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The best city breaks in February for a getaway in the UK, continental Europe or further afield
Our favourite winter city break destinations
There are all the reasons in the world to book a city break in February. Couples celebrating Valentine’s Day, families taking advantage of the first half-term break of the year, friends marking the end of dry January on weekends away together, or those simply - and understandably - escaping the gloom of winter.
The best February city breaks can be close to home in the UK, in mainland Europe, North Africa, or even across the pond in the USA or Canada. We’ve chosen our favourite destinations for each of these locations. Some offer a welcome dose of winter sun. Others will have you embracing the cold with the lights of skating trails or bracing hikes, followed by warming sessions in a hot tub or a natural thermal spring.
February also sees an array of special events celebrated in much of the world, in different ways in different places – not only Valentine’s Day but also Chinese New Year, Carnival, and Fashion Week. So it’s a month for getting out and about.
And if it's heat you're after for your February getaway, check out our winter sun ideas. Or if you're looking ahead to spring, a March city break could be for you.
If you're after more ideas for an unforgettable trip, why not take a look at our collection of bucket list getaways?
Valletta, Malta
February is a great time for exploring Valletta, the charming Maltese capital, with its romantic boutique hotels perfect for a Valentine’s break. A UNESCO World Heritage site, this atmospheric walled city is ideal for ambling around at your leisure, discovering its grand churches, palaces and museums. Don’t miss the only signed Caravaggio in existence, The Beheading of St John the Baptist, in St Johns Co Cathedral – also resting place of all the Grand Masters of the Knights of Malta.
Winter is also ideal for a foodie break here, free of the crowds. Malta has a fabulous dining scene, and of its seven Michelin-starred restaurants, three are in Valletta: Under Grain, Noni and ION Harbour. But there’s also delicious food to be had in the wonderful bistros that line this city’s charming labyrinth of cobbled alleyways.
Where to stay: Home to ION Harbour restaurant, Iniala Harbour House is spread over four Maltese houses and their ancient vaults. Its chic rooms, suites and ‘residences’ (super-sized suites) have picture windows and Maltese balconies, and some come with private plunge pools on their terrace.
London
The British capital is a strong city break contender at any time of year, but it's tough to beat in February when it hosts an array of fantastic events, including Chinese New Year (one of the largest celebrations of it outside Asia, with dragon parades and fabulous food), London Fashion Week, and LGBT+ History Month. There are also lots of half-term events for kids.
And then, of course, there's Valentine's Day in London, where couples can take romantic Thames cruises or riverside strolls and dine on special menus in some of the best restaurants in the world. Alternatively, book a champagne afternoon tea in a classic venue like The Ritz.
Where to stay: There's almost no end of exceptional hotels in London, but the boutique Hazlitt's stands out for its old-school vibe and hospitality in the heart of Soho with its rich history and ebullient nightlife.
Santa Cruz, Tenerife
February is Carnival time in cities around the world. The Tenerife capital hosts celebrations regarded as the most Brazilian of all Spanish carnivals, with a month of celebrations building up to days and nights of parties and parades involving everyone from school children to drag queens. If you’re not too exhausted by all this, the city's Casa del Carnaval museum traces its history through posters, costumes and floats and gives you the chance to try on carnival outfits.
Festivities aside, Tenerife’s capital is packed with great architecture from different periods of history and fantastic places to try Canarian cuisine. The beaches here are worth visiting, but you can also find wilder spots further north, as well as the inland Parque Rural de Anaga nature park.
Where to stay: In lush gardens and just a 10-minute stroll from the city centre, the Iberostar Heritage has long been a favourite among royalty, actors and artists for its gorgeous Canarian architecture, huge spa, and fabulous food.
York
Whether for a romantic break or half term with the kids, York is known and loved for its medieval streets. Don’t miss the thin sliver of the Shambles with its timber-framed buildings overhanging the street or the imposing Gothic cathedral of York Minster, and wrap up warmly for boat rides on the Ouse.
In February, York hosts the Jorvik Viking Festival – the largest in the UK. This citywide celebration of the city's rich Norse heritage is fun for all ages, with attractions ranging from 10th-century traders’ stalls to best-beard competitions.
Where to stay: Originally Edwardian railway offices, The Grand is a dream of a city-break hotel with a sleek spa in the atmospheric former vaults, superb dining in The Rise, and even its own cookery school.
Venice
La Serenissima is moody and sometimes misty in February, which only adds to its atmospheric demeanour. It's also very cold, which means it's much quieter than in summer, and you might have some of its lovely sights more or less to yourself.
That said, February is also the month of Venice's annual two-week Carnival, ending the day before Shrove Tuesday. Unlike other Carnivals, this one has no dance parades, but the masks, costumes and flotillas of boats you'll spy are out of this world. Venice's must-do experiences, such as gondola rides, are still available in winter and are perhaps even better when experienced wrapped up in one of the cosy blankets provided.
Where to stay: Venice prices can be sky-high, but the Charming Palace Corte Del Teatro has good-value, airy apartments with original features such as exposed beams a two-minute stroll from the Rialto. Some have a balcony and a canal view.
