The best beaches in February range from the pearly-white shores of the Caribbean to more far-flung destinations around the world.
Australia is home to hundreds of gorgeous beaches. In other parts of the world, look to destinations such as Thailand and Vietnam in Asia, or even Cyprus for a Mediterranean getaway in February.
An unspoiled shore in Barbados, a nature-filled coastline in the Galapagos, and a pristine white beach in New Zealand are among the best beaches in February that should be on your radar.
Blue Lagoon Island, Bahamas
Blue Lagoon Island, Bahamas
With its dreamy desert island aesthetic of coconut trees, luminescent waters, and chalk-white sand, the Bahamas’ Blue Lagoon evokes the image of a perfect tropical vacation. Blue Lagoon, or Salt Cay, as it’s also known, is located just three miles from Nassau.
Blue Lagoon Island, Bahamas
Sunbathe and collect seashells on the shoreline. Paddle in the clear water of the lagoon and snorkel in the coral reef to spot some of the island’s marine life, such as barracudas, crabs, and snappers.
There are clear-bottom kayaks, water bikes, paddleboards, and snorkel gear to play with, plus a floating water park with slides and climbing obstacles, making this one of the best beaches in February on which to relax.
Read: Best Beaches in & Around Nassau
Eagle Beach, Aruba
Eagle Beach, Aruba
Among the best beaches to visit in February is Aruba’s white-sand Eagle Beach. Unfurling for two miles on the island’s northwest coast, this shimmering spot is a short distance north of Oranjestad, Aruba’s capital.
Eagle Beach is known as the widest shore in Aruba, providing plenty of space for sandcastle building and sunbathing. There are sun loungers and parasols to rent, and watersports for thrill-seekers.
Eagle Beach, Aruba
Walk toward the north section of the Aruban beach, where you’ll find the two leaning fofoti trees, leaning to the ocean thanks to trade winds. Plenty of restaurants and bars line the beach serving local beers and tasty Caribbean cuisine.
Nature lovers should also tag on a trip to the nearby Bubali Bird Sanctuary. A short distance from Eagle Beach, this wetland reserve is home to around 80 bird species, including coots, egrets, and skimmers.
Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia
Bondi Beach, Sydney
Not only is Bondi one of the best beaches to visit in February, but it’s one of the most famous beaches in the world, known for its cool surf culture and golden crescent-shaped shoreline.
Pick up a coffee before heading for the sand, where you could join a surf class with Let’s Go Surfing. Lessons are available for all abilities for surfers aged seven and over, while sun worshipers can recline on the smooth sand, looking out for dolphins splashing on the horizon.
Bondi to Coogee Walk in Sydney, Australia
Another must-do in Sydney is the 3.7-mile Bondi to Coogee walk, which begins at the western tip of Bondi Beach, near Icebergs Swimming Club. The walk skirts the coastline, taking in the spectacular scenery of Tamarama Beach, Bronte Beach, Waverley Cemetery, and Clovelly Beach, before arriving at Coogee.
Magens Bay Beach, St. Thomas
Magens Bay Beach, St. Thomas
Magens Bay is a glorious beach in St. Thomas tucked deep into an inlet with cerulean waters in the northwest of the island. The sand here is luxuriously soft, lanked by some of the island’s lush rainforest.
There’s a hiking trail behind the beach that offers some fantastic lookouts across the bay. The clear water is beautifully calm, perfect for swimming and snorkeling in St. Thomas.
After soaking up the sea breeze, settle down at the laid-back Magens Point Bar and Grill for a post-beach lunch of loaded cheese fries, coconut shrimp, and chicken quesadilla.
Maya Bay, Phi Phi Islands National Park, Thailand
Maya Bay in Phi Phi Islands National Park, Thailand
With gleaming sand, turquoise water, and brightly-colored coral reefs, the beaches of Phi Phi Islands in Thailand are utterly compelling. Easily reached by ferry or speedboat from Phuket, Phi Phi’s shores are among the best beaches to visit in February, when the region experiences dry, hot weather and minimal rainfall.
Aim for Phi Phi Leh, the second-largest of the Phi Phi Islands, famous for its cinematic Maya Bay, where sheer limestone cliffs rise from both sides of a narrow cove. The bay is boat-free, allowing marine life to flourish, including black-tipped sharks that cruise the reef.
