Comparison
Where to travel in February — warm dry-season cities, snow festivals and Lunar New Year tips
Eight February picks — warm dry-season cities, snow festivals and winter city breaks — from climate normals and our guides, plus rainy and holiday spots.
Published
How to choose a February trip
February is still cold in Korea, and Lunar New Year often falls in it. You can head for a warm dry-season city, go to a snow festival, or enjoy a winter city break.
This article uses the 'best time to go' in each city guide and the February normals (average high, average low and rainfall) stored in our guides. Normals are averages over many years, so they don't tell you this year's weather, and the source agency and period differ by city. Bangkok and Bali use 1961–1990, an older period, so treat them as rough figures. Check the forecast before you go.
Temperatures are in °C and rainfall in mm. The sources are listed below; Vienna has no normals in our guides, so it appears without figures.
- Japan Meteorological Agency, 1991–2020: Sapporo and Otaru stations
- Central Weather Administration (CWA), Taiwan, 1991–2020: Kaohsiung and Taipei stations
- WMO World Weather Information Service, 1991–2020: Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Hanoi (Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration), Singapore (Meteorological Service Singapore, MSS)
- WMO World Weather Information Service, 1961–1990: Bangkok (Thai Meteorological Department, TMD), Bali (Denpasar; Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics, BMKG)
Warm and fairly dry — Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, Da Nang, Kaohsiung
In Ho Chi Minh City's December-April dry season, December-February is slightly less hot. The February normals are a high of 32.7°C, a low of 23.1°C and 8 mm of rain (WMO/Viet Nam MHA, 1991–2020). Many shops close around Tet (Lunar New Year, January or February), so check the official dates.
Bangkok's November-February dry season is the coolest and most comfortable. February has a high of 32.7°C, a low of 23.3°C and 30 mm of rain (WMO/TMD, 1961–1990). Our guide calls March-May very hot, so if you want milder weather, go by February.
Da Nang's February-May dry season is its most comfortable time. February has a high of 26.3°C, a low of 20.4°C and 22 mm of rain (WMO/Viet Nam MHA, 1991–2020). The sun is strong, so bring sunscreen and a hat.
Kaohsiung is driest and sunniest in October-March, and its winters stay mild. February has a high of 25°C, a low of 17.2°C and 17.7 mm of rain (CWA, 1991–2020). Many shops close and sights are crowded over Lunar New Year, though.
Snow festivals — Otaru and Sapporo
In February, the Otaru Snow Light Path festival lights the canal and an old railway line with snow candles. In 2027 it is scheduled for 6-13 February, so check official information before you go. The February normals are a high of 0.2°C, a low of -5.7°C and 106.6 mm of precipitation (JMA, 1991–2020). Snow is heavy and streets are icy, so bring shoes with good grip, gloves and a hat. The Herring Mansion (Nishin Goten) is closed in winter.
Sapporo is popular in December-February for snow scenes and winter festivals. February has a high of 0.4°C, a low of -6.2°C and 91.9 mm of precipitation (JMA, 1991–2020). Hotels fill early and prices rise during winter festivals, so check the dates on the official site and book ahead. Otaru works well as a day trip from Sapporo.
Winter city breaks — Vienna's ball season and Singapore
Vienna is cold in January-February, but the ball season is at its peak. Compare it if you want a winter Europe atmosphere.
Singapore is hot and humid all year, and our guide notes that February-March tends to be drier. The February normals are a high of 31.5°C, a low of 24.6°C and 105.1 mm of rain (WMO/MSS, 1991–2020). Hotel rates spike around Lunar New Year, so check the dates.
Think twice in February — rain and air quality
Bali's wet season runs November to March, with the heaviest rain around December to February. Its February rainfall normal is 274 mm (WMO/BMKG, 1961–1990, Denpasar). For sunnier days, consider the April-October dry season.
In northern Thailand, smoke from forest fires can make the air very poor in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai around February to April. Check the air quality index before and during your trip, and bring a mask or change dates if you have breathing problems.
Lunar New Year, cooler than expected, and closures
Lunar New Year moves every year, so check the official dates. According to our guides, many shops close in Ho Chi Minh City (Tet) and in Kaohsiung and Taipei (Lunar New Year), Hong Kong is very crowded over Chinese New Year, and many shops in Seoul close over Lunar New Year too.
Hanoi's winter from December to February is cooler and damper than many expect. Its February normals are a high of 21.3°C and a low of 16.2°C (WMO/Viet Nam MHA, 1991–2020). Taipei is also cool and damp in January-February; February has a high of 20.3°C, a low of 14.4°C and 143.2 mm of rain (CWA, 1991–2020). In Ishigaki, the north wind makes January-February feel cooler, so bring a jacket.
Some rules and closures change too. From stays on 1 February 2027, an accommodation tax applies at all lodgings in Okinawa Prefecture (including Ishigaki), and Himeji's Mt. Shosha Ropeway is scheduled to close from 5 February 2027 to around the end of October for major renovation. Check official information for details.
At a glance — February by city
A quick February summary. Figures are 'high/low temperature and rainfall'; sources and periods differ, so the comparison is rough.
- Warm and fairly dry: Ho Chi Minh City 32.7/23.1°C, 8 mm (WMO/Viet Nam MHA, 1991–2020); Bangkok 32.7/23.3°C, 30 mm (WMO/TMD, 1961–1990); Da Nang 26.3/20.4°C, 22 mm (WMO/Viet Nam MHA, 1991–2020); Kaohsiung 25/17.2°C, 17.7 mm (CWA, 1991–2020)
- Snow festivals: Otaru 0.2/-5.7°C (Snow Light Path scheduled for 6-13 February 2027), Sapporo 0.4/-6.2°C (both JMA, 1991–2020)
- Winter city breaks: Vienna (ball season), Singapore 105.1 mm (February-March tends to be drier)
- Rainy or poor air possible: Bali 274 mm, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai (forest-fire smoke)
- Lunar New Year crowds or closures: Ho Chi Minh City (Tet), Kaohsiung, Taipei, Hong Kong, Seoul; Singapore (higher hotel rates)
- Cooler than expected: Hanoi, Taipei, Ishigaki (north wind)
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FAQ
Where is warm and fairly dry in February?
By February rainfall normals, Ho Chi Minh City 8 mm (WMO/Viet Nam MHA, 1991–2020), Kaohsiung 17.7 mm (CWA, 1991–2020) and Da Nang 22 mm (WMO/Viet Nam MHA, 1991–2020) are low. Our guides describe February as a good time for all three.
When is the Otaru Snow Light Path festival?
In 2027 it is scheduled for 6-13 February. The festival lights the canal and an old railway line with snow candles; check official information before you go.
Is Bali OK in February?
February is in the wet season, with a lot of rain. The February rainfall normal is 274 mm (WMO/BMKG, 1961–1990, Denpasar). The figure comes from an older period, so treat it as rough, and for sunnier days consider the April-October dry season.
Is it OK to travel over Lunar New Year?
You can, but many shops close in Ho Chi Minh City, Kaohsiung, Taipei and Seoul, Hong Kong is very crowded, and Singapore's hotel rates spike. Lunar New Year moves every year, so check the official dates.
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