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’ve been to Norway and Denmark a number of times in winter. Every single time I’ve been too hot, and not needed all the layers and thickness I brought. In fact last year in Norway in December I was overheating so much in my regular winter coat (that I’ve been using through winters at home in Sussex for years) that I ended up buying something more lightweight while I was there.

They are great cities and you’ll have a lovely time. Just be prepared for eye watering prices for food and drink in Oslo.

You can check out AccuWeather monthly forecast.

For Oslo the average temp at the end of February is around 0°C. There was a cold spell this year so it was around -9°C. You have to also consider the wind and humidity, so real feel is more likely -5 to -10.

Copenhagen is normally +5°C.

There is always a possibility that you can get quite cold weather but the odds are small and no need to panic just yet. If in Oslo you are mainly focused on food and museums, you will be indoors for quite a while.

I'm from one of the northern countries and although it used to be pretty cold and indeed February is usually the coldest month, last 5-10 years we have seen warmer winters. And it usually is more mild by the sea where Oslo and Copenhagen happens to be.

Get you big coat on and go and have a walk around Vigeland Sculpture park!
As others have said the museums are good but my favourite is the Fram museum about the North Pole expedition. Its a bus ride from the city. It is really worth while going. I thought it would be a bit boring but dh wanted to go.
Oslo is brilliant.
I need to explore Helsinki more though!

I live in Copenhagen, we do get snow in February (and I’ve experienced it in March) but as long as you wear sensible clothes, and I don’t mean Eskimo gear, you’ll be fine.

I generally wear

• Jeans (sometimes with tights under if cold)
• wool socks (delightfully toasty…I’ll lend you a pair if you want!)
• boots (walking, Chelsea, timberlands…whatever I fancy that day - just be aware that if it’s snowed and the streets are slushy, if they’re cobbled (eg in town) they get v slippery)
• vest top or long sleeve thin top
• jumper
• Jacket (I have an M&S parka and it’s absolutely fine)
• Gloves (important!)
• Hat (I rarely wear hats but sensible)

Honestly it’s fine, we’ll have been through the worst of winter and things are looking up! Places are warm (I find going to museums annoying winter because I have to carry my jacket!), plenty to see and do and lots of central heating!

I live in Copenhagen. There's no doubt that the weather in February can be challenging but it's not that different from e.g. Edinburgh (similar latitude). Because it's beside the sea it's often very windy and that can be the biggest challenge. Snow is relatively uncommon but not unknown, rain is much more likely.

Travelling with a down coat isn't fun but everyone else on the plane will have one. Alternatively layers can work. I have a long fleece-lined rain jacket that I wear a thin padded coat under. Hat, gloves, and scarf are a must. Everywhere is geared up for hanging up or storing coats, rain jackets etc and you'll be very cosy when indoors (probably too warm!).

You certainly won't need to be stuck in your hotel room, unless there's some freak weather. I'll still be cycling to work in February along with half of Copenhagen!

I've been to Norway in December and it was snow covered but once you have your thermals on and are walking about, you don't feel cold. You can always duck into a cafe to warm up.

I think it sounds like an amazing holiday!

You are one of the people I admire cycling to work in February whilst I walk to the trusty warm M3 line because I’m too delicate for that😁

Hahaha! I didn't say I enjoyed it. These days an e-bike makes it MUCH less painful. 😂

This out of the ordinary weather can happen anywhere- floods in spain, 40 plus degrees in italy, you just have to adapt and tailor the activities. I was in Niagara in April and it was minus 17. I have been in Finland at minus 28. Its cold, bloody cold but with the right kit, and planning its doable.

Theme parks aren't my thing either but Tivoli is quite different from the average theme park - it's much more compact and much more attractive to wander around than a 'modern' theme park. It's honestly a lovely place to visit, especially at night when it's all lit up.

lots of layers, bobble hat and a really good coat & gloves.

Take little notice of ‘averages’ but pack accordingly. We went to Chicago in February. Packed for the arctic, wore t shirts and shorts one day, the next day it bloody snowed! Likewise Seattle, packed jumpers, wore t shirts. Cab driver said it was the warmest September for a decade. Finally went to Disney in Florida in Feb, hoped it would be warmish, first snow in 30 years. You simply can’t tell so pack everything.
I realised all the examples were the US. Perhaps it a them problem!

