lovexhappiness

Hi!
I went on my first European trip in March to Ireland and LOVED it. We did so much fun things from horse back riding in Killarney National Park, driving through (literally) the gap of Dunloe, experiencing their culture, staying in a castle, and so much more. (My favorite moment has to be when my now fiancée proposed at Ashford Castle.)

Anywho- we are wanting to plan our next trip in 2018. We plan on going February 9-18. Yes, we do know that this is the end of winter. However, we were advised that it would be too cold in Ireland and that we wouldn't enjoy ourselves as much. But going in the beginning of March was honestly wonderful. There were so many less tourists and it was a nice, calm feel. The only thing we missed out on due to fog was the cliffs of Moher; but we know we will be back so that's ok.

- Paris, France
- London, England
- Barcelona, Spain
- Glasgow, Scotland

Those are the destinations we are considering for our trip. Can anyone give me any information as to a certain destination they would go and why? Does one of these cities stand out for the best option for a February trip? We will be renting a car like we did for Ireland, which was probably one of the best decisions made.

Therefore, the major city is where we will spend the first 3 nights before going out to expand what the rest of the country has to offer before spending our last night back before heading to the airport.

bilboburgler

Well I'd choose London because there is so much to do indoors
and
Barcelona because the weather will be bearable

suec1

Barcelona has lots to do in city and then some areas nearby that could be good to explore by car. It will be very different (in a good way IMO) than Ireland.

My second choice would be Paris - again, just so different than Ireland and lots to do indoors when the wether is poor. They have outdoor cafes with the big propane heaters, you can enjoy the cafe culture even in Feb. That was where my HU and I went in Feb. on our first trip to Europe.

BigRuss

Barcelona. Better weather.

Glasgow will have all the disadvantages you've been told about Ireland.

ESW

A completely different suggestion - some years ago we spent a week in Cornwall in February. The daffodils and pussy willow were in flower and we loved it. It was also warm and sunny - the effects of the gulf stream. There were also very few other tourists around.

Judy

Wherever you choose (I'd go with Paris or Barcelona) save the city stay for last to avoid going back to fly out. One less stop and more efficient use of your time.

WoinParis

What about Lisbon ?

justineparis

You wont need a car for a stay in London , Paris , Barcelona etc.. unless you plan on venturing outside those cities for a few days.. In fact a car is a liability and expense you don't want at all in those cities..

I would choose London and Paris( taking the Eurostar in between , fast easy and cheap! if booked well in advance) .. because if weather is nice , you are lucky,, if not, no worries, theres still tons of things to see indoors .

I would not choose Glasgow.

Barcelona , we been twice , but for us its more about getting out of Barcelona and visiting smaller coastal towns. We took a bus to a place called Tossa De Mar and you would probably love it.. old castle ramparts on the hill overlooking the town, nice beach lined with seaside restaurants and bars, not a spring break atmosphere at all,, no sky scrappers.. etc.. HOWEVER.. dead as doornails till late April.. in fact the hotel we stayed at closes from November thru March.. as do many of the smaller family run ones.. so .. that's out for Feb.

So.. Paris and London.

Tons of cool daytrips you can do from both those cities by train.. Versailles, Chartres ,Rouen, Rheims, Fontainbleau, Provins, etc etc etc.. Bath, Stonehenge, Salisbury, Canterbury, Stratford on Avon, Oxford, etc etc..

KarenWoo

I suggest Barcelona because the weather will be nicer, and it's a great city! And there are awesome road trips starting from Barcelona, such as the Costa Brava.

Another great choice would be Paris, an awesome city with lots to do indoors if the weather is cold. Can do road trip through Loire Valley.

It's been a very long time since I was in London, but obviously there is lots to do indoors there, too. Never been to Glasgow.

dugi_otok

I would choose Paris.Fly into Paris.

https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-rea...me-to-go-local

Then I would take the TGV(High speed train) to Nice (French Riviera). Fly home from Nice.

This would be a great introduction to France and the European continent.You need to go to a country where English is not the native language.

PalenQ

If traveling around much and going to mainly large cities take the train as cars are useless and even a liability in many cities -like Italy where they are banned in most city centers-plus in February in northern/central Europe roads could always be dicey.

Anyway for trains and where to go by them check www.ricksteves.com;www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.seat61.com.

annhig

A completely different suggestion - some years ago we spent a week in Cornwall in February. The daffodils and pussy willow were in flower and we loved it. It was also warm and sunny - the effects of the gulf stream. There were also very few other tourists around.>>

yeh! if you're lucky with the weather it can be great. The daffs are in full bloom, the camellias and magnolias are at their best and the roads are relatively empty. But in the interests of full disclosure I have to say that it's not always warm and sunny in Feb in Cornwall.

