Do you want to know what to wear in Stockholm in Winter? n this guide we will tell you EXACTLY what to pack for Stockholm no matter if you are visiting in December, January and February. This includes guidance on how to dress for the weather, dress codes as well as Stockholm special events in Winter.
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Winter Weather Stockholm
Winter in Stockholm is classified as December, January and February. December is technically the first month of Winter but actually November can feel quite Wintery.
How cold is Stockholm in Cold?
How cold Stockholm in Winter feels very much depends on when you visit. However you can typically expect temperatures hovering around freezing in Winter with average temperatures being -3 and 2 C.
Therefore if you are traveling to Stockholm in Winter it is really important to be prepared for cold weather, snow and ice.
How rainy is in Stockholm in Winter?
How rainy Stockholm is in Winter really depends on what month you are traveling in. December and January are the wettest Winter months with around 9 days of rain each. While Febraury is slightly drier with only 6 days of rain on average.
So whatever Winter month you are traveling to Sweden in it is always worth having a lightweight waterproof jacket and a good quality compact travel umbrella with you.
Note: we always recommend checking the forecast at your destination(s) 7 days out from travel to make sure there are no expected weather fronts i.e. heatwaves or cold snaps.
And if you are visiting Stockholm in other seasons be sure to check out our related guides:
- What to wear in STockholm in Spring
- What to wear in STockholm in Summer
- What to wear in Stockholm in Fall
What to Wear in Stockholm in Winter
Before we get onto the specifics of what to wear in Stockholm in Winter for women and men, we wanted to reiterate that we think it is a great idea to pack a capsule wardrobe. It means you are less likely to lose your luggage when traveling and prevents you from overpacking. For help in packing a capsule wardrobe check out these posts.
Best Shoes for Stockholm in Winter
But first we will turn our attention to shoes for Stockholm in Fall.
Waterproof Boots
You can get lots of snow and rain in Winter so it is really important to have a boot with some waterproofing and thick soles that can cope with icy surfaces.
Sneakers
For drier and ice free days then you can’t beat sneakers for Stockholm. Any Stockholm city break involves lots of walking and in historic places such as Gamla Stad there are lots of cobble stone streets too. For this reason it is recommended that you need comfortable walking shoes.
My favorite brand of sneakers for walking are Hoka and AllBirds, however you also can’t go wrong with a plain white sneaker as they go with everything. One of my favorite pairs of white sneakers is the Adidas Cloud Foam shoes.
But if it is going to be rainy during your trip you may want some waterproof sneakers such as the Ecco Soft 7.
What to Wear in Stockholm in Winter for Women
Winter Coat / Jacket
A winter coat / winter jacket is absolutely my number one pick for any Stockholm Winter packing list no matter your itinerary. And the coat you pack should be very practical for very cold weather. This means a coat with plenty of insulation as well as waterproofing and wind resistance to deal with the Stockholm winter weather.
Some of our favorite brands of coats for Stockholm in December include:
- Eddie Bauer,
- Canada Goose
- Columbia,
- Marmot
- North Face and
- Patagonia
Click here to shop coats for Stockholm.
For more information on how to pack Winter Coats for travel check out this post
Hat, Scarf and Gloves
Winter accessories are a must for Stockholm in December.
I would recommend taking with you a matching scarf and gloves set that match your winter coat to finish off the look. But be sure to get gloves that are touch screen compatible so as you are likely to be taking lots of photographs.
You may also want ski gloves with another pair of gloves that are touch screen compatible underneath to cope with the extreme cold temperatures.
ON top of these you may also want ear muffs to protect all your extremities especially if you are visiting Christmas markets in Sweden.
Click here to shop winter accessories
Trousers
For Stockholm we recommend a combination of thicker trousers such as jeans, cordouroy trousers or even some thick wool pants on days when you are planning on being more indoors.
Jeans are perfect for sightseeing when inside and you can pick whatever style you feel most comfortable in. But for outdoors thicker and insulated trousers are best if you plan on heading outside of the city for outdoors activities.
