1. Venice, Italy
It’s almost time for Venice‘s annual gala. In the middle of February, residents and tourists wear elaborate masks and costumes to celebrate the strange and beautiful Carnival at parades, concerts, and balls. It will be a hectic time to visit Venice because of the festival (but when isn’t it?) but it’s definitely something you should do. To reduce the adverse effects of excessive tourism, the Italian government has instituted a fee of up to 10 Euros for day-trippers instead of overnight guests. You may avoid the price if you leave your baggage in Palace Cristo, a palazzo from the 15th century that has been given a stunning modern makeover.
2. Canary Islands
3. Athens, Greece.
February is still too chilly to go to Greece’s picturesque islands, but Athens is lovely during the shoulder season. Temperatures in the upper 40s to mid-50s, on the other hand, mean that the city’s terrible heat and air pollution are at an all-time low and that there are hardly any people about. This means you may avoid the crowds while taking pictures in front of famous landmarks like the Parthenon and skip the lengthy security checkpoint at the National Archaeological Museum. The Perianth Hotel is a Modernist jewel with 38 rooms near one of Athens’ most visited public squares.
4. Budapest, Hungary
5. St. Moritz resort, Switzerland
This chic alpine resort town is beautiful in the summer and the winter, but February is when it really shines. Switzerland‘s internationally renowned White Turf horse-racing event takes over the town’s frozen lake for three weekends, and ultra-luxurious ski resorts are open for business. Try bobsledding on the Olympia Bob Run, the oldest of its type in the world (St. Moritz has held two Winter Olympic Games, after all). You may then retire to the luxurious, all-suite Carlton Hotel, where the vistas of the lake are only matched by the quality of the food presented at the three-Michelin-star Da Vittorio restaurant.