Maya Bay in Phi Phi Islands National Park, Thailand
You’ll need to plan your visit to Maya Bay, which is maintained by the Thai Department of National Parks, since beach visitor numbers are capped to protect the pristine environment. Pre-book a traditional longtail boat to marvel at the dramatic karst cliffs before snorkeling and swimming in the bay.
Maho Beach, St. Maarten
Maho Beach, St. Maarten
Maho Beach in St. Maarten lures travelers for its dramatic location, right next to the island’s Princess Juliana International Airport. Instead of palm trees, the airport’s runway lies behind the white beach, with jets taking off and landing almost within touching distance.
At Maho’s Sunset Bar & Grill, the airport’s arrivals schedule is listed on a surfboard so you can have your camera ready as the high-pitched roar of the next flight swoops in.
Oneroa Beach, Auckland, New Zealand
Oneroa Beach in Auckland, New Zealand
This crescent beach on the north shore of Waiheke Island is accessed via a scenic one-hour ferry ride from Auckland in New Zealand’s North Island.
Oneroa Beach is a tranquil spot with white sand and clear water that’s popular for sunbathing and swimming during summer, making February a perfect time to visit.
Little Oneroa Beach in Auckland, New Zealand
A rocky outcrop separates Little Oneroa Beach from the Big Beach, with the smaller section popular with families for its waterfront playground. When the tide is out, you can walk in and around the rocks, between the two beaches.
The Oyster Inn is a charming spot for lunchtime plates of shucked-to-order oysters and pan-seared octopus.
Before returning to Auckland, it’s worthwhile tagging on a visit to Owhanake Bay Estate, a 25-minute walk or short drive from the beach, to sample the estate’s award-winning Waiheke Island Syrah.
Bachas Beach, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos Islands
Bachas Beach in Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos Islands
On remote Santa Cruz Island, Bachas is one of the best beaches to visit in February to witness the Galapagos’ remarkable wildlife.
Lying on the island’s craggy north coast, Bachas Beach has fine white sand, punctuated by shape-shifting volcanic rock formations.
Marine iguana
Spot shell-pink flamingos feeding in the ponds close to this Galapagos beach, along with marine iguanas and a selection of coastal birds, such as mockingbirds, Darwin’s finches, and gulls, among the black and red mangroves and salt bushes surrounding the beach.
The Baths at Virgin Gorda, BVI
The Baths at Virgin Gorda, BVI
Known simply as The Baths, this rarefied spot in the southwest of idyllic Virgin Gorda is one of the most famous beaches in the Caribbean, scattered with 70-million-years-old volcanic boulders, some 40-foot wide.
Feel the sun warming your back as you swim in The Baths’ crystalline water. Visitors can also wander among the giant boulders, with a path leading through shallow tidal pools and caves to Devil’s Bay, on the very tip of Virgin Gorda.
Aphrodite’s Beach, Cyprus
Aphrodite’s Beach, Cyprus
Aphrodite’s Beach, named after the ancient Greek goddess of love, enjoys a prominent position in the southwest of Cyprus. This sunny spot is well-connected off the coastal road between Paphos and Limassol.
The centerpiece of the beach is Aphrodite’s Rock, a jagged sea stack at the tip of the beach. Here, according to legend, the goddess is believed to have emerged from the foam.
Around the rock, a pebbly beach is gently caressed by the Mediterranean Sea. The gin-clear waters tempt most travelers in, although in February the temperature can be brisk.
If you want to brave it, pack aqua shoes to splash in the shallow water or enjoy a soothing swim. But the beautiful setting is reason enough to visit Aphrodite’s Beach in February.
My Khe Beach, Da Nang, Vietnam
My Khe Beach in Da Nang, Vietnam
My Khe Beach is the ultimate exotic beach, stretching for roughly six miles along the coastline of Da Nang.
This pretty Vietnamese beach is characterized by its golden sand, blue waves, and line of coconut palms. Bathed in glorious sunshine, it’s one of the best beaches to visit in February, with a lovely promenade filled with cafés, restaurants, and ice cream parlors.
Relax on a sun lounger and enjoy refreshing sea swims as you gaze at the green mountains of the Son Tra Peninsula to the north.
Banh mi
Hungry? Order a banh mi from a beachfront vendor. This savory Vietnamese dish consists of a baguette loaded with tender meat (usually chicken), chili, cilantro, and tangy, pickled vegetables, such as cucumber, daikon, and carrots.
