February in Europe is obviously going to be on the cooler side, but most of the larger cities in the south actually have mild winters and rarely get snowfall. Probably the best reason to head to Europe in February is that it’s going to be much cheaper than just about any other time of year, and the crowds will be nearly all gone. If you are looking for someplace for nicer weather you might look at our list of best cheap places to go in February with warm weather, but if you’ve locked in Europe then you’ll have some good choices to consider below.
Room rates in February of 2024 are looking at least a bit higher than rates in 2023, but they are a bit lower in a few places mentioned below as well. The bottom line is this is a great time of year to visit if you can as nice hotels are relatively cheap and the main attractions will have small crowds or no crowds at all. Booking hotels as far in advance as possible is usually a wise idea since you can usually cancel for free close to the reservation itself.
Note: This article was updated last in November, 2023.
Important Europe holidays in 2024
Carnival celebrations happen in many countries in Europe in February, but not always on the same days.
- February 3 to 13 – Venice Carnival
- February 14 – Valentine’s Day (observed all over, but no closures)
Europe's only February beach destination
Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
- February avg high: 70F/21C
- February avg low: 59F/15C
- February avg precip: 1.4″/3.5cm
If you are looking for a warm destination for February that is technically in Europe, look no further than the Canary Islands. These Spanish islands are off the coast of Morocco and they have “Europe’s” only beach weather in winter. Tenerife is the largest of the islands and the most popular among English speakers, so it’s the natural choice for many.
There isn’t much culture in Tenerife, but there is a volcano to visit near the south of the island. Most of all, people flock to Tenerife to sit on the beach or at least in the sun during the day, and relax over dinner and drinks at night. Prices are quite low compared to mainland Europe as well, and flights from large European cities are reasonably priced. It’s worth noting that Tenerife is just one of the Canary Islands and you might find even better deals on some of the others. Some online travel agencies bundle all of the islands together, while others list them separately. Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and La Palma are some others to look into. Room rates in 2024 are looking about the same as in 2023, which means that there are still some bargains for those who book early.
- Good 3-star hotels in February from €65 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in February from €90 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in February from €24 per person
>>>Check hotel deals for Tenerife
>>>Tenerife prices and travel tips
The 11 Best February Destinations in Europe in 2024
The destinations below at least have decent February weather, and plenty to see this month
Rome, Italy
- February avg high: 57F/14C
- February avg low: 40F/4C
- February avg precip: 2.9″/7.3cm
As one of the world’s greatest tourist cities, it’s a good thing that February temperatures aren’t any lower than they really are. You can expect cool weather and it might rain on you a bit if you get unlucky, but it should still be fairly pleasant. Perhaps the best reason to visit Rome in February is that crowds are nowhere to be found, so you can roam the city as you please and not waste a lot of time in queues.
When crowds are low it also means that hotel prices are as well, which really helps in a city like Rome where hotels feel overpriced most of the year. You’ll be able to afford a nice hotel in a neighborhood that might feel out of your grasp if you came in summer and had to pay double. Flights should also be quite cheap as well, so this is a good city to start and/or end a tour of Europe. That said, hotel rates in February 2024 are higher than they were in 2023 so this will not be the cheapest stop if you are touring around Europe.
- Good 3-star hotels in February from €71 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in February from €99 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in February from €19 per person
Florence, Italy
- February avg high: 54F/12C
- February avg low: 37F/3C
- February avg precip: 3.7″/9.3cm
Pretty much everything we wrote about Rome above also applies to Florence this time of year. You’ll want to bring warm clothes and dress in layers, but you won’t need snow shoes. Florence is quite a compact city so most of your sightseeing will be within a small area in the center of town. With this in mind, you won’t have to deal with cooler temperatures for more than a few minutes at a time.
And again, hotel prices in Florence will be far cheaper than in summer. Unlike Rome, which can still feel a bit manic with the crush of locals even in winter, Florence is more relaxed and easier to deal with. This is a city where you can linger a bit and mix in a day trip to nearby Pisa or one of the hill towns. With lower hotel prices, Florence is a city to take a breather on a longer trip, although room rates in 2024 are at least as expensive as in Rome so you might also consider staying somewhere else in the area if you want to slow your trip down a bit.
By the way, Venice is usually a bit colder and sometimes wetter in February, but the crowds are also much smaller than normal so you might think about including a night or two there.
