Where is hot in February 2025 - and cheap (2024)

Q. Where is hot for a holiday in February?

A. February is peak season in the Caribbean (28ºC), the Maldives (31ºC) and Dubai (26ºC). The best short-haul weather can be found in the Canary Islands and Madeira (both 20ºC). But there are plenty of other options.

February offers a perfect opportunity to escape the cold winter weather at home in search of warmer climes. It’s only four hours flying time to Madeira and the Canary Islands, while seven hours in the air gets you to the Arabian Gulf where the weather will be seriously hot.

It’s also the time for Valentine’s Day breaksand half-term holidays, so if you’re looking for bargains it may be an idea to avoid 14 February and the second-to-last week in the month.

If you’re travelling with children, check out our tips for the bestFebruary half term holidays.If you’re travelling by yourself, see our guide tosolo holidays in February. Note: all the travel companies featured are personally recommended by our editors. Follow the links below for more details and prices.

Caribbean beaches

Average temperature in February: 28ºC
Hours of daily sunshine: 9
Flying time from UK: 9 hours

February is high season in theCaribbeanwhere you’ll find warm sunshine and very little chance of rain.Of the larger islands,Barbados ranks among the best for luxury hotels. If you’re a real beach bum, craving miles of white sands, I recommend postcard-perfect Anguilla.

For couples, Sandals Resorts is a perfect fit, with its luxury all-inclusive properties in prime beach locations in Jamaica, the Bahamas, Antigua, St Lucia, Grenada and Barbados. Its latest openings are on the Dutch island of Curaçao and spectacular Saint Vincent in the Grenadines. It’s always worth checking out the latest deals.

My personal favourite Caribbean hotels include Round Hill in Jamaica and Coral Reef Club in Barbados. Seedetails oftheCaribbean weather in February and the hottest Caribbean islands in February.

Also consider: the Caribbean coast of Mexico, where you’ll find good-value resorts, endless beaches, guaranteed sun and ancient sites, as well as good food and nightlife. Check out this selection of all-inclusive resorts.

Canary Islands

Average temperature in February: 20ºC
Hours of daily sunshine: 7
Flying time from UK: 4 hours

TheCanary Islands is the obvious destination for short-haul winter sun, with direct flights from airports across the UK taking around 4 hours. Of the larger, more popular islands we recommend Tenerife (especially for stylish hotels) andLanzarote(especially forvillas with pools). Both islands offer temperatures around 20ºC, a bit warmer towards the end of February. If you want somewhere quieter, you can hop on a ferry from Tenerife to beautiful La Gomera, or to tinyLa Graciosa which lies north of Lanzarote. For more climate details, see the hottest Canary Islands in February.

Also consider: the Portuguese island ofMadeira which has year-round sunshine, mountains, walking trails and botanical gardens. The climate is similar to the Canaries.

Arabian Gulf

Average temperature in February: 26ºC
Hours of daily sunshine: 8
Flying time from UK: 7 hours

The Arabian Gulf will be hot, even at the beginning of February. Flying time is seven hours and you can expect highs of 26ºC with guaranteed sunshine and almost zero chance of rain. Dubai has beaches, malls, ice rinks, ski domes and iconic hotels such as Burj Al Arab, while Abu Dhabi has the Al Ain Oasis, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and Yas Island (home to Ferrari World, a waterpark, Formula 1 race track and the world’s fastest roller coaster). Up-and-coming Qatar has luxury resorts with private beaches, contemporary art galleries and museums and and have-a-go activities such as sky diving and dune bashing.

Also consider: if you are put off by the glitzy image of the Gulf, head to Oman which enjoys the same fabulous weather, but has mountains and beaches, authentic villages, desert camps, turtle nesting spots and 5,000 years of Arabian history. Spend a few nights in the capital, Muscat – best place to stay isThe Chedi – and perhaps head out to theMusandam Peninsula to stay atSix Senses Zighy Bay.

Algarve, Portugal

Average temperature in February: 16ºC
Hours of daily sunshine: 6
Flying time from UK: 3 hours

One of the few short-haul destinations in mainland Europe that offers a decent chance of fine weather is the Algarve – I’ve enjoyed a long week of warm sunshine there towards the end of February. If you find somewhere special to stay, you won’t mind a couple of chilly days – this collection of luxury hotels in the Algarve has something for everyone, from the Pine Cliffs Resort overlooking Praia de Falésiato to stylish Vila Vita Parc in Porches. See our expert guide to where’s hot in Europe in February.

