Best destinations to visit in February
Best destinations to visit in February
Vibrant carnival street spaces and peak snow mountain paths in February
February is still deep in winter across much of the world, but close enough to spring that plans start to shift.
Some travellers use February for a romantic getaway, since Valentine's Day falls right in the middle of the month. Others stick with winter entirely, making the most of ski season before the snow starts to thin. Warm weather seekers keep chasing the sun in the Southern Hemisphere or in tropical regions where the season barely changes at all. Carnival season also builds through the month in several parts of the world, adding music, costumes and street parties to the usual travel mix. Being the shortest month, trips here often feel a little more focused than a typical winter getaway.
The destinations on our list cover that same range, from snowy escapes to warm ones, with a bit of festival energy mixed in depending on where you land.
Lists by region
City in United States
New Orleans
Jazz, Creole Flavors and Mardi Gras Vibes
Mardi Gras Day falls on 9 February in 2027, the day before Ash Wednesday. Parades roll along St. Charles Avenue on the days leading up to it. The Zulu and Rex parades take place on the morning of Mardi Gras itself. Krewes toss beads, cups and doubloons from floats to the crowds.
Country
Singapore
Tropical city-state of hawker food and gardens
February is usually the driest month in Singapore with sunny spells and warm evenings. Chinese New Year falls in late January or February with lion dances and lantern displays. Chinatown's streets fill with lanterns and stalls selling festive treats. River Hongbao at Marina Bay adds lantern sculptures and food stalls.
Country
Vietnam
Ancient charm meets natural wonder
Tet, the Lunar New Year, is Vietnam's biggest holiday and falls in late January or February. Flower markets and kumquat trees fill Hanoi's streets in the weeks before Tet. Ho Chi Minh City stays hot and dry in February. Ha Long Bay has about 1,600 limestone islands and islets.
City in United States
Savannah
Southern Charm, Moss-Draped Squares
A book festival brings authors to Telfair Square and nearby venues each February in Savannah. Mild February highs around 17 degrees Celsius suit walks between the city squares. Bonaventure Cemetery overlooks the Wilmington River with sculpted monuments beneath live oaks. Cobblestone River Street runs along the Savannah River past shops and cafes.
City in Japan
Sapporo
Snow festival city with ramen and beer
High school students built six snow statues in Odori Park in 1950, starting the Snow Festival. Today the festival fills the park with huge snow and ice sculptures each early February. The Susukino Ice Festival adds glowing ice carvings in the nightlife district. Miso ramen was created in Sapporo in the 1950s.
Country
Switzerland
Alpine beauty meets urban charm
Basel Fasnacht begins on the Monday after Ash Wednesday with the Morgestraich at four in the morning. City lights go out as drummers and piccolo players march with lanterns. The carnival lasts exactly 72 hours through the middle of the week. Zermatt's ski area climbs to 3,883 metres at Klein Matterhorn.
Country
Philippines
7,641 islands of tropical wonder
Panagbenga Flower Festival fills Baguio with floats and street dancers each February. The name comes from a Kapampangan word meaning a season of blooming. Baguio sits at about 1,500 metres above sea level and stays pleasantly cool. Sunny dry weather along the beaches of Palawan suits island hopping by boat.
City in Mexico
Cancún
Sun, sea and ancient wonders
February brings dry weather and sea temperatures near 26 degrees Celsius to Cancún. Chichén Itzá lies about two and a half hours inland by road. Each side of its main pyramid has 91 steps. Isla Mujeres is reached by a ferry ride of about 20 minutes.
Country
Argentina
Land of diverse natural wonders
Grape harvest begins in Mendoza in late February at the foot of the Andes. The province produces more than two thirds of Argentina's wine. Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia celebrates the harvest with a parade in early March. Iguazú Falls in the northeast splits into about 275 drops along the Brazilian border.
City in Italy
Venice
A floating city of romance and history
Elaborate masks and costumes fill the lagoon city for about two weeks before Lent. Historians trace the Venetian Carnival tradition back to the 1200s. Costume contests and open air concerts take place in Piazza San Marco. Bakeries sell sweet fried pastries called frittelle and galani during the season.
Country
Peru
Ancient wonders meet diverse landscapes
The Virgen de la Candelaria festival in Puno fills the streets with dancers and brass bands in early February. UNESCO recognised the festival as intangible cultural heritage in 2014. The classic Inca Trail closes every February for maintenance. Machu Picchu stays open with lush green hillsides and misty mornings.
City in Canada
Quebec City
Old World Charm in North America
Bonhomme Carnaval, a walking snowman in a red toque, presides over the Winter Carnival. The winter tradition dates back to 1894 in Quebec City. Teams push canoes across the icy St. Lawrence River in a race. Hôtel de Glace, rebuilt each winter from ice and snow, sits near the city.
Country
Chile
Land of dramatic climate contrasts
The Viña del Mar International Song Festival fills the Quinta Vergara amphitheatre every February. It has run since 1960 with musicians from across Latin America and beyond. Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia offers peak hiking weather in summer. Valparaíso's hillside neighbourhoods have been UNESCO listed since 2003.
Town in Canada
Banff
Rocky Mountain Majesty, Endless Adventure
Lake Louise Ski Resort spreads across about 4,200 acres of terrain. Sunshine Village sits on the Continental Divide along the border of Alberta and British Columbia. Cold dry February air keeps snow light and powdery. Skaters glide on groomed ice in front of Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.