- Good 3-star hotels in February from €88 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in February from €125 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in February from €23 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Florence
>>>Florence prices and travel tips
Paris, France
- February avg high: 47F/8C
- February avg low: 40F/4C
- February avg precip: 1.8″/4.5cm
The best news about Paris in February is that it actually doesn’t get much rain in most years. As you can see above, it’ll be chilly, but it rarely spends much time below freezing. This also means that you’ll be able to show off some of your better stylish outfits complete with scarves and gloves in the evenings.
Paris is also a business city so business-oriented hotels won’t be fantastic bargains in February, but hotels in the more touristy districts will have excellent off-season rates. Try to book a hotel in the wonderful Rue Cler neighborhood next to the Eiffel Tower. It’s friendly, convenient, and far more tourist oriented than businessy. Hotel rates in 2024 are up a bit from 2023 so it might be wise to book early, although it’s also possible that rates will go down early in the year.
- Good 3-star hotels in February from €94 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in February from €105 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in February from €17 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Paris
>>>Paris prices and travel tips
Nice, France
- February avg high: 56F/16C
- February avg low: 43F/6C
- February avg precip: 2.4″/6.0cm
Even though it’s on the Mediterranean coast, Nice isn’t a slam-dunk recommendation for a February visit. It’s mainly a beach and sunshine destination so most things are oriented towards summer and some things are closed for the winter. Still, the weather is mild enough that it’s enjoyable, and since it’s a fairly large city it is still very full of life even when most other tourists are gone.
Nice is an ideal city to visit after Paris and on your way to Italy. Not only is the city itself really lovely, but it’s also a 20-minute train ride to Cannes in one direction and to Monaco in the other. Both are very worthwhile, but both also have extremely high hotel rates so doing them by day trip from Nice is ideal. The food in this part of France is also worth a trip because it’s excellent and also different from what you’ll find up north.
- Good 3-star hotels in February from €65 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in February from €93 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in February from €18 per person
London, England
- February avg high: 46F/8C
- February avg low: 37F/3C
- February avg precip: 1.4″/3.5cm
London is one of a few European cities that often feels like a victim of its own popularity. During the warmer months it can feel so crowded with tourists that you expect to see Mickey Mouse walking around greeting guests. In February, it’s chilly and so there are very few tourists to compete with at the top attractions.
As you can see, London gets surprisingly little rain in February, and usually no snow. So as long as you dress properly you can move around quickly and visit all the free museums and other famous attractions with almost no wait. The cozy pubs are even cozier in winter, and it’ll be mostly you and some colorful locals lining up at the taps. You’ll be able to afford a much nicer hotel with a better location for the same money this time of year, and it’s always nice inside the stores. Room rates in 2024 are a bit higher than in 2023, but still far cheaper than what you’d pay in June.
- Good 3-star hotels in February from £74 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in February from £89 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in February from £25 per person
>>Check hotel deals for London
>>>London prices and travel tips
Barcelona, Spain
- February avg high: 58F/14C
- February avg low: 42F/6C
- February avg precip: 1.1″/2.8cm
Being on the Mediterranean coast, Barcelona has fairly mild winters, with almost no rain most years. And of course, few other tourists will be there, so you can actually see the inside of the Sagrada Familia and Park Guell without fighting or waiting for hours like you have to most of the year.
Barcelona has fantastic nightlife and a noted food scene, so this is a good destination for culture vultures even in winter. Flights into Barcelona are cheap this time of year, of course, and so are short flights from Barcelona to other European destinations. The city has become so crowded with tourists in the summer months that February will actually be very pleasant by comparison.
- Good 3-star hotels in February from €67 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in February from €73 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in February from €19 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Barcelona
>>>Barcelona prices and travel tips
Madrid, Spain
- February avg high: 54F/12C
- February avg low: 39F/4C
- February avg precip: 1.4″/3.5cm
Even though it’s more south, Madrid is in the center of Spain so it’s a bit cooler in winter than coastal Barcelona. Still, February is usually fairly mild (compared to other European capitals), and the city doesn’t get much rain. Madrid is mostly an indoor city in terms of its top attractions, and there are many great town squares in the center area, which will shield you from chilly winds.
If you are considering a trip to Barcelona you should also include at least 3 nights in Madrid as well. The cities are very different from each other, and both excellent for tourists. They are connected by a 3-hour high-speed train ride that is cheap if booked weeks in advance. Room rates in Madrid in 2024 are a bit higher than in 2023 but bargains are still available if you look carefully.