Bedar

Paris, Paris, Paris !!!

lovexhappiness

Paris has been on our list for a long time.
I like that might be the one we are going to go with!
Anyone tell me the weather in February 2018?

Justineparis - I really like your idea. If we do the Eurostar, how does that work? (I've never used a train like that before) is it overnight? How long is it?

Thank you for all the answers!!

StCirq

Are you kidding? You think someone can predict next year's weather in Paris in February? Nuts. It will likely be gray and cold and possibly rainy. The days will be short. Same as in the rest of Western Europe. It could also be sunny and warm, as it was here in the SW of France for a lot of February. No guarantees.

The Eurostar takes about two hours. It's not overnight. Cheapest tickets are available 120 days in advance. You can google it.

thursdaysd

I would go to Nice or Lisbon, where I would have a better chance of warm weather. And somewhat longer daylight. I grew up in England, northern Europe is miserable in winter.

But if I had to pick one of those cities it would be London, because there is SO much to do indoors, much of it free. I would NOT rent a car, but with good weather I would day trip to Oxford or Cambridge.

Gardyloo

With the exception of Barcelona, which <i>might</i> have decent weather in February (and might not) your choices will all be damp, chilly to cold, and still wintry. If you want to stay indoors, hit museums and drink beer, tea or hot chocolate, then London or Paris.

Then again, if you want to get a car, see some wonderful sights, and have a much higher chance of decent weather and sunshine, then have a look at Andalusia in southern Spain.

Snaps from a trip we took to the area in late February a few years ago -

Vejer de la Frontera - http://gardyloo.us/wp-content/upload...120226_37s.jpg
Carnival preparation, Medina Sidonia - http://gardyloo.us/wp-content/upload...120227_71s.jpg
Roman ruins near Tarifa - http://gardyloo.us/wp-content/upload...120225_19s.jpg
Kite surfers, Tarifa - http://gardyloo.us/wp-content/upload...120228_17s.jpg

Fly into Seville, Gibraltar or Malaga, get a car and off you go.

Dogeared

"Anyone tell me the weather in February 2018?"

That's as bad as someone replying, "You wont need a car for a stay in London , Paris , Barcelona etc.. unless you plan on venturing outside those cities for a few days..", after the OP has written that that is exactly what they plan to do.

There is no shortage of dumb questions and they are only equalled by the number or dumb answers. LOL

Sometimes reading comments in a travel forum is quite entertaining. The weather question certainly made me read twice!

Lovexhappiness, I would pick the destination that was of most interest to ME based on MY interests. I wouldn't care where anyone else liked or didn't like a place or why they liked or didn't like it.

The question is, what do you want or expect to spend your time doing in whatever place you visit next February? The answer to that is what should help you decide where would be the best place for yo to do those things.

You list a choice of cities but when you describe your trip to Ireland, you make no mention of anything you did in a city. You write about what you did outside the cities.

Instead of listing places and particularly cities, list your interests and let people suggest where to go based on those interests.

If you wrote, 'horseback riding, driving through scenery, staying in castles or small villages', for example. How many people do you think would respond suggesting you go to Paris, London, Barcelona or Glasgow?

You also need to provide a budget. There is no point in anyone suggesting 10 days in an area that you can't afford. So you need a budget and what that has to include. ie. 5 star hotels or hostel dormitory rooms.

It's easy to ask a question but you have to put a bit more thought into asking intelligent questions for which you can expect to get relevant responses rather than just people writing about what THEY like. You want to know about what YOU would like.

RM67

I'm with Gardyloo - nowhere in Europe - except possibly the canaries - will have good weather that time of year, so your focus needs to be on cities that have plenty to do indoors. I would be almost more inclined to gear a trip toward somewhere that expects to be cold and damp so you will have lovely heartwarming stodgy food options, well heated accomodation and so on.

sassy27

I can tell you the weather I experienced in Paris years ago the last week in February beginning of March. It snowed. It wasn't a lot and melted real fast so was cold. I remember seeing the Eiffel tower with snowflakes all around. I also went to London one time the middle of February and swore never again. The cold damp wind went right through me when I visited Stonehenge. I live on the US East coast and swear that was the coldest I've ever been.

So, from your choices, I would choose Paris. Yeah it will probably be cold but not too bad. I also wouldn't suggest Glasgow. Scotland to me is always cold no matter what time of year and I like Edinburgh better to be honest unless you got a car and left Glasgow. I've never been to Barcelona but did Madrid in March once. It was cold and snowed which melted quick but I believe it's a higher altitude.