Where to go for a beach holiday in February?
The 14 best destinations for a beach holiday in February, ranked on the weather actually recorded.
For a beach holiday in February, we kept seaside or island destinations with at least 24 °C in the afternoon, a sea at 22 °C or more where we measure it, and no more than eight days of rain. Temperatures and rainfall are real records, averaged from 2015 to 2024 at each destination's reference point, and the sea is measured at the nearest coastal point. 14 destinations pass this filter, in Africa, Asia, Americas and Oceania. Top of the ranking: Goa (32 °C in the afternoon, 0 days of rain, sea at 28 °C).
The ranking at a glance
| # | Destination | Afternoon | Rainy days | Sea (°C) | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇮🇳 Goa | 32 °C | 0 | 28 °C | €30-70 a day |
| 2 | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | 26 °C | 4 | 31 °C | €90-160 a day |
| 3 | 🇨🇴 Cartagena | 33 °C | 2 | 28 °C | €60-120 a day |
| 4 | 🇹🇭 Thailand | 32 °C | 5 | 30 °C | €30-60 a day |
| 5 | 🇰🇭 Cambodia | 33 °C | 5 | 29 °C | €25-55 a day |
| 6 | 🇲🇽 The Yucatán | 30 °C | 4 | 27 °C | €90-180 a day |
| 7 | 🇲🇾 Langkawi | 33 °C | 7 | 29 °C | €55-110 a day |
| 8 | 🇰🇪 Mombasa | 31 °C | 7 | 29 °C | €60-120 a day |
| 9 | 🇴🇲 Oman | 26 °C | 1 | 24 °C | €110-180 a day |
| 10 | 🇲🇻 The Maldives | 28 °C | 8 | 28 °C | €250-600 a day |
| 11 | 🇦🇪 Dubai and Abu Dhabi | 25 °C | 1 | 22 °C | €150-300 a day |
| 12 | 🇵🇭 Palawan | 29 °C | 7 | 26 °C | €45-90 a day |
| 13 | 🇺🇾 Uruguay | 26 °C | 8 | 23 °C | €80-130 a day |
| 14 | 🇦🇺 Melbourne | 25 °C | 6 | 22 °C | €110-190 a day |
The 14 destinations in detail
City1 🇮🇳 Goa
🌡️ 32 °C in the afternoon, 0 days of rain, sea at 28 °C · 💶 €30-70 a day
Goa lines up 100 km of beaches on the Arabian Sea, listed baroque churches in Old Goa and ochre Portuguese houses in Fontainhas. India's smallest state is explored by scooter, is best visited from November to March and costs less than €50 a day if you stay in guesthouses.
Countries2 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
🌡️ 26 °C in the afternoon, 4 days of rain, sea at 31 °C · 💶 €90-160 a day
Costa Rica means sloths hanging in the canopy, Arenal volcano rising above the forest, and beaches on two oceans. An ecotourism paradise where you fall asleep to the sound of the jungle, pura vida.
City3 🇨🇴 Cartagena
🌡️ 33 °C in the afternoon, 2 days of rain, sea at 28 °C · 💶 €60-120 a day
Cartagena plays in two registers, five minutes' walk apart: the walled city with its ochre façades and wooden balconies, and Getsemaní, rawer and noisier, where the walls are painted and the terraces spill straight onto the street. In between, a heat that will not negotiate and touts who follow you all day long, two realities the brochures forget to mention.
Countries4 🇹🇭 Thailand
🌡️ 32 °C in the afternoon, 5 days of rain, sea at 30 °C · 💶 €30-60 a day
Thailand means the hubbub of Bangkok's markets, golden temples, the green north around Chiang Mai, then the turquoise islands of the south. Street food on every corner, and a first trip to Asia of rare ease.
Countries5 🇰🇭 Cambodia
🌡️ 33 °C in the afternoon, 5 days of rain, sea at 29 °C · 💶 €25-55 a day
Cambodia means sunrise over Angkor Wat, the painful memory of Phnom Penh and the floating villages of Tonle Sap Lake. A spiritual, endearing land, carried by the kindness of its people.
