When winter arrives, the clean waters of the Torne River’s meandering slow down and freeze into ice. The first ever Icehotel was hand-sculpted out of these giant ice blocks gathered from this particular river running beside on a frigid day in 1989. Over three decades later, the Icehotel has become a must-see Swedish attraction for visitors from all over the world.
Discover the world’s first hotel made completely of ice and snow. The Icehotel in Swedish Lapland is one of the most famous and creative destinations you may ever visit.
This hotel, in the village of Jukkasjarvi, 200 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, has been resurrected into new, spectacular designs every winter for the past thirty years. We were enchanted by it when it first appeared in 1990, and we are happy to be the Icehotel’s top global partner.
The 32nd Icehotel, Icehotel 365, opened on December 10, 2021, with unique Art Suite designs and new suites, including a Midsummer Night’s Dream Suites designed by Prince Carl Philip Bernadotte and Oscar Kylberg.
The Icehotel is now open all year, with a wide range of activities and experiences available during both the winter and summer seasons. However, many people consider the Icehotel to be at its best during the winter months, when it is covered in snow, the air is crisp and cold, and the northern lights may shine.
The winter season begins in December and lasts until the beginning of April. Guests can stay in the new, hand-carved art suites or ordinary ice rooms during these months before the ice melts and returns to the Torne river. The seasonal art suites are all unique; each year, artists from all around the world create more innovative and even more bizarre designs, and no two are ever the same.
If you plan an ICEHOTEL vacation during the winter, it is highly recommend staying in the ice rooms for one night before moving on to a chalet or standard hotel room.
The Icehotel, located in the little village of Jukkasjarvi, well above the Arctic Circle, is at an ideal location for witnessing the aurora borealis. Aurora viewers walk down to the frozen river in the evening to stare at the night sky in the hopes of seeing the northern lights – probably after a beverage or two at the Icebar.
If you’re planning a trip to Sweden then visiting the original Ice Hotel is a MUST! You can also check out our guide to seeing the Northern Lights here.
