Where To Travel In February
February at home can feel like the longest winter month – even though it’s the shortest! So taking a holiday at this time of year can lift your spirits until the days get warmer again. The half term holidays is a great chance to take a week off, and there’s plenty going on around the world. It’s a month filled with festivals for foodies and culture seekers, and of course, there are plenty of skiing and winter activities to do if you prefer snow scenes to city breaks.
So shake off those winter blues and take your thoughts to more glamorous places. Here are our favourite destinations that are perfect for visiting this month.
Menton, France
No need to wrap up in extra layers in the French Riviera town of Menton. An hour’s train ride away from Nice, it’s blessed with more than 300 days of sunshine a year, with mild temperatures in winter of around 7C to 12C in February. Between 17 February and 3 March, follow the ‘Route du Citron’ – it’s a festival celebrating the Menton’s passion for locally-grown lemons. At this event, the town comes alive with plenty of celebrations dedicated to this important ingredient. You can meet artisan producers and enjoy tastings at the town’s restaurants and bakeries – expect to be spoiled for choice with lemon flavoured pasta, desserts, pastries, honeys and liqueurs. While you’re there, earmark time to explore the Old Town, botanical gardens and golden sandy beaches that still attract visitors at this time of year. Want extra bragging rights? You can even pop over the border to Italy, an easy-to-access 3km away.
Ottawa, Canada
If you love a crisp, wintry day, head to the one of the world’s coldest cities, the Canadian capital city of Ottawa. For the first three weekends in February, the Rideau Canal freezes over, so you can skate on the world’s largest ice-skating rink. To warm up, there’s Whisky Wonderland from 22 to 24 February. Here, you can meet over 30 whisky vendors and enjoy fine dining food pairings, classes and live music. The city also has seven national museums, so there’s something for everyone: take your pick from the exhibitions about Canadian history, art, science, aviation, nature and agriculture.
Adelaide, Australia
February is still summer in South Australia. And if it’s weather you’re going for, Adelaide has the lowest humidity of any Australian city, with average temperatures of 16-28C and low rainfall. If you enjoy a tipple of wine, then February is a great time to visit as it’s when the local vineyards are harvested, so there’s lots to see, do, and drink. But the big event is Adelaide Fringe between 16 February and 17 March.
Running for more than 60 years, it’s the world’s second biggest arts festival after Edinburgh. This year you can see over 6,000 emerging and established artists, from drum and bass act Pendulum to Japanese contemporary circus company Cirquework, who’ll put on the Australian premiere of their new show, Yoah. Expect the city to be buzzing with all things arty – and because of that, book accommodation as soon as you can!
Bergen, Norway
Located on the west coast in the heart of the fjords, Bergen is a UNESCO World Heritage City and a European City of Culture. Showing off its cultural impact, the annual International Literary Festival brings 100 fiction and non-fiction authors together from around the world, like award-winning British writer Kit de Waal and activist Meena Kandasamy. Events including a poetic punk gala, a talk on the world’s best climate stories – there’s even an intriguing one on the subject of ‘How good is Sally Rooney?’. If you fancy it you’ll need to get things booked quick as it’s on from 7-11 February
Outside of the book festivities, Bergen is also a treat for food lovers, with some of the finest seafood restaurants Norway has to offer. If you’ve got more of a sweet tooth, don’t leave without trying a skillingsbolle, the city’s favourite buttery, cinnamon sugar pastry. They’ve been eating it for over 500 years, so it must be good.
Sapporo, Japan
Fancy a more adventurous skiing holiday than in Europe? Try Sapporo, the capital of the mountainous northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. Snowfall is at its heaviest at this time of year, so the nearby ski resorts are in prime condition to enjoy days on the slopes. Revive your aching muscles by bathing in the local hot springs, or indulge in a glass of its Sapporo beer, first brewed in 1876 and recognisable by its distinctive tumbler shaped cans. The annual Sapporo Snow Festival runs between 4-11 February, where you can marvel at hundreds of spectacular snow sculptures dotted within its parks.
If you’re heading away this year make sure to pack a Switched On Travel Insurance policy. It’s feature packed cover is available to buy online or over the phone. Policies provide a 24/7 emergency helpline and gadgets are covered automatically. Find out more by visiting the Switched On travel pages.