Rome or Oslo in late December

I've been to Oslo, though not in December. I wouldn't plan for a week there, even in the summer. It's just not that big a city; and therefore, has not that much to interest tourists for that long.

Rome, on the other hand, has more than enough to keep you busy. Without listing all the sights and day-trips available, I would just say you won't run out of things to do in that amount of time. For the holiday season, churches will have special decorations, and New Years Eve is a blast there. And, btw, the weather is likely to be quite agreeable.

Another thing to consider is that the daylight hours will be shorter in Olso than in Rome in December.

Rome hands down! If the weather is great there's plenty to do outside. If it is not so great, there's plenty to do inside. Usually, it is pretty temperate but bring warm jackets and gloves. Christmas is a big deal and the decorations will still be lighted until Jan 6. You can "do" Rome for about Euro 130/night for lodging for two and Euro 80 for food, also for two. I'd add Euro 25 per person per day for local trans and entertainment, i.e., tickets.

@ Rosalyn,
That was my fear. I would rather do Oslo in the summer when I could at least add Fjord tours and hiking. My husband want's to cross country ski but I'm not seeing that for Oslo. Besides, too much junk to bring along for that!

Thanks everyone else for your advice! Fingers crossed I can push for Rome :)

Rome great weather?

Since you are talking about the end of December i averaged January and February. Bring an umbrella. I looked this up because i have been there in December and this is pretty much what i experienced. Pretty miserable. I would go to Oslo if the decision was based on weather. When its cold i tend to go where the people make the best of the cold as opposed to places were people survive the cold.

Rome
Avg Low 37
Avg High 55
Days of Rain 14
Inches of Rain 4

My husband want's to cross country ski but I'm not seeing that for Oslo.
http://www.visitoslo.com/en/your-oslo/winter/cross-country-skiing/

Cross-country skiing in Oslo More than 2,600 km (1,600 miles) of
prepared cross-country ski trails run deep into the forests of Oslo.
90 km are lit for the special atmosphere of evening tours. Skiers can
stop at 44 picturesque cabins, where some are only open for overnight
visitors while others are open for refreshments and home made
pastries.

One woman's junk may be one man's treasures. One can rent ski gear:
http://www.visitoslo.com/en/product/?TLp=855488&Oslo-Ski-Center-ski-rental

Oslomarka is accessible by the T1.

A number of Oslomarka ski trails are lighted.

And areas beyond Oslo:
http://www.visitnorway.com/us/what-to-do/active-holiday/skiing-in-norway/cross-country-skiing-in-norway/popular-areas-for-cross-country-skiing/

Now that said, skiing in February and March is more dependable than December.

Thanks Edgar!!! I'll add this information to my spread sheet!

We just returned from Scandinavia a month ago. We liked all the major cities there, but we really liked Bergen. We were so fortunate to have great weather as the region in September sees rain 2 out of 3 days. Weather's pretty tough up there. And the days are very, very short that far north in December--shortest days of the year. It's a June-August place to visit.
I can see why there are no obese people in Scandinavia, as the citizens cannot afford to eat food that expensive.

Rome would be the preferable place to go in December. We usually travel there in April/May and/or September/October.

For destinations beyond Oslo check out the DNT touring association:
http://english.turistforeningen.no

I've been on several DNT tour and enjoyed and experience Norwegian life in the mountains. This tour scheduled the last week of December celebrating the New Year is an example of DNT offerings:
http://english.turistforeningen.no/activity.php?ac_id=68505&fo_id=3612

Trip dates: 30.12.2015 - 02.01.2016
Topography: Hilly
Difficulty: Quite easy
Suitable forAdults
New Year Celebration in Femundsmarka - NEW

A different New Year celebration for those who want to get out of town. We enjoy lightweight ski tours in the area, depending on weather and snow conditions. New Year’s Eve we can look forward to a festive dinner inspired by local specialties, torchlight parade, open fires and champagne. We celebrate New Year in Femundsmarka’s beautiful nature, staying at the cosy mountain farm Svukuriset.

Day 1 | Arrival Svukuriset
Meeting point in Oslo Bus Terminal, by the platform exit, 20 minutes before departure. Pay attention to the monitors in the main entrance to find out which platform it is. Departure with Trysilekspressen at 10.30 to Trysil, arrival 13.50. Bus from Trysil to Elgå at 13.50, arrival 15.50. Organised luggage transport from Elgå and ski tour to Svukuriset (8 km)

Day 2 - Day 3 | Stay at Svukuriset
Midwinter day tours from Svukuriset. In midwinter the days are short and in this period we can enjoy the beauty of Femundsmarka bathing in the unique light from a low winter sun.

