Deciding between Bilboa, Porto and Faro

I wouldn’t stay in Faro - it’s a regular, working city, but the gateway to the Algarve. The Algarve is all about the beaches and the golf and February isn’t likely to be the weather for either activity.

Porto is a great, compact city with several day trips being possible and good food and wine, which would be my choice.

Please note that the week you mention is half term holidays for many schools, so flights and accommodation maybe busier.

Faro on the south coast will most likely be dead in February. Porto and Bilbao are both cities that are perfect for a short visit. If warmer, I’d choose Porto with a boat trip up the Douro River. Of the three in February, I’d opt for Bilbao with a day trip to San Sebastián.

Also look at Tavira, Portugal. Close to Faro, which means cheap flights from Dublin. My sister was there last February and enjoyed it. Nice small historical town. But car needed for beach access. Porto would be colder, but a very interesting larger city.

We love Porto and the Douro River Valley.

The Algarve doesn't interest us. We live in Coastal Georgia, on an island with a beach and never go to the beach in Europe.

We do want to visit the Basque region some day.

I have spent the last two February/ Marches in Tavira. It was either too cold or too windy to be beachable. There is more to see in Porto.

Does the convenience of your flight carry any weight?

All three destinations have direct flights from Dublin, but at that time of year, they are inconvenient. And while they can be cheap, they are also scarce; one a day, leaving deplorably early in the morning, and not every day for Porto and Bilbao. Other more comfortable rides will take longer because a connection is involved.

This site is easy to use and covers European short-hop airlines: www.skyscanner.com

All three are on the Atlantic so could be chilly at that time of year. Southern Portugal serves some Europeans, especially the British, as the equivalent of Florida in the winter. My fave is Bilbao for its spectacular setting, food and major art museums as well as its early industrial revolution history.