Country
New Zealand
Land of the long cloud
Waitangi Day on 6 February marks the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. Summer highs in Auckland reach the mid twenties Celsius with plenty of sunshine. Hobbiton Movie Set near Matamata has 44 hobbit holes built into green hillsides. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing covers 19.4 kilometres past volcanic craters.
Country
Oman
Ancient heritage meets natural wonders
Green turtles come ashore at Ras al Jinz on the eastern tip of Oman throughout the year. Rangers lead small groups to watch nesting turtles at night. Wahiba Sands has orange dunes that rise up to 100 metres high. February highs near 25 degrees Celsius in Muscat suit sightseeing.
City in Morocco
Marrakech
A vibrant maze of colors and spices
Jardin Majorelle glows with cobalt blue walls and cactus gardens in the Gueliz district. Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé bought and restored the garden in 1980. February highs around 20 degrees Celsius suit walking in the medina. Snow often caps the High Atlas peaks visible to the south.
Island in United States
Maui
Island of Sun, Surf and Serenity
Thousands of humpback whales migrate to the warm waters off Maui each winter. February is peak season with frequent breaching in the Auau Channel. Haleakalā's summit rises 3,055 metres above the sea and needs advance reservations for sunrise. The Road to Hana has roughly 600 curves and 59 bridges.
Country
Guatemala
Land of diverse climates, volcanoes
Antigua Guatemala lies in a valley ringed by three volcanoes including Agua and Fuego. Cool dry days from November to April make February pleasant for hiking. Tikal's Temple IV rises about 70 metres above the jungle canopy. Lake Atitlán is ringed by volcanoes and Maya villages reached by boat.
Island in Thailand
Ko Samui
Tropical Vibes and Relaxed Luxury
February is one of the driest months on Koh Samui with sunny skies and calm seas. Big Buddha Temple's golden seated statue is 12 metres tall. Ang Thong Marine Park has 42 islands within a short boat ride. Bophut's Fisherman's Village hosts a Friday night walking street market.
City in Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
The heartbeat of Brazil's coast
Architect Oscar Niemeyer designed the Sambadrome, a purpose built parade avenue that opened in 1984. Samba schools parade there in costumes and floats over several nights during Carnival. Street parties called blocos fill neighbourhoods across the city with music and dancing. Afternoon temperatures in February reach around 30 degrees Celsius.
Country
Iceland
Land of fire and ice
Winter Lights Festival lights up Reykjavik with art installations and free events in early February. Ice caves under Vatnajökull glacier can be visited from November to March. Daylight grows to about ten hours by the end of the month. Northern lights remain visible on clear nights until early spring.
Country
Cuba
Tropical rhythms meet historic charm
February sits in Cuba's dry season with sunny days and low humidity. The Havana International Book Fair fills La Cabaña fortress with readers each February. The Malecón seafront promenade in Havana runs about eight kilometres. Viñales Valley, about two hours west of the capital, is UNESCO listed for tobacco farms beneath limestone hills.
Country
Maldives
Coral atolls, lagoons and overwater villas
Baa Atoll became a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2011 for its reefs and marine life. February brings dry weather and flat seas that suit snorkelling. Sunset dolphin cruises leave from several resort islands. Seaplane flights from Malé airport reach many resorts in under an hour.
Country
Senegal
Where desert meets tropical savanna
Gorée Island became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. A ferry from Dakar reaches the island in about 20 minutes. February falls in the dry season with warm days and little rain. Lake Retba turns pink from algae and workers harvest its salt by hand.
Country
Nicaragua
Tropical beauty with volcanic charm
Granada was founded in 1524 on the northwestern shore of Lake Nicaragua. Colourful colonial buildings in yellow, orange and blue line the streets around Central Park. Ometepe Island rises from the lake with twin volcanoes named Concepción and Maderas. Dry weather from December to April makes volcano hikes comfortable.
National Park in United States
Death Valley National Park
Otherworldly Extremes and Silent Beauty
Badwater Basin lies 86 metres below sea level in Death Valley National Park. February highs around 20 degrees Celsius make walking across the salt flats comfortable. Desert wildflowers can carpet the valley floor in February after a wet winter. Dante's View at 1,669 metres looks down on the salt flats.
Island in Norway
Lofoten
Dramatic Peaks and Northern Lights
Skrei, the migrating Arctic cod, arrives to spawn off Lofoten from January to April. Wooden racks in fishing villages hold cod drying in the cold air. Sea eagle safaris depart from Svolvær by boat. Northern lights often glow over the jagged peaks on clear nights.
Country
Barbados
Tropical paradise with year-round sunshine
Holetown Festival in mid February marks the 1627 landing of English settlers on the west coast. Craft stalls, music and parades fill Holetown's streets for about a week. Water along the sheltered west coast stays calm and warm. Visitors tour Harrison's Cave by tram through chambers filled with crystal formations.
Country
Bhutan
Himalayan monasteries, dzongs and trekking trails
Punakha Dzong, built in 1637, stands where two rivers meet in a warm valley. Punakha Drubchen, held in late winter, re-enacts a 17th century battle. Tiger's Nest monastery clings to a cliff about 900 metres above the Paro valley. February days are cold but skies are often clear.
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