Six easy city breaks for a quick burst of early spring warmth ...Middle East

February is a tricky time for short-haul travel, with few places warm enough to spend much time outdoors, and half-term driving prices up.

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.

With Easter falling late in 2025 and no school holidays in March, this is a good time to travel before crowds and higher temperatures drive prices up.

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.

These are the places to consider for a burst of early spring warmth next month.

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.

In March, the mercury can reach 18°C, ideal for exploring the coastal city’s Greek, Roman and Byzantine relics and the Orecchio di Dionisio, a famous limestone cave shaped like a human ear.

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

This magnificent Alentejo city is just an hour and 20 minutes’ drive from Lisbon airport, but less known than the capital. However, it has been named European Capital of Culture for 2027 when it will be thrust into the spotlight.

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.

According to Portuguese media, the city saw almost 700,000 overnight stays in 2023, and is considering a tourist tax, making the off-season right now a great time to visit.

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.

Express buses depart from Lisbon Sete Rios train station (90 mins), while trains depart from Lisbon Oriente. A stay at the four-star Évora O Cante Hotel costs from £182 and an average meal will cost around €30 (£25) for two. Try pão de rala, a local almond-based pastry cake filled with jam, as well as the region’s excellent and well-priced wines.

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.

As well as the draw of sherry (tour famous and boutique bodegas such as Lustau, Sandeman and Cayetano del Pino), the compact Andalucian city’s old quarter has the Alcázar de Jerez, an Islamic fortress founded in the 11th century, and is also home to the Royal Andalucian School of Equestrian Art, a famed riding school with horse shows and a carriage museum, and the Andalucian Centre of Flamenco.

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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

Marrakech, Essaouira and Agadir receive plenty of tourist attention in Morocco, but fewer visitors head to the hilltop Imperial city of Meknes in the north, despite the fact it was once the capital of Morocco.

A 50 minute drive from Fes airport, temperatures here can reach up to 20°C in March.

Historic highlights including Bab Mansour, a late 18th-century monumental gate with mosaic tiling that marks the entrance of the historic Kasbah of Sultan Moulay Ismail, part of which is still used as a royal residence. The Kasbah’s spacious squares and gardens contrast to the busy medina.

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

Even though Turkey‘s tourism sector is booming – in large part driven by the popularity of its beach resorts – it’s well worth a trip in the shoulder seasons, particularly to destinations beyond Istanbul and Cappadocia.

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.

On the Aegean coast, Turkey’s third city is the gateway to upscale coastal towns that fringe the pretty Cesme peninsula, and it’s just an hour’s drive from the ancient city of Ephesus, with its magnificent Temple of Artemis.

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.

For the best views of the city below, head to the ruins of Kadifekale, a 3rd century BC castle on Mount Pagos.

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.

A three-course meal in the city is likely to cost about 1,280 Turkish Lira (£28.50) – look out for the many lamb dishes it is renowned for – and three nights at the four-star Ontur Izmir Otel from £176.

Cagliari, Sardinia

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 hilltop Castello is a focal point, a mediaval walled quarter perched high above the city, and flanked by pastel-painted buildings and centuries-old towers.

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.

Strolling the city also reveals grand palazzi, streets buzzing with Vespa scooters, churches, squares, a botanical garden and plenty of places to sample local dishes. These include pardulas, which can be found in bakeries – the star-shaped tarts are filled with saffron, ricotta and lemon zest. If you’re a citrus fan, you’ll also want to try vermentino di Sardegna, a crisp white wine with citrus flavours which comes from Gallura in the northeast of the island.

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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