europe2011

We are trying to decide which city to revisit in March. I've looked up weather for all 3 cities and wonder what your opinions are on what city may have the best weather. We've been to all 3 cities before so it's just a matter of which place would have the best weather. We will be going in mid March- probably arriving around 3/12. We worry that London will still be cold and rainy. Paris may also be chilly, right?
We usually only go to Europe in the summer. Any one been in March? Thanks

janisj

>> so it's just a matter of which place would have the best weather<<

Sorry but there is absolutely no way to tell. Rome <i>might</i> have nicer weather, or not.

London <i>might</i> be wet -- or not.

Paris might be pleasant or truly <i><blue> freezing . . .

sandralist

I live in Europe and have been to all three places in March, and I would pick Rome for mildest temp if I was planning to spend most of my time outdoors sightseeing, and cross my fingers that I didn't get much rain. But if you are planning to visit museums, shops, cafes and other indoor attractions, the lower temps of Paris won't be much of an issue, and it has wonderful public transportation as an alternative to walking if you need to get out of the cold or rain. Not much of a fan of touring London, partly just because I find the weather generally uncongenial year round, but I don't know that it gets much more rain than Paris in March, and while its public transportation is not as convenient as Paris, there is certainly a lot to do indoors, including theater.

Be aware there is a very large difference between the first weeks of March and the last, not only when it comes to temps --- the month can start out frigid and end up balmy -- but also in that the clocks switch over to European Summer Time in late March, bringing longer daytime hours.

sandralist

(Actually. I am now not sure that there is uniform switchover of clocks throughout Europe -- but certainly Italy switches in late March.)

janisj

Most of the year London is quite temperate. In March it can be cold or wet or nice anywhere in Europe. I was in Paris two years in a row in April. One year it was freezing and there was sleet. The next year the same week it was gorgeous. This past week London has been in the high 50's and even 60F . . . Rome has been almost exactly the same. maybe a couple of degrees warmer.

sandralist

What people consider "temperate" often varies, but facts are that for several years in a row it has snowed during March in London (not that janis would ever tell you. She's just here to boost London.). And not just dustings of snow in March in London. There can be heavy blankets of snow -- cancelled flights, impassable streets. It can also snow in April in London. But there is no snow in Rome in March, and the angle of sunlight further south is brighter.

Plus Rome is a better value for your money when it comes to accommodations and food.

jamikins

We have all kinds of weather here in London...lat Saturday, 19 Dec, it was 16 degrees C!

In March you can have beautiful sunny spring days or snow or anything in between. We had a snow day in April the first year we moved here. Most springs are quite mild and when it snows it is almost always just a day and then it warms up and things get back to normal. Daffodils and spring flowers are often in bloom in March.

I remember snow about once a year (for a day or two) for the last 8 years, sometimes in Dec, sometimes in Feb, sometimes in April etc...but we had no snow in 2014 or 2015 (yet...).

You just never know.

sandralist

Minor correction: I was thinking of an April snow in London that cancelled flights

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-04-0...hts-ba/2394940

sandralist

I don't know where jamikins was, but there was snow in London in March 2014

http://www.itv.com/news/london/updat...as-snow-falls/

As for 2015, it was "graupel" in March -- fluffy hail

http://www.itv.com/news/london/updat...-probably-not/

jamikins

Yup - that was the snow day in April I mentioned. It was very random.

In 2014 I had lunch sitting outside our pub on the first weekend in March, basking in the sunshine.

Honestly, you never know.

jamikins

sandra - I meant the winter of 2014/2015 and this winter 2015/2016.

2014/2015 winter I didnt even bring out my gloves and scarf it was so mild.

isabel

Well I consider myself to be equally in love with London, Paris and Rome and have been to all three in March, multiple times. You just cannot pick one over the other for weather at that time of year. I have experienced snow and temps in the 70s in Paris - and that was in the same 24 hour period! Last March in Rome I had one of the most glorious days imaginable - sun so bright it was blinding and temps in the 70s - but that followed three days of pouring rain. I have photos showing spring flowering bushes and trees and green grass and trees just beginning to bud out with leaves - in all three places.

I think, as stated above, that the slightly southern latitude of Rome gives it a tiny edge in the warmth department but that is negated by the 'better' choice of inside things to do in London and the 'better' transportation options to get around Paris if it is raining. So it's a wash - just pick which one you'd rather visit this time.

isabel

Oh, btw, I also 'usually' go to Europe in summer. But March is the other month I get vacation so most of my travel is in either July or March. Since you've been to all three cities in summer I think you will find some nice differences in March. I was surprised to find Rome just as crowded feeling in March as in July (and hotel prices were higher) but Paris felt a lot less crowded (around the touristy places) in March than July. London too but to a lesser extend. Especially in London and Paris, the foliage was significantly different in March than summer so things 'looked' different. If you get out of the city on day trips to the countryside all three areas will be beautiful with early spring flowerings and beautiful green grass (that's a contrast most felt in Italy since England doesn't get the 'brown/tan' look of the countryside in Italy in summer).

Anyway, have a great time whichever you choose.

isabel

Here's some shots of Paris in March
http://www.pbase.com/annforcier/image/162029552
http://www.pbase.com/annforcier/image/162029640
http://www.pbase.com/annforcier/image/162029730

And Rome
http://www.pbase.com/annforcier/image/161273705
http://www.pbase.com/annforcier/image/161273760
http://www.pbase.com/annforcier/image/161273773 - same location in March, November and July

And London
http://www.pbase.com/annforcier/image/157413223
http://www.pbase.com/annforcier/image/157413324
http://www.pbase.com/annforcier/image/157413446
http://www.pbase.com/annforcier/image/157413570

nytraveler

On average the March temps in Rome will be warmer than London or Paris. You are more likely to get cooler temps in either London or Paris. You can get rain anywhere at any time.

And there is no guarantee that you will get "average" on any specific days.

I would go for London or Paris since there is more to do indoors - but then I don't mind rain and prefer chilly to hot (won't go to Italy past May since it's just too hot)..

janisj

isabel and jamikins -- don't confuse things w/ facts/proof

europe2011: The upshot is . . . no matter which city you choose, the other two are likely to have better weather during your time . . . or not. Just the luck of the dice.

Pick the city you want to see most because in all three the weather in March can be ANYTHING.

Tulips

Decide where you want to go regardless of weather. Unless you are going for the beach, or skiing, it's really irrelevant. Rome will most likely be warmer than London, but just can't tell these days.

Weather forecast tomorrow, December 22:
Rome: 14 celsius.
London: 15 celsius
(BBC weather)