Tour 1: Ski tour from Svukuriset to Revlingsjøene where we will enjoy a break by a bonfire.

Tour 2: Ski tour towards Lille Svuku and Revlingkletten. If the weather allows it we can take a detour and climb one of the tops and we awarded by the possibility of skiing back down to Svukuriset.

Our New Year's Eve celebration will be in an agreeable, but somewhat modest manner. We will be served a festive dinner inspired by local specialities, followed by cakes. At 23.00 hours (11 pm) we gather outside the lodge. Here we are given torchlights, before we go for a short walk into the crisp winter night. We await the new year enjoying the outdoors in the warmth of a bonfire, sharing stories mingling or seated on reindeer skins. At midnight we welcome the new year with a champagne toast.

Day 4 | Return journey Svukuriset - Elgå - Oslo
Ski tour from Svukuriset to Elgå (luggage transportation), 8 km. Bus at 13.30 from Elgå to Trysil bus station. Trysilekspressen 1t 16.15 from Trysil bus station to Oslo Bus Terminal, arrival 19.30.

I don't know how people can say that weather in Rome in December is miserable and then suggest to go to Oslo. WTF?

....Rome in December is miserable and then suggest to go to Oslo?

Haven't been to Rome in December so I have no opinion as to Italy in December. I haven't been to Oslo in December either, but would suggest that warm snow (e.g. snow at -1C) is better than wet precipitation at +5C. But then the "no bad weather only bad clothing" has been attributed to the Norwegians who seem to adapt well to their climate.

I have skied in Asiago, Italy and spectated the Nordic World Cup races in Val di Femme, Italy but that was in mid-February when snow pack was pretty good. Snow is reported to be better from mid-January and on. I could certainly recommend Asiago for a mid-January-February trip:
http://www.asiago.it/en/cross_country_ski/
If you go to Asiago stock up on the cheese.

http://www.visitfiemme.it/en/active-relax/snow/cross-country-skiing

Edgar. I think we can do the original posters a favor by stating facts and then let them decide. These are the facts based on statistical data for December:
WEATHER
Average Low Temperature
Rome: 39 F
Oslo: 23 F
Average High Temperature
Rome: 55 F
Oslo: 30 F
Average Rainfall:
Rome: 14 days, 111 mm
Oslo: 11 days, 50 mm
Sunrise-Sunset on Dec 25:
Rome: 0736-1644 (length of day: 9h 08m)
Oslo:0920-1514 (length of day: 5h 55m)

THINGS TO SEE AND DO.
Pages devoted by Rick Steves' Best of Europe guide;
Rome:130 pages
Oslo: 0 pages
Pages devoted by Frommer's Europe guide:
Rome 36 pages
Oslo 19 pages

Obviously if one is interested in snow, Rome doesn't get much of it. However the ski resorts at Mt. Terminillo are near.

These are the facts, then anybody is entitled to their own opinions.

When I travel it's not so much how hot or cold it is as much as it is how will the climate add to or contribute or take away from the experience. I went to Moscow one January and with 3 feet of snow surrounding red square and -15F It was exactly what I wanted it to be. I went to Rome one New Year's eve and it was cold, wet, dreary and miserable. I've also been in Rome in the spring and fall and you are cheating yourself not to wait until good weather. I spend about every other Christmas in the heart of Eastern Europe, and sure the daylight is short, but not the day. For my enjoyment Winter is best spent in places that have long winters as the cultures have learned to go on with life despite the cold. In Eastern Europe this is when the cultural events are at their height; I suspect Oslo is the same.

Hi Amanda,

I go XC skiing in Norway almost every year when I visit family over there. Since XC skiing is the national pastime that would be the perfect way to experience Norway. If you go in the spring around Easter, the days will be a little longer and you'll have company even midweek out on the trails with most Norwegians heading out to their cabins to enjoy their Easter vacations. Here's a YouTube of the annual Drammen sprints, which I think is a good example to see how crazy these people are about skiing: https://youtu.be/_DGwGm8SZ24

For a "Best of Norway" with chances for skiing, I'd start in Oslo, then take the train to Geilo and spend a couple of days skiing there. Then you could continue on the "nutshell" route to Bergen and fly home from there.

Another spot to consider would be Sjusjøen, above Lillehammer, it is the best XC skiing place I've ever skied at. There are thousands of cabins and the most impeccable XC skiing conditions you've ever seen. Rustad Hotel is not cheap, but a great hotel to stay at up there with amazing food and atmosphere along the lake. The bus to town will pick up and drop off right in their parking lot.

