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Rome or Stockholm - PLEASE HELP ME MAKE UP MY MIND

Rome or Stockholm - PLEASE HELP ME MAKE UP MY MIND

Old Aug 10th, 2014, 03:36 AM
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Rome or Stockholm - PLEASE HELP ME MAKE UP MY MIND

I have the opportunity to exchange homes over Christmas 2014, and I have to choose between Stockholm and Rome. Tough!
On this trip my sister will be going with DD and me. This is her first experience of Europe, and I really want her to have a great time.

The apartment in Stockholm seems nice, bright and spacious. It is in Sodermalm, and it seems easy to navigate from there to the rest of the city. The apartment near Rome is in Ostia. This means a 30 minute train ride + a metro ride twice a day, most days. The Rome apartment is smaller, but it has a sea view.
The weather in Rome will not be as cold as in Sweden. In Stockholm snow may be a problem (slippery sidewalks?). Snow may also be a great experience (will it?)
Prices for food in both places seem to be more or less the same, but coffee in a restaurant AND WINE in Sweden is much more expensive. Public transport in Stockholm also seem to be double the price than in Rome.
We will have 10 days, so will want to make a few day trips. Within an hour from Rome there are lovely small towns (right?). Within half an hour from Stockholm nature seems extremely beautiful. How much will we be able to enjoy this in winter?
I have been to Rome before, and know that you will not exhaust its treasures in ten trips. Does 10 days in Stockholm make sense?
We enjoy nature, architecture, history, food, art. Not interested in shopping or nightlife.
Please - those of you who know and enjoy both these cities, what do you think? What have I not considered?
Thanks!
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Old Aug 10th, 2014, 05:22 AM
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I think the weather should be the deciding factor. Do you both live someplace where you have a real winter (ice, sleet, snow and temps in the 20s during the day and perhaps zero - farenheit, not centigrade at night)? If not, will you need a new wardrobe for Stockholm (we hired a woman from Arkansas in our office several years ago and she needed a whole new wardrobe for winter - the most she had was a raincoat with a liner - useless in winter).

Obviously Rome will be less cold (but can get snow in the winter - although rare). My concern there would be that trek to and from Ostia Antica. Rome has way more to see and do - but there is no way I would stay anyplace but in central Rome. All that travel in winter - when days are very short and dreary - would be too much.

If you can't find a place in central Rome I would definitely go for Stockholm - which does have a lot to see and do - as well as several possible day trips. But I like winter/cold, am used to dealing it for months every year and wouldn't have to spend quite a few hundreds on basics of a new wardrobe.
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Old Aug 10th, 2014, 06:16 AM
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I would be surprised if food prices were the same (or anything else).

>>>Within an hour from Rome there are lovely small towns (right?).
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Old Aug 10th, 2014, 06:31 AM
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Thanks nytraveller! No, I should have said, we are NOT used to cold. We currently live in Dubai where it is at this moment at 6.30pm, 39C (feels like 46). We did go to Prague for Christmas last year, but temps were hovering around 5 - 9C during the day. The people of Prague complained that it was not really cold. For that trip we did buy thick shoes / warm jackets / etc. But yes, Stockholm seems to be in a different category of cold. We are doing this as part of a home exchange - the people from Italy who want to exchange with us live in Ostia. The previous time we went to Rome, we stayed very near Piazza Navona, and it was lovely. That is why I feel a bit negative about Ostia. But, otoh, I am a bit scared of the weather in Stockholm!!
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Old Aug 10th, 2014, 06:33 AM
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And thank you kybourbon - this will help a lot!
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Old Aug 10th, 2014, 06:34 AM
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I've been to Stockholm in 2013 and was shocked by the food prices there. A sandwich, 2 juices and a small piece of pie cost $35. I bet in Rome you could get the same thing for under $12.

I have never been to Italy (going in 2015 though!) so can't compare the 2, but I would go with Stockholm even if prices are higher since you've never been there. I can just imagine how beautiful the city will be under a blanket of snow........

Things we enjoyed in Stockholm: The ABBA museum, it was very interactive... the VASA museum, the changing of the guard, the shopping, hanging out in Gamla Stan, the ice bar, and the overall feel of the city. There is also a free bus you can take to get to the flagship IKEA store a bit outside the city.
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Old Aug 10th, 2014, 06:36 AM
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I was in Stockholm from 5 to 9 October 2013 and the weather then was around 5 Celcius. Some mornings there was even frost.

I'm not sure how low they get during December though, you might look at the historical weather data.
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Old Aug 10th, 2014, 07:21 AM
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Dubai is not exactly cheap, so food prices in Stockholm will not be a shock to a UAE resident. Wine is not particularly expensive at the state run shops called Systembolaget. You can buy a number in the $15 dollar range, which is what I would pay minimum at home anyway. There are alot of supermarkets where you buy food, eg Hemköp which is nicer than Netto, so easy to cater for yourself. In cold countries, they are geared up for winter, so buildings are wonderfully warm and the Scandinavians have a way of making winter cosy. The archipelago is beautiful in winter, if there is snow and a sunny day, that is.

