Half term
February half term ski holidays 2027: who else is on holiday, and where it is quieter
Half term is the most expensive week of the ski season for British families, and in 2027 it collides with school holidays across half of Europe. We have put the February school holidays side by side so you can see which resorts will be full, and where it is quieter.
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In short: February half term 2027
England: most councils have half term from Monday 15 to Friday 19 February 2027. Some take 8 to 12 February.
Wales: 8 to 12 February. Edinburgh: 15 to 19 February. Northern Ireland: 11 and 12 February.
The same week abroad: large parts of France and western Austria are also on holiday, so the Alps will be busy.
Quieter: Norway, where Oslo's winter holiday is the week after, 22 to 26 February.
Our first choice: Check availability and prices at Skarsnuten Mountain Resort & Spa in Hemsedal
Check your own school's dates before you book. Councils and academies in England set their own calendars, and Scottish councils vary.
Who is on holiday in February 2027?
France, zone C (Paris, Toulouse, Montpellier): 6 to 22 February.
France, zone A (Lyon, Grenoble, Bordeaux): 13 February to 1 March.
France, zone B (Marseille, Nice, Lille and others): 20 February to 8 March.
Austria, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Salzburg, Upper Austria and Styria: 15 to 20 February.
Austria, Burgenland and Carinthia: 8 to 13 February. Vienna and Lower Austria: 1 to 6 February.
Germany, Bavaria: 8 to 12 February. North Rhine-Westphalia and Hesse have no February winter holiday.
Netherlands, south: 13 to 21 February. North and central: 20 to 28 February.
Norway, Oslo: 22 to 26 February.
What this means for English half term (15 to 19 February): in the French Alps, Paris and Lyon families are both on holiday that week. In Tyrol, Vorarlberg and Salzburg the local schools are off too. St Anton, Ischgl, Mayrhofen and the big French resorts will be at their busiest. In Norway, by contrast, Oslo families are still at school.
For Welsh half term (8 to 12 February): you overlap with Bavaria, Carinthia and Paris, which makes the Austrian resorts closest to Munich busier at weekends.
Why Norway works for half term
Hemsedal and Trysil are two of Norway's biggest ski resorts, with reliable snow in February and long, quiet pistes. In the week of English half term, Oslo's schools are still open, so you avoid the busiest week of the Norwegian season. Ski instructors teach in English, and the ski schools are used to families.
Getting there: fly to Oslo from one of several UK airports. Hemsedal and Trysil are each about three hours from Oslo Airport by road, with transfer buses in winter. In mid-February there are around nine hours of daylight.
The trade-off: Norway is not cheap on the mountain, and the après-ski is quieter than in the Alps. For families with younger children, that is often the point.
Flight and hotel together: See flight and hotel packages to Hemsedal from UK airports
Where to stay
Skarsnuten Mountain Resort & Spa, Hemsedal
A ski-in, ski-out hotel high above Hemsedal, with a spa, two restaurants and a free breakfast buffet. The pool looks out over the mountains. Guests rate it 9.2 out of 10 across more than 300 reviews on Expedia.
Check availability and prices at Skarsnuten Mountain Resort & Spa
Fyri Resort Hemsedal
A big family hotel with ski-in, ski-out access by Hemsedal ski centre, an indoor pool, a games room and two bars. Guests rate it 9.0 out of 10 across more than 700 reviews.
Check availability and prices at Fyri Resort Hemsedal
Radisson Blu Resort Trysil
A family resort by the slopes in Trysil, with ski-in, ski-out access, a spa, a bowling alley, an indoor pool and four restaurants. Guests rate it 8.8 out of 10 across more than 1,000 reviews.
The indoor pool at Fyri Resort, by Hemsedal ski centre
The indoor pool at Radisson Blu Resort Trysil
Our recommendation
Skarsnuten Mountain Resort & Spa: half term above Hemsedal
Skarsnuten is a ski-in, ski-out hotel high above Hemsedal, with a spa and a pool facing the mountains. In English half term week Oslo's schools are still open, so the slopes are quieter than they will be a week later.
What Picolo would choose
What Picolo would choose: Skarsnuten in Hemsedal for a quiet half term with a spa, Fyri Resort for families who want a pool and space. For the most facilities for children, choose Radisson Blu Resort Trysil.
Why: in the week of English half term, Norway's capital is still at school while the Alps fill up with French, Austrian and Dutch families as well as British ones.
The trade-off: Norway costs more on the mountain and the après-ski is calmer. If you want the Alps, book early and choose a high resort for snow, and expect queues at the lifts.
Frequently asked questions
When is February half term 2027?
In most of England, February half term 2027 runs from Monday 15 to Friday 19 February. Some councils take 8 to 12 February instead. Wales has half term from 8 to 12 February, Edinburgh from 15 to 19 February and Northern Ireland on 11 and 12 February. Always check your own school's calendar before booking.
Is February half term a busy time to ski?
Yes, it is the busiest week of the season for British families. In 2027 it overlaps with school holidays in large parts of France and western Austria, including Tyrol and Salzburg. Expect full resorts and lift queues in the Alps. Norway is quieter that week, because Oslo's winter holiday is the week after.
Which ski resorts are quietest at February half term 2027?
Norwegian resorts such as Hemsedal and Trysil are a good bet, as Oslo's schools are open that week. In the Alps, resorts that rely on French and Austrian families will be busiest. If you must ski in the Alps, choose a resort with a large lift system and go out early in the morning.
How do you get to Hemsedal from the UK?
Fly to Oslo from one of several UK airports and take a transfer bus or hire car to Hemsedal, which is about three hours from Oslo Airport by road. Trysil is about the same distance. Many hotels and package holidays include transfers in winter, so check before you book a car.
When should you book a February half term ski holiday?
Book as early as you can, ideally before Christmas. Half term is the most expensive and most popular week of the season, and family rooms and ski-in, ski-out hotels sell out first. Choose a rate with free cancellation, and confirm your school's dates before you pay a deposit.
Sources
UK half term dates come from cognito.org, based on council calendars. Other countries' school holidays come from Onisep (France), oesterreich.gv.at (Austria), kalenderpedia.de (Germany), government.nl (Netherlands) and the City of Oslo. Hotel ratings come from Expedia. Last checked: 2 November 2026.
Have a nice trip to York
Picolo Editorial