255 reviewsfrom verified guests
Situated in the village of Jukkasjarvi 200 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle in Lapland, Sweden, Icehotel represents a unique winter experience. Built every year entirely from snow and ice from the Torne River, it sits alongside permanent hotel buildings which are open all year. The nearest airport is Kiruna (KRN), 17 kilometres away.
Guided tours of the hotel take place daily. There are separate men's and women's morning saunas, and also private saunas and hot tubs for up to four people (surcharge). In winter the Icehotel has an ice chapel licensed for marriages and baptisms and complete with an ice font, etched ice windows, and reindeer skin covered pews. The Icehotel shop sells a wide range of warm winter clothing, as well as gifts. Guests of the Icehotel enjoy a complimentary buffet breakfast each morning, and there are two restaurants serving a range of Lappish and Swedish specialties.
The Absolut Icebar offers designer cocktails served from ice glasses amidst specially created ice sculptures. In winter, activities include snowmobile excursions through ancient forests, northern lights tours, snow shoe and cross country ski excursions, and dogsled and reindeer tours.
In summer months guests can enjoy tours on the Torne River, fishing and guided tours of the Icehotel art centre. Surcharges apply for all activities and equipment is available to rent from the Icehotel.
Icehotel offers 56 'warm' guestrooms available all year, and 60 'cold' guestrooms available from December to April only. 'Warm' guestrooms are set in a single storey hotel building or individual cabins and bungalows, and feature modern Scandinavian style decor with shower rooms and tea/coffee making facilities. Igloo style 'cold' guestrooms are built from ice with beds made from snow and ice topped with mattresses and reindeer skins, with individual sleeping bags and linen. Inside, the temperature is 5 to 8 degrees centigrade. Warm outer clothing, wake up calls with hot lingonberry juice, and morning saunas are included. Please note: The Room Amenities list applies to 'warm' guestrooms only.
The front desk is open 24 hours a day in the winter season, and from 8 AM to 9 PM in summertime. Guests staying overnight in the Icehotel cold rooms cannot take luggage to the rooms as it will freeze. A porter stores it in a secure luggage room. The hotel recommends that guests stay one night in the Icehotel and the rest of their stay in the 'warm' accommodation, within the permanent hotel buildings. Most guests chose to stay in the Icehotel for their first night, but for those arriving on late flights, it is suggested they spend their first night in 'warm' accommodation to acclimatise to the surroundings. Upon arrival, all overnight guests receive a guided tour and information about how to dress and sleep in the Icehotel; the hotel lends warm outdoor clothes and boots to all guests during their stay. Guests should make sure to dress for the arctic climate and plan to wear several layers of clothing. Underwear should be synthetic, wool or wool mix, rather than cotton. Fleece is recommended for the mid layer, then a waterproof, windproof outer shell plus warm overalls, warm shoes or boots, hats, and mittens.
From 10 AM to 6 PM the Icehotel is a museum that receives visitors.