Paris
The French capital is a no-brainer for a Valentine’s getaway. Like London, there are river walks, boat rides, or even champagne dinner cruises to enjoy as a couple, free of summer hordes. But there’s more to Paris than romance in February. Other big draws include Chinese New Year, with a huge parade on Avenue d’Ivry in the city’s biggest Chinatown. To make the most of Paris' world-class culinary scene, take a foodie tour, a cookery class, or try wine tasting. Or stroll through the museums at a relatively quiet time of year, from big-hitters such as the Louvre or the Musée d’Orsay to off-the-beaten-track venues such as the Musée de la Vie Romantique.
Where to stay: Hôtel du Petit Moulin in the hip Marais district, close to the Picasso Museum, has fun, quirky rooms decorated by Christian Lacroix, complimentary bikes or exploring, and access to the spa at a nearby sister hotel.
Copenhagen
Denmark’s capital has a special glow in February, when its annual festival celebrates light art and lighting design by artists from all over the world in outdoor locations all over the city, including the harbour. Expect sculptures, installations, and projections illuminating the city’s squares, facades, bridges and hidden spaces in new and thought-provoking ways.
It’s cold in Copenhagen in February, of course, but you’ll have many of the main attractions almost to yourself, from museums to city beaches, where open-water swimmers can be seen daring a plunge!
Where to stay: In a pair of old waterfront warehouses in the old part of the harbour, oozing character, 71 Nyhavn Hotel has rooms and suites providing cosy, stylish nests away from the cold.
Reykjavik
Iceland’s capital is at its coldest in February, but don’t let that put you off – this is one of the best times of year to see the Northern Lights, and there’s also plenty of blissful soaking to be done in the country’s famous thermal springs, including the iconic Blue Lagoon.
Reykjavik also hosts a winter lights festival in February, with illuminations at the major museums, thermal pools, and ski slopes in and around the capital. The city is home to fascinating National and Saga museums of Viking history, the contemporary concrete Hallgrimskirkja church, and the rotating Perlan glass dome. The shopping is excellent too – let yourself be tempted by authentic Lopapeysa sweaters handmade from Icelandic wool.
Where to stay: Masterminded by the team behind the legendary Sandholt bakery next door, the boutique Sandhotel, with its Art Deco touches and oak floors, is a calm retreat steps from the National Gallery and the city’s best shopping.
New York
February is a chilly month in NYC, but prices are lower and there are fewer people despite there being plenty to see and do. Major events in New York in February include the first of the year’s two New York Fashion Weeks, showcasing spring/summer collections, NYC Winter Restaurant Week (where top restaurants offer more affordable menus), and NYC Broadway Week (with two-for-the-price-of-one tickets to many shows).
New York is perfect for a Valentine's Day long weekend, while the city’s colourful Chinatown hosts a brilliant Lunar New Year Parade and Festival, complete with giant dragons dancing to cymbals and drums.
Where to stay: In an expensive city for accommodation, Ace Hotel is an oasis of contemporary boutique charm in a lovely – and central – historic building. The decor was created in collaboration with local artists and designers.
Seville
Seville is known for being extremely hot in the summer, so if soaring temperatures aren’t for you, visiting in February when it’s cooler is a sensible option. You can still expect warm and sunny days that are ideal for walking and it's a wonderful time to visit famous sights like Real Alcázar, the city’s royal palace complex, before the peak-time spring crowds arrive.
The evenings are cooler, so you’ll want to take layers if you're planning a stroll to see the sights and architecture lit up. Or head indoors when the sun sets, perhaps to a cosy tapas bar or search out an authentic flamenco performance.
Where to stay: Take advantage of the off-peak hotel rates and splash out on the fabulous Hotel Alfonso XIII, a Luxury Collection Hotel. It’s centrally located in the historic quarter of Santa Cruz and has an exquisite interior that reflects the true Sevillian style.
Marrakech
Don’t let a little bit of rain put you off visiting Marrakech in February. Daytime temperatures are still comfortable (and beginning to rise), and the rain is unlikely to be non-stop, so chances are that you'll find a window to peruse the souks under sunny skies but avoid the summer's sweltering heat or the springtime crowds.
If the weather doesn’t play ball, there’s never a wasted trip to Marrakech. Take the opportunity to experience an authentic hammam, following a ritual that includes Moroccan black soap, a deep exfoliation, and the application of Rhassoul clay — it'll put a spring in your step, ready for city explorations when the sky clears.
Where to stay: Skip the pool resorts on the outskirts of the city in February and head to a centrally located riad instead. We love the beautifully luxurious La Sultana on the edge of the Medina, which puts you within a ten-minute walk of Jemaa el-Fnaa Square. Take layers for the evening on the rooftop bar, where you can look out over the Medina to the snow-capped Atlas Mountains beyond.
Montreal
Québec province’s largest city lights up brightly in February with its Montréal en Lumière festival of culture and food. Come for outdoor activities, gastronomic celebrations by Canadian chefs and foodie artisans, a Nuit Blanche when cultural venues stay open through the night and a dazzling fireworks display. Don’t miss the 300m illuminated and elevated Skating Loop.
From the cobblestoned Vieux-Montréal to the boho Plateau district, Montréal is a great city to explore if you wrap up warmly, and major attractions such as the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art and the Biodôme are wonderfully uncrowded in February.
Where to stay: Le Petit Hotel St. Paul by Gray Collection is a cosy haven of a boutique hotel in a 19th-century building, mixing original features such as exposed brick walls, arched windows and iron railings with custom-designed Quebec furniture.
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