15 Best Places to Travel in February

1. Rio de Janeiro for Carnival Season

Rio de Janeiro is one of the best places to travel in February because Carnival and the height of the Brazilian summer arrive together.

Best for: Couples who want the world's grandest street celebration, followed by lazy beach days.

In 2027 the city's Carnival falls in the days before Ash Wednesday on 10 February, with the Special Group samba schools parading through the Sambadrome on 7, 8 and 9 February. Away from the stadium, neighbourhood street parties known as blocos fill Santa Teresa, Ipanema and the old centre from morning until late.

Summer days are hot and humid, so we shape each itinerary around early swims, long lunches in the shade and late evenings at the parade. When the celebrations ease, Sugarloaf Mountain at dusk and a few days on the islands of the Costa Verde make a quieter epilogue.

Where to stay: Belmond Copacabana Palace, home of a celebrated Carnival ball, or Hotel Fasano Rio de Janeiro on Ipanema.

Plan it: Reserve oceanfront suites and a private Sambadrome box 9 to 12 months out, and let us handle the private travel planning around the Carnival calendar.

2. Venice for Carnival Masks and Quiet Canals

Venice earns its place in February because Carnival turns the city into a stage of masks and costume while winter keeps the crowds well below summer levels.

Best for: A private proposal in a candlelit palazzo, or a first winter trip as an engaged couple.

The 2027 Carnival runs from 23 January to 9 February, and its traditional moments include the Flight of the Angel over St Mark's Square and costumed processions through the sestieri. Private masked balls in palazzi along the Grand Canal call for full costume, which ateliers in the city can tailor to measure.

Between events, the city is cold, crisp and often wrapped in morning mist, which suits slow walks through Dorsoduro and Cannaregio and lunches by the fire. We often plan proposals here at the close of the day, on a private terrace above the Grand Canal or aboard a gondola timed for the lamps along the water.

Where to stay: Aman Venice in Palazzo Papadopoli, or The Gritti Palace on the Grand Canal.

Plan it: Book costume fittings and ball tickets alongside the hotel, and explore our Italy destinations for weddings and romantic escapes to extend the journey.

3. Barbados and St Lucia for Caribbean Sun Before Spring Break

Barbados and St Lucia rank among the best holiday destinations in February for warm weather, with the dry season settled and the March spring break crowds still weeks away.

Best for: Unhurried days by the water, sailing and a celebration at sunset.

Barbados has long been where Brits go for winter sun, and its west coast keeps a calm, sheltered sea along the parish of St James. Days usually sit around 29°C, trade winds soften the afternoons, and evenings open onto terraces in Holetown and Speightstown.

St Lucia, a short flight away, adds drama with the twin Pitons rising above Soufrière, rainforest walks and volcanic sulphur springs. We often pair the two islands, starting on Barbados for ease and finishing in a St Lucia suite that opens to the mountains and the sea.

Where to stay: Coral Reef Club, a family-run hotel in St James, Barbados, and Jade Mountain above Soufrière on St Lucia.

Plan it: The west coast of Barbados fills early for February, so secure villas first and see our honeymoon packages shaped around the season for island pairings.

4. Tulum and the Riviera Maya for Beach Retreats

Tulum and the Riviera Maya suit February because the Yucatán's dry season brings clear skies, a warm sea and comfortable evenings.

Best for: Couples who want beach days with cenotes and Mayan ruins close by.

Mornings belong to the clifftop ruins of Tulum and to Cobá, where the jungle closes in around the pyramids, before the heat of the day builds. In the afternoons, we arrange private cenote swims and boat trips through the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, a World Heritage site of lagoons, mangroves and reef.

The beach road south of the ruins keeps its low-rise, barefoot character, and February evenings are mild enough for long dinners under the palms. Seaweed arrivals vary from year to year, though they tend to be lighter in the cooler months, so we check conditions when choosing a stretch of coast.

Where to stay: Rosewood Mayakoba among lagoons and mangroves, or Hotel Esencia, a former private estate at Xpu-Ha.

Plan it: Visit the ruins at opening time for the softest light, and browse our Mexico destinations for celebrations and escapes.

5. Costa Rica for Peak Dry-Season Wildlife

Costa Rica is at its best in February, when the Pacific side sits in the heart of its dry season and wildlife is easier to find along open trails.

Best for: Wildlife lovers who want rainforest, volcano views and surf in one journey.

Guanacaste in the north-west is at its sunniest now, with long beach days on the Papagayo Peninsula and surf at Nosara. Inland, the Arenal volcano is often clear of cloud, and hanging bridges through the forest canopy bring sloths, toucans and howler monkeys into view.

