Cartagena is Colombia’s vivacious Caribbean jewel. The old town
is encircled by a magnificent 13km-long stone wall, which has
protected its inhabitants since 1796. Inside, smartly painted
houses in pastel hues sport polished wooden balconies,
bougainvillaea blossom and intricate door knockers. In the
adjacent, up-and-coming Getsemani neighbourhood, winding
passageways lead to Plaza de la Trinidad, a square presided over by
a picturesque 17th-century church, where locals meet to play cards
and children hone their football skills. While away hours exploring
the cobbled streets, stopping to sample the city’s seriously
delicious street food along the way.

If you’re after a European city break that guarantees sunshine
and al fresco dining as early as March, the Spanish capital won’t disappoint. Soak up the city’s
impressive architecture, stroll around the Prado’s galleries and
unwind over tapas and paella, washed down with local craft beers.
Then dance the night away in one of the vivacious city’s many
late-night clubs. Our top choices? Federal Café, for croissants and churros; La Tita Rivera,
for their signature bread rolls filled with traditional tapas, and
Del
Diego cocktail bar, for the sort of drinks you’ll reminisce
about for a solid year.

India’s largest state, Rajasthan encompasses 10 per cent of the
country’s total area. Between the rose-hued streets of Jaipur, the
ethereal Narlai village and Jawai’s sprawling hills lives a
romantic city of epic sandcastle forts, crumbling havelis and wild
desert scenery: welcome to “the Golden City”, better
known as Jaisalmer. Discover the best of this dusty, dazzling
destination by wandering among coral-coloured havelis, vibrant
bazaars and a looming fort that seemingly springs straight from the
sandy plains. Behind the jungle of sandstone buildings is a
labyrinth of narrow passageways lined by Jain temples, gorgeous
guesthouses, fragrant restaurants and boutiques swathed in
colourful textiles.

Sitting pretty on the country’s southern tip, Ksamil’s white-sand beaches, crystalline waters
and hip hangouts rival those of many better-known Ionian hotspots,
at just a fraction of the price – and with a fraction of the
crowds, too. Spend March days rambling around ancient ruins,
dancing beneath bamboo-clad beach shacks and feasting in
ridiculously cool restaurants. Ostro Beach Bar & Restaurant combines the
best of Ksamil’s no-frills attitude with sunny island style: the
caesar salad paired with crab croquettes is a great place to start.
Post-feast, make tracks to Bora Bora Ksamil – a low-key wooden kiosk on
the edge of white-sand Plazhi Bora Bora beach, known for its
refreshing cocktails and top-notch house playlist.

A true southern belle, Savannah is a prime destination to visit in early
spring, before the sticky summer heat takes hold. Bring along
someone with a hearty appetite and stop by The Olde Pink House or Vic’s on the
River for local fare featuring towers of fried tomatoes,
collard greens and crumbly cornbread topped with freshly whipped
butter. After dinner, head to one of the riverfront candy shops,
where you’ll be greeted with the sweet, buttery smell of roasting
praline. Looking for an active adventure? Set off on a
self-directed bike tour of Tybee Island, cruising past traditional
farmhouses and adorable wooden piers.

With surf clubs, desert hikes and 300 days of promised sunshine
a year, Agadir is the place for beach lovers with a taste for
culture. Spend mornings checking out the hilltop Kasbah and the
city’s many souks, and afternoons catching a few waves, then cap it
all off with a mint tea on the beachfront promenade. Book a couple
of days at Blue Waves’ Surf House in Agadir’s Anza
neighbourhood. There, oceanfront rooms can be shared, hostel-style,
or booked privately, and the camp offers surf lessons to suit
everyone from noob to expert.

Despite Chad being one of Africa’s largest countries,
many would struggle to place it on a map. Home to some of the
world’s most extreme landscapes, the destination makes our list for
its jaw-droppingly beautiful oases and bountiful wildlife. Spend
days trekking through the Sahara, visiting Lake Chad or going on
safari in Zakouma National Park. In March, you’ll be treated to the
sight of thirsty animals congregating around watering holes, with
colourful birds swooping down for a drink and hippos wallowing.

The St Tropez of South America, the Hamptons of the South, the
Pearl of the Atlantic… Endless fond nicknames have been given to
the ritzy resort city of Punta del Este. We recommend getting up
early to find your favourite spot along its 30km of white-sand
shore, then hitting the city’s galleries and museums to get a taste
of Uruguayan culture. Evenings are best spent celeb-spotting at
Punta del Este’s glitzy, yacht-filled harbour or watching the
sunset from hilltop Punta Ballena. Visit in March for warm weather
without the high-season crowds.

