Worldwide - Not everyone would think of doing winter sports during their winter vacation. In fact, the majority pursue their usual vacation interests. And there are also suitable destinations for these in February . For some countries, this travel month is almost an obvious choice.

At this time of year, the Caribbean in particular is a bathing paradise - the best destinations are Jamaica, Costa Rica, Cuba and the Dominican Republic. The sun is still a long way behind the equator, so temperatures usually remain below 30 degrees Celsius. With a water temperature of 27 degrees, you can enjoy an average of eight hours of sunshine a day. It is the dry season and the hurricane season is still a long way off.

The Philippines, Bali and various coastal regions of Thailand (such as Krabi or Phuket) are also recommended for a beach vacation.

It is widely known that the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands and Madeira are excellent hiking destinations. But in February in particular, lovers of lace-up leather shoes have several advantages here. It's low season and people don't step on each other's toes. Prices are also cheaper. With plenty of sunshine, temperatures remain at a moderate 16 to 20 degrees.

Madeira lives up to its reputation as the "island of eternal spring", especially in February and March. And on Mallorca, the almond blossom begins now - the island is bathed in soft pink hues over a wide area.

Tanzania: In February, 8000 wildebeest are born every day in the southern Serengeti - and defended from predators. Local guides lead you to this natural spectacle. The great migration begins shortly afterwards.

Kenya: The Masai Mara nature reserve is currently being populated by millions of migratory birds - hundreds of species in a very small space.

Seychelles: The main mating season of the approximately 100,000 Aldabra giant tortoises is taking place - they are not hiding.

Dominican Republic: Thousands of humpback whales cavort in the Caribbean. They also let you swim around them.

Because the Red Sea in Egypt has a temperature of 22 degrees and is largely calm, the best conditions for a dive to the coral reefs begin in February. The colorful sea creatures are particularly active when visibility is clear.

Off the west coast of Thailand, when the sea is calm, you have the perfect opportunity to observe the majestic whale sharks. They are often accompanied by pike and large groupers. Due to the dry season, visibility is clear, so you may also encounter manta rays.

While you definitely don't want to pedal there in the height of summer, Spain and Portugal are very popular with cyclists right now - even the pros train here before the big tours.

And many southern European islands are visited by cyclists in February: Cyprus, Crete, Sardinia, Ibiza and Gran Canaria. Thanks to its uniquely mild microclimate, Italy's Lake Garda, with its fantastic "hanging cycle path", is also already appealing.

And in the north of the cycling country Vietnam, the best conditions prevail in February. At around 20 degrees, it is pleasantly warm and dry.

In Europe, the Canary Islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are currently ideal for surfers. Gran Canaria and Tenerife are less famous as surfers' paradises and therefore less visited. In Madeira, you should be an advanced surfer, as there are "big waves" here at this time of year.

In Hawaii, the birthplace of surfing, this is just the last month before a longer lull. Meanwhile, the season lasts a few weeks longer in Costa Rica. The bigger and more consistent waves can be found on the Pacific side of the country.

Finally, a counterpoint to the warm escape options: If you miss a really crisp winter due to climate change, you can still find it in Finland. It's cold and snowy. The days are slowly getting longer again and the nights are lit up more often by the northern lights.

A ride on a husky sled through the winter landscape is something you won't soon forget. Nor will you forget that a night in a snow igloo doesn't have to be cold at all. You can walk across frozen lakes to small islands that are only accessible by boat in summer. Or you can hire an e-scooter. And there is hardly any accommodation where the sauna is not fired up in the evening.