Icehotel
Ideal: Ideal for winter routes, special experiences, photography, and northern atmosphere.
The hotel in Jukkasjärvi has been rebuilt from scratch every winter since 1989: constructed from ice cut from the Torne River, it melts in spring and returns to the same river. Each season artists chosen from hundreds of applications design rooms one by one, so no room is ever repeated. Even when outside temperatures reach minus forty, inside stays between minus five and seven; guests sleep on ice beds lined with reindeer hides in thermal sleeping bags. Since 2016, a solar-cooled section also stays open in summer.
Quick facts
- Built
- 1988
- Opened
- 1990
Facts from Wikidata, photos from Wikimedia Commons.
Did you know?
Is the hotel rebuilt every year?
Yes. Each winter it is built from scratch with ice cut from the Torne River, and in spring it melts back into it. Different artists redesign the rooms every year.
How cold is it inside?
Rooms stay at around −5 to −8 °C even when it is −30 °C outside. Guests get thermal sleeping bags and reindeer hides, and warm rooms are also available.
What happens to the ice glasses?
Drinks at the Icebar are served in glasses carved from ice. They are not melted down and reused — a new set is produced every season.
Why go?
- To see a unique hotel and art space made of ice
- To experience a special winter stay in Swedish Lapland
- Because it makes an unforgettable route combined with northern lights and snow activities
Travel tip
Check winter season, transport, and weather conditions in advance; this is a stop that needs planning, not spontaneity.
