15 Best Places To Visit in February 2025 in Europe: Sun, Skiing, Valentine’s & Carnival

February is one of my favourite months to travel in Europe. Sure, the weather isn’t always reliable, but a surplus of excellent events are scheduled across the continent. From the age-old traditions of February’s lively carnival celebrations and the romantic call of Valentine’s Day abroad to ski slopes stacked with fresh powder and northern lights adventures in the Arctic, narrowing down the list of best places to visit in February in Europe is somewhat of a challenge.

That said, if you want to try and escape the cold, grey, gloomy days at home, there are a handful of warm places to visit in Europe in February, too. During the February half-term break, the middle of the month is also a popular time to see some of Europe’s most family-friendly holiday destinations. Plus, as a bonus, there are also usually plenty of deals to snap up in the off-season away from these significant events.

To help you plan where to go in Europe in February, I’ve split this article into five sections, covering ski and snow, winter sun, romantic escapes, cultured city breaks, and offbeat celebrations. I’ve also avoided generic tips like ‘go to London because it’s less busy’ and instead focused on destinations that have something special happening in February so that you can make your well-timed visit particularly unforgettable.

Best European adventure, aurora, snow and ski destinations in February 2025

For fresh powder lovers, the best European vacations in February take place on the pistes, but skiing isn’t the only activity available this month. Northern lights chasing, snowshoeing, and adventures in the Arctic all abound in the winter climates of the north. 

The French Alps

Arguably the most iconic ski destination on the planet, France’s reign as the ultimate place for first-class pistes and après-ski is undisputed. The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpe, with its more than 150 ski and winter sports resorts, has something for everyone — ranging from the most indulgent and luxe properties with direct access to some of Les 3 Vallées best ski runs to more affordable ski passes in Le Semnoz.

France’s slopes are also an excellent February half-term destination as they are quick and easy to reach, either on a short flight to Chambéry, Grenoble or Lyon or by bundling everyone in the car and driving over on the Channel Tunnel. Family-friendly ski resorts are in no short supply, with companies such as Sno having dedicated packages and lodges suitable for children of any age. Some chalets and resorts offer kids’ clubs, teens’ ski schools, or even creches and child care.

Another of the best events in February in Europe happens around the upscale resort of Courchevel, where the Pyrotechnic Arts Festival brightens the skies with fireworks and torchlit evenings (weekly, dates still TBC for 2025).

Nordland, Norway

Norway’s least populated region, Nordland, is perhaps best known for the cinematic Lofoten Islands. Here, the scenery is spectacular in February, when snow coats the dramatic peaks, and Rorbu cabins (traditional fishing huts) add a splash of colour. But there are plenty more winter snow adventures to have in the north of the country, with ski resorts around Narvik and snowshoeing in the Arctic — part of Lapland is also within Nordland’s borders. Best of all, some of Norway’s best long-distance train journeys depart and arrive from here, and the Nordland Travel Pass will allow you to explore the whole region car-free. 

But there are a couple of extra reasons why Norland is one of the best places to visit in Europe in Winter 2025. Firstly, the aurora borealis (northern lights) are predicted to be particularly impressive this winter as the 12-year Solar Cycle is expected to peak in 2024/2025, meaning as long as there is a clear evening, the sky should put on a proper show pretty regularly – as we’ve even seen in southern Europe in recent years.

Secondly, the remote city of Bodø was one of the EU Capitals of Culture 2024 — the first time any city in the Arctic has been given the title — and although the year-long Bodø2024 program of cultural events will have ended, the city will still be riding high on the buzz.

Tyrol, Austria 

The Austrian Alps are where winter comes alive, and with snow adventures and skiing being two of the best things to do in Austria, February is a fantastic time to visit this mountainous and scenic region. There is a huge array of ski resorts in this corner of Austria, ranging from famous slopes around Ischgl and Serfaus to more beginner-friendly runs at Kitzbühel. Cross-country skiing is also possible, while the younger ones have plenty of sledging opportunities.

