Icehotel Sweden: The Ultimate Guide to Sleeping in Art Made of Ice

Welcome to the Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden — a place where ice becomes art, nature becomes architecture, and fantasy becomes reality. As a professional tour guide, I can confidently say: this is one of the most unique and unforgettable travel experiences on Earth.
 

Located just outside Kiruna, 200 km north of the Arctic Circle, the Icehotel is not just a place to stay—it’s an ever-evolving art project, a bucket-list destination, and a gateway to experiencing the wild beauty of Swedish Lapland.

🏔️ What Is the Icehotel?

The Icehotel is the world’s first hotel made entirely from natural ice and snow, harvested from the nearby Torne River. Built anew each winter since 1989, it features:

❄️ Intricately carved ice suites

🧊 Handmade ice furniture and sculptures

🍸 A world-famous Ice Bar

🔥 Warm accommodations and a cozy restaurant nearby

🌍 ICEHOTEL 365, a year-round ice experience using solar power

🧭 Where Is the Icehotel?

📍 Jukkasjärvi, about 17 km east of Kiruna, Sweden
✈️ Reachable by direct flights from Stockholm to Kiruna Airport
🚌 Shuttle buses, taxis, or hotel transfers are available
❄️ Perfect base for Northern Lights and Arctic safaris

🏨 Accommodation Options at the Icehotel

1. ❄️ Cold Rooms – Sleep in Art

Sleeping in a room carved entirely from ice is a surreal experience. Guests sleep on a bed of ice, topped with reindeer hides and thermal sleeping bags.

Art Suites: Themed, one-of-a-kind rooms designed by international artists

Deluxe Suites: Feature private warm bathrooms and even saunas

Temperature in rooms: around -5°C (23°F)

Everything from walls to beds and décor is carved from ice

2. 🔥 Warm Rooms – Comfort in the Arctic

For guests who want a traditional stay or to balance the cold experience:

Cozy Scandinavian-style hotel rooms or chalets

Include heated floors, modern bathrooms, and kitchenettes

Ideal for longer stays or families with children

🎨 The Art of Ice: A Hotel That Changes Every Year

Each year in November–December, the Icehotel is rebuilt using over 30,000 tons of ice and snow from the Torne River. Artists from around the globe are invited to:

Design suites, sculptures, and common areas

Transform the hotel into an ephemeral art exhibition

Incorporate themes from nature, mythology, science, and more

The Icehotel is not only accommodation—it’s a living gallery of Arctic imagination.

🌞 ICEHOTEL 365 – Ice in the Summer?

Thanks to innovative solar-powered cooling technology, the ICEHOTEL 365 lets you experience an ice stay even in midnight sun months.

Open year-round

Features permanent Art Suites and the Ice Bar

Great for guests visiting in summer or early autumn

✨ Icehotel Activities & Experiences

The Icehotel is more than a frozen building—it’s a base for Lapland adventures.

🌌 Northern Lights Tours

Available from September to March

Travel by snowmobile, dogsled, or heated minibus

Expert guides help you photograph and understand this phenomenon

🐕 Dogsledding & Reindeer Sled Tours

Drive your own husky sled team across snowy landscapes

Visit a Sami reindeer camp, try lassoing, and feed reindeer

Learn about indigenous Sami culture and traditions

❄️ Snow Sculpting & Ice Carving

Join creative workshops to carve your own ice masterpieces

Perfect for families, couples, and team-building events

Guided by Icehotel artists

🌲 Winter Wilderness Adventures

Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing through the forest

Ice fishing on frozen lakes

Snowmobile safaris to remote wilderness camps

🍽️ Dining at the Icehotel

The Icehotel Restaurant serves award-winning cuisine inspired by Lapland and the Arctic seasons.

Highlights Include:

Reindeer, moose, and Arctic char prepared with gourmet flair

Local ingredients like lingonberries, cloudberries, and mushrooms

Specialty dishes served on ice plates in the Ice Restaurant

Other Options:

The Icebar: Sip cocktails from glasses made of ice

Veranda: A 12-course Nordic tasting menu with wine pairing

Warm lounge areas for hot drinks and socializing

📸 Can You Visit Without Staying Overnight?

Absolutely! The Icehotel offers day tours and guided visits for those short on time or not staying overnight.

Explore the art suites, Ice Chapel, and Icebar

Join workshops, photography tours, or simply enjoy lunch

Entry tickets available year-round for ICEHOTEL 365

💒 Weddings & Special Events

The Icehotel is a dream wedding destination.

Ice Chapel – A beautiful frozen church for unforgettable ceremonies

Proposal packages, anniversaries, and vow renewals available

Professional photographers, planners, and Sami officiants on request

📆 Best Time to Visit the Icehotel

🧳 What to Pack for the Icehotel

Thermal layers (merino base, fleece mid, waterproof outer)

Wool socks, gloves, and hat

Sturdy winter boots

Camera + tripod for Aurora shots

Moisturizer and lip balm (the cold is dry!)

The Icehotel provides: sleeping bags, sauna access, and lockers

🚌 Getting There

Flights: Stockholm → Kiruna (1.5 hours), then 20-minute transfer

Train: Overnight sleeper trains from Stockholm

Transfers: Book hotel shuttles, taxis, or tours that include transport

Rental cars are an option if exploring further around Lapland

💡 Travel Tips from a Guide

✅ Book early, especially for Art Suites and holiday periods

🧊 Try both cold and warm rooms for a complete experience

🔭 Don’t miss a Northern Lights tour—they’re magical from this region

🎒 Check weather updates and layer clothing properly

🎫 Some activities are weather-dependent—plan backups

🌟 Why the Icehotel Should Be on Your Bucket List

The Icehotel is not just a hotel—it’s a journey into the Arctic imagination. Whether you're here for a romantic escape, a creative spark, or a life-long dream, it’s a destination that will leave you speechless.

Where else can you:

Sleep beneath an ice chandelier,

Toast cocktails in a bar of snow,

Watch the Aurora Borealis dance above a frozen river,

And wake up feeling like you’ve stepped into another world?

This isn’t just travel—it’s a once-in-a-lifetime memory.