of the best things to do in Mallorca is to hike to Santuari de Lluc, a beautiful monastery and pilgrimage site with a 27th-century basilica that’s home to a statue of the Black Madonna in the small village of Lluc. There’s a lovely square with a café and views of the surrounding mountains, including Puig Major, the highest peak in the Tramuntana.
A bus service operates between Palma and Lluc, including a change in Inca, which takes around 90 minutes each way, or you could rent a car and make the journey in one hour.
Montserrat
On the mainland, conquer a hearty hike in the saw-toothed Montserrat mountain range. Around 37 miles from Barcelona, Montserrat is home to the extraordinary Montserrat Monastery that’s carved into the limestone peaks.
Take the R5 train from Barcelona’s Plaça d’Espanya to Aeri de Montserrat or Monistrol de Montserrat. From there, take the cable car to the monastery, where you can set off on a trek. There are several trails suited to different abilities, from the Montserrat loop to the more difficult Sant Jeroni trail to the highest peak in Montserrat.
Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey, Montserrat
Before setting off, visit the Benedictine Abbey, harboring a shrine of the Black Madonna, and browse the Art Museum Of Montserrat, with its collection of 13th to 20th-century artworks, with masterpieces by Caravaggio, Picasso, Dali, and Monet on display.
For a successful hike, it’s essential to wear supportive hiking boots or shoes, comfortable clothing, and a waterproof jacket. Carry water, snacks, and a fully-charged cell phone. You can pick a map up from the information office in the Abbey.
Café Culture
Coffee
Cafe culture is abuzz year-round in Spain, with both traditional coffee bars and modern cafés serving everything from cortados to matcha lattes.
On vacation, Spain’s café culture is often at its best in some sun-dappled square or on a seafront promenade, where you can hear the chatter of locals or the gentle sound of waves breaking with your mid-morning cappuccino.
If your priority is the quality of the coffee, try one of Barcelona’s many artisan coffee bars. There’s El Born’s Hidden Coffee Roasters, El Poblenou’s Sensorial Coffee Roasters, and Ciutat Vella’s Nomad Coffee Lab, where coffee is more of a religion than ritual.
For some, true café culture is as much about soaking in your surroundings in a plum position as it is sipping on expertly made cortados. If one of your favorite vacation pastimes is people-watching, sip on a café con leche—a shot of espresso with steamed milk—in a central spot on Barcelona’s Plaça Reial or on the tree-lined La Rambla.
The Sound of Jazz
Jazz
In March, the Catalan city of Terrassa comes to life with blue notes, complex chords, and the raspy sounds of jazz at the three-week Terrassa Jazz Festival.
Centered on the Nova Jazz Cava venue, performances also take place in squares, parks, and terraces around Terrassa, creating a wonderful carnival-like ambiance across the city. A program of concerts sees national and international artists, including big names and rising stars, take to the streets and stage, including vocalists, saxophonists, trombonists, and trumpeters.
Outside of this sublime jazz festival, Terrassa is a delightful city to explore with ancient churches, pretty squares, and modernist architecture, just 50 minutes by train from Barcelona.
If you do one thing in Terrassa—besides listening to jazz—visit the pearl-white Masia Freixa, a Catalan Modernist building within Parc de Sant Jordi that was originally a textile factory. The building was inspired by the work of Antoni Gaudí, featuring striking vaults and arches designed by architect Lluís Muncunill.
Sagrada Familia, Barcelona
Discover Celebrity’s cruises to Spain in March to book your dream springtime vacation to discover miles of beaches, ancient churches, and outstanding gastronomy.