February’s charm isn’t just fresh snow; the Tyrol region is laden with history and tradition. As with many other European countries in February, carnival time adds colour to the otherwise white landscapes. The Tirolean Carnival parades take place in most towns, and you can expect plenty of traditional dress alongside costumes of witches and wooden masks. Some of Tyrol’s best carnival events only occur every 3 or 4 years. In 2025, it’s the turn of Schleicherlaufen in Telfs on February 2nd – the next Imst Schemenlaufen will be in 2026 – one of the Alps’ most important masked parades, which is inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list. As these events only happen every four years, it’s worth trying to attend if you’re in Austria in February.

If you just want a short and quick getaway, consider a long weekend in Innsbruck. One of the best cities in Europe to visit in February for a ski holiday, thanks to its proximity to the mountains, there are also enough museums and cultural attractions to fill at least one day. From Innsbruck, you’re also well-placed for some intense snow-covered treks in Karwendel Nature Park.

Where to go in February in Europe for Valentine’s Day

With Valentine’s Day falling on a Friday in 2025, it’s perfectly timed for a romantic weekend getaway – a city break on one of the weekends is surely better than a bunch of roses. You could pick from any of the more romanticised cities on the continent, such as Paris, Florence or Prague. Or, you could plan where to go in Europe in February for Valentine’s Day around one of these awesome annual events instead.

Côte d’Azur, France

Paris might be France’s most obvious choice for a Valentine’s Day getaway, but if you want to turn your romantic trip into a week-long vacation, then a luxury visit to the French Riviera might be the perfect answer.

Best known for glamour, film festivals, pretty pastel-hued homes and one of Europe’s smallest countries, Monaco, there is no shortage of first-class restaurants and romantic resorts to steal away along the shoreline. However, a few of France’s best events are scheduled in the south during February, and I’d highly recommend you make your visit to the Côte d’Azur even more special by planning it around one of these.

Perhaps the most famous is Nice Carnival (15th February to 2nd March 2025), one of the world’s biggest, where this upscale seaside resort comes alive with parades –the illuminated nighttime procession is particularly fantastic– flower battles and general revelry. The ridiculously attractive town of Menton, closer to the Italian border, also holds a big annual bash, the Fête du Citron, on the same dates. This Lemon Festival is a flamboyant and almost fantasy affair where the colours and flavours of citrus fruits set the stage for parades, artisan stores, and local produce tasting. Lastly, there’s also the short but sweet Fête du Mimosa (12th – 16th February), anchored around the blossoming of the locally beloved Mimosa trees, over Valentine’s Day itself.

Venice, Italy

One of the most obvious choices for a romantic city break, Venice is certainly one of the best places to visit for Valentine’s Day — but I’m thinking about the magic of one of the world’s greatest carnivals. Sadly, this year, the Venice Carnival starts a little later (22nd February – 4 March 2025), but that’s an excellent reason to postpone your romantic Valentine’s weekend by one week.

Dating back to the 12th century (although some reports believe it was informally established some 200 years before), Venice Carnival has long been one of the greatest festivals on the planet, packed with colour, glam, debauchery and secrets — often concealed behind those fabled Venetian masks, which also date back to the Middle Ages. Nowadays, it’s a mix of grand and opulent ticket-only balls, street performers, competitions and parades. So why not whisk your loved one away for a visit to Venice in February to celebrate in this city of romance?

If you’d prefer another nearby romantic alternative, then consider Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet, where Valentine’s Day is also a huge celebration. With many romantic and memorable things to do in Italy, there is no shortage of February city breaks to choose from.

Sitges, Spain

Sitges is one of Europe’s most gay-friendly destinations, making it an excellent and safe place for the LGBTQ+ community to celebrate Valentine’s Day. One of the oldest carnivals in Catalonia, huge parades, costumes and crowds descend on this seaside town, breaking its winter hibernation in the most kaleidoscopic way. However, this year, events are starting later in February. There are two big parades, with the second being on the 25th of February, 2025 — ideally for partying into Valentine’s Day proper — and the main LGBTQ+ clubs and bars host their own parties throughout the week. 

