February is the month of contradictions. Venice is frozen fog and Carnival madness. The Dolomites have peak snow. And in Sicily, the almond trees start blooming — spring arrives two months early.
Plan this trip →Rome: 4–13°C, some rain but increasing sun. Milan: 1–8°C, still grey. Venice: 1–8°C, fog, acqua alta risk. Sicily: 6–15°C, almond blossoms from mid-Feb. Dolomites: -8 to 3°C, peak ski conditions.
Venice Carnival (2–3 weeks ending Shrove Tuesday): the world’s most photogenic festival. Elaborate masks, costumes, Piazza San Marco transformed. Hotels triple in price during Carnival week; book months ahead. Skiing: peak conditions in the Dolomites, Aosta Valley, Piedmont. Agrigento: Sagra del Mandorlo in Fiore (Almond Blossom Festival, first two weeks of February) — the Valle dei Templi surrounded by pink and white blossoms. Prices: outside Venice Carnival and ski resorts, February is still deep low season. Rome/Florence/Naples hotels: €60–110.
Venice Carnival: dates vary (2026: Feb 7–17 approximately). Sanremo Music Festival (Liguria): Italy’s Eurovision selection, first week of Feb, the entire country watches. Carnevale di Viareggio: giant satirical floats, Tuscany’s answer to Venice. Carnevale di Putignano (Puglia): oldest in Europe, paper-maché floats since 1394.