Step inside the sculpted suites of the Icehotel
Walk silent corridors carved each winter from crystal-clear Torne River ice blocks 200 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle.
At a glance
December to April for the seasonal winter hotel; year-round inside Icehotel 365
Midday for daylight gallery viewing or evening for dinner and sub-zero Icebar cocktails
2 to 4 hours for daytime art tours, or overnight in warm and cold suites
Arctic ice art gallery exploration · Sub-zero architecture
Easy
Advance booking recommended
Why the Icehotel is an ephemeral marvel of Arctic art and design
Founded in 1989 in the riverside village of Jukkasjärvi, the Icehotel was the world's first hotel constructed entirely of snow and ice. Each winter, as the sun dips low and Arctic frost thickens the waters of the untamed Torne River, thousands of tonnes of crystal-clear ice blocks and snice (a dense snow-ice blend) are transformed into grand vaulted halls, an ice chapel, and bespoke art suites designed by sculptors invited from across the globe.
What makes the experience unique is its ephemeral relationship with nature: when spring arrives, the winter suites gently melt and return their water back to the Torne River, completing a poetic ecological cycle.
With the innovative addition of Icehotel 365—cooled in summer by solar power from the midnight sun—visitors can now experience the sub-zero ice gallery and ice bar year-round, marveling at translucent ice chandeliers and relief sculptures maintained at a crisp minus five degrees Celsius.
Stepping into an illuminated world of carved river ice
Warm check-in and expedition outerwear
Collect insulated snowsuits, warm mittens, and thermal boots at the adventure desk before entering the cold halls.
Walking the main ice gallery
Step through reindeer-skin lined doorways into towering vaulted corridors lit by gentle hidden LEDs reflecting off translucent ice pillars.
Exploring individual art suites
Peer inside uniquely sculpted bedrooms, each created as an original artistic installation with carved relief walls and reindeer-pelt beds.
A toast in the Icebar
Sip lingonberry cider or arctic cocktails served in glasses carved from single solid blocks of natural Torne River ice.
Plan your experience
When to go
The seasonal winter hotel is constructed anew each November and opens from mid-December through mid-April. Icehotel 365 offers the ice gallery experience throughout the summer beneath the midnight sun.
Getting there
Fly from Stockholm to Kiruna Airport (90 minutes), followed by a 15-minute taxi, hotel shuttle, or winter dog-sled transfer to Jukkasjärvi. Alternatively, travel aboard the legendary SJ Arctic Night Train from Stockholm Central straight into Kiruna.
Booking & permits
Day visitor day-passes for touring the ice art suites can be bought on arrival, though booking online in advance is advised during holiday periods. Overnight ice suites should be reserved months ahead.
What to bring
- Thermal wool base layers and fleece mid-layers
- Warm woollen socks, insulated hat, and neck gaiter
- Gloves suitable for handling ice and cameras in freezing air
- Camera or smartphone with cold-weather battery protection
Before you go
- Combine your visit with northern lights hunts, snowmobile excursions, or visits to the Nutti Sámi Siida cultural camp across the road
- Take time to visit the 400-year-old Jukkasjärvi wooden church, the oldest surviving church in Lapland
- Enjoy a traditional meal of Arctic char, reindeer, and cloudberries at the hotel's warm heritage restaurant
Official information
Always verify permits, seasonal weather conditions and access directly with public authorities:
Official portal for art suite reservations, day visitor tickets, wilderness activities, and dining.
Regional Arctic tourism authority with guides to Kiruna, Abisko, and Sámi culture in Norrbotten.
Ways to experience it
Explore the ice art suites and public halls at your own pace during daytime opening hours, reading artist statements mounted outside each chamber.
Join an official daily guided ice tour to learn about the engineering behind snice, the Torne River harvest, and the artists' creative visions.
Certified providers & operators
Icehotel Adventure Concierge
Guided ice sculpting workshops and snowmobile safaris
In-house team providing certified equipment and Arctic wilderness excursions.