Weekend away in Prague in January. It's snowing.

[Catbrations]

I am due to do for a weekend away next week to Prague. It's currently snowing there. I don't know if the snow will continue into next week or not.

I don't know what to plan or pack for the cold.

I have a merino base layer long sleeved top. My plan is to wear this under cotton dresses. Wear cotton leggings and leg warmers and wool socks.

I have an alpaca cardigan.

I have a wool highlander shawl. Not this exact one but one I knit myself.

I have my jacket that is like a softshell jacket.

Would that be too many layers?

Should I plan a lighter jacket perhaps so that I can just layer all of these bits instead of my heavier softshell jacket?

I have no idea what to plan and pack.

Any ideas? Anyone been there or been to a cold place in Europe recently? What do you wear?

Even if the snow clears it will still be very very cold. Boots, base layers, jeans and a jumper/fleece plus proper winter coat with hat/gloves/scarves is needed.
You mentioned a shell jacket - I don’t think that’s going to be warm enough. On very cold days in places like Prague I’ve worn a liner jacket under my main coat
Ditch the cardigan and shawl and get good jumpers and thermals. You could possibly wear leggings if you wear thermal tights and thermal leggings underneath but then I’d prefer to wear jeans with one base layer under them.

She is.

That’s nowhere near enough - cotton will be practically useless in the cold. You need proper winter clothes - merino base layers, thermal
leggings, insulated jackets etc.

???

Was just answering that other posters question.

Not sure of the relevance to be honest. Should have added that when I replied.

From living in Oslo, Helsinki and Copenhagen: layer up, including decent base layers and clothing designed for the weather. Things like fleeces are really useful. It's easier to take a layer off (and warmth gets trapped between the layers to help insulate) to regulate temperature. PLUS inside tends to be very well heated. Looking at the forecast, what you suggest wouldn't be good enough there today, but would mid-week

Depends on the temperature a bit, but you can never go wrong with layers, decent waterproof warm boots and a decent wind and waterproof thermal coat. Proper hat, decent gloves (not those stupid thin magic ones). Make sure your core is warm. Avoid jeans as they take forever to dry.

There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.

The most important item will be your footwear .Warm boots with a thick non slip sole .Sometimes it may not be snowing but there will be icy patches from previous snow falls and also grit which makes walking with thin soles quite uncomfortable .

I was just being nosey to see what the hair washing was about :) I found the hair washing post when I searched:)

What’s the hair washing about?

I was trying to figure out a hair care routine while away. Do I wash at home and bring dry shampoo or do I get a blow dry at home or try and get one while away. Do I bring a travel hairdryer or use the hotels hair dryer, etc. I was trying to figure it out but I think I know what I will be doing now with my hair.

It depends on how many days you’re going to be away for
I was and style my hair the day of travel and then, depending on the weather and what activities we’ve done, I’ll wash it every couple of days

Eastern Europe in Winter. Layers are required. A hat, scarf and gloves. You can take them off but if you don't have them you will suffer.

Have you had a look at the weather forecast? Right now for instance it says -7 feels like -12 and the high for today will be -4.

You need more than thermals and leggings on the bottom or you’ll be frozen!

I love to travel in Winter & over the past 6 years i've been to Prague, Budapest & Lljublana & Copenhagen, Berlin, Gothenburg & Riga in the cold months of December & January

We has snow in Gothenburg & Riga those years but i still think early Jan Berlin felt colder. It was FREEZING

Some trips i wore warm wool coat & big scarf & hat & gloves with fairly normal clothes - wool roll neck, cords / velvet jeans, warm socks & boots

But Jan 2023 I was in Berlin & the forecast was bad so i bought a duckdown puffa jacket & cashmere beanie hat & gloves in COS & i layered with cashmere roll neck. I wore thick fabric, but regular (not outdoor) trousers, wool socks & laced leather ankle boots & i was warm & toasty & felt v appropriately dressed

I use that jacket & hat mainly now for all cold weather trips & its served me well in Gothenburg, Riga, back to Berlin twice etc it was a good investment

I think you will be cold in a dress & leggings @Catbrations

And layers are important as all indoor places are v well heated so you'll be burning up in cafes / restaurants / bars etc

Prague is totally fabulous & i hope you have a wonderful time

Can I hijack with a question please, to all those with cold city experience. When it's really cold - below -5 for example - what are people wearing on their lower bodies inside cafes and museums etc?

I'm going on a trip soon to Copenhagen then into Lapland, so will be prepared for -30. I've got loads of suitable layers, but I can't quite visualise how you manage to go from being outdoors with three layers on your legs, possibly one of them being padded ski trousers, into a cafe heated to boiling point. Do people take their trousers off?

I wouldn't wear ski trousers in -5, you'd boil.

Thermal leggings or tights, plus jeans or another pair of leggings over the top would be fine. I was working outdoors in -6 last week and that's all I have on my legs. That, plus winter boots and a long coat is all you need.

Thanks, that's helpful to keep perspective - but we will be in Lapland, and it has been -30 recently. Same question still applies if anyone can help?

In Lapland I would just wear the thermals plus your ski pants. They're surprisingly warm. You could always add an extra layer underneath if you needed.

I’m envious OP, I spent one Christmas in Prague many years ago and it was magical, but so so cold! Where I grew up we had cold winters (several feet of snow and subzero temps weren’t uncommon) but Prague was next level, my eyelashes were always wet from my breath condensing on my face.
Merino base layers are very useful and need minimal laundering. I love a down gilet as an extra layer, preferably under a down coat.

Change your flights to May and you can wear your cotton dresses. 😊

I went to Prague in December a few years ago, it will be freezing. Echo the others you need proper winter clothes - down jacket etc, not a shawl and a soft shell

You need proper winder coat - a soft shell jacket? No way will that keep you warm enough.

*winter

Btw Decathlon is good for cheap cold weather/ski wear or get on Vinted quick and ask if they can post it asap.

I do understand that places like Prague and others can be magical for the Christmas Markets, but there's no way I'd go to Eastern Europe until at least April or May. Yes, I know some love it in the Winter, but honestly the kit out for it sounds a pain in the butt and Ryanair will not be pleased with the size of the bag I'd need for all those layers!

Southern Europe in Winter, Eastern and Northern Europe in late Spring and Autumn (I avoid the ankle biters in the school hols ha ha). That's my routine usually. Much easier to pack normally I think.