Away from the celebrations (although it’s nearly impossible to avoid them), you’ve got a couple of fantastic museums, such as Cau Ferrat, sea-view restaurants, and a cute if small Old Town to visit. Of course, one of Sitges’ main draws is the beach, and while it isn’t one of the warmest places to visit in February in Europe, you might get lucky with some sunny days to top up your tan.

Best European cities to visit in February

When putting together my picks of the best cities in Europe in February, I’ve focused on destinations with annual events scheduled, the food and bar scene is strong (for those colder nights), and enough museums or cultural attractions to keep you busy in case of some showers. If you want affordable food and drink with better chances of blue skies, then consider Valletta (Malta), Lisbon (Portugal), or Chania (Crete, Greece). However, consider these three northern European cities if you don’t mind a chill.

Vilnius, Lithuania

Vilnius’s tagline as the 2025 EU Green Capital is “the greenest city in the making”. Come in February, though, and chances are high that you’ll see it sparkling under a light coat of white snow. With temperatures at the start of the month usually hovering around 0°c (32°F), you’ll want to pack your warmest winter clothes. The reward? An off-season, crowd-free and affordable visit to Lithuania’s capital when plenty of cultural events feature on the city’s February calendar.

Lithuanian cuisine is some of my favourite, with heartwarming Cepelinai potato dumplings, delicious mushroom soups – the national famous Pink Soup is cold, so not ideal for winter – and plenty of berry-infused teas to keep you warm. Head to one of the many cavernous underground restaurants to avoid the outside chill. For craft beer fans, Zmogsala Beerfest, on the 8th of February 2025, is worth planning around while the SU-MENĖK art festival spotlights the city’s creative scene throughout February. Come on the 16th of February, when Vilnius celebrates one of the nation’s Independence days, the State Restoration, and you’ll experience processions, a bonfire, and plenty more.

Brussels, Belgium

Highly underrated, many people expect to find a sterile and bureaucratic Belgian city when they first visit Brussels, but in reality, it’s anything but. The country’s capital has excellent cuisine on nearly every street corner with global gastronomy well represented; the nation’s penchant for first-class craft beers ensures that the bars are tempting even on cold winter nights; and the city’s collection of celebrated cultural institutions, galleries and museums can fill countless rainy days. Plus, who doesn’t love Belgian chocolate?

As an added bonus for visiting this European city in February, you’ll also be treated to the Bright Festival of Lights, which runs from the 13th to 16th February 2025. Installations from local and international artists bring incredible illuminations to some of the city’s most prominent landmarks, giving a magical life to the otherwise cold nights.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Chic Copenhagen is one of the best European city breaks in February, thanks to the Vinterjazz festival (30th January – February 23rd 2025) bringing something extra to this already cultured city. For over three weeks, multiple concerts can be appreciated in various venues, ranging from chilly open-air performances to impressive contemporary concert halls. There are only a few free events, so you’ll want to scan the schedule to book tickets in advance.

Alongside the jazz concerts, you can still cram plenty into a two-day weekend visit to Copenhagen. Some 50-odd excellent museums offer plenty of respite from any showers, with a few, such as the standout SMK Art Museum, easily occupying half a day. If opulent halls and royal history are more your thing, then the city’s handful of palaces and castles are sure to impress, while iconic sights such as the colourful 17th-century Nyhavn Canal and overrated Little Mermaid statues round off any visit.

Of course, another bonus of visiting after Christmas and before the popular summer season is that accommodation prices are usually lower. Other ways to cut costs in Denmark are to consider hostels (there are plenty of trendy, private room options), take a Copenhagen free walking tour (don’t forget to tip), get the Copenhagen Card and take the Havnebussen rather than a canal tour.

