An ice hotel is just as it sounds – it’s a type of accommodation that’s made from ice and snow! You’ll find ice hotels in locations where winter temperatures are below freezing, such as the Arctic. Most are rebuilt every winter because they melt in the summer.

The original ICEHOTEL is located in Jukkasjärvi, a 15-minute drive from Kiruna Airport in Swedish Lapland. Inaugurated in 1989, it was the first hotel in the world to be sculpted from ice and has since inspired others like it. However, ICEHOTEL still remains the most famous of all.

You wouldn’t be alone in assuming there’d be an ice hotel in Iceland, given the country’s name. But you won’t find any accommodation made of ice or snow here, unfortunately.

However, there are ice and snow hotels located very near Iceland, in the neighbouring region of Scandinavia. You could combine a visit to Iceland with a trip to Norway or Lapland for the chance to stay in an ice hotel. That way you’d get the best of both worlds!

Iceland may not have its own ice hotel, but it does boast some incredible luxury retreats instead. Discover the best boutique hotels in Iceland on our expert’s blog.

As you might imagine, ice and snow hotels offer a completely unique holiday experience. Sleeping in a frosty room with art, beds and furniture all made of ice is something few people get to do. So how do ice hotels work exactly?

Ice and snow hotels are essentially large igloos with grand designs and artistic sculptures. They are constructed at the beginning of winter every year with ice from nearby rivers or seas. For example, the Swedish ICEHOTEL sources ice from the River Torne, while the Finnish SnowCastle uses the Bay of Bothnia.

These frozen palaces need to stay cold to keep their form, so they are kept at temperatures ranging from 0 to -7°C (32 to 19°F). As spring approaches, around April time, these giant igloos melt away. They will be rebuilt from scratch when winter returns.

That said, some of these hotels also feature permanent ice structures that you can visit year round. For example, you could explore the ice exhibitions at the SnowCastle or ICEHOTEL in summer. However, we recommend you to book your trip for the winter to enjoy the most authentic experience.

What’s more, the artists who design these icy structures don’t just build beautiful ice rooms for you to sleep in. They also create ice restaurants, ice bars, ice chapels, and more! You could choose to spend the night amongst ice art or enjoy a guided tour of an ice hotel and art exhibition.

Want to sleep amid the snow and ice? If so we suggest you book one night in an ice room then warm up in a toasty sauna in the morning. This way you can enjoy the magic of sleeping in a frosty chamber and experience a quintessential Nordic spa the next day.

Learn more about Nordic spa and wellness traditions on our blog.

Yes, parts of the Nordic ice and snow hotels melt when temperatures begin to rise, around April. They will be rebuilt the following winter, in November and December. That’s why you’ll see new artistic designs every year, as they are made from scratch.

However, some ice hotels have frozen spaces open year round, such as the ICEHOTEL in Sweden, Snowhotel in Norway, and SnowCastle in Finland.

Although you can visit the ice restaurants and exhibitions at these hotels in summer, the best time to visit is winter. Why? Because then you can enjoy winter activities too, like dog sledding in the snow and chasing the northern lights.

Need some inspiration? Discover the top reasons to visit Lapland in winter and the best things to do in Norway in winter.

To stay frozen, the ice hotels maintain a temperature of around 0 to -7°C (32 to 19°F). But you’ll be able to keep warm thanks to thermal sleeping bags and reindeer hides provided when you sleep in an ice room.

It isn’t all ice and snow though. Bathrooms, lockers and saunas are usually located in heated buildings. Plus, you can choose to sleep in one of the warm hotel rooms and chalets for the rest of your stay.

If you’re wondering how you’ll sleep surrounded by ice, don’t worry. The hotel provides you with high-quality thermal sleeping bags, made for sub-zero temperatures, to keep you toasty. You’ll also sleep on a mattress and reindeer hide, or something similar, to protect you from the ice.

