Wales Guidebook

Wales in March: What To Expect + Things To Do

KW
Kieren Windsor

Kieren is the founder of Wales Guidebook. A Welshman born and bred, he has lived and travelled across Wales and now his full-time passion is sharing his favourite experiences and travel tips.

Cardiff-Castle-in-Spring

If you're thinking about taking a trip to Wales in March, here's a guide about what you can expect.

March is not the best month to visit Wales when it comes to the weather with mild temperatures and still a high likelihood of wind and rain.

That being said, it's a beautiful time as spring commences so the countryside will be filled with daffodils and newlyborn lambs.

There is lots going on across the country in March. St. David’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations take place and the cities are buzzing as the Six Nations tournament progresses.

Keep reading for a full breakdown of the weather, crowds, and some of the best things to do in March.

What Will the Weather Be Like?

Although winter is officially over, the weather is still not great during March with lots of wind and rain.

The temperatures are mild at an average of around 6℃. But the continued wind can make it feel much colder so wrapping up warm is essential when heading outside.

Conwy Town Walls Additional 1
© Wales Guidebook

Sunny March Day in Conwy

Devils Bridge Falls Mynach Falls Aberystwyth
© Wales Guidebook

Rainy March Day at Aber Falls

Cardiff Bay Wetlands 2
© Wales Guidebook

Gloomy March Day in Cardiff

There is less rainfall than in February, but you should still be prepared for around 14 rainy days during the month1 and you'll probably still experience snow on the mountain peaks in the national parks2.

But there is good news, the days begin to get longer with a decent 12 hours of daylight and there's a chance that you'll experience some warm and sunny days towards the end of the month.

So when is good to visit? The best weather in Wales can be experienced between June and August, but for a good balance between weather and crowds, I recommend visiting in April, May, June, or September.

When to visit Wales (1)

What Should I Expect?

March is still a quiet month for tourism in Wales as the weather still isn't great. This means that you could end up with some of the top landmarks to yourself. But keep in mind that some attractions, tours, and accommodations remain closed for the winter.

On 1st March, Wales celebrates its national day, St David's Day. This is a big event with parades and celebrations across the country around this date.

Other events happening during March include St Patrick's Day (he was actually Welsh!) and the culmination of the Six Nations rugby tournament which is a favourite among Welsh people.


What's On in Wales in March?

Here is a list of events taking place in Wales during March 2024:


Things To Do in Wales in March

Here are some of my favourite things to do in Wales during March:

1. Visit St David's

St Davids Bishop's Palace 1
© Wales Guidebook
St Davids Cathedral 3
© Wales Guidebook

As March the 1st is St. David’s Day, Wales’s patron saint, March is the perfect time to visit the city and cathedral that bears his name. Located in Pembrokeshire on the Western coast, St. David’s is Britain's smallest city, with the cathedral harking back to the 6th Century.

Learn all amount the tale of St. David, how he became the patron saint of Wales, and why we continue to celebrate him to this very day. As an added bonus, the cathedral itself is a gorgeous building, full of historic architectural features.

To find out more about the top attractions in the UK's smallest city, see my full guide to the best things to do in St David's.


2. Cheer on Wales in the Six Nations

Wales v Italy 2010CardiffRugbyEventsActivities And Sports
© Crown copyright (2022) Cymru Wales

If you’re in Cardiff in early March, it’s impossible to miss the fanfare around the Six Nations rugby tournament.

This historic competition happens every year and pits England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France, and Italy against each other in a five-week round-robin to see which country reigns supreme. Several of the games will be held in Cardiff at the Principality Stadium.

With the tournament ending mid-March, we should have a good idea of how Wales are performing. If they're doing well, expect a real buzz around the country with packed-out pubs.


3. See the daffodils bloom across Wales

Bodnant Gardens Daffodils
© Wales Guidebook

One of the highlights of visiting Wales in March is that you'll see daffodils bloom across the country. The daffodil is the national flower of Wales and it blooms just in time for the national day; St David's Day.

You won't struggle to spot them if you head anywhere in the countryside, but some of the best places are Bodnant Gardens, Cardiff Castle, and Dyffryn Gardens.