Warm European destinations in February for winter sun

If you’re wondering where to go in Europe in February for sun, then my suggestions of the best warm European destinations in January — the Algarve, Malta and the Canary Islands — still apply. However, February brings a few more excellent choices, with huge carnivals under (hopefully) blue skies being the main reason I’ve chosen them. And given how even the warmest winter destinations in Europe can’t guarantee endless blue days, at least if you get unlucky with some worse-than-expected weather, you’ll have these unforgettable cultural experiences to cherish instead.

Andalucia (or Tenerife), Spain

Spain’s southern Andalucia region is one of mainland Europe’s warmest winter destinations, with February temperatures in Seville often reaching 17°C (62°F) in the daytime. Still, the odd shower and chilly evenings are to be expected, but thankfully, by night, you can warm up with the region’s incredible area of carnival celebrations.

No matter where you decide to visit in this passionate region, you’ll likely find a party. Some of the most famous festivals are the huge and often humorous street party of Cadiz Carnival (27th February – 9th March 2025), which lasts well over a week, the similarly grand Málaga Carnival (22nd February – 2nd March 2025), which dates back hundreds of years, and the Carnaval Colombino in lesser-visited Huelva. It’s a great time to plan a road trip through Andalucia to soak up the region’s culture of tapas, flamenco, and Islamic architecture, as prices and crowds can be thin along the coast, stopping at the parties along the way.

But if you want to be a part of the biggest February festivities in Spain, then you’ll need to head to Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, for the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Flamboyant in all ways, this fifteen-day event consumes the island’s capital, and it comes with an added bonus: the temperatures are even warmer down here due to being closer to the Sahara than Spain proper. This year, events start in January and ends on the 9th March, 2025.

Madeira, Portugal

With an almost year-round spring climate, the autonomous Portuguese archipelago of Madeira is one of Europe’s warmest destinations in February. Daytime temperatures around 16°C (61°F) are fairly common, though with the odd shower here and there and chilly evenings, an umbrella and jacket are still advised. Whether your February aim is to try and catch some winter sun, swim in natural pools formed from lava, or hike some of Portugal’s most impressive mountain trails above the clouds, you’ll find it all here.

Just be warned, unlike many of Europe’s best beach destinations, the majority of the beaches on Madeira are pebbly or volcanic sands. If you want the more typical golden sands on your doorstep, then you’ll need to take the two-hour ferry to Porto Santo, Madeira’s little sister, where a golden beach stretches out as far as the eye can see. With little tourism on this secondary island in the offseason, the hotels that do remain open year-round often offer great value deals.

However, as with many other destinations listed, Madeira’s February highlight is the start of the island’s two-week-long carnival (26th February – 9th March 2025). Expect plenty of flower-themed costumes and colourful dancers washed back with the local Madeira wine or poncha (a typical sugarcane rum drink) across the island. However, the most significant celebrations are in Funchal, the capital city.

Cyprus

Technically located in Western Asia, the Mediterranean nation of Cyprus is nonetheless considered one of the warmest places to visit in Europe in February. With a mild winter climate — temperatures are often around 15°C (59°F) with a mix of sunny and cloudy days in February — it’s a fairly reliable bet for a bit of winter sun if not a full beach holiday.

Across this beautiful island, you’ll find some spectacular shorelines, beaches and bays. And not only are the island’s golden sands and turquoise waters pretty, if slightly chilly, but there are plenty of attractions to keep you entertained if rain showers do appear. From the ancient archaeological attractions of Pahos — such as the 4th-century BC Tombs of the Kings — to the border-defining city of Nicosia’s museums, Cyprus’ best attractions are varied and fascinating.

February also has another compelling reason to visit Cyprus: the carnival. Commencing around the middle of the month, you’ll find celebrations in plenty of towns and villages. Two of the biggest are in Paphos, which culminates in a grand parade (dates TBC), and Limassol (20th of February – 2nd March of 2025), renowned for its eating, dancing, and all-round revelry.

