March Holidays For Food Lovers

Want some ideas on where to go on holiday in March? We’ve curated the destinations to visit for a food lover’s break as spring begins, with something for everyone. From UK staycations to European city breaks and long-haul adventures, there's plenty to discover this month.

For more travel inspiration, check out our picks of the best spring holidays or the UK's most luxurious hotels to book for a special occasion.

The UK at its best: the Lake District

With the landscape reawakening after winter, March is a wonderful time to visit the Lake District. The region’s famed hospitality scene comes alive, with spring menus featuring local lamb, fresh fish and the first of the season's wild garlic.

Base yourself at a countryside hotel (we've chosen our favourite Lake District hotels) to explore the area’s walking routes, which are quieter before the Easter rush. Miles Without Stiles compiles over 50 different walking routes across the Lake District, all intended to be as accessible as possible. As the name suggests, none of the routes have stiles to climb over, and there are no steep hills either – making it much easier for those with limited mobility to explore this spectacular part of the UK.

You'll have worked up an appetite after all that walking, and in the Lake District, you're spoilt for choice. For special occasions, L'Enclume in Cartmel offers legendary Michelin-starred fine dining, as does Forest Side in Grasmere, set in a grand Victorian villa. Homeground in Windermere serves hearty brunches to set you up for a day of walking, and the region is scattered with great pubs – try The Punch Bowl Inn for elevated classics served next to roaring fires.

Looking south towards Dale Head and Fleetwith Pike.

The UK bolthole: Grove of Narberth, Pembrokeshire, Wales

Quiet, carefully considered luxury in a beautifully restored 15th-century house in the Narberth Hills, Grove is a place to completely switch off and relax.

Warm, friendly staff and a labyrinth of cosy lounges make the space feel more like a home than hotel. Hunker down in an armchair by an open fire or wander the wooded grounds to soak in views of the Preseli Hills. Add-on experiences include foraging and wild swimming for the adventurous, or a nearby vineyard tour for tastings of Welsh wines. There are just 13 rooms in the main house, each adorned with warm, natural tones. Elegant individual quirks include freestanding lamps, four-poster beds with wraparound curtains and exposed beams. For an extra treat, suites in the Herb Cottages outbuildings offer a little more space to relax, along with log burner and private garden.

The two restaurants, Artisan Rooms and Fernery, are headed by executive chef Douglas Balish. The former is a more casual brasserie, while the latter offers an unmissable five- or seven-course tasting menu – changing each season, it tells the story of local producers from west and south Wales, featuring ingredients from Grove’s kitchen garden.

Doubles start from £192 per night; check availability at booking.com

The seasonal city break: Prague

Prague is shaking off its stag do reputation and becoming a must-visit city break for foodies to tick off their list. Kick off a weekend in the Czech capital with breakfast at Eska – part bakery, part restaurant, with house-baked sourdough and a traditional Czech breakfast to try. Stop at Kolacherie for pastries and trendy coffee shop Cafefin to fuel your exploration of the city.

For a special occasion dinner, book ahead for the tasting menu at Alcron – its menu features veg-forward dishes that showcase central European classics. But, Prague isn't just about classic Czech cuisine: discover a hidden slice of Vietnam at Rice Field, offering family-style spreads of Vietnamese favourites that are great for sharing.

Check out our local's expert guide to the best restaurants in Prague for more.

The cultural moment: Las Fallas in Valencia

Valencia comes alive in March with the vibrant Las Fallas Festival (1-19 March), during which giant wooden figures are paraded through the city and set alight in dramatic bonfires. The streets are filled with music, fireworks and the irresistible aroma of sweet churros and buñuelos con chocolate, which are served in cafés and horchaterías during the festivities.

Beyond the festival, Valencia’s orange trees are in bloom and the city’s Central Market is stacked with local produce, ideal for picnics. Sample classic paella on the beach, try horchata with fartons and soak up the city’s lively food culture. We also picked the city as one of our best sustainable travel destinations to visit for a greener trip – as a former Europe's Green Capital in 2024, there are around 200 kilometres of cycle paths and virtually flat terrain, which makes it easy to bike (and walk) between sights, including Valencia Cathedral and the art nouveau Central Market.

Stay at the boutique 25-room Caro Hotel, set in a 19th-century palace, to be immersed in the city's history. You'll be surrounded by Gothic arches, a 2nd-century Roman mosaic and remnants of the 13th-century Arabic city walls.

Doubles from £188; check availability at booking.com or thomascook.com

Street view in Valencia of ornate architecture in warm sunlight, featuring colourful facades and intricate designs. People stroll along the bustling pavement

The culinary destination to explore: Georgia

Georgia is fast earning a reputation as one of Europe’s most exciting culinary destinations – and March is a great time to explore its rich food culture. In the heart of the Caucasus, Georgian cuisine is built around communal feasting, bold flavours and centuries-old traditions, from the supra table laden with sharing dishes to hearty street snacks and refined city dining.

Start with icons like khachapuri – oozy, cheese-filled bread with regional variations – and juicy khinkali dumplings, best eaten by hand, slurping the savoury broth before you bite into the filling. Walnuts are ubiquitous here, providing the base for sauces and pkhali spreads, while local qvevri wines – fermented in ancient clay vessels – are a revelation for oenophiles.

