Top 10 Places to Visit in February

This performing arts centre sits on the edge of Sydney Harbour. Designed by Jørn Utzon, it opened in 1973 after 16 years of construction. The white sails are globally famous, and the venue hosts regular concerts, plays, and tours. February is peak summer in Sydney. The weather is warm and dry, making it ideal for walking around the harbour before a show. You can easily combine a visit here with outdoor dining along the water. The area gets very crowded with tourists during this sunny month. Inside, some visitors find the concrete corridors of the older theatres a bit plain compared to the dramatic exterior. Tickets for popular shows sell out weeks in advance.

Known as the Pink City, Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan. It was founded in 1727 by Sawai Jai Singh II as a planned city. The old city walls and buildings are painted a distinct terracotta pink color. February is one of the best months to visit. The intense summer heat of northern India has not started yet. Daytime temperatures are comfortable for walking around outdoor forts and palaces, and nights are cool. Traffic in the old city is heavy and chaotic. You will encounter persistent vendors and rickshaw drivers at major sites. The air quality can also be poor in the winter months due to dust and urban smog.

This is the largest national park in Ethiopia and contains Ras Dashan, the country's highest peak. The park is home to rare wildlife, including the gelada baboon, the Ethiopian wolf, and the walia ibex. February falls within the dry season. The trails are dry, which makes hiking much easier and safer. Wildlife is easier to spot now because animals gather around limited water sources. The altitude is high, so the mountain air is thin and nights get very cold. Accommodations inside the park are basic, consisting mostly of simple campsites with limited facilities. You must hire an armed scout to enter the park, which is a mandatory safety rule.

Standing at over 828 meters, this is the tallest building in the world. It opened in 2011 in downtown Dubai. Visitors can access observation decks on the upper floors for views of the city and the Persian Gulf. February offers some of the mildest weather of the year in Dubai. Temperatures are pleasant enough for walking outside, unlike the extreme heat of the summer months. The observation decks are expensive, and queues can be very long even if you book in advance. If the weather is hazy or dusty, the view from the top is significantly obscured. You will spend a lot of time waiting in line for elevators.

This historic port town in central Vietnam is famous for its preserved wooden houses and canals. The old town area is closed to motorized traffic for parts of the day, making it easy to explore on foot or by bicycle. February is a great time to visit because the rainy season has ended and the humidity is relatively low. The temperatures are warm but comfortable for walking through the streets during the day. The narrow streets get packed with tourists in the evenings when the paper lanterns are lit. Some historic houses charge entry fees, and the local shops can be aggressive with their sales pitches for custom clothing.

This massive waterfall on the Zambezi River sits on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is over 1,700 meters wide. David Livingstone named the falls after Queen Victoria in 1855. February marks the start of the high water season. The summer rains upstream begin to fill the river, causing a dramatic increase in the volume of water going over the edge. The spray from the falls is so intense during this period that it can completely block your view of the drop. You will get completely soaked if you walk along the viewpoints, so waterproof gear is essential. Some gorge activities like rafting are closed due to high water levels.

Spanning Sydney Harbour, this steel arch bridge connects the central business district with the North Shore. It carries trains, cars, bicycles, and pedestrians. It opened in 1932 and is nicknamed the Coathanger. February offers hot, sunny weather that is perfect for walking across the pedestrian path. The clear summer skies provide excellent views of the opera house and the harbor. Climbing the outer arch of the bridge is a popular activity, but it is very expensive. The climb can also feel physically demanding in the direct midday summer sun. If you just want the view, the free pedestrian walkway is often crowded with commuters.

This integrated resort features a large hotel, a convention centre, a luxury mall, and a casino. It is famous for its boat shaped sky park that sits across the top of three hotel towers. February is typically one of the drier months in Singapore. While it is always hot and humid here, you will face fewer heavy downpours than in December or January. The famous rooftop infinity pool is strictly reserved for hotel guests, which disappoints many day visitors. The observation deck is open to the public but requires a ticket, and the hotel itself is incredibly busy and can feel impersonal.

These twin 88 story skyscrapers in Kuala Lumpur stand 451.9 meters tall. They were the tallest buildings in the world from 1998 to 2004 and remain the tallest twin towers today. A two level skybridge connects them on the 41st and 42nd floors. February is a transition month with slightly less rainfall than the late autumn peak. The weather remains hot and humid, but indoor attractions like the towers provide excellent air conditioning. Ticket numbers for the skybridge and observation deck are limited each day. If you do not buy tickets in advance, you will likely miss out. The time slot you are assigned might also coincide with afternoon rain clouds, blocking your view.

Located in Rajasthan, this national park is bounded by the Banas and Chambal rivers. It is a major wildlife reserve known for its Bengal tiger population. The historic Ranthambore Fort sits inside the park boundaries. February is an ideal month for safaris here. The weather is cool in the mornings and pleasantly warm in the afternoon. The vegetation is starting to thin out, which makes spotting tigers and other wildlife much easier. Safari vehicles are noisy and must stay on designated tracks, which can feel restrictive. Tiger sightings are never guaranteed, and the park can feel crowded with many vehicles rushing toward the same spot when an animal is spotted.