Hold on until March, though, and you’ll start to see a brighter picture. City breaks are back on the agenda, with temperatures reaching the high teens and above in many destinations across North Africa and Western Europe.
We’ve pinpointed six city breaks that will make for a tranquil and mild March escape. We’ve looked at well-rated, well-priced, and central three and four star hotels from Friday 14 March to Monday 17 March for two people in each location, and used cost-of-living platform Numbeo for the average price of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant.
The Church of Santa Lucia alla Badia in Ortigia, Syracuse (Photo: Westend61/Getty Images)
On the Ionian coast of Sicily around an hour south of Catania, Syracuse is known for its ancient ruins and summer heat. The former Greek capital of Sicily, it was conquered by the Romans in 212BC – local mathematician and physicist Archimedes is said to have used mirrors to set Roman ships on fire.
The city is thought to date back some 2,700 years and, today, is listed by Unesco as a World Heritage Site along with the Necropolis of Pantalica, a collection of cemeteries with rock-cut chamber tombs inland from Syracuse, which date back to the 13th century.
In March, Catania is served by flights from Ryanair. A double room at the seafront Boutique Hotel Molo Santa Lucia costs from £145, while an average three-course meal is €60 (£50) – try local fried fish such as tuna and swordfish, red prawns and almond granita.
Évora, Portugal
Evora is packed full of history – and cafes to relax after you’ve explored (Photo: Peter Adams/Getty Images)Temperatures in the Alentejo can be among the hottest in the country come high summer, so 18°C in March is ideal for getting into vagar, the local mindset of slow living.
Évora was named a Unesco World Heritage Site thanks to its well-preserved historic centre that contains ancient monuments, including a Roman temple, still partially enclosed by medieval walls, as well as a 16th-century university and Portugal’s largest medieval cathedral.
No visit to Jerez de la Frontera is complete without sampling some of its world-famous sherry (Photo: Owen Franken/Getty Images)
The world capital of sherry and flamenco is also a tranquil alternative to Seville, just over an hour’s drive north. The city sees March highs of up to 21°C – balmy for early spring.
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Here, visitors can get to grips with the history of the iconic dance before sampling tapas at a quaint restaurant on the Plaza del Arenal.
Trains from Seville Santa Justa to Jerez take around one hour. Expect to pay around €50 (£41) for three-courses at an average restaurant and £196 for a stay at the four-star Hotel Jerez Centro, in the city centre.
Meknes, Morocco
Meknes is a lesser-known destination, but still worth a visit (Photo: Thanachai Wachiraworakam/Getty Images)A 50 minute drive from Fes airport, temperatures here can reach up to 20°C in March.
Just beyond Bab Mansour, El Hedim, the main square in the old part of the city hosts dozens of market stalls selling souvenirs and cafes where you can sink a fresh mint tea or a traditional orange-flavoured Meskouta cake.
Food in Meknes is good value, with a three-course meal costing 115 Moroccan Dirham – around £10, while a stay at the three-star Hotel Bab Mansour will set you back £116.
Izmir, Turkey
Izmir is a year-round destination, not just a summer hotspot (Photo: tunart/Getty Images)The lively laid-back city of Izmir sees temperatures of up to 18°C in March and it’s easily accessible from the UK, with direct flights from Gatwick and Stansted as well as Manchester.
Izmir is one of the oldest settlements of the Mediterranean basin and was part of the Ottoman Empire from the 15th century until 1919. Its history is reflected today in its many archaeological sites, including the Roman Agora of Smyrna, which was ruined by an earthquake in 178 AD and is now an open-air museum.
The sprawling Kemeralti bazaar is a fun place to browse, shop and people-watch before sipping an aromatic Turkish coffee at on the Kordon – or waterfront – and a baklava or two. Boyoz pastries, which come in a variety of flavours, are a local street food that should not be missed.
Cagliari, Sardinia
Boats moored in Cagliari Marina (Photo: Mlenny/Getty Images)This idyllic Mediterranean island is popular with Italian holidaymakers in the summer months but March is a great time to visit, with temperatures reaching upwards of 17°C – ideal for exploring the golden-hued capital Cagliari.
The 13th-century cathedral and Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Cagliari, which houses Roman ceramics, bronzes and artefacts from the Nuragic age to the Byzantine era, are two further highlights.
On the outskirts of the city, the Cagliari lagoon is flecked with pink flamingos and if the weather is in your favour, stroll the white sands of Poetto beach, lined with several bars and restaurants.
In March, Cagliari is served by direct flights from Stansted. A three-course meal will likely cost €75 (£62) for two and a stay at the three-star Hotel 4 Mori is from £199.
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