Sweden’s Unique Icehotels

From ice rooms to outdoor experiences, Sweden’s Icehotels provide a unique stay for travelers interested in the outdoors.

Entrance to Icehotel. Markus Bernet. CC BY-SA 2.5

A trip to Sweden may entail many unique experiences, but very little can parallel a stay at Icehotel in Jukkasjarvi. Located in the land region and 200km north of the Arctic Circle, the hotel was established in 1989 as the world’s first ice hotel, with the goal to, “Create life enriching experiences." A unique venue for hospitality, the ice hotel is structurally similar to an igloo. Ice and stagnant air both have very low thermal conductivity, limiting the heat transferred from the outdoors and keeping the structures from melting. The travel group Transun explains that, “The ice structure stops heat being transferred to the surroundings, because the ice and the windless air are both excellent insulators. The buildings depend on sub-freezing temperatures and usually melt in summer, rebuilt again from fresh ice every year.” 

On its site, the Icehotel group writes about the central theme of storytelling it hopes to achieve with its establishments: “Our inspiration is the Arctic and the delicate beauty of crafting something that is ephemeral yet engaging all your senses," creating its edifices with ice taken from the Torne River. With each winter, new artists are given the opportunity to showcase their talents through the Icehotel. The same river is also the source of the crystal-clear ice furniture that adorns both the original Icehotel and the new Icehotel 365, a newer project from the same brand to offer more to travelers all year.

Travel Agency "Discover the World" recommends that, although elements of Icehotel are now open year-round, the best time to visit is, “During the winter months when it is blanketed in snow, the air outside is crisp and cold and the Northern Lights might make an appearance.” For Sweden, this is from December to early April, the months when the original Icehotel is constructed and open. During this time, the Icehotel has between fifteen and twenty standard ice rooms and twelve art suites for guests to stay in. Johan Larsson, the standard ice rooms’ artist, explains that he chose to incorporate an ice bed and decor because, “I wanted to create a feeling of being embraced and protected by the ice—a good night’s sleep for all guests.” The art suites are a step up from the standard rooms. Each suite is designed by an artist who has creative freedom to choose their own themes and styles. Icehotel says that, “The artist, perhaps from Kiruna, Germany, UK, or the US has been picked from over two hundred applicants and invited to make the suite you’ll be sleeping in.” Art suites are kept between 18 and 23 degrees fahrenheit. Because of their icy cold atmosphere, all rooms have special accommodations like thermal sleeping bags, reindeer hides and curtains in place of doors. Guests are given access to Riverside, a heated lobby, for changing rooms, toilets and saunas.

Art Suite in Icehotel. Rob Alter. CC BY 2.0

When planning a stay, guests are offered a choice of warm or cold accommodations. Warm rooms are like a standard hotel room and are located in a separate building. Icehotel recommends that guests spend just one night in the cold while booking a warm room for the rest of their trip, and provides special, insulated sleeping bags for guests to keep warm. The company also encourages appropriate sleepwear—thermal underwear, hats, warm jumpers, etc. Transun notes that, , although sleeping in a room made of ice might sound unpleasant, the right clothing and sleeping bags can keep guests warm as long as the outdoor temperature stays above -13 degrees Fahrenheit. Visitors can still arrange tours if they choose not to spend the night. Icehotel can accommodate up to five people in its largest warm rooms and two people in each of its cold rooms.

Standard Ice Room. Xraijs. CC BY-NC 2.0

Even during the summer months, the Icehotel brand still has much to offer interested travelers. Icehotel 365 was first opened in December 2016 as a year long ice experience. The building is a permanent, 2100 square meter art hall, maintaining interior sub-zero temperatures by relying on cool solar power throughout the year. Its art hall contains a collection of traditional art while the building is also home to deluxe suites, an ice bar and experience rooms that depict Icehotel’s history. Additionally, guests can enjoy Torne River rafting, private fishing tours, a ropes course, mountain hikes, and, of course, the Northern Lights.

Despite being a large tourist attraction, sustainability is central to Icehotel’s methods. The organization writes that, “We borrow the ice from the Torne River to build a new, seasonal Icehotel, which eventually melts and returns back to its origin in the spring. The basic idea of Icehotel is built on the premise of the environmental cycle, and our relation to the water and the ice is central.” The company also works with River Rescuers, an activist group protecting “The untouched waters of Sweden,” and regularly makes donations to WaterAid to assist water health throughout Sweden.


Aanya Panyadahundi

Aanya is a student at the University of Michigan studying sociology and journalism on a pre-law path. She loves to travel the world whenever she can, always eager to learn more about the different cultures and societies around her. In her free time, she likes to play the violin, ski, and listen to podcasts.

Chasing Aurora: Where To See The Northern Lights

From Norway to New Zealand, these five spots are perfect for experiencing the elusive beauty of the Aurora Borealis.

