12 incredible places to travel in February around the world

Updated December 19, 2024

If you go by rodent-based meteorological predictions, February 2 is a make-or-break date for planning travel this month: That’s when a groundhog in the U.S. will let us know if it’s time to bring out the spring gear or embrace the cold for a few more weeks. Luckily, February is a great time of year for all kinds of vacations, whether you’re searching for crowd-free skiing, chasing the northern lights in one of the world’s most remote towns, or seeking the sun on a culture-packed Caribbean island. Here, 12 destinations that have us finishing out the winter on a high note.

Average temp: 81ºF high, 68ºF low

In February, Lima’s locals take advantage of warm weather and head to nearby beach resorts, leaving the city a bit emptier than usual. That comes in handy when you’re trying to make a res at some of the city’s top restaurants, three of which are on the recent World’s 50 Best list: Mayta (#41), where the tasting menu might include alpaca and paiche, an enormous Amazonian fish; Kjolle (#16), which is helmed by Pía Léon, who’s been named the world’s best female chef; and Maido (#5), which specializes in nikkei cuisine, a blending of Peruvian and Japanese influences.

And don’t miss Central, which topped out the list last year (it’s unranked this year because former number ones get retired to a Best of the Best list). The multi-course menu is divided by altitude, with ingredients sourced from the Pacific Ocean to the Andes mountains. When you’ve had your fill, be sure to check out some of the city’s incredible museums, like the Museo de Arte de Lima or the Museo Larco, which occupies an 18th-century mansion.

Average temp: 47ºF high, 27ºF low

You could stay in D.C. all of February and never run out of ways to celebrate Black History Month. The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial is an obvious first stop, then head to neighborhoods like Shaw (where the U Street corridor is known as Black Broadway) and Anacostia, home to the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site. Stop by Black-owned bookstores like Mahogany Books (which is dedicated to books for, by, or about the people of the African diaspora) and Loyalty Bookstores (which was founded by Black, queer bookseller Hannah Oliver Depp), as well as cafés, boutiques, and restaurants—from classics like the 67-year-old Ben’s Chili Bowl to newer Trinidadian faves like Cane.

Also worthwhile is catching whatever’s on at the Smithsonian museums, including a Basquiat show at the Hirsshorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and an exhibit on Black female activists at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. No matter your itinerary, stay at Salamander Washington D.C., owned by BET founder Sheila C. Johnson, America’s first Black female billionaire. It recently welcomed a new restaurant helmed by Nigerian-American Top Chef alum Kwame Onwuachi.

Average temp: 29ºF high, 18ºF low

Idaho’s Sun Valley rightfully enjoys a reputation as one of America’s top ski destinations—with the crowds to match. If you want unbelievable runs without the lift lines, head north into the Idaho Panhandle for the state’s largest ski resort, Schweitzer, which remains underrated despite its impressive 2,900 skiable acres. (While the resort has a family-friendly reputation, know that the terrain in these parts skews decidedly intermediate.) From up here, you’ll have 360-degree views out over Montana, Washington, and even across the border into Canada.

February also brings the Sandpoint Winter Carnival, which gives travelers and locals alike the chance to tube, twilight ski, hop on a sleigh ride, and scope out the Parade of Lights or the K9 Keg Pull. Stay at the 31-room Humbird, a ski-in/ski-out alpine lodge that’s decorated with vintage photographs from the Bonner County History Museum.

Average temp: 74ºF high, 58ºF low

February means summertime in Australia, but that warmer weather won’t stop you from hanging out with penguins. Located about 90 minutes from Melbourne, Phillip Island is home to the world’s largest colony of little penguins (yes, that is their official name), which stand around a foot tall. Every night at sunset, in a display lovingly called the Penguin Parade, they return to their burrows by the thousands. Pro tip: Pay a bit extra for a spot in the underground viewing area to see them waddle by at eye level.

Summer in these parts also means lovely weather for exploring the Koala Conservation Reserve, which is criss-crossed with treetop boardwalks for next-level wildlife observation. When it comes to resting your legs, bed down at Glen Isla House, a homey B&B with a private garden and direct beach access.

Average temp: 75ºF high, 48ºF low

With temps finally out of sweltering triple-digit territory, it’s time to leave the comfort of the pool deck and start exploring all this resort town has to offer—especially its mid-century modern architecture. Each February, Palm Springs celebrates an 11-day Modernism Week, which includes walking, bike, and double-decker bus tours; classic car and vintage trailer shows; and walk-throughs of iconic gardens and houses, including the Annenberg Estate at Sunnylands. Visiting midweek gives you the best chance to beat the crowds, but the beauty of a place like Palm Springs is that you don’t need to join an official tour to immerse yourself in architectural greatness: You’ll see modernist icons everywhere from city hall to the visitor center, which is housed in a 1960s gas station designed by Albert Frey.

You can also take in the sleek and futuristic style without leaving your hotel room, at Parker Palm Springs, which opened in 1959 as California’s first Holiday Inn, or the Ace Hotel & Swim Club, which was converted from a 1965 Howard Johnson motor lodge.