As well as this, the key to sleeping in an ice hotel is to relax and enjoy the experience!

If you visit an ice hotel, you’ll be given thermal gear to protect you from the cold. You’ll usually get a snowsuit, snow boots, gloves and a balaclava to wear during your stay.

As well as this protective clothing, we recommend you wear the following to the ice hotels:

• Breathable layers
• Fleece or wool sweater
• Insulated and waterproof jacket
• Insulated boots
• Wool socks
• Thermal underwear
• Warm hat, scarf and gloves
• Heat pads for hands and feet

If you’re staying the night at an ice hotel, we suggest you bring a pair of shoes that you can easily slip on and off. This will make it a lot easier if you need to pop to the heated bathroom in the middle of the night.

We also recommend you bring an eye mask with you as there is soft lighting in the ice rooms for safety reasons.

Ice hotels in the Nordics are usually open from around mid-December to March or April. This is the best time to visit a hotel made of ice and snow.

Technically you could see certain ice hotels throughout the year, as some of them have year-round ice structures and attractions. However we highly recommend that you go in winter to get the fully authentic experience.

The cost of visiting an ice hotel depends on when you go and what you do while there.

You could enjoy a guided tour to see the incredible frozen carvings and ice art suites that are sculpted by hand. Or upgrade to a night’s stay in one of the ice rooms. This will cost more than the guided tour but will give you the ultimate ice hotel experience.

The Nordic Visitor ice hotel holiday packages you see online include guided visits or one night’s accommodation in an ice room. You can always add an optional upgrade to sleep at an ice hotel if the online itinerary doesn’t already include it.

If you’re unsure of what you want, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. One of our travel experts will advise you and explain the various options to you.

Absolutely! The Nordic ice and snow hotels make for an extraordinary experience that you’ll never forget.

It’s a great way to round off your winter trip to Northern Norway or Lapland. You can enjoy activities in the snow, northern lights gazing, and taste local delicacies. You might like to try a hot lingonberry juice, some cloudberries, or “kettle coffee” – typically prepared over a campfire.

The best ice hotels are found in the Nordic region, where the trend originated. All of these are beautiful to behold, so the best ice hotel for you really depends on what else you want to do on your tour.

Here’s our pick of the best ice and snow hotels:

• ICEHOTEL, Swedish Lapland
• SnowCastle, Finnish Lapland
• Snowhotel, Northern Norway
• Arctic SnowHotel, Finnish Lapland
• Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, Finnish Lapland

Discover which of these frozen hideaways is right for you by reading our Nordic ice hotel guide.

Yes, you can choose your arrival date online when reserving your ice hotel vacation package. We recommend you to book in advance as these ice hotel tours are only available between December and March, so they tend to get snapped up quickly.

Yes, our ice hotel packages are flexible and customisable. If you’d like to spend more time in a particular destination or add on optional activities, you can request this when booking your tour online. Your dedicated travel consultant will get in touch to confirm the extras with you.

You should book your flights once your Nordic Visitor itinerary is confirmed. We suggest you check flights beforehand to find appropriate dates and prices, but only purchase them after your travel consultant has secured your ice hotel tour package.

Your Nordic Visitor consultant will send you a confirmation email with all the details you need to buy suitable flights.

As these ice hotel tours run in the Nordic winter, you should prepare for cold temperatures. We recommend wool clothing as this is one of the best materials for keeping you warm.

You are provided with thermal outerwear for your guided excursions in Lapland and Northern Norway. This way you can enjoy activities in the snow and don’t need to worry about buying all the necessary gear yourself.

These are the essential items that we recommend you pack for your trip:

For more detailed information on what to pack for your winter tour, read our travel guides for Norway and Lapland.

• Warm jumpers or fleeces
• Waterproof and thermal jackets
• Gloves, scarves and hats
• Insulated, waterproof boots
• Thermal underlayers
• Waterproof trousers
• Wool socks
• Heat packs