If you bring your skis from home, the airport and public transportation all has facilities to accommodate skis. Also there is rental equipment widely available, but XC skis are so light I always bring my own stuff along. Many hotels will have ski storage and most have heated bathroom floors that are perfect to dry your gear overnight.

Nordheim

My opinion would be Rome.
The daylight in Oslo will be amazingly short in duration. Although cities in northern Europe do tend to light themselves up beautifully for the dark winter season, from a sightseeing perspective it's not ideal. Factor in snow/ice and it will become even more difficult. We were in Oslo for 3 days this summer and that was plenty of time to see every single thing in the city and its outskirts. It's quite small. $200 in Oslo for everything you mentioned would cover it if you are conservative with your dining out. Restaurants are quite expensive - we made sure to book into a hotel that had breakfast included. There were two of us and our lunch tab was easily $40 - 50 without alcohol - and that was on the cheaper side of the menu. We found a relatively cheap tapas place for dinner all three days but even that was $60-70 without alcohol. Add in alcohol + lodging and you can easily double your daily amount.
Rome will have longer daylight, will be a bit warmer, and there is enough in and around that city to easily fill your 5-7 days. Significantly cheaper as well!
Save Oslo for the summer and go out to the fjords or do the Norway in a Nutshell tour so that you can see more.

While I will second Nordheim's comments about Norway in winter, here's a video of skiing in Italy:
https://youtu.be/Gnky3Cwlurs
Randell and Diggens are Americans skiing in the 2013 Val di Fermme World Cup team Sprint.

PS Title IX seems to be working for the US women.

Living costs about 50% higher in Oslo than Rome.
https://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/index/europe

Yes, as David of Brisbane notes, Oslo is a first world economy and not a cheap place to visit even with no ski trail fees in the Nordmarka.

Here's an expat cost of living web calculator that should be considered entertainment:
https://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/comparison/rome/oslo/breakdown

Cost of living in Oslo (Norway) is 47% more expensive than in Rome
(Italy)

https://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/comparison/rome/brisbane?

Cost of living in Brisbane (Australia) is 26% more expensive than in
Rome (Italy)

https://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/comparison/san-francisco/oslo?

Cost of living in Oslo (Norway) is 5% cheaper than in San Francisco,
California (United States)

So I've been reading about winter in Oslo as a result of this post. On the side, for perspective, I went to Umeå, Sweden this spring and have thought I'd love to go back in the winter to see the difference. I'll also say I majored in art history and particularly love the Italian Renaissance. That being said, I have to say I third Nordheim's vote for Oslo. It looks like a fun and magical place in the winter. I think you would meet more locals in Oslo in the winter than you would in Rome. I've been to Rome, twice. I love cities. I do not like Rome as it is congested, crowded, dirty. I dislike the Vatican museum and the interior of St Peters.

I don't think you need a particular itinerary for Oslo, just go, relax and see where the days take you (just be aware of what your possibilities are ahead of time). As far as cost, I see Oslo is rated as an expensive city. I did not look up Stockholm in the ratings, but Stockholm, I've always heard, was an expensive city. I found Stockholm to be more reasonable than Boston. You are visiting only for a week. Again, Oslo is my vote, but maybe the two of you should just flip a coin. Wray

Re: ... meet more locals in Oslo in the winter... And cost.

Cross country skiers can meet more locals and keep guided tour cost to a moderate level by joining a DNT tour. For example: http://english.turistforeningen.no/activity.php?ac_id=68358&fo_id=3612
8 days/7 nights, full board and transportation to/from Oslo is priced at about $1130 USD + $80USD for an annual membership at 8 NOK/USD. If your $200USD per day for 2 is in addition to hotel, you are on budget with a DNT tour.

Guides are Norwegian trained but volunteer guides from all walks of life - Doctor Lawyer, retired army general, kindergarten teacher. Other tour members have included Norwegians, Danes, Germans, Canadians other Americans. Full board but beer and wine are extra. Everyone carries their own pack but bedding and food are provided by the mountain lodges. Bring thermos and lodge fills with hot drinks for the trail. Bag your lunch from the breakfast board.

Cold showers included but hot water may be coin operated. Drying rooms for your hand washed clothing is traditional at mountain lodges.

Two guides and groups typically under 16 skiers.

In contrast a RS guided tour 7day Rome:
https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/italy/rome-2015
$1795USD and that covers only half your dinners.

Thank you everyone for your replies. We've decided on Oslo. My husband says we've already been to Rome so we should see something new, I agreed :)