Things to Do in Israel in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
March Weather in Israel
Is March Right for You?
Advantages
- The heat hasn't yet arrived. Jerusalem's limestone glows gold under 20-23°C (68-73°F) skies that feel Mediterranean, not Middle Eastern desert. You can hike Ein Gedi in the Judean Desert for hours without a water break, and Tel Aviv's beachfront promenade fills with locals jogging at noon instead of midnight.
- Wildflowers explode across the Negev and Galilee. The red anemones (kalaniyot) carpet entire hillsides near Sderot, purple lupines line the trails of Mount Meron, and the almond trees blossom pink around the Sea of Galilee - a seasonal spectacle that vanishes completely by April's heat.
- The major Jewish and Christian holidays (Passover, Easter) typically fall in April, so March dodges the associated hotel price surges, sold-out rental cars, and biblical-scale crowds at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre or the Western Wall plaza.
- The Dead Sea is actually swimmable - or at least floatable. The air temperature hovers around a pleasant 28°C (82°F) at the shoreline, versus the 40°C (104°F) furnace it becomes by May. You can slather on the black mud and bake on the salt crust without feeling like a rotisserie chicken.
Considerations
- That 'variable' forecast means you'll get rain, and it's sneaky. A morning can dawn cloudless over the Old City, but by 3 PM, a cold, wind-whipped downpour sweeps in from the Mediterranean for an hour, turning the Roman pavements of the Cardo into a skating rink. You need a plan B.
- The Mediterranean Sea is still bracing - around 18°C (64°F). Tel Avivians will be out on the beaches in sweaters drinking coffee, but only the hardiest tourists (or Russians) are actually swimming. It's more for seaside walks than sunbathing.
- The desert nights, especially around Mitzpe Ramon in the Negev, can still dip toward 10°C (50°F). That crisp air is magical for stargazing through the clearest skies in the country, but it means your pack needs layers you might not expect for a 'warm' month.
Best Activities in March
Negev Desert Hiking & Jeep Tours
March is the Negev's fleeting green season. The arid landscape briefly softens with wildflowers, and temperatures are perfect for serious hiking without the lethal summer heat. Wadi Zin near Mitzpe Ramon runs with actual water, and the Makhtesh Ramon crater's colors seem more vivid under the soft spring light. This is the only month you can do a 10 km (6.2 mile) desert hike without starting at 4 AM.
Northern Galilee & Golan Heights Nature Tours
The north is drenched in green and bursting with water. The Banias Springs roar, the Jordan River is full and fast for kayaking, and the trails around the Sea of Galilee are shaded and cool. You'll smell wild mint and fennel crushed underfoot. This is also peak season for farm stays (tzimmers) and foraging tours focused on the spring greens (hubeza) that are a local culinary obsession.
Jerusalem Old City Cultural & Historical Walks
The stone alleys of the Muslim, Christian, Jewish, and Armenian Quarters are cool underfoot in March, not yet baking ovens. The light slants beautifully through the souq awnings in the late afternoon. It's ideal for the slow, detailed exploration the city demands - you can linger in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre or at the Western Wall without being shoved by pilgrim groups (they come later for Easter).
Tel Aviv Street Food & Market Tours
Tel Aviv's humidity in March has a specific texture - it carries the scent of frying falafel from the Carmel Market, orange blossoms from the trees lining Rothschild Boulevard, and salt from the not-quite-warm sea. The outdoor cafe culture is in full, glorious swing. This is the month to eat outside without sweating through your shirt, perfect for a multi-stop tour of the city's legendary street food scene, from the Iraqi kubbeh soup of Levinsky Market to the Yemenite malawach of Shuk HaCarmel.
Dead Sea & Masada Sunrise Experiences
The desert dawn in March is cold enough for a light jacket but warms quickly. Watching the sun rise over the Jordanian mountains from the top of Masada is a profound experience made comfortable by the season. Afterwards, floating in the Dead Sea is genuinely pleasant, not a survival test against the heat. The mud is thick and slathers on easily.
March Events & Festivals
Purim
If it falls in March (its date shifts yearly on the Hebrew calendar), Purim transforms the country into a massive, chaotic costume party. In Tel Aviv, Florentin becomes an open-air street festival with DJs and drinking. In Jerusalem, the celebrations are more family-oriented but just as energetic. Kids (and adults) dress as everything from superheroes to biblical characters. The traditional food is 'hamantaschen' - triangular jam-filled pastries. It's incredibly fun but know: public transportation stops early the evening of the holiday, and city centers become packed, noisy pedestrian zones.