Is February mid-term a full week for primary schools?
Not by default. Under the standardised school year, post-primary schools close for the full week, Monday 15 to Friday 19 February 2027, but primary schools only have to close on Thursday 18 and Friday 19 February.
Primary schools have a small number of discretionary days each year, and many use them to close on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday as well, so the whole family is off together. Whether yours does is up to the school, and many publish their calendar at the start of the year. Ask before you book anything that needs the full week.
If you have a child at each level and the primary school does not take the full week, the long weekend from Thursday 18 to Sunday 21 February is the trip that fits everyone. The fares on this page start from Friday 12 February, so they cover both.
Where is warm in February from Ireland?
February is the coldest stretch of the year almost everywhere Ryanair flies from Ireland. Only the Canary Islands average daytime highs of 21°C or more, which is the line we use for calling somewhere a sun holiday. Madeira, Cyprus, Malaga and the Algarve are pleasant for walking in the sun but not for the beach.
| Destination | Average high | Warm enough for the beach |
|---|---|---|
| Tenerife South TFS | 22°C | Beach weather |
| Lanzarote ACE | 22°C | Beach weather |
| Fuerteventura FUE | 22°C | Beach weather |
| Gran Canaria LPA | 21°C | Beach weather |
| Madeira FNC | 19°C | Mild, not beach |
| Malaga, Costa del Sol AGP | 18°C | Mild, not beach |
| Paphos, Cyprus PFO | 17°C | Mild, not beach |
| Faro, Algarve FAO | 17°C | Mild, not beach |
| Malta MLA | 16°C | Mild, not beach |
Those are long-run averages, not a forecast, and the Atlantic is cool in February even in the Canaries. Some hotels heat their pools and some do not, so check when you book.
What families do with the February mid-term
- A week of winter sun in the Canaries, flying out on Friday 12 or Saturday 13 February and home on Saturday 20 or Sunday 21 February.
- A ski week. February mid-term is the classic Irish ski week. Ski holidays are mostly sold as packages with transfers and lift passes, so an agent can price the whole trip in one go.
- A city break of three or four nights. It suits a long weekend when primary schools only close on Thursday and Friday.
- Staying near home. If the fares for the week look high, the St Brigid’s Day weekend, Saturday 30 January to Monday 1 February 2027, is a long weekend without the mid-term rush.
Booking February mid-term flights: what to check
- Confirm your primary school’s dates first. A full week booked against a two-day closure means three days out of school.
- Price the whole family. The fares on this page are per person and return; multiply them out before comparing.
- The cheapest Ryanair fare covers one small bag that fits under the seat. A 10kg cabin bag and checked bags cost extra with Ryanair. For a family, bags can add a lot to the total, so price them before you compare destinations.
- Look at the “% of normal” column. It compares each route with the same trip two weeks earlier, so it shows which destinations the mid-term is pushing up most.
- Check passports, especially children’s, well before February.
If the fares are not where you want them, set up Fare Watch and we will email you when a February mid-term fare from your airport drops.