Further south, the Osa Peninsula and Corcovado National Park hold some of the richest biodiversity in the country, best explored with a naturalist guide at first light. Humpback whales from the northern hemisphere also pass the South Pacific coast at this time of year, a theme we explore further with Costa Rica in December.

Where to stay: Lapa Rios, a pioneering conservation lodge on the Osa Peninsula; Nayara Tented Camp near Arenal; or Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo.

Plan it: Link two regions with a short private flight, and ask us for a private Costa Rica itinerary planned around the dry season.

6. Koh Samui for Gulf of Thailand Calm

Koh Samui is our pick for Thailand in February because the Gulf coast enters its driest, calmest stretch of the year.

Best for: Villa stays, boat days and spa retreats with settled seas.

Samui's wetter months fall late in the year, so February brings clear skies, light breezes and water calm enough for a private yacht to Ang Thong National Marine Park. The park's limestone islands, sheltered lagoons and viewpoints make a full day on the water feel far from the world.

Back on the island, the north and north-east coasts around Choeng Mon and Bophut offer quieter bays and hilltop villas facing Koh Phangan. Thai cooking with produce from local markets and treatments at a wellness retreat fill the slower afternoons.

Where to stay: Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, Kamalaya for wellness, or Six Senses Samui on the Samrong headland.

Plan it: Allow a night in Bangkok on arrival, and read our Asia honeymoon guide to where to go and when to visit to compare Thailand's coasts across the year.

7. Reykjavik and Iceland for Northern Lights and Hot Springs

Iceland is one of the best places to travel in February for the northern lights, since long, dark nights give the aurora a wide window and the landscape lies under snow and ice.

Best for: Couples who want snowbound landscapes, geothermal bathing and a chance of the aurora.

The aurora season runs from September to April, and midwinter darkness leaves more hours each night for a sighting when skies clear. Daylight grows quickly through February, which leaves time for the Golden Circle, frozen waterfalls and the volcanic beaches of the south coast.

Reykjavik makes a comfortable base, with tasting menus built on Icelandic lamb and North Atlantic seafood and geothermal lagoons a short drive away. From there, we plan private super-jeep days to the ice caves beneath Vatnajökull and evenings far from the city lights, where viewing is best. Iceland in June brings the opposite season, under the midnight sun.

Where to stay: The Reykjavik EDITION by the harbour, or Hotel Rangá in the south, known for its aurora wake-up calls.

Plan it: Allow at least four nights for clear-sky chances, and keep the itinerary flexible around fast-changing weather.

Couples planning a honeymoon can also explore our guide to where to go on honeymoon in February, with stays selected around the dry season.

8. The Serengeti for Calving Season

The southern Serengeti is the place to be in February because the great herds gather on the short-grass plains to give birth, drawing predators close.

Best for: Safari couples who want close wildlife encounters on open plains with fewer vehicles than the northern river crossings.

Calving centres on the plains around Ndutu, where the Serengeti meets the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and hundreds of thousands of wildebeest calves are born within a few weeks. Lion, cheetah and hyena follow the herds, and the open grassland makes sightings close and clear.

February usually falls in a drier spell between the short and long rains, so skies are bright and the plains are lush. Private vehicles, guided walks where permitted and breakfasts laid out on the plains give the days their pace, while the herds' later journey north is the story of the Serengeti in July.

Where to stay: &Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas, a mobile camp that follows the herds, or Lemala Ndutu Tented Camp.

Plan it: Seasonal camps in Ndutu fill a year ahead, and our guide to private safari and island escapes by season shows how to pair the plains with the coast.

9. Cape Town and the Winelands for Summer Days

Cape Town is one of the best places to travel in February for southern summer, with long, dry days, warm afternoons and the Winelands moving into harvest.

Best for: Couples who want mountain, ocean and vineyard in one stay.

Days usually reach the mid to high twenties, and early light suits a cable car ride up Table Mountain before the south-easterly wind, known locally as the Cape Doctor, picks up. Afternoons turn to Clifton's sheltered beaches or a drive along Chapman's Peak toward Cape Point.

An hour inland, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek are bringing in the grapes, and estate lunches run long under old oaks. We plan private cellar tastings and harvest experiences here, and many couples choose these estates for an engagement dinner or a small wedding.

Where to stay: Ellerman House in Bantry Bay, Babylonstoren in the Franschhoek valley for its working garden, or Delaire Graff Estate above Stellenbosch.

Plan it: February is a busy month in the Cape, so book early and see our African honeymoon ideas pairing the Winelands with safari.

