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Welcome to Icehotel 33
Every November, as temperatures drop and the aurora borealis dances overhead, a new Icehotel takes shape in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden, 200km (125 miles) north of the Arctic Circle in Swedish Lapland. As spring arrives, the Icehotel melts back into the Torne River, allowing a unique and seasonal experience that transforms each year.
The Icehotel serves as a stunning winter art gallery featuring themed spaces carved from ice by artists worldwide. Each art suite is unique and lasts only as long as that year’s winter season.
Icehotel 33 opened on December 16, marking the 33rd annual incarnation of this intriguing concept. It features 12 themed art suites created by 24 artists from 10 countries, alongside 24 simpler ice rooms, a ceremonial hall, and a main hall adorned with 40 ice columns. Overnight guests enjoy free daytime admission to the entire hotel. For those who prefer a day visit, admission tickets are available to explore the artistic wonders.
Year-Round Ice Experiences
Travelers can experience ice art even during warmer months. In addition to the seasonally rebuilt structure, Icehotel Winter, open from December through April, visitors can enjoy Icehotel 365. This year-round facility uses solar energy to maintain its ice rooms, featuring 18 ice suites and an Experience Room showcasing previous years’ ice art.
Getting There
Jukkasjärvi is a small village of approximately 900 people near Kiruna, the largest town in Swedish Lapland. The journey from Kiruna Airport to the Icehotel is quick and easy by taxi or rental car. For a unique experience, consider arriving by dogsled during winter, a picturesque 90-minute trip.
Outdoor Activities
Sweden’s far north is renowned for being one of the best places in the world to observe the aurora borealis (northern lights). Fall and winter bring an array of activities, including:
- Dogsledding
- Ice fishing
- Snowmobiling
- Snowshoeing
- Cross-country skiing
- Ice sculpting
For summer visitors, the captivating midnight sun provides ample opportunity for hiking, fishing, white-water rafting, camping, or enjoying meals by a cozy campfire. Take advantage of guided activities available through the Icehotel, and don’t miss the traditional Jukkasjärvi sauna ritual, which involves relaxation in a sauna, a roll in the snow, a dip in the icy Torne River, and a soak in a heated outdoor bathtub.
Cultural Insights
Jukkasjärvi is also a fantastic place to immerse yourself in the traditions of Scandinavia’s Indigenous people, the reindeer-herding Sámi. Local tourism business Nutti Sámi Siida offers various cultural and outdoor experiences.
Culinary Delights
The main restaurant at Icehotel allows guests to choose from a menu featuring local ingredients or indulge in the multi-course “ice menu,” where dishes are served on plates made of ice from the Torne River. Additionally, meals at the Veranda are inspired by the eight seasons of the Sámi year, showcasing the rich flavors of Swedish Lapland.
Bar Offerings
The Icebar, a prominent feature of the Icehotel, is redesigned annually by international artists. It maintains a chilly atmosphere, around -5°C (23°F), and everything is crafted from Torne River ice, from the bar counter and walls to the furniture and glasses. A lounge serves light meals, hot drinks, beer, and wine, open from December to April.
Accommodation Options
Icehotel offers ice rooms and suites with ice bed frames, wooden bases, thick mattresses covered with reindeer hides, pillows, and warm sleeping bags. Temperatures in the ice rooms range from -5 to -8 °C (18° to 23°F). For those preferring modern comfort, Icehotel 365 features deluxe ice suites with heated bathrooms and luggage space, as well as traditional warm hotel rooms and chalets.
For a unique experience, consider staying at Nutti Sámi Siida’s accommodations, inspired by the Sámi lifestyle, offering options from forest cabins to traditional and modern tents. In Kiruna, Camp Ripan provides bright cabins with various configurations and a beautiful spa with year-round indoor and outdoor facilities.
