Best Holiday Destinations in February: 7 Essential Warm Escapes You’ll Love

February is when the UK feels its greyest, which is exactly why the best holiday destinations in February are among the most searched of the whole year. So, where is warm in February? Closer than you might think. The Canary Islands and Egypt’s Red Sea coast deliver proper beach weather on a short flight, Cape Verde and Dubai add a little more heat, and long haul, Thailand, Barbados and Sri Lanka are all in the middle of their dry, hot season.

This guide covers the seven places that work best: what the weather feels like, what there is to do beyond the beach, and who each suits. It also tackles the month’s one big complication, February half term, which pushes prices and crowds up for a single week and leaves the rest of the month far better value.

1. The Canary Islands: the reliable short haul choice

Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura hold onto spring like warmth through February, with daytime highs around 21 to 22°C. It is T shirt weather at midday, though you will want a jumper after sunset. The sea is the coolest on this list at around 19°C, fine for a brisk swim. The south of each island is the sunniest side; the north is greener and cloudier. Days out are easy: Mount Teide, Lanzarote’s volcanic landscapes, or the Maspalomas dunes. February also brings the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival, one of the biggest in the world. The Canaries are among the best holiday destinations in February for a half term family trip, because you lose no day in transit. Our guide to the best winter sun destinations covers them alongside other warm places.

2. Cape Verde: warmer, still short haul

Sal and Boa Vista feel noticeably warmer than the Canaries, with daytime highs around 24 to 25°C and a warmer sea at around 22 to 23°C, comfortable for swimming. Steady trade winds keep the heat pleasant and make February peak season for windsurfing and kitesurfing off Santa Maria beach. Resorts are mostly all inclusive and the focus is the beach: long pale stretches on Boa Vista, beach bars and a small town at Santa Maria. The flight is a little longer than to the Canaries, a fair trade for the extra warmth, though there is less to do away from the resort: this is a fly, flop and read destination.

3. Egypt’s Red Sea coast: sunshine and good value

Winter is the comfortable season here, so Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh and Marsa Alam sit around 22 to 24°C, pleasantly warm rather than scorching. The sea is around 21 to 22°C and the snorkelling is superb value, with house reefs off the jetties and boat trips to protected reefs for turtles and rays. Dry weather also makes this the best month for a day trip to Luxor’s temples, punishing in summer heat. All inclusive resorts are the norm and Egypt sits among the lowest cost options on this list. Read the current Egypt travel advice before you book, because guidance can differ between resort areas and the rest of the country. Our guide to FCDO travel advice for Turkey, Egypt, Sri Lanka and Greece explains how to read it.

4. Dubai: warmth with a city break attached

February is arguably Dubai’s best month. Daytime highs are around 25 to 26°C, the sea is about 21°C, and the summer heat has not arrived, so beaches, desert and sightseeing are all comfortable on the same day. Split your time between the beaches of the Palm and Jumeirah, old Dubai around the creek and the souks, and a desert safari ending with dinner under the stars, an easy win in Valentine’s month. It suits travellers who want sunbathing alongside sightseeing and shopping, at a higher price point than the Canaries or Egypt, in what is its premium season. FCDO advice for the UAE has changed more than once because of regional tension, so check the current UAE travel advice before you book and again before you fly.

5. Thailand: long haul sun in the dry season

The Andaman coast, including Phuket and Krabi, is in its dry season in February, with daytime highs around 31 to 33°C, calm seas at about 28 to 29°C and day after day of sunshine. Days fill easily: longtail boat trips to the Phi Phi islands, the limestone cliffs of Railay, night markets and beachfront dinners. In 2026, Chinese New Year falls in mid February, making resort areas livelier and busier, so book popular hotels and island transfers ahead. Thailand is one of the best holiday destinations in February for travellers with time, because the flight is long and the trip deserves at least ten nights. Easing in with a well known resort area gives familiar infrastructure and reliable transfers.

6. Barbados: the classic Caribbean choice

February is one of the best Caribbean months, with daytime highs around 29°C, a warm sea at about 26 to 27°C, low humidity and no hurricane risk. The calm west coast is made for swimming and sunset catamaran trips, while the east coast around Bathsheba is wilder, with surf and dramatic rock formations. Add Friday night at the Oistins fish fry, a rum distillery tour and the February Holetown Festival, and there is plenty beyond the beach. Barbados delivers the postcard version of winter sun at the premium end for price and distance, which is why it also features in our guide to the best honeymoon destinations.

7. Sri Lanka: beaches, culture and tea country

The south and west coast beaches are in their dry season in February, with daytime highs around 30 to 31°C and a sea close to 28°C. Base yourself around Bentota, Hikkaduwa or Mirissa, with a morning whale watching trip from Mirissa, in peak season, and an afternoon at Galle Fort. Many travellers add the hill country and its tea plantations, where Kandy and Ella are cooler and greener, a second holiday inside the same trip. Sri Lanka suits travellers who want sun alongside culture, wildlife and scenery rather than a single resort stay. Advice for Sri Lanka has changed over recent years, so read the current Sri Lanka travel advice before you commit.

February moments: Valentine’s Day, carnivals and festivals

February has more going on than most winter months. Valentine’s Day falls mid month and the warm destinations lean into it: Dubai’s rooftop restaurants and desert dinners, sunset cruises in Barbados and beachfront tables in Thailand all book up around the 14th, so reserve ahead. Carnival season lands too: the Santa Cruz Carnival fills Tenerife’s capital, Barbados holds its Holetown Festival, and Chinese New Year brightens Thailand’s resort towns in 2026. Like a party with your beach holiday? Time your trip to match, or choose the quieter weeks either side.

How to choose between the best holiday destinations in February

The biggest decision is short haul versus long haul. The Canaries, Cape Verde and Egypt keep travel time and cost down, which suits half term and shorter breaks, while Dubai, Thailand, Barbados and Sri Lanka give hotter, more reliable weather but need more time and money. For families, Tenerife and Hurghada offer big family resorts with kids clubs and calm, shallow beaches. Travelling without children, Cape Verde’s smaller resort scene and Dubai’s beach and city mix offer a quieter, more adult paced alternative.

Planning a February trip: when to book

February is really two different months for price. Half term week is the most expensive week of the winter, and flights on school holiday weekends sell out early, so if you are tied to those dates, book as far ahead as you can and consider flying midweek. Outside half term, the same destinations are noticeably cheaper and quieter. Long haul trips reward early booking too, mainly for choice of hotels and flight times. If your dates can move, compare February with the months around it first, using the guides linked at the end of this article.

Half term: how to avoid the worst of the crowds

February half term is one of the busiest UK travel weeks of the year: busier airports, fuller resorts and noticeably higher prices than the weeks either side. Dates vary by county but usually fall mid month. Travelling the week before or after, where you can, means a quieter trip at a meaningfully lower price for identical weather. If half term is fixed for you, small things help: fly midweek rather than at the weekend, travel at unsocial hours, and book kids clubs, restaurants and excursions in advance rather than on arrival.

What’s included in the price

Package deals to the Canaries and Egypt typically bundle flights, transfers and all inclusive food and drink into one price, making budgeting far more predictable than booking separately. Dubai and the Caribbean more often work room only or bed and breakfast, so food and activities need budgeting on top. Worth factoring in when comparing destinations.

Getting there: flights and airlines

Most UK regional airports run direct winter routes to Tenerife and Gran Canaria, making the Canaries the most accessible option. Cape Verde and Egypt are served from many regional airports too, though usually less than daily. Dubai and the long haul destinations are typically served from major hubs such as Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester, so check direct routes before assuming a connection. Our guides to the best budget airlines and how to find cheap flights help keep fares down.

Packing for a February sun trip

February evenings can feel cool after a day in the sun, even in warm destinations, so pack a light layer or two alongside summer clothing. Swimmers should note the cooler seas in the Canaries and Dubai: a thin rash vest makes longer swims more comfortable. Reef safe sunscreen is worth prioritising for the Red Sea and the Caribbean, where many resorts now ask guests to use it to protect the coral.

Before you book: safety advice and insurance

Check the current FCDO travel advice for your destination before booking and again before departure, as it also affects whether your travel insurance stays valid. Our guide on how to check FCDO travel advice explains how.

Picking your February escape

For the easiest trip, choose the Canary Islands; for warmer water without a long flight, pick Cape Verde or Egypt. For a city and a beach, consider Dubai; for a long trip, Thailand, Barbados and Sri Lanka are most reliable. Whichever of the best holiday destinations in February you choose, avoid half term week if you can. Our guides to the best holiday destinations in January, March and December help if your dates are flexible, and for a festive break earlier in the winter, start with the best Christmas holiday destinations.

Best holiday destinations in February: frequently asked questions

Where is the hottest place to go in February?

Thailand, Sri Lanka and Barbados, with daytime highs around 29 to 33°C and warm seas. For heat without a long flight, Cape Verde is the warmest short haul option.

Where is warm in February without flying long haul?

The Canary Islands, at around 21 to 22°C. Cape Verde and Egypt add a few more degrees for an extra hour or two in the air.

Which February destination is best for families?

Tenerife and Hurghada, with big family resorts, kids clubs and calm, shallow beaches, at a noticeably lower cost outside half term week.

Is February a good time to visit the Canary Islands?

Yes: spring like in the south, with highs around 21 to 22°C. The sea is cool at about 19°C, so most people split swimming between the sea and heated pools.

When should I book a February holiday?

As early as you can if you are tied to half term, as flights and family rooms sell out. With flexible dates, the weeks either side are cheaper and quieter, and late deals appear.