10. Marrakech for Almond Blossom and Crisp Sunshine

Marrakech is at its most comfortable in February, with clear, mild days that suit the medina, the gardens and the riads without the heat of summer.

Best for: Couples who want culture, design and a short flight from Europe.

Daytime temperatures usually sit around 18 to 20°C and nights are cool, which makes fireside dinners in a riad courtyard part of the appeal. We arrange private walks through the souks with a local guide, mornings at Jardin Majorelle and lunch in the foothills of the snow-capped High Atlas.

In the Anti-Atlas to the south, almond trees around Tafraoute usually flower in February, and the valley marks the season with a local almond blossom festival. Couples with more time can continue to the mountains and the coast at Essaouira, which feature among our best places to travel in March.

Where to stay: Royal Mansour, La Mamounia, or Amanjena in the palm groves outside the city.

Plan it: Request a suite with its own courtyard, and see our guide to desert and Red Sea honeymoon destinations for regional pairings.

11. Palawan and El Nido for Dry-Season Islands

Palawan suits February because the Philippines is in its cool dry season, with lower humidity and calm seas around El Nido's limestone islands.

Best for: Island-hopping couples who want lagoons, kayaks and private beaches.

Bacuit Bay holds dozens of islands and karst cliffs, and early departures by private banca reach the Big and Small Lagoons before the day boats arrive. Snorkelling over coral gardens, picnic lunches on empty coves and sunset from a cliff-edge terrace shape the days.

To the north-east, the Cuyo Islands hold Amanpulo on its own private island, reached by a short private flight from Manila. Pairing El Nido with Amanpulo gives a week of contrast, from karst and lagoon to soft beaches and house reefs.

Where to stay: El Nido Resorts Pangulasian Island, known for its marine conservation work, and Amanpulo.

Plan it: Ask for an early departure to the lagoons, and explore our Asia destinations for island and city escapes.

12. The Maldives for Dive Reefs and Whale Sharks

The Maldives ranks among the best places to travel in February for divers, as the dry north-east monsoon brings some of the year's calmest seas and clearest water.

Best for: Divers and snorkellers who want whale sharks, manta rays and reef walls.

In the South Ari Marine Protected Area, whale sharks are present year round and often return to the same reefs, and February's visibility makes each encounter easier to enjoy. Channels between the atolls draw reef sharks, eagle rays and turtles, with drift dives suited to confident divers.

We plan dive days with a resort marine biologist and balance them with a sandbank dinner for two or a sunset cruise with dolphins. Couples drawn to lagoon villas will find that angle covered among our best places to travel in January.

Where to stay: Conrad Maldives Rangali Island in South Ari, Six Senses Laamu for its marine research programme, or Soneva Fushi in the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve.

Plan it: Follow the local code for whale shark swims by keeping your distance, and browse our Maldives honeymoon packages for reef and lagoon stays.

13. Byron Bay and the Northern Rivers for Southern Summer

Byron Bay is our southern summer pick for February, with warm water, surf mornings and the rolling hinterland a short drive inland.

Best for: Couples who want an Australian beach summer with boutique stays and hinterland dining.

The sea is close to its warmest of the year, and early swims at Wategos, a walk to the Cape Byron Lighthouse and a kayak with dolphins in the bay set the morning rhythm. Summer rain tends to arrive in short bursts, so we plan beach time early and long lunches later.

The Northern Rivers hinterland, around Bangalow, Federal and Newrybar, is home to farm-to-table restaurants, macadamia orchards and hilltop views to the coast. It is also a favoured setting for engagement celebrations and intimate weddings, which our team plans in the region throughout the year.

Where to stay: Raes on Wategos, Crystalbrook Byron in the rainforest, or Gaia Retreat and Spa in the hinterland.

Plan it: Book February weekends early, and read our guide to getting married in Australia if a celebration is part of the plan.

14. Hokkaido for the Sapporo Snow Festival

Hokkaido is among the best places to travel in February for winter festivals, as the Sapporo Snow Festival fills the city centre with snow and ice sculptures and powder settles on the surrounding mountains.

Best for: Couples who want winter festivals, hot springs and Japanese cuisine.

The festival usually runs for about a week in early February, with large snow sculptures along Odori Park and illuminated ice carvings in Susukino. Nearby Otaru lights its canal and lanes with candles for its own Snow Light Path festival around the same time.

Between festival evenings, we plan private dinners of Hokkaido crab and sea urchin, and onsen stays where outdoor baths sit beneath falling snow. Lake Toya and the hot spring town of Noboribetsu, each within a couple of hours of Sapporo, add volcanic scenery to the journey.

Where to stay: The Windsor Hotel Toya Resort and Spa above Lake Toya, or KAI Poroto by Lake Poroto, near the Upopoy National Ainu Museum.