Energetic capital city Tbilisi gives you a chance to try all the Georgian classics. Shavi Lomi, a restaurant set around a stunning courtyard, offers sharing-style feasts of grilled aubergines with walnut-pomegranate sauce and layered honey cake, while Caravanserai Bakery is the place to taste traditional khachapuri straight from the oven. Bistro-style spots such as Craft elevate regional dishes with artisanal wines, and farm-to-table Kakhelebi on the city’s edge serves up the freshest khinkali alongside slow-roasted stews and house qvevri wine. Read our full guide to the best restaurants in Tbilisi for a deep dive into the city.

The tree lined terrace of 19th century mansion Keto and Kote Tbilisi

The blow-out trip: Matsuyama, Japan

For a long-haul spring escape, head to Matsuyama on Japan’s Seto Inland Sea, where restorative rituals and refined dining come together for a quietly luxurious escape. A soak in the storied Dōgo Onsen – one of Japan’s oldest bathhouses – sets the tone for a slow, sensory reset, especially in March, when cherry blossoms begin to soften the city’s edges. Climb to Matsuyama Castle for sweeping views over blush-tinted treetops, hike to nearby waterfalls framed by early spring greenery or wander temple gardens just coming back into bloom.

Food is a highlight: the Seto Inland Sea supplies pristine seafood for dishes such as taimeshi (sea bream steamed with rice) and matsuyamazushi, rice delicately seasoned with vinegar and topped with shrimp and eel. Spring also brings brightness in the form of mikan citrus – over 30 varieties are grown here – which can be enjoyed fresh or churned into gelato, folded into jelly or even brewed into beer. Local noodles add another flourish, from colourful goshiki somen to nabeyaki udon served bubbling hot. Discover more relaxing 'quietcation' ideas for food lovers around the world.

The boutique retreat: Villa Paola, Tropea, Italy

Discover rustic luxury at Villa Paola, a pink-hued former 16th-century convent set among the cliffs and hills of Calabria at the southern tip of Italy. From crisp white linen bedding to cool marble bathrooms, a secluded infinity pool and serene courtyards, it's the perfect location for some spring R&R before the summer heat starts rising.

Terraces look out to the Costa Degli Dei (coast of the gods) and over the farmland below, where the restaurant grows a lot of its produce. Meander down through the tiered gardens to the hotel’s own hives to spot Tropea’s famous red onions. Rooms offer a variety of beautiful views: overlooking the hills, sweeping panoramas of the town or straight out to sea.

There’s a bistro-style menu on offer during the day, with dishes such as sourdough pizza, red onion salads and club sandwiches. De’ Minimi restaurant offers more refined tasting menus, meticulously designed with seasonality at the forefront and an emphasis on local produce and zero waste. At breakfast, a three-tiered stand of daily changing treats arrives at the table for enjoying with your morning cappuccino. There’s also a continental buffet of fruit, pastries and cakes, with à la carte options including omelettes and local honey.

Villa Paola offers rooms from £285 per night; check availability at villapaolatropea.it or booking.com

The alternative choice: Saar-Hunsrück-Steig trail, Upper Moselle, Germany

Looking for an alternative way to spend the Easter holidays? Head off on a foodie walking trail and discover fantastic insights into regions, cultures and local life that simply wouldn’t be possible when travelling by car.

For a truly monumental hike, the 415-kilometre Saar-Hunsrück-Steig trail is split into 27 stages and connects the Roman city of Trier with Boppard on the Rhine. Short on time? We suggest tackling stage five, which passes the Losheim Reservoir and offers ample opportunities to try local cuisine, whether at one of the cafés in riverside Weiskirchen (Café Louis’s cakes are legendary) or a restaurant on the banks of Lake Losheim. Try Hochwälder Braugasthaus, where the menu is inspired by the tri-border region of France, Luxembourg and Saarland.

The scenic pick: Switzerland

With a favourable altitude of 1,800m, there’s no shortage of snow in Switzerland’s Alpine resort of Arosa during the colder months. The family-friendly destination, centred around a lake and surrounded by snow-capped woodland, goes beyond skiing and snowboarding. Activities include tobogganing and ice-skating soundtracked by horse-drawn sleighs, plus an impressive network of hiking trails for all abilities.

High up in the mountains, the luxurious five-star Tschuggen Grand Hotel boasts panoramic views. On-site restaurants include two-Michelin-starred La Brezza, as well as more informal ‘grandma-style’ dining at The Basement. Après ski is a civilised affair, with popular mountain-side bars serving homemade schnapps and towering waffle creations. Check out more of the best ski resorts for food lovers.

Arosa the swiss skiing and hiking tourist resort in the canton of graubünden captured during winter season. The high angle image shows several holiday apartments and hotels after several days snowing.

The slow travel adventure: Andean Explorer, Peru

For a truly unhurried way to explore Peru this March, consider a highland journey aboard luxury sleeper train the Belmond Andean Explorer. Departing from the historic city of Cusco, this three-day rail experience winds through some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the Andes – from sweeping plains and cobalt lakes to traditional Andean villages that are often missed on conventional itineraries.

Onboard, elegant cabins with large windows offer a panoramic front-row seat to this remote terrain, with locally inspired interiors and attentive service. Days are filled with cultural and natural highlights – from exploring the floating reed islands of Lake Titicaca and their colourful traditions, to discovering archaeological sites and the 'world’s highest beach' at Taquile Island. Meals aboard – showcasing Peruvian ingredients and regional flavours – are all part of the adventure, and evenings become opportunities to swap stories over a pisco sour as the train glides past fiery sunset skies. The journey epitomises slow travel at its best: immersive, unhurried and deeply rooted in the landscapes and cultures it traverses. Read more about writer Susan Low's Peruvian adventure on the Andean Explorer.