Skirts and Dresses
It is too cold for me in Stockholm for dresses and skirts for sightseeing. I would only even consider wearing a dress for restaurants. However even then it would have to be a very thick dress with thermals underneath maybe and certainly paired with thick tights or fleece lined leggings and boots.
Click here to shop dresses for Norway in Winter.
T Shirts
T Shirts are a great base for cities in Winter. But you will need tees with long sleeves to use as a base layer.
Layers
Layers are absolutely essential for Stockholm in Winter. I would pack a mix of sweaters, hoodies and fleeces.
Hoodies are a great casual top layer for sightseeing in the day at places such as museums and galleries. However I like to have something smarter for evenings.
I personally never travel in Winter without a merino wool sweater. Merino wool is one of my favorite fabrics to include in a Winter capsule wardrobe. That is because it provides extra warmth as they are an insulating fabric but is also compact unlike a thick knit. Therefore it is easy to pack and doesn’t take up a lot of space in your case.
And fleeces are useful for outdoors as they are quick to dry and are a thin but very insulating layer.
PJs
For those traveling to Stockholm in Winter we recommend packing thicker, flannel pjs.
Thermals (optional)
Not essential for those who plan on spending the whole trip in the city however if you plan to head outside of Stockholm these can be good addition.
Click here to shop merino wool thermals.
Swimwear (optional)
You may find it hard to think about swimwear on a winter vacation in Stockholm however if you plan to use saunas then you may want swimwear with you.
Underwear and Socks
Goes without saying. The best socks for Stockholm have to be either hiking socks or merino wool socks that are insulating.
Also if you plan on packing any dresses we recommend having thick tights or fleece lined leggings to go underneath them.
What to Wear in Stockholm in Winter List for Men
Alongside our regular men’s travel essentials we recommend adding the following items to your men’s packing list for Stockholm in Winter:
Thick Coat
A practical warm coat with some insulation as well as being water proof and wind resistant is a good idea for Stockholm in Winter.
T Shirts and Shirts
Long sleeve t shirts are an essential in Winter, as well as a button down shirt for fancier restaurants.
Trousers
Jeans are great for sightseeing in Winter in cities but you may want thermals underneath them.
You may also want to add a smarter pair of chinos or smart wool trousers to the packing list too for nights out and fancier dinners.
However for more outdoor activities and going North you may want some fleece lined trousers too! For a winter sports packing list for Stockholm click here.
Shop men’s travel chinos here.
Layers
A hoodie, fleece and sweater alongside your coat / jacket are the perfect layers for 7 days in Stockholm.
Thermals
If you plan on spending anytime outside be sure to have thermal underwear with you.
Underwear, Socks and Pjs
Including thicker socks.
What to pack for Stockholm in Winter (Non Clothing)
- Crossbody Bag – unfortunately any tourist site attracts pickpockets and Sweden is no different. A crossbody bag with lots of zips is the best way to protect your belongings.
- Backpack – for storing items on your day trips.
- Travel adaptor – Sweden uses traditional European plugs so UK and US visitors will need a universal adaptor to make their electronics work.
- Power Pack / battery packs
- Sun screen
- Lipbalm – especially important for November when the cold weather can chafe your lips.
- Compact Umbrella – important for any month. Our favorite brand of travel umbrella is Repel.
- Sunglasses
- Camera
- Travel First Aid Kit
- Blister plasters
- Toiletries – for our essential toiletries packing list click here. However toiletries should be easy to buy in Copenhagen if you want to big them on arrival.
- Hand Warmers – as the weather is so cold in Stockholm in Winter we recommend packing a plentiful supply of hand warmers with you to add into your gloves.
- Ice Scraper (optional depending on car hire) – If you are renting your own car then you may want to bring an ice scraper / deicer with you. This way you can clear your windows and head off early in the morning.
FAQs About Stockholm in Fall
Can you wear jeans in Sweden?
You can absolutely wear jeans in Sweden in act I would always pop them on my Stockholm packing list.
Do you need winter boots in Stockholm?
Yes you will absolutely need winter boots in Stockholm. We recommend having fleece lined snow boots worn with a couple of pairs of socks.
Have you been to Sweden in Fall? What did you wear? We would love you to tell us in the comments below!