- Good 3-star hotels in February from €62 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in February from €73 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in February from €21 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Madrid
>>>Madrid prices and travel tips
Malaga, Spain
- February avg high: 64F/18C
- February avg low: 46F/8C
- February avg precip: 2.1″/5.3cm
Malaga, a bit like Nice mentioned above, is not an obvious winter destination even though the temperatures are quite reasonable. The city itself is really charming and generally underrated, as most tourists land at the airport and then head straight for one of the smaller towns along the Costa del Sol. Those towns can be ghost-town-like in winter, so staying in Malaga proper is probably the better idea.
The key attraction of Malaga is that it has probably the best winter weather on continental Europe, so those not willing or able to take the extra two hours flying down to the Canary Islands will enjoy it here. And again, the city of Malaga itself has a lot to offer, so spending a few days here in the off season will be worthwhile. Unlike so many other cities on this list, the room rates in 2024 are the same or maybe a bit lower than in 2023.
- Good 3-star hotels in February from €48 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in February from €65 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in February from €18 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Malaga
>>>Malaga prices and travel tips
Lisbon, Portugal
- February avg high: 61F/16C
- February avg low: 49F/9C
- February avg precip: 3.6″/9.0cm
Lisbon easily has the best winter weather of any European capital city, and the year-round weather tends to be excellent compared to the rest of Europe as well. This is a wonderful city that too often gets overlooked by those touring the continent because it’s remote and not easy to reach. From Madrid you have to take a night train, or fly.
Fortunately the flights are usually reasonably priced, and especially so in months like February. While Lisbon is on the waterfront, it’s mainly an indoor city in terms of attractions. You’ll be seeing castles and museums during the day, and enjoying excellent food and listening to fado singers in the evenings. It’s worth going out of your way to reach Lisbon, especially in February. Room rates in 2024 are about the same as the previous year, which means they are still really good value in a city like this.
- Good 3-star hotels in February from €52 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in February from €59 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in February from €18 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Lisbon
>>>Lisbon prices and travel tips
Athens, Greece
- February avg high: 56F/13C
- February avg low: 42F/6C
- February avg precip: 1.8″/4.5cm
Athens has a fairly mild winter climate and it doesn’t get much rain in a typical February. If you can get a cheap flight from another nearby city you are visiting, Athens is worth 3 days. The famous archeological sights are outdoors, of course, but with little rain you should have no problem. And the museums and nightlife are all indoors, so you won’t need too many clear days to enjoy it.
During the warm months, most people who visit Athens are on their way to or from one of the famous islands such as Santorini, Mykonos, or Rhodes. But in February those islands are mostly closed down except for their larger towns, so it’s better to skip them this time of year. As a result, hotel rates in Athens in February are very affordable, and getting to and from the airport is easy. Rates in 2024 are even a bit lower than last year making this an amazing bargain for off-season travelers.
- Good 3-star hotels in February from €38 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in February from €53 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in February from €12 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Athens
>>>Athens prices and travel tips
Interlaken, Switzerland
- February avg high: 41F/5C
- February avg low: 27F/-3C
- February avg precip: 2.8″/7.0cm
The rest of the destinations above are all top cities with decent February weather, but Interlaken is different. Many people who decide they want to “visit Switzerland” really don’t know where they should go. If you want to see the most dramatic views of the Alps with the most charming towns and best winter infrastructure, you should head to the Interlaken area.
The top sights here are the Schilthorn observation deck and the Jungfraujoch railway. Both of those are amazing when the weather at high elevations is clear, and almost pointless when it’s foggy or raining. The weather can be unpredictable in February so you have to time your visits carefully and only after you arrive. Still, they are worth doing and the crowds are much smaller, of course. This is also a winter ski resort so some areas near slopes do have high hotel prices, though bargains can be found not far away. Room rates in 2024 have gone even higher making this by far the most expensive destination on the list. It’s an absolutely stunning place, but those on tighter budgets definitely should plan on staying no more than two nights.
- Good 3-star hotels in February from €161 for two people
- Good 4-star hotels in February from €190 for two people
- Hostel dorm beds in February from €38 per person
>>Check hotel deals for Interlaken
>>>Interlaken prices and travel tips
Additional photo credits: Rome photo by Sam Ross at thehammockhombre.com.
Hi, I am looking at a european city or a group of cities for my honeymoon. The places should be rich in culture, architecture and at the same time should also have some romantic destinations (may be beach, resort etc). I am planning to visit in february 3rd week.