4. Visit the Museums

St Fagans 2
© Wales Guidebook

St Fagans

National Museum Cardiff 3
© Wales Guidebook

National Museum Cardiff

Swansea Dylan Thomas Centre 2
© Wales Guidebook

Dylan Thomas Centre

Although February has less rain than December and January, there's still a good chance that you'll encounter some rainy days so it's a good idea to have some indoor activities up your sleeve.

Wales has an excellent range of museums, many of which are very underrated. Here are a few of my favourites across the country:

St Fagan's National Museum of History (near Cardiff) - Includes an open-air museum with buildings from different periods in Wales. Inside, there are several exhibitions where you can find out more about the people who lived here. You could spend the best part of a day here - it's huge!

National Museum Cardiff - A large museum and gallery in the capital covering everything to do with Wales. I like the natural history displays downstairs with dinosaur skeletons and fossils. Upstairs, the art galleries hold 500 years’ worth of magnificent historic art, sculptures and ceramics.

The Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum (Caernarfon Castle) - A huge three-storey museum, telling the fascinating story of the oldest infantry regiment in the world with uniforms, weapons, medals, and displays. However, you have to pay to enter the castle to see the museum so it's quite expensive.

Dylan Thomas Centre (Swansea) - A museum about the life of Dylan Thomas, a famous Welsh poet and writer. His life, work, and legacy are displayed through a host of various collections including rare manuscripts, books, and artwork.

See my full guide to the best museums in Wales for more.


5. Hunt out Easter Eggs

This year (2024), Easter falls at the end of March so you can expect lots of Easter-themed activities to take place during the month.

Here are some of the best recurring Easter events in Wales:

National Trust - Most National Trust properties across Wales (Erddig, Tredegar House, Bodnant Gardens, etc) tend to run themed events in the lead-up to Easter, including trails and egg hunts. Check here in February 2024 for confirmed events.

Gwyrch Castle - Gwyrch Castle, famed for appearing on ITVs I'm a Celebrity, go all out with their Easter events which include a dragon egg hunt, challenges, and workshops.

National Museums - Every year, the National Museum Cardiff and St Fagan's National History Museum put on an Easter Egg trail around the museums in time for the Easter school holiday.

Check back closer to the time to find out about other events happening this year.


6. Visit Waterfall Country

Henrhyd Falls 2

Henrhyd Falls (in summer)

Sgwd Einion Gam Four Falls Trail
© Wales Guidebook

Four Falls Trail

With increased rainfall over the winter period, the waterfalls across Wales are running at full force so it's a good time to visit.

The best place to find some waterfalls is an area of the Brecon Beacons known as Waterfall Country, so called due to a high concentration of waterfalls where several rivers run through gorges.

There are countless great waterfalls to choose from but a few I recommend are:

Four Falls Trail - This is the most popular waterfall walk with four unique waterfalls linked by a family-friendly path. The path is well-trodden and there are plenty of handrails if it gets slippy. The most stunning of these is the fourth waterfall Sgwd-yr-Eira where it's possible to walk behind the thunderous wall of water to take stunning photographs.

Henrhyd Falls - This waterfall is famous for featuring in the Batman movies as the entrance to the Batcave in the Dark Knight Rises. It takes just 30 minutes to visit (round-trip).


7. Visit a Welsh castle

Caernarfon Castle (6)
© Wales Guidebook

Caernarfon Castle

Pembroke Castle (8)

Pembroke Castle

No trip to Wales would be complete without stopping off at a Welsh castle. To coincide with St David's Day, many of the castles put on lots of events.which are included with the entry fee.

With the March weather still expected to be wet and windy, it's best to stick to castles with some indoor areas to provide some shelter. Here are a few I recommend:

Caernarfon Castle – Probably the most impressive fortress in North Wales, you can visit Caernarfon Castle any time of year. They have two museums inside spanning multiple floors and you can climb up the towers for great view of the town.

Pembroke Castle – This is a great family day out with activities for all of the family. There’s a huge museum, guided tours, and lots of ruins to explore.

Powis Castle – The 13th-century castle has an extensive interior to explore, elegantly decorated with paintings, sculptures and furniture. Onsite is the Clive Museum which contains objects from India and the Far East.


Published: 12 December 2022 · Last updated: 16 January 2024