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?

I used to camp at -23°C after riding out to the mountains on a motorbike in my wild youth with no heating equipment.

Being in a city with ambient outdoor temps of -30°C going from heated cafe to heated restaurant to heated museum to heated taxi requires nothing more than a decent coat, thin base layer, hat and gloves. You'll be toasty.

Uniqlo do thin down jackets and gilets you can wear under your coat. I have actually been to northern china in winter where it was very cold. -30 at night and -17 during the day was the coldest I think it got. I’d recommend a snood to keep your face warm if it’s windy but yes what you’re suggesting sounds fine. Layers is key! When you’re walking around you will feel fine.

I live in Stockholm but am from the north of Sweden and I can cope fine with minus 20, but at minus 30 people don't really spend a lot of time outdoors. I used to live in the UK and because it's so humid there it feels a lot colder at much lower temperatures. I remember it being minus 10 in the UK and it felt colder than minus 20 in Sweden.

The coldest temperature measured in Oslo is minus 29 and that was in 1841, a more normal winter temperature is somewhere between minus 5 and minus 10. I don't think you need to worry.

Walking shoes will be fine but layer up on socks, one thin thermal and a heavier pair over the top. You can also get fleece lined walking trousers which are really warm over some thermal leggings. Two pair of gloves too - just layer up.

I also don't think you need to worry about it being too dark. At that time of year they have around 10 hours a day of daylight, roughly the same as London.

I love the idea of curling up with hot chocolate and fur lined books!

Why would be stuck in a hotel room if it's cold? That makes zero sense. Get warm clothes on and enjoy your holiday 🤨

I went to Oslo a few years ago in February and it was nowhere near that cold. I guess it's like any other weather risk - you go somewhere, it might pour with rain all week or be unusually hot. Try to plan your wardrobe, and have a list of indoor attractions up your sleeve (Oslo has fantastic museums, not been to Copenhagen).

Have a great holiday. I love the nordic counties!

I was going to go for thermals under jeans, which is what I’d do here if it was chilly. But I’m guessing that’s not going to be a good idea!

Just make sure you have good thermal layers and warm socks and plan some indoor activities.

Museums are likely to have lockers or similar where you can leave all your outdoor gear while you look round. They might make you wear shoes protectors indoors if it’s snowy outside.

If you are planning walking outdoors for long before or after it gets dark, make sure to get thick mittens to go over your normal gloves, and aluminium insoles, that won’t cost much but will make a difference.

If you have a limited budget, prioritise your boots, make sure you get insulated waterproof ones. If your feet are toasty warm and dry, it makes a big difference to the rest of your body ime.

I think that will be absolutely fine!

My husband and I went to Copenhagen in Jan as students. We didn’t have any high tech warm wear. Yes it was cold outside but there was lots to do inside. Tivoli was shut ok but lots of other stuff to wander round. Don’t overthink it and def don’t cancel!

There's plenty to do and because theyre cities you don't have to be outside long. I doubt theyd get that cold too tbh, its a rarity.

There are buses and subways so you hop between warm place to warm place. If you're wrapped up warm no reason not to enjoy a warm cinnamon bolle and coffee then hop on the bus to a museum etc. Or a quick ride on the metro to the nordmarka and see a snowy forest and the view for as long as you want to be out in the cold (Oslo).

Oof jeans in cold weather even with thermals makes me feel cold and if there's any moisture not ideal. I wore thermal leggings and hiking boots with thick thermal socks when I went to Oslo in December, and a down puffer, was nice and warm.

I thought you had to wear thermals underneath something though to keep you warm? I have looked at some other trousers, and there’s some corduroy ones on M&S that look cosy but I’m not sure I’d wear them again!

OP I go regulary to Norway in Feb as it's my wedding anniversary and we have a business there, we are up further though in the Artic circle. its fine, cold and beautiful but fine.
Look at merino under layers and socks warm but not sweaty, thick soled boots with tread ( acts as a layer between the cold floor) hat, gloves and scarf again merino.
I wear fitted thermal ski trousers over my base and a down filled jacket, layers are your friend as you can take them off as and when needed. I rarely get really cold whilst out and if indoors the Norwegian home/hotels/ cafes etc are toasty.

I’m quite used to those temperatures. You just need thermal hat, gloves, socks and under garments. It’s absolutely fine.

I’ve been to Oslo in Feb. It’s really cold but you can still get out and about and the added bonus of the ski slope a short bus ride away. Lots of lovely cafes in the city to hang out in and warm meals at night it’s lovely. Just wrap up warm.

As the old saying goes, there’s no such thing as bad weather just poor outfit choices.

You’re a whole holiday deep now. Invest in some decent cold weather gear & enjoy yourself.

It won't be that cold and it won't be dark either - the equinox is in March so it will only be a little bit darker than England at that time of year.
I took my mum to Copenhagen in December once and went to Oslo in Feb once and both were absolutely fine. Take a coat and good boots/hat/scarf.

Pack a hot bottle! I went to Helsinki at this time once and it was -5. Never taken a hot water bottle in holiday before but it was the best thing I did. Nothing stops you carrying around in the day time either I guess.

Be prepared that food/drinks is extremely expensive so unless you can afford it, don't plan on stopping for coffee every couple of hours to warm up. I would have bankrupted myself!

For anything you don't think you'd wear again try sourcing on vinted and resell it when you get back. I would rather have proper clothes than try to make do with things you'll wear again but aren't properly suited to the weather

Thermals under jogging bottoms are a good idea OP. If it snows and jeans get wet it will be pretty horrible. We picked up some cheap ski trousers and jackets second hand from ebay but we were sledging and stuff so a bit different. Merino wool is really warm and lovely but hugely expensive, I wouldn't bother for a short one off holiday in the south.

You will be fine, we've been to Tromso, Rovaniemi and Kiruna at that time of year (much further north) and although it got cold it didn't get that low even over night. I wouldn't worry at all, it might be minus 5 over night but I doubt it will be much lower than that.

Saying winters can get down to minus 30 in Oslo is like saying summers can get up to 40C in London - yes technically that has happened but it’s not the norm you need to prepare for.

I love both cities and you will have a great time. I’ve always wanted to do the big sledge run in Oslo in winter but we’ve only been there in March/April when the snow has gone. Are you taking the overnight ferry between Oslo and Copenhagen?

There are lots of great museums etc in both cities so plenty to do indoors if it is cold and grey. And cofffee and cardamom buns is always a good way to spend time!

I definately wouldnt do Jeans, as little cotton as possible.

Thermals and wool, make sure you have a hat that covers your ears, ski socks and good boots. If it did reach -30 is there anywhere you could hire a ski suit locally

We went to Finland last year and it reached -35, our hair and lashes froze but it didnt feel cold really with all the right clothing