The Northern Lights as seen from the southern coast of Iceland. Cameron Pickett. CC BY 2.0.

The Aurora Borealis, better known as the Northern Lights, is one of the most magical natural phenomena to witness in person. It is caused by electrical interactions in the upper atmosphere that release waves of normally green and yellow light depending on which elements have reacted. Environmental conditions need to be perfect in order to properly experience the true beauty of the elusive lights, but there are a few locations near the Arctic Circle from which they are easier to spot. Here are five locations with an exceptionally good view for those who are trying to catch a glimpse of the lights, adjusted for the current astronomical layout of the planets and stars.

1. Rovaniemi, Finland

The Northern Lights shining down on the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Finland. Santa Claus Village. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

The city of Rovaniemi is the capital of Lapland, and is also well publicized as being the hometown of Santa Claus. Situated right on the Arctic Circle, it is most easily reachable by plane from Helsinki, though it is also accessible by local trains and buses. Rovaniemi is famous for its natural beauty -- its northern latitude makes it perfect for those wanting to experience the ‘midnight sun’ phenomenon, where our star is visible for a whole 24 hours. The city is the perfect destination for travelers looking to enjoy the Northern Lights, with the optimum viewing times occurring between August and April.

2. Yukon, Canada

The Northern Lights over Kluane Lake, Yukon. Keith Williams. CC BY-NC 2.0.

Located in the north east corner of Canada, the Yukon territory is home to almost 22,000 square kilometers (around 8,500 square miles) of protected land as part of the Kluane National Park and Reserve. Visitors can reach the park by plane, boat or car to visit the country’s largest ice field, an incredible grizzly bear population, and even Mount Logan, Canada’s highest peak, which stands just under 6,000 meters (around 19,685 feet) tall. While the Northern Lights can be seen from most of Canada’s provinces, the display is visible to those in the Yukon from August to April, making it one of the longest viewing seasons in the country.

3. Reykjavík, Iceland

The Northern Lights seen from a small cabin just outside of Reykjavík, Iceland. Davide Cantelli. CC0.

The Icelandic capital of Reykjavík is by far the largest city in the country and is also one of the best places to watch the Northern Lights. Just a few degrees south of the Arctic Circle, many residents of the city claim to see the display from their windows on especially bright nights. Visitors can fly directly into the city’s airport and enjoy various other outdoor activities including icy glacier hikes, swimming in natural hot springs during the day and venturing to Thingvellir National Park, which is just a short drive from the city to see the aurora. Though brighter auroras can be seen from the city, avoiding light pollution makes it much easier to experience the full display between September and April.

4. Tromsø, Norway

The Northern Lights shining over the mountains in Tromsø, Norway. Maria Wulff Hauglann. CC BY-NC 2.0.

Located in the heart of the northern aurora zone, the Norwegian city of Tromsø is most well-known for its view of the Northern Lights. Visitors can book one of the many available aurora tours hosted by guides who have expert knowledge of the best local sites from which to watch the display. Many of these base camps offer excellent viewing of the lights from September all the way till April. Tromsø is just a quick 3.5 hour flight from London for those wanting to experience the local Sami culture, or for those simply looking to indulge themselves in the city with the most bars per capita than any other in Norway.

5. Kiruna, Sweden

The Northern Lights as seen from the town of Kiruna in Swedish Lapland. Martin Eklund. CC0.

The wilderness of Swedish Lapland is perfect for those looking to enjoy the Northern Lights away from other tourists. Additionally, the complete lack of light pollution allows for a particularly vibrant viewing. As the northernmost city in Sweden, Kiruna is located well within the Arctic Circle and is home to the largest underground iron ore mine in the world. The town also neighbors Jukkasjärvi, a town made recently famous for its hotel made entirely of ice. Visitors who stay here can typically enjoy the lights between September and March, though the season can often begin slightly earlier and end slightly later.

Bonus: Queenstown, New Zealand

The Southern Lights captured near Queenstown, New Zealand. Bec Potter. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

This final destination highlights the resort town of Queenstown on New Zealand’s South Island. Unlike the other places on this list, it is a perfect place to experience the natural phenomena known as the Aurora Australis or the Southern Lights. This aurora is similarly caused by interactions between molecules in the upper atmosphere, which release waves of light across the night sky, though the Southern Lights tend to appear red and pink. This is due to the types of gas that are interacting and the atmospheric height at which the interactions take place. Visitors can fly straight into Queenstown’s international airport and enjoy the natural beauty of the nearby Lake Wakatipu during the day, before settling in to watch the display at night.



Tanaya Vohra

Tanaya is an undergraduate student pursuing a major in Public Health at the University of Chicago. She's lived in Asia, Europe and North America and wants to share her love of travel and exploring new cultures through her writing.