More ‘offbeat’ places to go in February 2025 in Europe

Ending on my favourite topic of visiting Europe’s most underrated cities and towns, here are a few more of my personal recommendations of where to go in Europe in February that are often criminally overlooked.

The Ore Mountains, Germany

If you didn’t make it to Germany’s festive markets in December, fear not; Christmas in Saxony continues into early February. The huge markets in the likes of Dresden will be long gone, but head into the snow-carpeted Ore Mountains (Erzgebirge in German) in Saxony for a few days leading up to the 2nd of February 2025, and you’ll still be able to shop Christmas ornaments, sip on glühwein and enjoy traditional events. It’s on this date that the region celebrations Lichtmess, or Candlemass, and in the pretty towns of Olbernhau and Zwönitzer, at 6 pm sharp, the “Lights Out” festival sees all the lights – Christmas and others – turned off, only a sea of people clutching candles now illuminating the town.

This East German region loves traditions, and the town of Seiffen is practically Santa’s Workshop year-round, with nearly all the boutiques focused on crafting stars, angels, decorations, candles and traditional wooden toys throughout the year. It’s especially great in December when old mining traditions come alive, but come at the tail end of January and stick around until February 2nd’s Lights Out to have a Christmassy experience at a snippet of the price. In 2025, the city of Chemnitz and the Ore Mountains will be one of two European Capitals of Culture, giving even more reasons to visit – check out the seasons’ events calendar ahead of your trip to see what’s on.

Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina

Like many of the most popular places to visit in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Sarajevo’s tourism is often discussed in conversations about war. And while the country’s capital certainly has stories of horror to convey, I believe it’s important we don’t just visit cities because of their past, but also to see and learn from their blossoming future — modern Sarajevo is both a fascinating mix of cultures, religions and traditions, but also a forward-looking city of trendy coffee houses, galleries and festivities.

What makes it one of the best European cities to visit in February for an offbeat break is the Sarajevo Winter Festival (starting on the 7th of February 2025), which has a packed programme from early February into mid-March. One of the annual cultural highlights in Bosnia & Herzegovina, you’ll find art exhibitions, literary events, concerts, theatre and opera performances both within the city’s cultural institutions but also in the nearby Olympic Mountains — the festival was actually first launched as part of their turn hosting the winter games. For an insight into this country’s culture often skipped by travellers, this February event makes for an ideal time to visit. 

Outside of the programmed events, you’ve got one of the most engrossing cities in Europe to explore. Do take time to learn about the country’s recent and hard-to-process history at the Museum Of Crimes Against Humanity And Genocide, and of course, you’ll likely want to learn more about the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which triggered the start of World War One. But away from this haunted past, delve into the city’s medley of architecture — there are glorious mosques and Islamic-style touches inside Vijećnica (Town Hall) — and explore the ever-growing cafe culture, take it all in from the Yellow Fortress high above, and get lost in the bazaar of Baščaršija. You can even hit the slopes for a fraction of France’s prices in the resorts beyond the city limits.

Durham, England 

If you’re wondering where to go in Europe in February without flying abroad, why not plan a UK staycation a bit closer to home and head to Durham during the half-term holidays? Stacked with important historical sites, such as Durham Castle and Cathedral — both of which have major Harry Potter vibes — alongside a decent energy and selection of affordable restaurants thanks to the student-heavy population, it’s one of my favourite destinations in England.

But the top two reasons to visit Durham in February are for the annual Fire & Ice event (28th of February and 1st March 2025), when the city is decorated by interactive displays, frozen statues, and dusk fires blazing for a couple of days. Secondly, the impressive open-air Beamish Museum hosts a dedicated February half-term programme for kids, which shows bygone eras in reconstructed towns and houses with actors and real-life rattling trams.

If you’re up in Scotland and don’t fancy crossing the border, you might want to plan a visit to Aberdeen instead for the SPECTRA Festival of Light (6th to 9th February 2025), which illuminates the gorgeous cobbled streets and modern corners of this often unsung Scottish city.