Average temp: -4ºF high, -20ºF low

Listen: We know it’s cold. Like really cold. But this remote Canadian outpost on the coast of Hudson Bay leans into winter’s extremes in all the right ways. Known as the Polar Bear Capital of the World, Churchill attracts adventurous visitors each autumn to see the enormous white-furred creatures. But if you come in February, you’ll be rewarded with crisp, pitch-black nights that are perfect for viewing the northern lights, which grace the area’s skies some 300 days a year. For the most iconic aurora viewing experience, book dinner at Dan’s Diner, a pop-up restaurant with panoramic windows and skylights that’s reached via a ride on the Tundra Buggy, a behemoth of a vehicle with five-foot-tall tires.

To further explore the area, join one of Frontiers North Adventures’ multi-day itineraries, which include snowshoeing through boreal forests, mushing a dog-sled team, and touring the Itsanitaq Museum, a renowned collection of Inuit artifacts.

Average temp: 78ºF high, 57ºF low

This laid-back fishing village has been attracting creative types for decades and it’s only gotten cooler in recent years: Newcomers include the Bajavaria beer garden, which serves craft beers from around Mexico, and the 10-room Todos Santos Boutique Hotel.

The splashiest property in these parts is the intimate and luxurious Paradero Todos Santos resort, where you can learn how to farm, go on morning hikes or bike rides, or book a surf or yoga session. From November to March, the best way to experience the region is on one of Paradero’s ocean safaris along the Pacific’s whale migration superhighway; out on the water, you might see humpback whales, gray whales, sea lions, dolphins, and manta rays. (Todos Santos Eco Adventures and Explora Baja offer other well-recommended tours.)

Average temp: 88ºF high, 72ºF low

Each February, Jamaica celebrates the birth of its greatest musical legend (who would have been 80 this year) with Bob Marley Week, a series of live performances and exhibits.

Start your Marley-themed pilgrimage in Nine Mile, about two hours outside of Kingston, where you can visit both his birthplace and the spot where he was buried. But there are also plenty of locations right in the capital where you can embrace his spirit of peace and love. Be sure to tour the Bob Marley Museum, which occupies the 19th-century British colonial–style home he purchased in 1975; the Trench Town Culture Yard, the public housing area that’s considered the birthplace of reggae and rocksteady music; and Tuff Gong, the recording studio where Marley cut some of his most iconic albums.

One of the best spots to take in reggae music today is Kingston Dub Club, which is located up on hilly Skyline Drive with views out over the city. There’s a full bar, of course, but if you’ve already had your fill of rum and Red Stripe, the move here is to go with one of the refreshing tropical juices.

Average temp: 78ºF high, 67ºF low

Celebrate President’s Day at the Truman Little White House (now a museum), where the 33rd president spent 175 days of his administration between 1946 and 1952. Nearby, Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park takes its name from America’s lesser-known 12th president and includes the world’s largest collection of Civil War armaments. The southernmost state park in the continental U.S., it's also home to one of the city’s best beaches for swimming, snorkeling, and fishing.

The spoils of the sea are especially abundant during the winter months. Try stone crab at spots like Half Shell Raw Bar, Conch Republic Seafood Co., Alonzo’s Oyster Bar, and Eaton Street Seafood Market & Restaurant, which occupies an old Art Deco gas station. And when you’ve had your fill of succulent crab claws—usually served with a tangy mustard sauce—you can move on to spiny lobster, which is in season through March.

Average temp: 66ºF high, 57ºF low

Many Westerners are familiar with the Lunar New Year, which will kick off on January 29. But the revelry continues for two weeks, finishing up with the Lantern Festival, which falls on February 12 this year. Look for elaborately decorated paper lanterns all over Hong Kong, including a particularly whimsical display that pops up at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui.

During the festival, Hong Kongers snack on a bouncy dessert called tangyuan—glutinous rice balls filled with black sesame, red bean paste, or crushed peanuts—often served in dessert soups. Try some for yourself at spots like Fook Yuen, Yanghshenghu Dessert Shop, and Big Sweet House. For somewhere extra special, try Kai Kai Dessert, a Michelin Bib Gourmand–recommended dessert shop beloved for its sweet soups.

Average temp: 77ºF high, 71ºF low

This month, the 50th state kicks off the Hawaii Triennial, a contemporary art show spread across Oahu, Maui, and the Island of Hawaii that’ll run through May 4. This year’s theme, Aloha Nō, is all about rethinking stereotypical notions of Hawaiianness. For access to major exhibits, base yourself in Honolulu, where you can explore venues like the Bishop Museum, the state’s largest museum; the Foster Botanical Gardens, which sprawls across 14 acres of rare tropical plants; and the Honolulu Museum of Art, which covers 5,000 years of art history across its collection of 55,000 pieces.

While you’re in the Hawaiian capital, don’t miss Kaka’ako, a post-industrial neighborhood where auto shops and warehouses have been converted into studios, galleries, restaurants, and bars. The area is known for its vibrant street art, which you can explore on a guided Segway tour.

Average temp: 82ºF high, 75ºF low

Winter is high season in the U.S. Virgin Islands—and it’s immediately obvious why. The weather is reliably sunny, making it the perfect time to go beach-hopping.

While Magens Bay can get packed with tourists, there are plenty of other lower-key standouts across St. Thomas, including Lindquist Beach, which is hidden away in a protected state park; Neltjeberg Bay, which is accessed via a 20-minute hike; and Brewer’s Bay, where locals can often be seen eating pates (meat pies) and johnnycakes (fried bread).

For a totally unique view of the island, consider booking a Sea Trek Helmet at Dive at Coral World Ocean Park, where you’ll walk with a weighted helmet along the seafloor as you observe and interact with marine life.