Jay,
In February in Europe the beaches on the continent are all much too cold to spend any time. The only beach area that is warm enough in that area is the Canary Islands, and I mention Tenerife in the top of the article above. If you don’t need beaches then I’d go to Italy for sure, as it has everything you are looking for and has mild weather in February compared to the rest of Europe. Rome, Florence, and Venice are the Big 3 of Italy and they are all very worthwhile. -Roger
hi, we are planning our honeymoon in Feb 2019 to Europe, which is better option london-amsterdam-paris or prague-salzburg-vienna-budapest????
Hitanshu,
If this is your first time to Europe I’d definitely recommend London, Paris, Amsterdam. Those three cities are all on my list of the “5 Great European cities to visit first” and you can read more about why on that link. Even if it’s not your first trip to Europe I’d probably recommend that London trip because in February those other cities will be just a bit gloomy. London, Amsterdam, and Paris are always lively, even when it’s chilly and gray out. The other cities would be cheaper and I’m a fan of all of them, but in winter I really think I’d do the London version. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
We are considering Prague, Budapest and Vienna for our honeymoon and first visit to Europe in February 2019. Will it too gloomy and most things closed? Like river cruise.. Will we need snow shoes? Or will it be a cosy and unique experience for the beginning of our life together. Also we are vegetarians..
Deepak,
The weather in those cities will definitely be cold in February, and it’ll probably be below freezing most nights, but none of those cities tend to get much snow so normal shoes will be just fine. 🙂
I would imagine that a few things will be closed, but I just checked on the one-hour river cruise in Prague and they operate every day of the year. There are definitely cities in Europe that will be warmer in February, but if you want to visit those 3 cities and February is the time you have I think you’ll have a great time. They are all very large and busy capital cities where most of the attractions are indoors anyway. I think it will be fun and cozy as long as you research what you want to see in advance. Vienna, for example, is famous for its classical concerts and waltzes and cultural events, and the season for all of that is September through May, so it will all be going strong when you are there. As long as you bring the right clothes, you should have a wonderful honeymoon.
As for being vegetarians, you’ll have to do your research on that as well, but you’ll have plenty of options. That part of Europe is famous for its meat consumption and even vegetable dishes in most restaurants will probably have some animal fat in them. If you are strict you’ll want to search for restaurants that cater to the vegetarian crowds. There are dozens of them in each of those cities, including some new vegan restaurants. Tripadvisor now has a search function where you can tick a box that says “vegetarian friendly” and another one that says “vegan options”. Any restaurant that shows up in those searches is going to take it pretty seriously and should be reliable. At this point there are thousands of American and other European backpackers and tourists who are strict vegetarians, so restaurants that are also strict with it can stay pretty busy. And you’ll find Indian restaurants in all of those cities as well. Have a great trip. -Roger
Hello. I’m looking to take a trip in February. I grew up in LA but currently live in Chicago. I’m thinking either London and France or Italy and France. I want to visit more than one city. I’ll be traveling solo so I would prefer huge cities where I can meet other travelers. I’d like to be I. Europe at least 9 days. Thank you in advance!
Noelle,
I think either of your options would be great choices, even in February. The shortest visit to Italy that I recommend is 6 days, but 7 or 8 days is better. For London and Paris I’d stay a minimum of 3 nights and 4 nights is better because both are so large and packed with great sights.
So you could fly into London and spend 4 nights there and then take the Eurostar train to Paris for 4 nights. If you’ve got extra days to fill you could stay longer in either city and do one or more day trips such as Bath and Stone Henge in England or one of the wine regions in France, or even Avignon.
If you wanted to do the Italy option you could fly into Paris and spend 3 nights there and then fly to Venice (or nearby Treviso Airport) for about a 24-hour stay and then a train to Florence for 2 or 3 days and then a train to Rome for your final 3 days. As mentioned in the article above, Italy will have better weather in February, though it will be chilly in all of these places. If you are in the mood to rush around a bit then the Italy option is probably the better choice, but if you more like the idea of staying longer in each place the London option is probably best. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
Hi Roger,
I am taking my daughter to Europe as a college grad gift, just her and I. She graduated in Dec, so we are looking at mid January, we have 9 days and would love to do two different countries. She has never been to London so I think that is a must, where else would you suggest in January, I know it will be cold…we are from LA 🙂 Any great ideas or suggestions would be amazing! I am going to meet her in Israel first (she is finishing a college trip) then we will travel together. Thanks so much!
