Ice Hotels Around the World: Complete Guide 2026
Sleeping in a hotel made entirely of ice and snow sounds insane — and it kind of is. The room temperature hovers around -5°C, your bed is a block of ice covered in reindeer hides, and your morning breath freezes mid-air. But it's also one of the most extraordinary accommodation experiences on Earth.
Every winter, artists carve entire hotels from river ice and packed snow. By spring, they melt back into the landscape. Here's every ice hotel worth visiting in 2026.
The Original: ICEHOTEL, Jukkasjärvi, Sweden
Location: Jukkasjärvi, 17km from Kiruna, Swedish Lapland
Open: December to April (seasonal) / Year-round (ICEHOTEL 365)
Price: £200–700/night depending on room type
Aurora Score: 9/10
ICEHOTEL is the original and still the best. Founded in 1989, it's rebuilt every winter using 2,500 tonnes of ice harvested from the Torne River. Each year, artists from around the world submit designs for the Art Suites — meaning no two years are identical.
Room Types
Ice Room (from £200/night): A beautiful carved ice room with ice furniture and an ice bed topped with reindeer hides and thermal sleeping bags. Shared bathrooms in the warm building next door. Temperature: -5°C.
Art Suite (from £350/night): Individually designed by international artists. Each suite is a unique sculpture you sleep inside. These are the showpiece rooms — expect dramatic lighting, intricate carvings, and Instagram-worthy designs. Shared bathrooms.
Deluxe Art Suite (from £500/night): The premium experience. Private heated bathroom attached to your ice suite. The best of both worlds — sleep in ice, shower in warmth.
ICEHOTEL 365 (from £400/night): The permanent ice hotel, kept frozen year-round by solar-powered cooling. Available even in summer — surreal to sleep in ice when it's 20°C outside. Twelve luxury suites with individual designs.
Warm Rooms (from £150/night): Standard hotel rooms in the warm building for those who want the ICEHOTEL experience without actually sleeping on ice. Many guests do one night ice, one night warm.
What to Expect
- Check-in: 6 PM. You store luggage in lockers (nothing survives -5°C overnight)
- The Ice Bar: Drinks served in glasses made of ice. Included with your stay.
- Sleeping: Thermal sleeping bags rated to -30°C on reindeer hides on an ice bed. Surprisingly cosy once you're zipped in.
- Morning: Wake-up call with hot lingonberry juice at 7:30 AM. Warm sauna available.
- Activities: Dog sledding, snowmobile tours, northern lights tours, ice sculpting classes
Booking Tips
Book 3–6 months ahead for Art Suites (they sell out fast). December and February are busiest. January offers the best availability and aurora conditions.Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel, Alta, Norway
Location: Alta, Finnmark, Northern Norway
Open: January to April
Price: £250–400/night
Aurora Score: 9/10
The world's northernmost ice hotel, rebuilt annually on the banks of the Alta River. Smaller and more intimate than ICEHOTEL — about 30 rooms versus 60+. The carved ice chapel is popular for weddings.
Highlights
- Ice bar with cocktails in ice glasses
- Ice chapel (weddings and concerts)
- Aurora viewing from the hotel grounds — Alta has excellent clear-sky statistics
- Snowmobile safaris on the frozen river
- Sámi cultural experiences nearby
- Less crowded than ICEHOTEL
Arctic SnowHotel, Rovaniemi, Finland
Location: Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland
Open: December to March
Price: £150–300/night
Aurora Score: 7/10
Rovaniemi's ice hotel combines snow rooms with glass igloos. The Snow Restaurant serves dinner on ice tables, and the Ice Bar features ice sculptures of Arctic animals.
