Oslo and Stockholm in Winter
#1
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Join Date: Sep 2013
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Oslo and Stockholm in Winter
I'm going to be spending a lot of time in Oslo and Stockholm with the odd trip to Copenhagen from October to April for work and I was planning on coming back each weekend but now I'm thinking about staying out there for a few weekends and just soak up the culture, is there anything decent happening in each city, especially in December as I won't be flying anywhere until the New Year
What are the main things I should get in as I'm looking around and Oslo looks like a dud during winter, Copenhagen is wet and dreary while Stockholm may be the best bet... Suggestions?
What are the main things I should get in as I'm looking around and Oslo looks like a dud during winter, Copenhagen is wet and dreary while Stockholm may be the best bet... Suggestions?
#2
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I'm going to be spending a lot of time in Oslo and Stockholm with the odd trip to Copenhagen from October to April for work and I was planning on coming back each weekend but now I'm thinking about staying out there for a few weekends and just soak up the culture, is there anything decent happening in each city, especially in December as I won't be flying anywhere until the New Year
What are the main things I should get in as I'm looking around and Oslo looks like a dud during winter, Copenhagen is wet and dreary while Stockholm may be the best bet... Suggestions?
What are the main things I should get in as I'm looking around and Oslo looks like a dud during winter, Copenhagen is wet and dreary while Stockholm may be the best bet... Suggestions?
#3
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Stockholm is definitely my idea of a nicer winter destination than Copenhagen or Oslo, so I would say Stockholm would be my best bet too. Copenhagen has Tivoli open for at least a bit for Christmas-ish stuff and Skansen in Stockholm has Christmas market kind of stuff too. Other than the holiday kind of things -- including holiday parties -- usually December and January aren't so charming, absent snow (which isn't as reliable to stick in Copenhagen, or even in Oslo, as in Stockholm IME).
Thank you for your response.
#4
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The Christmas markets in Austria and Germany are better. And once those cities with better Christmas markets in Austria and Germany have snow, it seems to stick more reliably than in the three largest Scandinavian capital cities IME -- but to be fair, I spend way more time in Denmark, Norway and Sweden than in Austria and Germany around that time of the year.
#5
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The Christmas markets in Scandinavia are a poorer recent copy of the real Christmas markets in Germany. However, having lived in Central Germany (not the alpine region), I wouldn't say there is generally better sticking snow there than in Stockholm, or especially higher up north. You want snow? Visit Lapland or the Alps.
#6
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The Christmas markets in Scandinavia are a poorer recent copy of the real Christmas markets in Germany. However, having lived in Central Germany (not the alpine region), I wouldn't say there is generally better sticking snow there than in Stockholm, or especially higher up north. You want snow? Visit Lapland or the Alps.
Having lived around Stockholm and Copenhagen for years and been a commuter to Oslo, Berlin and Bonn/Frankfurt even during the many years I've lived around Stockholm and Copenhagen, the snow sticks better in Stockholm once it falls than in the other two major Scandinavian capitals; however, it hasn't been sticking as reliably as fallen snow in Berlin even as it has been sticking more reliably than snow in Bonn/Frankfurt. Just my experience living and commuting over the years in this area.
#7
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The Christmas markets in Scandinavia are a poorer recent copy of the real Christmas markets in Germany. However, having lived in Central Germany (not the alpine region), I wouldn't say there is generally better sticking snow there than in Stockholm, or especially higher up north. You want snow? Visit Lapland or the Alps.
Thanks for your input
#8
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Stockholm is better IMO, including for reasons related to snow.
#10
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: OSL
Posts: 2,638
If you ski Oslo has a ski resort at the last stop of the tube (Holmenkollbanen) called Tryvann. Bear in mind Oslo is also no longer than two hours away from the best ski destinations in Northern Europe. City life is chilled but a bit dull - no cheap beer at the pub on Saturday afternoons...
#11
Join Date: Mar 2005
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A problem with partying in Oslo (even just eating out on restaurants) in December, is the pre-christmas office party scene "Julebord", crowding most restaurants, driving up prices, and making it difficult to get a table.
Christmas in Oslo (24-26/12) can be very dull, as this is solely family time. Even taxis don't run on Christmas eve evening. The week between Christmas and New Year is VERY lively. This used to start on Boxing Day, but partying start has moved forward to Christmas Day lately, and last year even some places opened late on Christmas Eve - getting away from the family I guess!
Christmas in Oslo (24-26/12) can be very dull, as this is solely family time. Even taxis don't run on Christmas eve evening. The week between Christmas and New Year is VERY lively. This used to start on Boxing Day, but partying start has moved forward to Christmas Day lately, and last year even some places opened late on Christmas Eve - getting away from the family I guess!
#13
Join Date: Nov 2012
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Avoid Oslo purely because of the costs involved. Then you are left with either CPH or Stockholm. Couldnt say which is better suited to your needs as its not clear what they are.