February is winter sun with a party pulse. The weather stays mild and largely dry on the south coasts, the almond trees blossom pink and white across the hills, and the islands' most spectacular event of the year — Carnival — explodes into life. It's a wonderful month to combine dependable sunshine with a taste of Canarian culture at full volume, whether you dive into the all-night street parties or simply enjoy the buzz from the sidelines.
February at a glance
| Typical February | |
|---|---|
| Daytime high (south coasts) | Around 20–22 °C |
| Overnight low | Around 14–15 °C |
| Sea temperature | Around 18–19 °C (coolest stretch of the year) |
| Rainfall | Low on the south; a little more in the north |
| Crowds & prices | Steady; big spikes in the Carnival host cities |
The weather: mild, bright, and blossoming
February feels much like January — mild, sunny south-coast days in the low twenties, cooler and cloudier in the north. The lengthening daylight is noticeable, and the islands look their greenest after the winter rains. Up in the mid-hills, the almond trees come into blossom, blanketing places like Tejeda on Gran Canaria and the slopes around Vilaflor on Tenerife in delicate pink and white. Nights are still cool, so keep a jacket handy, and remember the mountains stay properly cold — see our weather guide for how the microclimates work.
The sea & swimming
Along with late winter, February brings the coolest Atlantic of the year. It's bracing rather than cold, and the committed still swim from sheltered south-facing beaches like Maspalomas and Playa del Duque, where the sun warms the shallows. Most visitors save their proper swimming for the (widely heated) pools and enjoy the beaches for sunbathing and long walks. If a warm sea is essential to your trip, the autumn months are a far better bet.
What's on: Carnival begins
February is Carnival month — the islands' biggest, wildest celebration and, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, one of the largest carnivals on earth. Expect elaborate feathered costumes, thunderous drums and brass, drag galas, the crowning of the Carnival Queen, and street parties that run until dawn. Each island and town has its own version and its own dates, which shift each year with the calendar and can run into early March. The two headline events are unmissable spectacles — read our guides to Carnival in Tenerife and Carnival in Las Palmas to plan around the big nights, and see festivals and carnival for the wider picture.
If you're heading to a Carnival host city, book accommodation early and expect higher prices and packed streets on the main parade nights. Prefer peace and quiet? Base yourself away from Santa Cruz and Las Palmas that fortnight — the south-coast beach resorts stay relatively calm.
Crowds & prices
Outside the Carnival cities, February is a fairly relaxed, good-value winter month — quieter than the Christmas peak, with plenty of long-stay visitors and steady, sensible prices. In and around the host cities during Carnival week, though, demand surges and rooms fill fast. The trick is to decide which experience you want and book accordingly.
Best islands & things to do
For the full Carnival experience, Tenerife and Gran Canaria are the places to be. For quiet winter sun instead, the flat, dependable islands shine: Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are sunny almost everywhere, ideal for beach days at Corralejo's dunes or Papagayo. The clear, cool air is perfect for hiking among the almond blossom, for touring Timanfaya, and for whale watching off southern Tenerife. La Palma's dark skies make February a top month for stargazing too.
Who February suits
February is brilliant for culture-lovers and party-goers drawn by Carnival, for walkers who want cool green trails and blossom, and for winter-sun seekers happy to swap warm-sea swimming for reliable sunshine. It suits couples and groups after a lively night out just as well as long-stay retirees after peace — you simply pick your base. Weigh it against the rest of the calendar in our best time to visit guide, or look ahead to March, when spring arrives and Carnival reaches its finale.