Why Choose This One
- Combine with Santa Claus Village (10 min away)
- Glass igloo option alongside snow rooms
- More affordable than Swedish/Norwegian alternatives
- Family-friendly (minimum age policies are relaxed)
- Outdoor hot tubs for post-ice warming
Hôtel de Glace, Quebec, Canada
Location: Valcartier, Quebec City, Canada
Open: January to March
Price: CAD $250–500/night (£150–300)
Aurora Score: Low (too far south for reliable aurora)
North America's only true ice hotel. 44 rooms, themed suites, ice chapel, ice bar, and outdoor hot tubs. The architecture is more grand than Scandinavian ice hotels — cathedral ceilings, sweeping staircases, and elaborate sculptures.
Why Choose This One
- Closest ice hotel to major North American cities (3h from Montreal, 1.5h from Quebec City)
- Outdoor hot tubs and Nordic spa
- More affordable than Scandinavian options
- Combine with Quebec City's Winter Carnival (February)
Glass Igloos: The Warm Alternative
Not everyone wants to sleep at -5°C. Glass igloos offer aurora viewing from a heated bed.
Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, Saariselkä, Finland
- Price: €400–600/night
- The original glass igloo resort. Thermal glass prevents fogging.
- Also has log cabins and ice rooms.
- Full guide to glass igloos in Finland →
Arctic TreeHouse Hotel, Rovaniemi, Finland
- Price: €300–500/night
- Designer glass-fronted pods in the forest canopy
- More modern/design-forward than traditional glass igloos
Levin Iglut, Levi, Finland
- Price: €350–550/night
- Golden Crown igloos on a hilltop with panoramic views
- Excellent aurora position — dark skies, elevated location
Nova Skyland, Inari, Finland
- Price: €300–450/night
- Glass cabins on the shores of Lake Inari
- Remote location = minimal light pollution
Comparison Table
| Hotel | Country | Price/Night | Aurora | Unique Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICEHOTEL | Sweden | £200–700 | 9/10 | Artist-designed, year-round option |
| Sorrisniva | Norway | £250–400 | 9/10 | Northernmost, intimate |
| Arctic SnowHotel | Finland | £150–300 | 7/10 | Near Santa Claus Village |
| Hôtel de Glace | Canada | £150–300 | Low | Grand architecture |
| Kakslauttanen | Finland | £300–500 | 8/10 | Original glass igloos |
| Arctic TreeHouse | Finland | £250–400 | 7/10 | Design-forward |
What to Know Before You Go
What to Wear to Bed
The hotel provides thermal sleeping bags rated to -30°C. Wear thermal base layers and a hat. Don't wear too much — your body heat needs to warm the sleeping bag. Socks: yes. Jeans: no.Can Kids Stay?
Most ice hotels welcome children aged 5+. ICEHOTEL and Hôtel de Glace are the most family-friendly. Glass igloos have no age restrictions.Will I Actually Sleep?
Most people sleep surprisingly well. The silence is absolute — no traffic, no heating systems, no pipes. The novelty wears off after about 20 minutes and the sleeping bag is genuinely warm. If you're a light sleeper, consider doing one night ice + one night warm room.Best Time to Book
July–September for winter stays. Art Suites at ICEHOTEL sell out 6 months ahead. Glass igloos in Finland can sell out a year in advance for peak dates (December–February).Frequently Asked Questions
How cold is it inside an ice hotel?
Around -5°C to -8°C. Thermal sleeping bags keep you warm. The temperature is stable — ice is an excellent insulator, so it doesn't feel as cold as being outdoors at -20°C.Do ice hotels have bathrooms?
Not in the ice rooms themselves. Heated bathroom facilities are always nearby (30-second walk). Deluxe suites at ICEHOTEL have private heated bathrooms.Are ice hotels worth the money?
For one night, absolutely — it's a genuinely unique experience. Two nights in ice is unnecessary for most people. The sweet spot: one night ice hotel + 2-3 nights in a regular hotel or aurora cabin.When do ice hotels melt?
Typically April–May. ICEHOTEL 365 in Sweden is the exception — it's kept frozen year-round using solar-powered cooling.Explore our Sweden and Finland destination guides for more accommodation options.