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.