I was in Sweden last December, there was heavy snowfall at the beginning of the month but by Christmas it was quite mild. This year who knows. If you had clothes for a Prague winter, they will be fine for a Swedish winter. It's not a different category of cold, as continental Europe can have very low winter temps. Days are short, it starts to get dark about 3pm.
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Old Aug 10th, 2014, 08:01 AM
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I can see why it's a tough choice! Both are beautiful cities but in quite different ways.

The good news is, it's hard to go wrong either way.

I would be most concerned with the very short days and the cold.

We found Stockholm quite expensive (though very high standard/quality of living) when we went several years ago--however, self-catering with the stores described by Odin could be quite reasonable.

I have not stayed around Ostia and that does level it out a bit.

In your shoes I might go for Rome, buy the pass ky describes, enjoy a leisurely espresso and breakfast and hop on into town most days. On the up side, you've been there and could guide your family around. On the down side, you've been there, and Stockholm is "new" for all of you.

Is your sister an experienced traveler or otherwise able to roll with the punches? Stockholm is an "easy" intro to Europe; it was our sons' first trip to Europe and they had a great time.

Last thought is, are any of you religious? I'm thinking of which place experiencing Christmas might work for you--in terms of attending religious services. I imagine Rome cooks up some festive events in that way, though Odin mentions a festive Christmas as well.

You know your family; it sounds like if you have the "cold weather" prep you could do well in either spot.
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Old Aug 10th, 2014, 08:08 AM
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One thing to consider is the average hours of daylight in December for each city: 6:13 for Stockholm, 9:10 for Rome.

http://www.stockholm.climatemps.com/sunlight.php
http://www.rome.climatemps.com/sunlight.php
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Old Aug 10th, 2014, 08:22 AM
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Having been to both cities (not in winter) I would go to Rome. Find cold weather unpleasant (exception - skiing).
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Old Aug 10th, 2014, 08:32 AM
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Been to both places and reading all that has been said.....
I would go to Rome and see all I could there
that is of specific interest to you.. and then
see the surrounding areas.

walking around in a warmer climate is better than walking around in a colder climate and you will have more daylight hours in Rome also.

Yes Stockholm is nice but you could get a blast of winter weather at Christmas.
By 5:30 PM it starts getting dark.
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Old Aug 10th, 2014, 08:41 AM
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I would think Stockholm would be dark well before 5:30 in December. The very limited daylight would push me towards Italy.
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Old Aug 10th, 2014, 09:07 AM
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according to this site (http://www.cmpsolv.com/cgi-bin/sunse...hite&datefmt=0) sunrise in Dec is around 9am and set is 14;45. You will have very few hours to actually sight see or take day trips. But considering where you are coming from, isn't it warm and sunny with long days much of the year? In that case it might be fun to experience Sweden on the darkest days of the year.

Personally I'd go for Rome. I don't think day trips from Stockholm will be very good at that time of year.

Prices of food will be MUCH higher in Stockholm then in Rome.
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Old Aug 10th, 2014, 09:10 AM
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I reminded myself that Rome could just as well be wet, nasty and cold during December. Did it once, never again..all subsequent travel to Roma was in spring or fall. These familiarization pics were taken in late summer, but the country side, the archilpelagos, could be intriguing in December. Walking the well lit, decorated streets of town and Gamla Stan after dark , bundled up, would be a welcome experience, especially coming from Dubai.

https://picasaweb.google.com/stuarttower/Stockholm#
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Old Aug 10th, 2014, 09:40 AM
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We spent a week in Rome over NYE in 2021/2012 and had great weather - probably lucky!

You can see our pics here https://www.flickr.com/photos/pug_gi...7637218569466/
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Old Aug 10th, 2014, 10:24 AM
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It's not that Stockholm is in a different category. That is regular winter weather in northern areas. The people in Prague were right - what you had wa warm for winter there - or here in NYC for that matter.

I personally can;t deal with heat - if it goes higher than 72 (22 celsius) all I want to do is sit in an AC room - or under a nice shady tree with a cold drink - and not move. But I love winter/cold weather.

It's true the days will be shorter in Stockholm. But there is a ton to do indoors - and also day trips. I would have a look at the options in some guidebooks and see what you think.

Perhaps I 'm also leaning in that direction since I have been to Stockholm only twice - and there was a lot more I wanted to see/do. And while there is always a lot to see/do in Rome I've been there 11 or 12 times - so not as fascinating.
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Old Aug 10th, 2014, 10:56 AM
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Nice pictures tower, but they are summer pictures.

I am not a holidaying cold weather person, but that is me.

I love Stockholm but would not want to be bundled up walking Gamla Stan.

Coming from Dubai could have the reverse effect...getting used to the cold.

I agree about the getting dark much earlier than 5:30 PM.
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Old Aug 10th, 2014, 11:09 AM
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>>>Nice pictures tower, but they are summer pictures.
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Old Aug 10th, 2014, 11:32 AM
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I've spent Xmas/New Year's in Rome, and another time was there in February. I've not been to Stockholm, but I'd definitely pick southern Europe in winter for more daylight and possibly warmer weather.
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