Things to Do in Iran in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
March Weather in Iran
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
Is March Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
- + March in Iran delivers the year's most dramatic transition. You can ski on the Alborz slopes above Tehran in the morning and wander through Isfahan's Naqsh-e Jahan Square in just a sweater by afternoon, with the scent of damp earth and orange blossoms hanging in the air.
- + Nowruz, the Persian New Year, typically falls around March 20th-21st, turning the entire country into a living museum of ancient spring rituals. From the crackle of bonfires on Chaharshanbe Suri to families picnicking on fresh herbs and fish by mountain streams, the country pulses with celebration.
- + The desert oases around Yazd and Kashan become bearable again. Daytime temperatures in the Dasht-e Kavir hover around 70°F (21°C) instead of July's 110°F (43°C), letting you explore mud-brick windcatchers without feeling roasted.
- + This is shoulder season pricing with nearly summer-level access. Many mountain passes that close in winter (like the road to Masuleh) reopen by mid-March, but hotel rates haven't yet jumped to April's peak levels.
- − That 'variable' weather condition means genuine unpredictability. You might get a dusting of snow on the Persepolis reliefs one day and need sunglasses the next, which makes packing efficiently a real challenge.
- − Nowruz travel creates an internal migration that would make most countries blush. The week before and after the holiday sees Iran's roads and domestic flights packed with families visiting relatives, which tends to complicate last-minute bookings.
- − Some museums and government-run sites adjust their hours during the Nowruz holidays, and a few might close entirely for a day or two. You'll want to check schedules for specific dates rather than assuming standard operations.
Year-Round Climate
How March compares to the rest of the year
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 7°C | 0°C | 1.4 inches (36 mm) |
| Feb | 10°C | 1°C | 1.3 inches (33 mm) |
| Mar | 15°C | 5°C | 1.6 inches (41 mm) |
| Apr | 22°C | 11°C | 1.3 inches (33 mm) |
| May | 28°C | 16°C | 0.6 inches (15 mm) |
| Jun | 34°C | 21°C | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Jul | 36°C | 24°C | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Aug | 35°C | 23°C | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Sep | 31°C | 19°C | 0.0 inches (0 mm) |
| Oct | 24°C | 13°C | 0.4 inches (10 mm) |
| Nov | 16°C | 6°C | 1.0 inches (25 mm) |
| Dec | 10°C | 1°C | 1.3 inches (33 mm) |
Best Activities in March
Top things to do during your visit
March is the only month where the central deserts are both accessible and comfortable. The mornings still carry a crisp chill (good for movement), but by 10 AM the sun warms the rose-colored cliffs of Kharānaq to a pleasant 65°F (18°C). You'll hear the wind whistling through abandoned qanats (ancient water channels) and see the first green shoots pushing through salt flats. This is prime time for exploring the caravanserais along the Silk Road routes. The light is soft, the temperatures manageable, and the tourist buses haven't yet arrived from Yazd.
If your dates align with late March, you're witnessing Iran's most important cultural moment. The air fills with the scent of sabzeh (sprouted wheat) from household Haft-sin tables and the sizzle of kebabs on family picnics. This isn't a spectator event. It's participatory. You'll taste samanu (wheat pudding) that families spend days stirring, hear children reciting poetry for eidi (New Year's money), and see entire neighborhoods turn out for the jumping over bonfires on Chaharshanbe Suri. The energy is contagious, and it gives you access to traditions most tourists only read about.
The snowline in the Alborz Mountains retreats to about 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) by late March, opening up trails that were impassable in February. You'll hike through valleys where the sound of melting snowmelt mixes with returning birdcalls, and the views over Tehran are startlingly clear before the summer haze sets in. The Darband and Tochal trails above the city become social destinations for locals celebrating the end of winter. Expect to share tea with families on weekend afternoons. The temperature at these elevations is good for exertion: cool enough that you won't overheat on ascents. But warm enough to enjoy lunch on a sun-warmed rock.
Persian gardens are designed for spring, and March is when they awaken. In Shiraz, the orange trees in Bagh-e Eram release their blossom scent so thickly it feels like walking through perfume, while the cypress alleys provide cool shade from the midday sun. The sound of water flowing through qanats (the signature feature of these gardens) is strongest now with snowmelt feeding the systems. This is also when locals visit. You're not just seeing architecture. You're seeing how Iranians use these spaces for family gatherings and quiet reflection as winter breaks.
March kitchens in Iran are factories of tradition. This is when families prepare the seven symbolic foods (the Haft-sin) and Nowruz specialties that aren't available year-round. You can learn to make reshteh polo (noodle rice with herbs) from scratch, shape delicate pastries like naan berenji, or understand the alchemy of turning wheat into samanu. The tastes are distinctly seasonal: fresh herbs, young garlic, and the first spring vegetables. These workshops often happen in home kitchens rather than commercial spaces, giving you a glimpse of domestic life during this important period.
March Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
This happens the last Wednesday before Nowruz. Communities build bonfires in streets and parks after sunset. People jump flames while chanting 'zardi-ye man az to, sorkhi-ye to az man' (my yellowness to you, your redness to me). This purification ritual dates to Zoroastrian times. The crackle of fires, smell of burning esfand (wild rue seeds), and sparks against night sky blend solemn ritual with neighborhood block party. It's spectacular. It's crowded. Locals know which parks host the best community fires.
The two weeks around the spring equinox transform daily life. Families set elaborate Haft-sin tables with seven symbolic items starting with 'S' in Persian. They visit elders. They picnic outdoors. In Tehran, Jordan Street parks become seas of picnic blankets. You'll hear backgammon pieces clatter. You'll smell grilled fish. In Shiraz, families flock to Hafez and Saadi tombs for falgir (poetry fortune-telling). This isn't one event. It's a national mood. Everything slows. Family becomes priority. Strangers grow unusually welcoming.
On the 13th day after Nowruz, Iranians head outdoors en masse to picnic. This tradition avoids bad luck tied to the number 13. Parks, riverbanks, and mountain foothills fill with families spreading tablecloths, flying kites, and eventually discarding sabzeh (sprouted greens) into running water. Laughter and music mix with portable grill sizzle. It's the most democratic Iranian holiday. Everyone participates. Socioeconomic differences erase temporarily through shared ritual.
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