Also consider: it’s only about 3 hours 30 minutes flying time to Morocco, with direct flights from across the UK, where you’re seriously increasing your chances of good weather, even at the beginning of February. In the beguiling historic city of Marrakech you can expect 20°C highs and an average seven hours of daily sunshine. Perfect weather for sightseeing.

The Gambia

Average temperature in February: 34ºC
Hours of daily sunshine: 9
Flying time from UK: 6 hours 30 minutes

For cheap hot holidays in February, it’s hard to beatThe Gambia, a friendly, safe, English-speaking country on the West Coast of Africa. The direct daytime flight from London or Manchester takes barely more than six hours, with no jet lag, temperatures of 34°C and nine hours of daily sunshine. You can’t get more bang for your buck in terms of winter sun. See the latest special offers.

phu*ket, Thailand

Average temperature in February: 33ºC
Hours of daily sunshine: 9
Flying time from UK: 15 hours (via Bangkok)

It’s a longer flight to Thailand, with a change of aircraft at Bangkok, but you’ll find hot weather, sensational food and low prices. In February, head to the west coast beaches such as phu*ket and Krabi where you can expect long days of unbroken sunshine (and relatively low humidity). Avoid the east coast resorts such as Ko Samui, which is in its rainy season.

If you want to go beyond the beach in Thailand in search of culture and adventures, check out these ideas from the expert team at Experience Travel Group. They have access to some extraordinary experiences from village home stays and secret beaches to unique wildlife encounters.

Also consider: Cambodia (30ºC) which offers charming people, pristine beaches and world-class sights such as Angkor Wat. Other countries on your list at this time of year should include the west coast of Malaysia (32ºC), and all of Vietnam.

Costa Rica

Average temperature in February: 25ºC
Hours of daily sunshine: 7
Flying time from UK: 11 hours

This is a wonderful time of year to be inCosta Rica where you can expect 7 hours of sunshine, temperatures of 25°C and low rainfall. British Airways flies direct to the capital, San Jose, and there are some wonderful tours including this 12-day Costa Rica Highlights itinerary which visits jungles, cloud forest, volcanoes and beaches.

Also consider: Brazil, where it’s Carnival season. Join the celebrations in Rio de Janeiro or Bahia. and take a side trip to the castaway beaches, rainforests and volcanoes of Fernando de Noronha (29°C).

Cape Town, South Africa

Average temperature in February: 27ºC
Hours of daily sunshine: 10
Flying time from UK: 11 hours 30 minutes

It’s the height of summer in gloriousCape Townwhere you can look forward to temperatures of 27°C and 10 hours of daily sunshine. South Africa is good value now due to the weakness of the Rand. Enjoy the city beaches, the sensational food and summer festivals. As well as climbing Table Mountain and visiting Robben Island, you can rent a car tovisit theWinelands. Our researchers recommend this classicCape Town, Winelands and Kruger safari adventure.

Also consider: gorilla tracking inUganda (26°C) is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, as is the mass wildlife migration from TanzaniatoKenya,a truly amazing sight.

Rajasthan, India

Average temperature in February: 25ºC
Hours of daily sunshine: 8
Flying time from UK: 8 hours 30 minutes

Rajasthan in Northern India is perfect in February, with stunning temples, vibrant culture and low-season hotel rates. Agra – home to the Taj Mahal – and the capital Delhi both enjoy temperatures of around 25°C and 8 hours of sunshine a day. Check out these private tours and small group tours. Goa and Kerala further south on India’swest coast are even warmer, with temperatures reaching 32°C.

Also consider: it’s only five hours flying time toEgypt. In Cairo you’ll enjoy 8 hours of sunshine and temperatures of about 22°C, which is perfect for visiting the Pyramids.

What are the hottest places in February?

The hottest holiday destination in February is The Gambia (34ºC) followed by phu*ket (33ºC) and Goa (32ºC). You’ll also find high temperatures in Rio de Janeiro (31°C), Bali (30ºC) and islands across the Caribbean (28ºC). The hottest short-haul destination is Tenerife (22ºC) while in mainland Europe the warmest holiday spots are Seville (19ºC) and Malaga (18ºC).

Save on holidays in February

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More travel ideas in February

> See more expert recommendations forwhere to go on holiday in Februaryandhoneymoons in February. See my colleague Annabelle Thorpe’s tips forcity breaks in February. Also see the Greek islands in February and thehottest destinations in Europe.

Hottest holiday destinations in February

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Last updated: 29 January 2024