Every spring the Icehotel melts back into the Torne River. Every winter it rises again. Since 1989, artists, architects and designers from around the world have come to the village of Jukkasjärvi to carve a new hotel from blocks of crystal-clear river ice, so no two seasons ever look the same. Walk its corridors and you pass through a gallery of frozen fantasies: a forest of ice columns in one suite, a sculpted animal in another, all glowing a soft, cool blue.
Sleeping here is an adventure the two of you will never stop talking about. You bundle into expedition-grade sleeping bags on a bed of ice draped in reindeer hides, in a room held at around 23°F. In the morning you wake to a steaming cup of lingonberry juice. Then you retreat to sauna, a warm room and a long Nordic dinner. Add the Icehotel 365 building (open all year), aurora nights over the river and dog sledding through the forest. The result is one of the most original honeymoons on the planet.
Highlights at a glance
- Rebuilt from Torne River ice by artists every winter since 1989
- Year-round Icehotel 365, cooled by solar power
- Deluxe ice suites with private sauna and bathroom
- Drinks from ice glasses at the Icebar
- Dog sledding, snowmobiling and aurora tours
- Midnight-sun rafting and hiking in summer
A Village on the Torne River
Jukkasjärvi is a small village roughly 11 miles east of Kiruna, Sweden's northernmost town. It sits on the banks of the Torne River, whose pure, slow-moving water freezes into the exceptionally clear ice that makes the hotel possible. Each spring, massive blocks are harvested and stored, then used the following winter to build the seasonal hotel alongside snow sculpted into vaulted halls.
The village also has a beautiful old wooden church and a strong Sámi heritage. The surrounding landscape of forest, frozen river and wide skies is classic Swedish Lapland. Kiruna Airport is only a short drive away, which means you can land from Stockholm and be exploring the ice within the hour. The overnight train from Stockholm is a romantic alternative for couples with time to spare.
Ice Suites, Art Suites and Warm Rooms
The seasonal Icehotel typically opens in December and runs into spring, with a fresh design each year. Rooms range from simple ice rooms to art suites, each one created by a different artist around a theme. Temperatures hover around 23°F. You sleep in thermal sleeping bags on ice beds covered with reindeer skins.
Icehotel 365 is the permanent ice building, kept cold year-round by solar power drawn from the endless summer sun. It has art suites and, for honeymooners, deluxe suites with a private heated relaxation area, a sauna and an en-suite bathroom, which takes much of the sting out of a night on ice.
The hotel also offers a variety of warm accommodation, from comfortable hotel rooms to cabins. Most couples book one night in the cold and the rest of the stay somewhere warm.
Dining and the Icebar
Meals are an important part of the Icehotel experience. The main restaurant serves seasonal Nordic menus built around northern ingredients such as Arctic char, reindeer, root vegetables and wild berries. In winter there is a special ice menu where dishes may be presented on plates carved from ice. A more rustic dining room in a historic homestead setting offers a cozier alternative. Coffee brewed over an open fire is a local ritual during outdoor excursions.
The Icebar is a must even if you only stay one night. Its furnishings are sculpted from ice and drinks are served in glasses made of ice. The design changes as the artists reimagine it. Reserve dinners ahead of time in peak season. Plan your evening so you can enjoy a warm meal before heading off to the cold rooms.
Why guests fall for it
Adventures on Snow and River
Jukkasjärvi lies in the auroral zone, so on clear winter nights the northern lights can dance right over the river. Guided aurora tours by snowmobile, sled or on foot head into the dark to improve your chances.
By day, try a dog sledding run through the forest, a snowmobile safari across frozen lakes, or a session with the ice sculptors themselves, who can teach you to carve your own small piece. If one of you runs colder than the other, plan a sauna and a long dinner between outings; nobody has to be a hero.
Summer is a different trip entirely. Under the midnight sun you can paddle or raft the Torne River, hike, cycle and fish, then visit the ice art of Icehotel 365, which remains frozen even in July.
If you want to go all the way, the ice chapel hosts weddings and vow renewals in winter. Contact the hotel well ahead to ask about availability.
Why Guests Fall in Love
The art steals the show. Guests describe walking through the corridors as being inside a constantly changing gallery. Many say the creativity of the suites far exceeded their expectations. Reviewers love that each season brings new designs, giving returning visitors a reason to come back.
The night on ice is the other great talking point. Couples often say they were surprised by how warm and cozy the sleeping bags kept them. They treasure the novelty of waking up in a frozen room to hot lingonberry juice. Many call it the most memorable night of their honeymoon.
Travelers also praise the staff briefings that make first-timers feel confident, the inventive food and the excursions, especially dog sledding and aurora tours. Combining a cold night with warm rooms is widely recommended.
Good to Know
- Book one night in an ice room and the rest in warm accommodation; it is the approach most guests recommend.
- Unless you are in a deluxe suite, toilets, showers and changing rooms for cold-room guests are in a nearby warm building. Bring wool socks and a hat for the night.
- Wear dry thermal base layers to bed, not damp clothing. The staff briefing covers everything you need.
- Inclusions vary by rate; some packages include breakfast, sauna access and loaned winter clothing. Confirm what yours covers.
- The seasonal hotel usually opens in December, while Icehotel 365 is open all year.
- Aurora visibility is best from late August to early April, but never guaranteed.
Insider tips
- Splurge on a deluxe suite in Icehotel 365 for your ice night; the private sauna and bathroom make it far more comfortable.
- Visit the art suites during public viewing hours, then explore again late in the evening when day visitors have gone.
- Book dinner and sauna time before your cold night so you go to bed warm, relaxed and well fed.
- Consider the overnight train from Stockholm to Kiruna for a slow, romantic arrival.
