Where to go in February

Innsbruck | Austria

Innsbruck is your go-to destination for a more sustainable ski trip this February. There's a shiny new winter sleeper train that opens this year – it runs twice a week between Brussels and Venice from February to the end of March, stopping off in this snowy Austrian city that's perfect for winter sports. So catch the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels, hop on the sleeper train and you can hit the slopes without having to catch a flight.

There's more to Innsbruck than ski resorts. It makes for a wonderful winter city break, boasting a charming medieval old town, a 16th-century imperial palace and a picturesque Renaissance castle. Its most famous landmark is the Goldenes Dachl, a golden roof adorned with 2,657 fire-gilded copper tiles.

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New Orleans | USA

February sees one of the most popular events in the US – Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans. Mardi Gras translates as 'fat Tuesday' in French, which makes sense as it's the last chance to eat rich and fatty food before Lent. The tradition was brought to the US by French Catholics and the celebrations are continued today in New Orleans thanks to its French heritage.

While Mardi Gras itself falls on 4th March this year, carnival season runs from Twelfth Night in January and all the way through February. So don't worry, you'll have plenty of chances to see the iconic floats parading through the French Quarter. And it's not just Mardi Gras you're visiting New Orleans for in 2025 – it's hosting Superbowl LIX on 9th February, so the carnival atmosphere will undoubtedly be up a notch.

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Trieste | Italy

Loved-up couples might be dreaming of Venice this Valentine's Day, but it's no secret that the city is overcrowded and locals don't want quite so many tourists to visit. Instead, head further east to Trieste, whose sparkling canals lined with picturesque bars and restaurants are quieter but just as romantic.

Trieste has spent most of its time as an Austrian city, so you won't be surprised to find grand architecture and a thriving coffeehouse culture. Locals supposedly drink twice as much coffee as their fellow Italians, and Caffè Degli Specchi is the best-known place to drink it.

You can fly directly from the UK, or take the scenic route and hop on the Eurostar to Paris. After a spot of lunch, take the high-speed train to Milan or Venice then change for Trieste.

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Dakar | Senegal

Dakar, the capital of Senegal, is an excellent budget alternative to the Canary Islands. February is dry season, and temperatures reach an average high of 25°C. That'll do nicely for a bit of sunbathing.

It's five hours in a plane versus the four-and-a-half you'd take to Tenerife. For that extra time in the air you get the same reliable sunshine in a more exotic location, the chance to tick a new country off the bucket list and the same standard of service you'd expect from any resort.

Senegal does score poorly on our Good Trip Index, coming 129th in the world. This is in large part because of weak scores for women's and LGBTQI+ rights – for destinations that score higher on our Good Trip Index, take a look at our top picks for LGBTQ+ and female travellers.

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New Zealand

If you're looking to escape the dreary British weather then head to New Zealand, which in February is enjoying the height of summer. The warm days and nights make it the perfect time to book a camper van and hit the open road. It's best to give yourself two weeks minimum to explore – the flight is long and you'll want to make the trip feel worth it.

There are two islands, North and South. The South is more mountainous and where you'll find popular sights like Mount Cook, Milford Sound, Lake Tekapo and Christchurch. The North is home to the capital city, Auckland, hot springs at Rotorua and the Hobbiton Movie Set from The Lord of the Rings films.

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Jersey

Lovers of British crime dramas from the 80s will hardly be able to contain themselves this February as Bergerac is back at the end of the month. What better way to celebrate than planning a trip to Jersey, where both the original and upcoming BBC shows were filmed?

Okay, planning a holiday around a Bergerac reboot might be a bit of stretch, but you should head to the Channel Islands anyway. Most people visit Jersey in summer when the weather is more forgiving, but if you don't mind wrapping up warm you'll have the island to yourself. Winter's the time to explore deserted beaches and coastal trails, take moody photos of wild winds and escape the chill in cosy pubs and restaurants.

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Singapore

Singapore is home to what's widely considered the world's best airport, Changi. That means your holiday starts the moment you step off the plane – you could probably spend more than a day exploring everything there is to do in the airport.

Once you finally step out of the airport, the wonder continues. Singapore is home to some incredibly interesting sites, like the futuristic Cloud Forest and the iconic Marina Bay resort, and February is an ideal time to visit. It coincides with Chinese New Year celebrations and the end of monsoon season, which means there's loads to see and do plus less rain, less humidity and more sunshine.