City6 🇲🇽 The Yucatán
🌡️ 30 °C in the afternoon, 4 days of rain, sea at 27 °C · 💶 €90-180 a day
The Yucatán means the Mayan ruins of Tulum facing the sea, cenotes where you dive into clear fresh water, and the white sand of the Riviera Maya. Caribbean beaches and Mayan culture, side by side.
City7 🇲🇾 Langkawi
🌡️ 33 °C in the afternoon, 7 days of rain, sea at 29 °C · 💶 €55-110 a day
An archipelago of 99 islands in the Andaman Sea, in north-west Malaysia, made a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2007 for its 550-million-year-old sandstone. The cable car climbs to 708 metres, the Kilim mangroves are explored by boat, and everything has been duty-free since 1987.
City8 🇰🇪 Mombasa
🌡️ 31 °C in the afternoon, 7 days of rain, sea at 29 °C · 💶 €60-120 a day
Kenya's second city, Mombasa sits on a 15 km² island linked to the mainland by three causeways and a ferry. Visit Fort Jesus, built by the Portuguese from 1593, and the old town's alleys of carved doors, then head off to the beaches of Nyali and Diani.
Countries9 🇴🇲 Oman
🌡️ 26 °C in the afternoon, 1 day of rain, sea at 24 °C · 💶 €110-180 a day
Oman means the turquoise pools of Wadi Shab, the ochre dunes of the Wahiba Sands where you sleep in a desert camp, and the mud-brick forts of Nizwa. An authentic Gulf, far from the bustle, all the way to the fjords of Musandam.
Countries10 🇲🇻 The Maldives
🌡️ 28 °C in the afternoon, 8 days of rain, sea at 28 °C · 💶 €250-600 a day
The Maldives means an overwater villa above a turquoise lagoon, rays and reef sharks seen with mask and snorkel, and white sand as far as the eye can see. The ultimate destination for switching off as a couple.
Countries11 🇦🇪 Dubai and Abu Dhabi
🌡️ 25 °C in the afternoon, 1 day of rain, sea at 22 °C · 💶 €150-300 a day
The Emirates mean the view from the top of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the white marble Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi, and a dune safari at sunset. Futuristic luxury, unashamedly, on the edge of the desert.
City12 🇵🇭 Palawan
🌡️ 29 °C in the afternoon, 7 days of rain, sea at 26 °C · 💶 €45-90 a day
A 450 km-long island between the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea, with the limestone cliffs and lagoons of El Nido in the north, the UNESCO-listed Sabang underground river in the centre and the Japanese wrecks of Coron in the neighbouring archipelago. Outrigger boats, white sand and roads that are still slow.
Countries13 🇺🇾 Uruguay
🌡️ 26 °C in the afternoon, 8 days of rain, sea at 23 °C · 💶 €80-130 a day
Uruguay means a mate passed from hand to hand on Montevideo's rambla, the mossy cobbles of Colonia del Sacramento, and sea lions dozing at the foot of the Cabo Polonio lighthouse. South America's most peaceful country is best savoured unhurriedly, between smoky parrillas and wild Atlantic beaches.
City14 🇦🇺 Melbourne
🌡️ 25 °C in the afternoon, 6 days of rain, sea at 22 °C · 💶 €110-190 a day · at the edge of its season
Melbourne is best explored at laneway level: a grid of wide streets backed by narrow laneways crammed with coffee roasters, unmarked bars and murals repainted every month. Five million people, more than a third of them born abroad, and a calendar set by sport and festivals.
Frequently asked questions
Where to go for a beach holiday in February?
Goa, Costa Rica, Cartagena, Thailand and Cambodia top our ranking for a beach holiday in February. In first place, Goa: 32 °C in the afternoon, 0 days of rain, sea at 28 °C on average over 2015-2024.
Which is the closest beach destination in February?
Dubai and Abu Dhabi, about 6h30 by air from Paris, with 25 °C in the afternoon, 1 day of rain, sea at 22 °C in February.
Where does it rain least in February among these destinations?
Goa: 0 days of rain on average in February, with 32 °C in the afternoon.
Where is it hottest in February?
Among these destinations, Cartagena, with 33 °C in the afternoon on average in February: plan your sightseeing for early morning and late afternoon.
Other ideas in February
Beach in another month
Off to the beach in February?
We'll send you the destinations worth the trip at this time of year, backed by real weather data and budgets.