Cold Weather

Will be a lot like Des Moines and perhaps a bit colder. So dress the same. Stockholm will be much colder at that time than Rome or Prague. Use light layers of clothing that can be added or removed as necessary for the temperature. Wool hat, scarf, gloves, waterproof shoes, long underwear, all work very well. Stockholm will be much colder at that time than Rome or Prague.

If you don't want an umbrella, don't bring one. When it rains every Tom Dick and Harry will be selling them. Most prudent people traveling in winter pack a small brolly. There are no guaranties about weather or temperature. Odds are Stockholm will be colder than Rome.

When you are at home in Des Moines in the winter and it is raining, do you carry an umbrella, or wear a hat? The answer to that is your answer about what you should do when you are in Europe in the winter and it is raining. If you are not a hat person in Des Moines, then why would you be one in Stockholm? I always pack a small brelly when traveling in winter, but Nigel is correct - when it rains, everyone will be selling them. (For years, one of our favorite souvenirs was the matching pair of tartan folding umbrellas we bought at the Boots near Westminster Abbey.) You will get many replies here about layering. Most folks, when home, don't do the elaborate layering thing. That's because at home we're going from known point to known point, and won't spending a large portion of our day rambling from one outside tourist place, to an inside place like a museum, to a long walk to another but less well-heated inside attraction, and so on. I find layering weird and cumbersome at home, but recommend it for travel. It helps you keep comfy when you may be in a sucession of very different temps throughout a single day. There is sort of nothing worse than being miserable in the temperature when you are trying to take in the glories of Europe. :D

I would not recommend long underwear unless you plan to stay outside for hours at a time. As soon as you go inside, you'll start to sweat, and then you'll be even colder when you go outside again. And a scarf. Don't forget that one.

@Tom: Yes! No long underwear. Unless you will be outdoors all day on an arctic trek.

"When you are at home in Des Moines in the winter and it is raining..." One could only wish for temps warm enough for rain here in February. Winters here can be pretty brutal. As already mentioned, Stockholm will be very similar to Des Moines. Just check the Weather Underground link in the FAQs for the averages for all of your destinations. Those averages are just averages, though. As you know, the last several years seem like they've been closer to the low temp in the range than the average temp. Dress accordingly.

I was in Prague in November and it was bone chilling! When I took a train from Prague to Berlin the heat was not working and it was terrible! Prague has freezing rain and high winds and this was only November! Coming from Texas, that was a bit much for me! But I used to live in Michigan and could never get used to the cold! Coming from IA, I'm sure you already own everything you need to take! I always have to buy winter items for a winter trip!
Have fun!!

I live in a lake effect snow area so I know winter. We spent some time in December last year in Nuremberg and Prague during their snow storms. I never layer at home but we all did while there. I don't typically spend all day outside at home. Even some sites were very, very cold inside. I was never any place that was too warm. Our layers were moisture wicking type materials. We had some sunshine in the short amount of daylight hours but it was still very cold. The sidewalks in Prague are very slippery if there is any ice or snow so wear good shoes.

so, when you say layering, how many layers are we talking? a long sleeved tshirt, a sweater, and a coat/jacket (ll bean, very warm)? is that enough? and what about pants? everyone recommends not bringing jeans because they are heavy and take forever to dry, but not to wear long underwear. so i plan on wearing khaki-like pants, but unsure if that will be too thin of a layer by itself?

I would wear jeans instead of khakis and then wear knit tights underneath them. This is pretty much my everyday wear in Germany in the winter. You don't say what your activities are going to be, but if you are going to be spending the day outside then of course long underwear makes sense. You don't have to wash your jeans every time you wear them either. For a coat, a longer coat is better, something that comes down to your knees, as this keeps your legs warmer.

Rachelle, do you have a polarfleece vest? I would use that for a layer instead of a sweater if you have a heavy LLBean jacket unless you are very cold-natured.

Rachelle, Personally I would err on the side of taking too little; a sweater and a light to medium wind- and- rain proof jacket sounds about right.
You can always buy some extra clothing there if needed. Gary

I was in London in March a few years ago. I had a wool pea coat( thigh length) and a pair of very small thin gloves. Mistake. It was freezing, even sleeted,, I actually wrapped my scarf around my head cause of rain and wind one day, looked like an old peasant woman but didn't care. My gloves were way too thin . My coat was fine though,, wool insulates even when wet, and I did have an umbrella( hard to use in crowds or wind though). Stockholm is north of London,, and you are going earilier in year then I went ( mid March) so I say take a good coat, decent gloves, a hat , and an umbrella.. Actually I take an umbrella even in summer, I have a small one that fits in my purse, its a great thing to have with you as weather is so changeable. As a tourist you are outside more,, walking about, using public transport rather then your own car etc. Many museums( in fact most) have a coat check,, spend the euro and check your coat if you feel its going to be too warm to wear inside,, you spend thousands on a trip,, don't cheat yourself by cheaping out a few dollars here and there for comfort . Jeans are a bugger if they get wet, take a long time to dry, and do wick up moisture, so consider bringing at least one pair of pants of another fabric, or a longer coat.