Bathsheba Beach, Barbados
Bathsheba Beach, Barbados
Lying on Barbados’ rugged east coast, this is a faraway shore with swaying palm trees, velvety sand, and dramatic rock formations in the fishing village of Bathsheba.
Though the ocean is not ideal for swimming because of the dangerous rip tides, it is perfect, if you know what you’re doing, for surfing in the Caribbean thanks to its wild Atlantic waves.
Bathsheba Beach, Barbados
There are shallow pools, however, where you can bathe. Known as the Bathsheba Pools, they’re carved into the beach, a few feet deep, and act as a natural whirlpool, with ocean waves splashing in.
While you’re here, Zaccios on the East is the perfect spot for tasty Caribbean seafood dishes of tuna tacos, grilled shrimp, and deep-fried calamari. Pizzas, salads, and sandwiches are also served, along with extra-cold Bajan beers and cocktails.
Mount Maunganui Beach, Tauranga, New Zealand
Mount Maunganui Beach in Tauranga, New Zealand
Mount Maunganui Beach is just 10 minutes from Tauranga, a coastal city that’s cradled in New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty on the North Island.
Mount Maunganui Beach has miles of ivory sand dotted with majestic emerald-green pine trees, with its namesake mountain looming 761 feet above the northern tip of the beach.
Mount Maunganui in Tauranga, New Zealand
Fuel yourself with a coffee from one of the promenade cafés before embarking on a hike to the summit of Mount Maunganui for mind-bending views of the Bay of Plenty. After, reward yourself by kicking back on this beautiful beach in New Zealand.
There is plenty of space to spread out on the sand and a surf school if you’d like to improve your skills on a board.
Playa Mia Grand Beach Park, Cozumel
Playa Mia Grand Beach Park, Cozumel
This picture-perfect spot on the west coast of Cozumel offers a beautiful stretch of beach with tropical palm trees that frame the shore.
Playa Mia Grand is one of Cozumel’s best beaches for families thanks to its array of watersports, an inflatable floating park, a water park with a twisting, 200-foot slide, and play areas. There are plenty of adventures to be found underwater, too, including a reconstructed lost Mayan city.
Playa Mia Grand Beach Park, Cozumel
Plan a day here and you’ll also get access to Playa Mia Grand’s open bar and fresh buffet lunch. There are sun loungers and parasols for relaxing, too.
To help maintain a healthier beach environment, Playa Mia Grand discourages the use of sunscreen and any kind of tanning lotions so it’s vital to wear protective UV-filtering swimwear and pack a sun hat, and shades.
Whitehaven Beach, Australia
Whitehaven Beach, Australia
One of the best beaches in February is Queensland’s Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island, lying within Australia’s extraordinary Great Barrier Reef.
Getting to Whitehaven is an easy boat ride from the Airlie Beach marina. The journey takes upwards of one hour and offers the chance to see dolphins and other marine life on the way.
Whitehaven Beach, Australia
Whitehaven Beach is one of the most beautiful places in Australia, unfolding more than four miles on the east of the island. Made up of mostly silica, Whitehaven Beach glows white, while the ocean is cerulean bright. In the shallow water, the two colors create sublime swirling patterns reminiscent of candy.
Explore the soft shore, dipping in and out of the water looking for stingrays, white-bellied turtles, baby lemon sharks, and blue soldier crabs. There are no facilities close to Whitehaven Beach, just a tangle of tropical bush, including climbing vines, ferns, cedar, and hoop pines.
Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman
Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman
This big-hitting beach on Grand Cayman offers serious eye candy thanks to its sugary sand and sparkling water. The beach is just a short distance north of GeorgeTown, Grand Cayman’s capital, and is lined with luxe hotels and restaurants.
Swim in the soft, warm waves, and try out a jet ski, paddleboard, or snorkel gear. Experience snorkeling in Grand Cayman and dip below the water’s surface to explore the treasure trove of ocean life, including stingrays and turtles.
After drying off, stop by Tillies, a chic waterfront restaurant, for conch fritters and a crispy snapper sandwich, served with thirst-quenching cocktails and the gentle rhythm of Calypso.
Beach in Grand Cayman
A warm-weather cruise is the perfect way to experience several best beaches in February. Discover Celebrity’s February cruises to far-flung locales for an unforgettable vacation.
