ICEHOTEL

Located near Kiruna, this iconic hotel is completely rebuilt each winter from ice and snow and melts away each spring, offering a unique overnight experience in Arctic luxury. The hotel features elaborately designed ice rooms, an ice bar, and ice church, representing the pinnacle of Arctic hospitality.

Things to do

• Ice Room Overnight Stay — Sleep in an elaborately carved ice bedroom at sub-zero temperatures, wrapped in thermal sleeping bags on a bed of ice and reindeer hides.
• Ice Bar Experience — Drink cocktails from glasses made entirely of ice in the hotel's famous ice bar, kept at -5°C year-round.
• Ice Church Wedding or Service — Attend a ceremony or wedding in the stunning ice chapel featuring ice sculptures, stained ice windows, and acoustic ice walls.
• Snowmobile Safari to Abisko — Take a guided snowmobile excursion into the surrounding Arctic wilderness to chase the Northern Lights and explore reindeer herding lands.
• Ice Sculpting Workshop — Participate in a hands-on class where local artists teach you to carve intricate designs from ice blocks using traditional tools.
• Kiruna Town Tour — Visit the nearby iron ore mining city of Kiruna, known for its distinctive architecture and the Space Hotel concept.
• Dog Sledding Expedition — Mush a team of Arctic huskies across frozen landscapes while learning traditional Sami winter transport methods.

Food to try

• Reindeer Stew (Finnbiff) — A traditional Nordic dish of slow-cooked reindeer meat with lingonberries, sour cream, and pickled cucumber served in the hotel's warm restaurant.
• Arctic Char from Local Rivers — Fresh fish caught from Torne River, often prepared simply with butter and served with root vegetables reflecting Sami culinary traditions.
• Cloudberry Dessert — A delicate Arctic berry native to Swedish Lapland, served as jam, mousse, or in a traditional cream-based dessert at the hotel.
• Sami Lavvu Dinner — An authentic outdoor meal cooked over an open fire in a traditional Sami tent, featuring game meat and foraged ingredients from the tundra.
• Ice Hotel Five-Course Dinner — An elegant multi-course meal served in the hotel's themed ice restaurant, combining Swedish and Arctic ingredients with modern plating.
• Pine Needle Tea — A traditional Nordic herbal infusion made from spruce or pine needles, served warm in the hotel's common areas.

Local customs & good to know

• Dress in Extreme Layers — Wear thermal underwear, insulated outerwear, and Arctic-rated boots at all times; the ice rooms are intentionally kept at -5°C for preservation.
• Embrace the Midnight Sun and Polar Night — Visits in summer offer 24-hour daylight while winter provides extended darkness ideal for Northern Lights viewing; plan accordingly for your seasonal visit.
• Respect Sami Heritage — The region is traditional Sami land; show respect by learning about indigenous reindeer herding practices and supporting local Sami artisans and guides.
• Book Far in Advance — ICEHOTEL rooms sell out months ahead, especially for Northern Lights season (September-March), so reserve your ice room experience early.