The Best Places to Travel in Europe in March

Dubrovnik, Croatia

COURTESY OF SUN GARDENS DUBROVNIK

Perhaps this is the month you finally take your dream getaway to Croatia. In March, the Sun Gardens Dubrovnik resort makes up for slightly colder temps with a 60-foot indoor ‘lagoon’ pool and an award-winning spa. The property offers excellent excursions that take advantage of the season, such as a private bike tour through Dubrovnik’s Old Town when all the wisteria is coming into bloom, or a trip to Mali Ston, where the Feast of St. Joseph (think: endless fresh-caught oysters) takes place on March 19.

Óbidos, Portugal

MAGDALENA PALUCHOWSKA/ALAMY

Here’s a surprisng reason to count Portugal near the top of your itinerary this spring: chocolate. That’s because the International Chocolate Festival, held in the medieval town of Óbidos, is an attraction for travelers of all stripes. As long as you have a hankering for chocolate, you’ll go home satisfied. The festival spans several days, turning Óbidos’ narrow cobblestone streets into showrooms where various cakes, truffles, pastries, and chocolate sculptures are on display. It’s a bit like an art fair — but better, because the art is all edible.