Where to go in February

The driest month — warm, sunny, and still calm enough to enjoy the Old Town without peak crowds.

The driest month of the year — clear skies, perfect temperatures, and low crowds.

Warm, bright, and slightly calmer — the Shopping Festival ends and the city breathes again.

Slightly warmer than January — almond blossom appears, the season shifts.

Mobile World Congress spikes accommodation mid-month — arrive before or after.

The inter-monsoon window — noticeably drier and sunnier, and often the best weather month of the year.

Still the dry season — warm evenings, accessible prices, and a relaxed version of the city.

Early almond blossom signals spring — still quiet, slightly warmer than January.

Near-perfect: drier than January in some years, warm enough for everything.

The quietest month in Kyoto — plum blossoms begin and the temples are almost entirely your own.

Statistically the driest month — best beach conditions and clearest cenote water of the year.

Rome at its cheapest — cold but manageable, and completely uncrowded.

The statistical peak of dry season: maximum sunshine, minimum rainfall, ideal conditions.

Vienna Fasching (carnival) brings masked balls and champagne — the city's most theatrical February.

Aurora season still strong, days noticeably lengthening, Winter Lights Festival in Reykjavik.

The hottest month — beach conditions at their best, prices to match.

Still cold, still cheap — and occasionally the most atmospheric month for moody riverside photography.

Still cold, still quiet — the last window before cherry blossom prices arrive.

Identical to January — the island at its most stripped-back.

Wettest month and coldest — for budget-focused visits only.

Still very wet but marginally brighter — the off-season continues.

Marginally brighter than January, still cold — good value for museum-focused visits.

Slightly brighter than January — Chinese New Year brings brief festive energy to Chinatown.

The best beach weather in Phuket — and the most expensive month to experience it.

Still winter — but the almond trees bloom and Carnival fires up in nearby Naples.

Still cold — Lunar New Year celebrations are the highlight if timing allows.

Valentine's Day and Fashion Week — cold, but budget-friendly with pockets of energy.

Carnival — the most extraordinary cultural event in the Southern Hemisphere, wet and overwhelming.

London's driest winter month — marginally brighter than January, with BAFTA and half-term energy.

Hottest, wettest month — but Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras season begins with real energy.

Still monsoon — marginally drier than January, still not recommended for beach-focused trips.

Peak cyclone month — the highest risk of the year alongside the lowest prices.