You can do all that, it's just a matter of having the right clothing and footwear. The locals don't hibernate all winter!

I went to Oslo in February and it was beautiful. We did the Norwegian museum just outside Oslo where they have loads of architecture, it was amazing to see it and read how they managed to move it all to that location. The royal family are in the winter residence and you can see it from the bus and visit the summer palace with the soldiers etc. We went out on the ffjord which was frozen for a few days but last day we got out there. Stunning scenery and views. We went out to the ski jump and watched the skiers. Gustav Vigelands work is often on display and you can go to his brother Emmanuel's church he painted and see that. Lots of churches to explore and galleries. The area around the water was great. I think there was an ice bar too the year we went. Yes it was cold but it wasn't miserable. It was lovely. Nordic countries don't grind to a halt like the UK when it snows. The trams run, the buses run. People get the tram out to the skiing places after work, the city is a great place to be. We still sat outside with glasses of wine in the sun, bundled up, scarves on and heaters but it's a different culture. The whole point of travelling.

I've been to Oslo in early March, it was cold but not unbearably so. Wrap up warm and you'll be fine. I would recommend a good pair of walking boots though. I took trainers and had a couple of slips on the ice in less well populated areas.

It's a gorgeous city, lots of nice cosy coffee shops to get out of the cold. And the Viking musuem was particularly interesting. You'll be fine. Enjoy.

It is I agree, but unfortunately it won't be open when the OP is visiting. It is closed from early January until Spring (next year it opens from 27th March).

https://www.tivoli.dk/en/opening-hours-and-seasons

You’re just going to wear a lightweight down coat and a raincoat??

I’d wear thermals /merino, top, fleece/ woolen sweater, and super warm down layer, with gloves scarf and hat. I dont have a super warm down layer so eg Belgium in Feb I wear my lightweight down jacket under my larger longer down coat.

I was going to do thermals, a tshirt, jumper, down jacket and raincoat

No such thing a bad weather just poor clothing...

I've visited Oslo in March and loved it. Yes it's cold but rarely rained. It's a beautiful place to explore although it's very expensive so bring plenty of snacks and maybe even cuppa soups/pastas if you need to save money.

We went to Inari in Finland and it was minus 20. Get some good cold weather gear and layer up.

It's bollocks. It wasn't -30 in Oslo last winter.
https://www.extremeweatherwatch.com/cities/oslo/year-2025
Lowest temperature was -14.2 and that was in January.
People love exaggerating and talking shit.

I go to Norway every winter. You will be fine. Make sure you have decent thermal underwear, a warm jumper, a windproof coat of some description, hat and gloves.

Anyway, you'll be in the museums most of the time. The Norwegian Resistance Museum at the Akershus fortress is great. Fram and Kontiki museums are also brilliant. The Viking Ship Museum is closed until 2027.
Munch museum is a must see too.

I used to spend a lot of time in Sweden and found that once it’s below freezing it’s just cold and it doesn’t actually feel that different if it’s minus 5 or 15. I actually think it’s much nicer than that horrible damp sideways rain type winter you get here.

No such thing a bad weather just poor clothing...
I never agree with this cliche. Theres no clothing suitable for tornados, hurricanes, floods extrene heatwaves etc.

Hopefully op is reassured it isnt going to be bad and she had imagined the worse and got wrong information

You need to upgrade the quality of your jacket and then you'll be just fine. UK high street brands are not going to cut it in a Scandinavian winter. Didriksons, 66* North, Patagonia, Archteryx, the North Face, etc. I'd go into a good outdoor store, try on the warmest jackets they have, and then start looking on Vinted for a used version of the one you think you want. There are loads on there. If you always have a hat on before you walk outside, and pair that with a good pair of waterproof gloves or mittens, you'll be dandy.

I've not RTFT but my DH went to Oslo in January a few years ago and it was -24, but because the air was so still and dry he was fine and didn't need the thermals he'd packed. However coming back to the UK he said it felt a lot colder because of the wind chill!