Adding to the previous post regarding gloves: I too recommend some really warm gloves for travel in northern cities. My favorite pair are leather with a wool lining. Sometimes I wear mittens with the finger part that folds back so you can use your fingers, and wear a pair of thin wool gloves under them. It's harder to deal with tickets and money while wearing those, though. Also, I recommend good wool blend socks, such as Smartwool. If your hands and feet are warm, you can stand a lot. If you have shorter hair, you will probably need something over your ears: a wool hat, handband, earmuffs, scarf, etc. I had to laugh at the image from Pat of the scarf over the head like a peasant woman. In desperation I've done the same thing with a wool muffler, and she is right, you really don't care what you look like if you're cold enough.

Hat, gloves, scarf or BUFF® should be in your bag. If you can keep your head, hands and neck warm, you will be warmer. Layer up. Take wool tops like Smartwool, Ibex or Icebreaker brands. Short sleeve under a long sleeve for cold days.
Wear wool socks as well....they breath and keep your feet warmer. Plan on good shoes as well, something that will insulate your feet from the ground (i.e., no Tom's or lightweight shoes, you should travel with a good pair of supportive shoes with good lug soles) I believe in fleece for warmth. Lightweight pieces, like 100 - 200 weight work great and aren't bulky. Take a rain jacket and no umbrella. If you have a good rain jacket, it acts as a wind break and will keep you warmer with the layers mentioned above. (it will also breath, so you don't get sweaty) Wear your scarf (look into a BUFF, either the original or a Merino Wool one) to wear as a lightweight hat/scarf/face cover. (they are available at your local outdoor store, or at REI) http://buffusa.com/ On really cold or windy days, there is nothing like BUFF to protect your ears, cheeks, neck and head. Cold is all in how you handle it personally. I freeze when the temps are below 60, for you, that could feel warm! Just layer, and don't take too much! PM me if you have questions about the brands I recommended.

I disagree about not bringing long underwear. Try silk long johns. They are lightweight, moisture-wicking. quick-drying and can also serve as pajamas. They cool you down when it's warmer and keep you warm when it's cold.

Woolen socks definitely, probably woolen ski socks. I remember from years ago when I was in northern France Jan. to Mar. how the cold would seep from the stone floors of cathedrals into my feet!

If you plan on taking many pictures you might consider some fingerless gloves which you could wear under mittens when not taking pictures. I was in Prague one December and it was so breathtakingly cold I could barely hold my camera, let alone operate it, without gloves, but of course with gloves it was almost equally difficult. So, unfortunately, I have precious few pictures.

One option is a hooded scarf. It does the job of a hat and a scarf and it keeps yours ears warm. If you don't need the hood at any given time, just let it hand down your back- pull it back up when needed. I have used one for more than 20 years on winter trips to Europe. I also agree with good, warm gloves. I'm allergic to wool, so I like leather (or faux) gloves with a cotton or polyester lining. Unless you will be outdoors all day, you may find that too many layers are a problem- especially long underwear/fleece tights, etc under pants. I am a bit hot-natured and found I did not need extra layers on my legs- the pants were enough. You can remove a sweater or fleece vest if you get to hot- but it is a pain to try remove long underwear except at your hotel room.

I second the suggestion of silk long johns - I use the very lightweight ones from WinterSilks, which don't take up much space in a suitcase but definitely help keep me warm. Also silk turtlenecks, layered under a sweater or fleece. Smartwool socks are good, as are Filson's wool socks. And I always take at least one pashmina, which serves as a neckscarf during the day and a dressy shawl in the evening. It's nice on the airplane too, when an extra layer is needed.

I agree with the other two posters about silk long underwear. Just bought two pr.from WinterSilks and they are great and reasonably priced...look at their sales page. Easy to pack and easy to rinse out in the sink and dry in no time. Haven't had to wear them yet as it is a beautiful, sunny day in Fulda Germay today. I also wear them when home....northern MN.