Right at the northernmost tip of Norway’s railway system,
Bodø is the gateway to the Arctic Circle.
Almost entirely destroyed after a Luftwaffe bombing during the
Second World War, the city has been gradually rebuilt as a cultural
hotspot. It makes an ideal launchpad for expeditions into the
dramatic Arctic wilderness, where, if you’re lucky, you’ll catch a
glimpse of the enchanting northern lights. Go in March to see
Saltstraumen, the world’s strongest maelstrom, at its peak.
Fast-flowing water gushes across the threshold of the fjord just
outside of town – a spectacle that has to be seen to be
believed.

Despite being home to a busy commercial port and Israel’s third-largest city, Haifa has the kind of joie de vivre more often
associated with a compact holiday resort. Its landscape is made up
of a beautiful blend of craggy cliffs, palm-fringed streets and
tropical gardens, whose towering blooms look too flawless to be
real against the cloudless sky. It’s a must-visit destination for
those who like their ancient history served with a side helping of
cutting-edge architecture and powder-sand beaches galore.

An old western town in Wyoming, Cody is a dream destination for any outdoor
enthusiast planning a March adventure. Saddle up and get ready to
horse ride through verdant valleys, raft on rushing rivers and hike
through the iconic Yellowstone National Park. Nestled in Wyoming’s
north-west, this former frontier town was founded in 1896 by
soldier, bison hunter and showman Buffalo Bill (William Frederick
Cody). Today, you’ll still find traces of its cowboy roots within
the Old Trail Town, where original spaghetti western-style cabins
are the backdrop for evening rodeos and reenactments of famous
gunfights.

Yamba ranks as one of Australia’s best-kept
secrets. An off-the-beaten-track town that flaunts a pristine
coastline, it’s a must-visit destination for foodies, surfers and
those seeking a chilled waterside escape. Sitting in the north of
NSW, at the mouth of the Clarence River, this sleepy fishing spot
remains virtually undiscovered. Bed down at Scandi-style hotel
The Surf
Yamba, an intimate 12-room stay that comes with a rooftop
plunge pool. Elsewhere, Angourie Café & Wine Bar is best for brunch, while
laid-back bar Paradiso is where the local surfers head post-sesh for
a craft ale and great grub. Get there before the crowds move in and
fall head over heels for its vibrant community spirit.

Trondheim is where the cool kids are heading
for a city break this month. Sitting on the south shore of Norway’s
sparkling Trondheim Fjord, at the mouth of the River Nidelva, the
leader in farm-to-fork dining was recently honoured with the title
of European Region of Gastronomy 2022. The abundance of
award-winning local menus (read our picks here) can in part be put down to the region’s
unique landscape – all dramatic mountain peaks, fertile soil and an
incredible array of wildlife. But feasting is not all this place is
good for. A thriving creative scene exists here, too: think
independent art houses showcasing emerging talent, cutting-edge
design studios and the sort of street art that makes touring on
foot a welcome prospect. Plus, in true Scandi style, a slew of
saltwater baths and lake-facing saunas make Trondheim a
wellness-first destination.

Getting to the wildly remote Stepantsminda – known locally as Kazbegi – in
Georgia’s mountainous north-east, from the capital, Tbilisi, is half the fun. The three-hour road
trip along the Georgian Military Highway takes in Ananuri’s domed
1689-built Church of the Virgin, emerald-green rivers and
reservoirs, cattle and sheep pastures, the vast Treaty of
Georgievsk Monument – its bold tile mural contrasting brilliantly
with the surrounding snowy peaks – and the odd roadside stand
selling traditional sheepskin hats. Visit in March and you’ll be
among the first to enjoy the newly refurbished Rooms
Hotel Kazbegi, a reinvented mountain bolthole housed in a
former sanatorium – think Soho House minus the “look at me”, Gstaad
minus the sky-high prices, and Soviet brutalist architecture minus
the communism.

That picture-perfect city you pinned on your IG at the weekend?
We’ll bet our first-class Eurostar tickets that it was some
culture-packed Dutch destination. You know the type: grand and
glorious townhouses, tulip-flanked canals, handsome cafés, swathes
of bunting and more bicycles than the Tour de France. Our carry-on
is practically zipping itself up. Yours, too? In that case,
Nijmegen – the Netherlands’ oldest city –
should be your next adventure. Situated a 90-minute drive
south-east of Amsterdam, just a few kilometres from the German
border, the city has all the ingredients for a stellar city break:
forward-thinking concept stores and design-driven boutiques;
warehouse music venues; green-starred restaurants; an annual
four-day hiking fest; and a hedonistic summer festival.

Blustery beaches. Pastel-hued terraces. Independent stores.
Artisan bakeries. The new jewel in Suffolk’s rural crown is the
breezy coastal enclave of Aldeburgh. Thanks in part to the opening of
restaurateur and hotelier George Pell’s reimagined 17th-century
inn, The
Suffolk, last August, this sea-facing stretch of England is
making waves. Stretch out in a curio-filled room at the new hotel,
fuel up on crullers at farm café Pinch, then stomp your way along the shore on
the Suffolk Coast Path. If you have time, head to Snape Maltings for cultural performances and a snoop
around the antiques centre.