Europe in February might be deep winter across much of the continent, but it’s one of the most exciting months to travel for unique events and festivals in Europe. From world-famous Carnival celebrations in Venice and Nice to fiery Viking rituals in Scotland and citrus-filled street battles in northern Italy, Europe in February is defined by spectacle and tradition. It’s also one of the best times to see the Northern Lights across northern Europe. If you’re wondering where to go in Europe in February for cultural festivals, unusual experiences and winter travel inspiration, these are the best places to visit.

1.Venice Carnival, Italy

Venice Carnival by Helena Jankovičová Kováčová

February in Venice is Carnevale di Venezia, one of the most famous Carnival celebrations in Europe, when the lagoon city puts on a carnival programme that turns Venice into living masquerade of silk capes, powdered wigs and palazzi balls. By day, St Mark’s Square fills with elaborately costumed figures posing against Byzantine domes, and by night, masked revellers slip into frescoed salons for champagne-soaked soirées. It’s packed, but the decadence in the mist of winter makes it far more atmospheric than it is underneath the weight of the summer crowds.

2. Ivrea’s Battle of the Oranges, Italy

Forget polite parades, as in the Piedmont town of Ivrea, parading means a literal full-scale citrus war. Held over the final days of Carnevale in the run-up to Shrove Tuesday, the Battle of the Oranges sees nine teams in medieval dress hurl thousands of oranges at one another in a symbolic rebellion against tyranny. The tradition dates back to the 12th century and commemorates a local legend in which a miller’s daughter, Violetta, defied and killed a despotic ruler, triggering the town to burn down his castle. Today, the scent of citrus hangs in the air as the streets fill with flying fruit and red Phrygian caps (a symbol of liberty). FYI, there are many facial injuries each year — it’s probably best to observe Italy’s most unusual February festival from above.

3. Nice Carnival, France

On the Côte d’Azur it doesn’t feel like winter in Nice, as Nice’s Carnival (one of Europe’s oldest, dating back to 1294) takes over the city for two weeks in February, usually in the run-up to Lent. The floats make up the famous Bataille de Fleurs (Battle of the Flowers), flower parades that run along the Promenade des Anglais. Performers wear elaborate costumes as they toss mimosa, lilies and roses into cheering crowds, and with sunshine often lingering well into the afternoon, this is one of the warmest places to visit in Europe in February, a Riviera-bright alternative to colder winter destinations.

4. Up Helly Aa, Shetland, Scotland

Held annually on the last Tuesday of January (with related community events such as Nesting & Girlsta, Uyeasound in Unst, Northmavine, and Cullivoe all featuring torchlit processions and galley burnings. continuing into early February), Up Helly Aa transforms Shetland into a blaze of firelight. The modern festival dates back to the 19th century, evolving from older midwinter celebrations into a spectacular tribute to Shetland’s Norse heritage. After nightfall, hundreds of torch-bearing “Vikings” march through the streets before ceremonially setting a full-sized replica longship aflame, a farewell to Yule set against the darkness of the North Sea skies.

5. Almond Blossom Season, Mallorca, Spain

While much of Europe shivers, February in Mallorca signals the start of almond blossom season, as swathes of the Serra de Tramuntana — particularly around Valldemossa, Deià and Sóller — are dusted in pale pink and white. Inland, around Alaró and Santa Maria del Camí, orchards bloom with the rugged mountains as a backdrop, while the plains near Llucmajor and Santanyí are prime spots too, and a fair (Fira de la Flor d’Ametler) takes place in Son Servera on the first weekend of February. For easy views of the blossom, take the historic Ferrocarril de Sóller, a traditional wooden train which dates back to 1912, between Palma and Sóller (with a stop at Bunyola).

6. Northern Lights Across the Arctic Circle

February offers some of the clearest, crispest skies for aurora chasing across northern Europe. In Tromsø, Norway, the lights ripple above fjords, but equally compelling sightings can be found in Swedish Lapland around Abisko (famed for its “blue hole” of clear sky) and in Finland near Hankasalmi, Rovaniemi, Saariselkä and Levi. Further south, Iceland’s Thingvellir National Park and the remote Westfjords provide dramatic volcanic landscapes, while Scotland’s far north, from the Isle of Skye to Shetland, occasionally catches the elusive “Mirrie Dancers” on especially active nights.

7. Fête du Citron, Menton, France

Held annually from mid-February to early March, Menton’s Fête du Citron (Lemon Festival) has been brightening the French-Italian border since 1934. What began as a way to showcase the town’s famed citrus groves (once among the most prized in Europe thanks to Menton’s uniquely mild microclimate) has evolved into one of the Riviera’s most eccentric spectacles. Each year, more than 100 tonnes of lemons and oranges are used to create towering sculptures in the Jardins Biovès, while imaginative floats parade along the seafront in time.

Where to Go in Europe in February for Unique Festivals and Experiences