Where is hot in Europe in February? The warmest places, ranked

The honest answer

If "hot" means lying by the pool at 28°C, nowhere in Europe manages it in February. The Mediterranean is in its winter, with highs in the mid-teens and the odd stormy week. The places that come closest are the Atlantic islands off Africa, the Canaries and Madeira, where February afternoons are reliably in the low twenties.

So the real question is how warm you need it to be. Warm enough for T-shirts and a walk along the seafront is easy to find. Warm enough to swim comfortably in the sea is much harder, because sea temperatures bottom out in February almost everywhere.

The figures below are long-term averages for the month, rounded, from national weather services where we could find them and climate averages otherwise. Flight times are typical direct flights from London; regional airports are similar, give or take half an hour.

The ranking at a glance

1. Tenerife: the safest bet

The south of Tenerife is the most reliable warm place in Europe in February. Spain's weather service, AEMET, gives the south airport an average February high of 22°C, a low of 15°C, around 20 mm of rain over two or three days, and close to 200 hours of sunshine. That's why Los Cristianos and Costa Adeje are so busy at half term.

Two things to know. The north of the island, around Puerto de la Cruz, is greener, cloudier and a few degrees cooler, so where you stay matters. And the sea is around 18 to 19°C, which is bracing rather than warm. Most hotels heat at least one pool for exactly this reason.

If you want a change of scenery in the same weather, Teide National Park is a day trip, but take a coat: at the top it can be below freezing and even snowy.

2. Gran Canaria and Lanzarote: almost as warm

The other Canary Islands are close behind. Lanzarote averages around 20 to 21°C in February with very little rain, about 15 to 20 mm over two or three days, and around seven hours of sunshine a day. It is breezier than Tenerife, which keeps it feeling cooler on the beach. The south of Gran Canaria, around Maspalomas, is similar, while Las Palmas in the north gets more cloud.

The Canaries are all an hour behind mainland Spain and on the same time as the UK, which makes for an easy trip with no jet lag. Our Spain holiday page has more ideas if you're weighing them up.

3. Madeira: warm, green and a bit wetter

Madeira is slightly cooler than the Canaries, with Funchal averaging around 19 to 20°C in February, and noticeably wetter. Climate averages put rainfall at roughly 55 to 60 mm and sunshine at about five hours a day, so expect some grey spells.

What Madeira gives you in return is scenery. February usually brings the island's carnival to Funchal (it moves with Easter), the levada walks are green and full of flowers, and it's warm enough to sit outside at lunch. It's a better pick for walking and exploring than for lying on a beach, which suits it, because most of its beaches are pebbles anyway.

4. Marrakech: warm days, cold nights

Marrakech isn't in Europe, but it's closer than the Canaries and often on the same list. February days average around 20°C and are usually sunny, which is ideal for walking the souks. The catch is the nights, which drop to around 6°C. Riads can be chilly, so check yours has heating and pack a jumper.

It's a city break rather than a beach trip, and February is one of the most comfortable months to do it, long before the summer heat makes sightseeing hard work.

5 and 6. Málaga and the Algarve: mild, not hot

Southern Spain and Portugal are the closest winter sun to the UK, at under three hours. Málaga averages around 17 to 18°C in February with plenty of sunshine, and the Algarve around 17°C. Portugal's weather institute, IPMA, gives Faro about 42 mm of rain over five days and around six hours of sunshine a day.

That's pleasant walking and golf weather, and a world away from a British February, but not beach weather. The sea is around 15 to 16°C and many seaside restaurants run reduced hours until Easter. They work best as a cheap, short break, especially combined with a city like Seville or Lisbon. See our guide to Lisbon and the Portugal holiday page.

7 to 9. Cyprus, Malta and Crete: too early

The eastern and central Mediterranean islands are lovely in spring and autumn, but February is their low point.

All three come into their own from April onwards. Our where to go in April page shows what's at its best then.

If you need it properly hot

For guaranteed heat you have to leave Europe. Within about six hours, Cape Verde is warmer than the Canaries and very dry, though often windy. Dubai is around seven hours away and in its best season, with highs in the mid-twenties. Further afield, the Caribbean, Barbados included, is in its dry season.

Our where to go in February page lists everywhere at its best this month, near and far.

How to choose

Start with what you want the warmth for. If it's sunbathing and pool time, go to the south of Tenerife or Lanzarote and accept the four-hour flight. If it's walking and exploring in pleasant weather, Madeira, Marrakech or southern Spain will do the job for less time in the air. If you're travelling at February half term, book early, because these are the places everyone else is going too.

If you're choosing as a family or group and can't agree, put a few of these on a shortlist and let everyone vote with points. That's what somewhere🎉 is for, and our guide to deciding where to go on holiday explains how it works.