Plan it: Central Sapporo hotels fill a year ahead of the festival, and our Asia destination guides help extend the trip to Honshu.

15. Vietnam and Cambodia for Temples and Heritage Towns

Vietnam and Cambodia answer the question of which country in Asia is best to visit in February for culture, with dry, warm days at Angkor and pleasant weather in Hoi An.

Best for: Couples who want temples, heritage towns and a leisurely cruise.

At Angkor, private sunrise visits to Angkor Wat followed by the quieter temples of Ta Prohm and Banteay Srei set an unhurried pace. In central Vietnam, Hoi An's lantern-lit old town rewards evening walks and bespoke tailoring, with the beach at An Bang a few minutes away.

In the north, Ha Long Bay and the quieter Lan Ha Bay are cool and often misty, which gives an overnight cruise among the karsts a soft, atmospheric light. Lunar New Year, known as Tết, falls on 6 February in 2027, when families gather, some businesses close and domestic travel is at its busiest.

Where to stay: Amansara or Shinta Mani Angkor in Siem Reap, and Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai near Hoi An.

Plan it: Book early if your dates overlap with Tết, and see our guide to the best Asia honeymoon destinations and when to visit.

How to Choose Where to Travel in February

Choosing where to travel in February comes down to carnival dates, the dry side of the tropics and the setting you want for the moment you are planning. There is no single best country to visit in February, though Brazil leads for celebration, the Maldives for warmth and Tanzania for wildlife.

We reserve the best places to travel in February 9 to 12 months ahead for peak periods and around six months ahead for quieter weeks, in line with our guide to when to go on honeymoon.

Plan Around Carnival Dates

Carnival follows the church calendar and ends on the eve of Ash Wednesday, so its dates shift each year between early February and early March. In 2027 both Venice and Rio reach their final nights between 7 and 9 February, so couples can choose one city for the finale or begin with Venice's opening weekends in late January and finish in Rio.

Rooms facing the parade route or the Grand Canal are the first to go, so we hold them as soon as dates are confirmed and add events as they release.

Choose the Dry Side of the Tropics

The best places to visit in February for sun are the Maldives, the Gulf of Thailand, Palawan, the Caribbean and Costa Rica's Pacific coast, all in their dry seasons with daytime temperatures near 30°C. Two coasts of the same country can differ sharply, so we look at the region before the country, which is why Koh Samui leads for Thailand this month.

Time matters as much as place on a long-haul trip, and our guide to how long a honeymoon should be by destination helps judge how many nights an island stay deserves.

Pick a Setting for a Proposal or Engagement Trip

The right proposal setting suits the person being asked, whether that is a palazzo terrace in Venice, a sandbank in the Maldives or a vineyard table in Franschhoek. We plan the details quietly, from a photographer placed at a discreet distance to the dinner that follows, so the moment feels spontaneous.

For an engagement trip, one destination with room for both celebration and rest tends to work best. Cape Town, Barbados and Marrakech each offer that balance of lively evenings and slow days.

Best Places to Travel in February: Coming From Australia

The best places to travel in February from Australia include Sydney, Tasmania and Byron Bay at home, with short-haul escapes to Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam and New Zealand. Summer school holidays end in late January or early February, depending on the state, so the month is quieter for harbour dining in Sydney and for Tasmania's settled late-summer days around Hobart and Freycinet.

The tropical north is in its wet season, with frequent rain, high humidity and the chance of tropical cyclones across far north Queensland, the Top End and the Kimberley. Queensland's beaches are also in marine stinger season, so we suggest saving Cairns, the Daintree and Broome for the drier months and choosing the south for beach time now.

Within a single flight, Koh Samui, Palawan and Vietnam each offer a warm contrast, and New Zealand's Southern Alps are at their warmest for lake and mountain stays around Queenstown and Wanaka. Couples celebrating at home will find ideas for marrying and celebrating in Australia, and for any overseas trip we suggest checking the latest Smartraveller advice before departure.

Planning Where to Travel in February With Wedded Wonderland

Planning where to travel in February starts with the occasion, and we shape each trip around it, from a proposal in Venice to an engagement in the Winelands or a honeymoon on a Maldivian reef. Our team handles the planning and booking, from Sambadrome boxes and private guides to seasonal camps and villas, so couples arrive with every detail in place.

Browse our destination honeymoon packages, speak with our Wedded Concierge about a private February itinerary, or read our February honeymoon guide to dry-season stays. These February travel destinations for couples sit within a wider year, and our calendar of the best places to travel each month of the year follows the seasons from carnival to harvest.

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