Lauren,
That sounds like a wonderful trip. I grew up in LA also, so I know what you mean about not needing warm destinations when you leave home. 🙂
As you can see from the suggestions in the article above, pretty much all of Europe is either cold or very cold in February, so you’ll need to bundle up a bit no matter where you go. I’d say the obvious choice after London is Paris because it’s an amazing city and you can take the Eurostar train from London and be there in a bit over two hours. In 9 days you could do 3 days in 3 different cities. I don’t think I’d go anywhere else in France that time of year because it’s pretty dead for tourism outside of Paris. My next suggestion would be to then go from Paris to Amsterdam, which is only a bit over 3 hours by train. Amsterdam is beautiful any time of year and it’s very different from London and Paris. In winter I’m a fan of visiting large cities that have good public transportation, so those three would make an excellent combination. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
OMG, Mine too… though in 2019 so am researching now Amanda. Let me know how it goes for you.
Hi Amanda,
If you’re looking to spend your birthday in Europe, I would suggest Sicily (Italy) or Corsica (France). The article didn’t mention any of them but they are truly amazing in February. Also, Malaga, mentioned above, can be a great base to explore Andalucía (southern Portugal) on day trips, including Cordoba, Seville, Ronda and Alhambra. These places are amazing and the winters are very mild.
Ian,
Thank you. Those are good suggestions. Malta is another one I might add soon as well. -Roger
Hello, so we had planned to have my February birthday (this one ends in a zero …) in Anguilla. The villa owner had advised against due to Irma damage and very kindly returned our deposit. I’m looking for inspiration as to where to go instead! We live in sthn France so thought we might drive down to sthn Spain. Really did want to get some sun so wonder if you can suggest anywhere in europe (not Tenerife thanks!) that is easy to get to and a little warmer. many thanks, Amanda
Amanda,
Sorry to hear about your Anguilla holiday, but it’s good that you got your deposit back. On the other hand, out of the 25 or so major Caribbean islands, only about 6 or 7 received heavy damage, and all of the larger ones are not only intact but also hoping to keep their businesses going. I have a list of Caribbean destinations from cheapest to most expensive, and at the top I list the islands to avoid this coming season.
As for Europe, you won’t get warm weather anywhere on the continent in February. I understand why you might not want to go to the Canaries. As mentioned in the article, the Costa del Sol area around Malaga is the warmest area and at least you don’t have to bundle up so much. And Lisbon along with the Algarve is almost as warm that time of year.
The only other thing I can suggest is to have a scan of this list I made recently of the cheapest Europe all-inclusive destinations. Most are in Europe and some are nearby, including a few that actually have decent weather in February. Even if you don’t want to do an all-inclusive, at least that list might give you some other ideas. Aside from those, your best bet for a sunshine holiday in February would be either Mexico or nearby, or in Thailand. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger
I have to disagree with Roger on this one. It is extremely easy to reach Northern Norway (Tromso) in the winter or at all times per year and many flights per day depart from Oslo. Tromso also has a great deal to offer beyond just the Northern Lights in February. Reindeer sledding, snowmobile safari, dog sledding, Sammi experiences – much more to do and see than in Iceland.
David,
Thank you for the respectful comment and I’m sure there are others out there who will agree for you. I don’t believe I mentioned Norway or Iceland in this article, but I do know that there is a booming subset of travelers who are looking for Northern Lights tourism and other cold-weather attractions. At the same time, the article above is for the vast majority of travelers who are trying to find non-extreme destinations in Europe if they are going in February. If I knew more about those winter activities I might start a new series about the best places to go to experience short days and sub-freezing temperatures while still having a good and adventurous time. Cheers. -Roger
Looking to visit European country in the month of feb along with viewing northern lights
Please suggest suitable options/itenary
Rohan,
As you probably know, the Northern Lights are best viewed (or often only viewed) in extreme northern places. If that is your primary goal then Iceland is probably your best choice. There are many specific Northern Lights tours that have become very popular and include all your transportation, lodging, and meals during the period when you are attempting to experience the lights.
Aside from Iceland, you can do similar things in northern Sweden, Norway, and even Finland. One challenge is that there isn’t much else to see or do during that period. There isn’t much daylight during winter in the extreme north, and it’s obviously quite cold as well. And getting to these extreme northern locations is also difficult because you have to book flights on tiny airlines that don’t fly very often.
My top suggestion would be to stop off in Iceland on your way to Europe for a few days and look into a Northern Lights tour like this one. Then I’d get back on a plane and head to one of the cities mentioned in the list above for the rest of your trip. If you are coming from the US or Canada you can usually get very good airfare deals with a stop in Iceland on the way there or back. Believe it or not, it’s much easier to get to Iceland for a quick stop than it is to reach northern Sweden or Norway in winter. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger