Where to go in February

WhichEditorial team

In this article

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Temperature 28ºC

February is mid summer in the Argentine capital, when the thermometer regularly soars above 30ºC, but it's not just the weather than makes this a great time to visit.

Portenos (as residents are known) are back from their holidays, so the place is buzzing, especially at night in cool bars such as Floreria Atlantico, accessed through a fridge door in a florist's shop.

For British visitors the time difference is only three hours, so there is virtually no jet lag. And the Peso is weak compared with the pound, so expect a taxi across town to cost around £3 and a two-course meal with wine and service at a top steak house, such as Don Julio, to come in under £40 a head.

Read more: Best long-haul city breaks

Buenos Aires, Argentina
Average airfare	Average hotel rate	Accommodation	Food and drink	Cultural attractions	Value for money	City score
£743	£63					75%

City score combines overall satisfaction and likelihood to recommend.

Playa de Santiago, La Gomera

Temperature 17ºC

Little La Gomera is pretty, mountainous and serene, with excellent hiking trails criss-crossing the island. February is the perfect month for walking, with clear blue skies and warm, but not excessive temperatures.

Readers have rated La Gomera's Playa de Santiago, with its black sand and clifftop hotels, as their favourite resort on the island.

Its harbour is a launch pad for boat trips around the island, and the place to find excellent fish restaurants.

Read more: Best Canary Islands and Resorts

Playa de Santiago, La Gomera
Average airfare	Average hotel rate	Accommodation	Food and drink	Peace and quiet	Scenery	Resort score
-	£141					76%

Resort score combines overall satisfaction and likelihood to recommend.

Edinburgh, UK

Temperature 6ºC

Readers rated the Scottish capital’s food, accommodation and sights the full five stars, but visit Edinburgh Castle in the peak of summer and you can expect to share the experience with more than 10,000 tourists. Go in February and fewer than 2,000 are expected.

Edinburgh is at its best when there’s room to explore its iconic sites, from Holyrood Palace to Arthur’s Seat, all within walking distance of its compact city centre.

Hop on a bus and there’s even more to see, such as the inspiring Forth Bridges, the pomp and circumstance of the Royal Yacht Britannia or a zoo with the UK’s only giant pandas.

Read more: Best city breaks in the UK

Edinburgh, UK
Average hotel rate	Accommodation	Food and drink	Cultural attractions	Shopping	Value for money	City score
£111						84%

City score combines overall satisfaction and likelihood to recommend.

Vienna, Austria

Temperature 4ºC

While it may be just as chilly as the UK in Vienna this month, pounding the streets of this glistening Imperial city between its arty highlights and nostalgic coffee shops, should warm you up.

With top galleries and museums including the Albertina, Schonbrunn Palace and Hofburg Palace to explore, it’s no wonder holidaymakers awarded this capital five stars for cultural attractions.

Music lovers won’t be disappointed either, with the Royal Opera House and a host of venues showcasing maestros of opera and classical music most nights. It's also carnival season from January to March when Vienna's balls take place, offering visitors a chance to immerse themselves in this glamorous tradition.

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Vienna, Austria
Average airfare	Average hotel rate	Accommodation	Food and drink	Cultural attractions	Value for money	City score
£130	£90					84%

City score combines overall satisfaction and likelihood to recommend.

Venice, Italy

Temperature 9ºC

More than any other city, this city of floating marble palaces has been tarred with the ‘overtourism’ brush – perhaps no surprise since it’s has been a tourist honeypot since the 18th century. But time it right and you could skip the crowds.

Visit before the chaos of Carnival (from 23 Feb 2019) and you’ll find misty canals lined with eerily deserted attractions – and acceptable prices. Don’t miss the winter season at the opera house, the brightly coloured houses of Burano in the crisp February light, or chance to get the mosaics in St Mark’s Basilica to yourself.

Carnival will always be busy, but it's well worth it if you can handle the crowds. Expect countless spectacular parades, fairs, regattas, exhibitions and balls – a whirl of colour and pizzazz.

Read more: Best city breaks in Europe