I’ve messed up with the holiday I’ve booked

[SoEasyToFallInLove]

I had a week of annual leave to use before April. I did some research and booked a week to be split between Oslo and Copenhagen at the end of February/beginning of March. Everything I had found said that temperatures at this time were around -5° to 2°C. I figured I could cope with that.

I’ve now found a lot of discussion online that says that last year it was regularly -30° in Oslo in February. It’s a bit luck of the draw but apparently it can stay below freezing until the end of March.

What do I do? I’ve paid for everything and it’s non refundable but if it’s that cold I’ll literally just be sat in a hotel room all day. Do I go and hope for the best or just cancel and use my leave another way?

What was it that appeals to you to go there in February? It’s the coldest months and low season so things like Tivoli gardens aren’t open. It can get below -5C in Copenhagen too in February though less common. Days are very short. If there are things you want to see and do that are good in February then I’d still go and make sure you take base layers and warm outer layers. Good clothes will make a huge difference.

Just go and take your chances but, take stuff so you are prepared for the cold. To me anything below 8 I’m wrapped like an Eskimo so you’ll be warm anyway. What’s the saying ? 'there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing'

I didn’t really have a lot of choice. I had to use up the leave by April and everything online told me by the end of Feb/beginning of March it wouldn’t be that bad.

Put a coat on.

Also I’m not too interested in the Tivoli gardens, theme parks aren’t my thing at all 😅

Weather varies - I went to Helsinki in February and the snow was melting as it was 5 degrees

Of course you had choice, there’s so many places to go over winter. It depends what appeals to you, what are you hoping to see and do there?

How do you think the locals cope they do things? I dont see why you would cancel

Well you had choice in the destination though...

I went to Stockholm in December and it was baltic as we say in Scotland but I loved it. Just get yourself properly wrapped up.

My top tip is to take a set of thermals (Lidl will get them in at some point) and a thinsulate hat plus decent gloves, have a waterproof, windproof coat and you can face anything

My goal is just really to be there - in Oslo I’d like to go to one of the saunas on the fjord, the museums and the food.

Can it really be that cold?? I went to Iceland in January and it wasn't that cold - it was fucking cold though at -11 but it was lovely and totally manageable with thermal layers outdoors and lots of lovely heating inside.

Well I don’t know about Oslo but we went to Copenhagen one February because we were there for my DPs birthday. It was cold sure but nothing a hat/scarf/warm boots didn’t solve. Copenhagen was busy with tourists and also people going about their business from what I recall.

Why on earth would you need to sit in your hotel room the whole time?

Get on vinted for thermals, ski-jacket and fur lined books. Buy decent hat and gloves. Enjoy it.

Also a coat. I would recommend a warm coat.

im looking around for a coat but obviously don’t want something I can’t use again in the UK!

I went to Helsinki in January when it was close to those temperatures and had a brilliant time. I had a wooly (actual wool) hat, a decent insulated coat, merino thermals under my hiking trousers, and woolen layers. Also wool gloves and a merino buff so I wasn't breathing the cold air directly.

This year I was in oslo in early March and there was still a lot of snow. It made Ekeberg park a bit of a trek. We had Yak trax on our boots and hiking poles.

Much more fun than staying in the hotel though. The galleries and museums are brilliant. The one slightly scary thing was walking down from the opera house roof as it thawed and froze into black ice, so maybe don't do that. Do have a look to see what's on at the opera though- it's a gorgeous opera house.

I got a didkiksons coat on vinted for about £40

Dress for the weather and sell on after your trip

Sounds fine, the museams and food will be inside and the sauna should be warm enough! Just bring warm clothes.

I've been in -24C cold in Canada, and yes it was bitter but people still got out & about. At that temperature, the air is very dry, so you don't get the damp chill of -3 or -4 which we all know so well. It's actually quite bracing - the air gets very clear and the stars go all bright.

But that level of cold was uncommon. You might get lucky. Check the weather forecast before you go, and if there's a cold snap, make sure you have thermal tights to wear under your trousers.

Boots are something you could look into renting while you're there? I doubt UK ones would be warm enough.

As I said I can’t speak for Oslo but I didn’t buy anything special for going to Copenhagen. Just dressed warmly like you would do here it it was really cold. I just wore my Uniqlo puffer jacket and my usual boots with warm socks and a long sleeved top under my jumper. It was just very normal - I even bumped into a colleague I used to work with in Glasgow who was also just wearing a coat and scarf. It’ll be fine!

I went to Copenhagen February 2025, it was no colder than the UK

I’m definitely going to get thermals - I’m looking at the Uniqlo heattech range.

I was going to take my regatta walking shoes and pair them with thermal wool socks. They’re waterproof and sturdy, and really well broken in, but I’m guessing those won’t be enough?

I was also planning to layer (of course), and get a thin light down coat to go underneath my long M&S raincoat. Again is this just a stupid idea?