The 35th iteration of Sweden's Icehotel—sculpted each year from more than 500 tons of ice and snow from the Torne River—has opened for the 2024–2025 winter season in the Arctic village of Jukkasjärvi.
As usual, the finished product is the result of a monumental effort. In just 6 weeks, an international team of 76 builders, artists, lighting designers, and other crew members managed to fashion 10 Olympic-size swimming pools' worth of snow and ice into guest rooms, a ceremony hall (for weddings and other events), a main hall, an ice bar, chandeliers, and original sculptures, all fated to last no longer than a season.
Making things especially challenging this year: a warmer-than-normal November that delayed the start of construction, according to an Icehotel press release. Fortunately, the artists and builders were able to finish the project just in time to welcome the first batch of overnight guests on December 13. The frosty structure will continue to take reservations into April 2025.
("Whoops Wrong Room!!" art suite at Sweden's Icehotel in 2024 | Design by Annasofia Mååg; photo by Asaf Kliger)
More than two dozen artists from 13 different countries created this year's 12 "art suites," where you can sleep amid frozen scenes depicting, among other things, canoodling forest creatures, a giant rhino bursting through a wall, and a Sámi grandmother knitting mittens.
("Áhku Fáhcat" art suite at Sweden's Icehotel in 2024 | Design by Elisabeth Kristensen; photo by Asaf Kliger)
There are also 20 more standard ice rooms (sans artists' installations) and a 30-meter-long (98-ft.) main hall adorned with chandeliers made by hand from 220 ice crystals. Drop by the space-themed Icebar In Orbit (pictured at the top of this page) to sip drinks next to a life-size astronaut sculpture (an ice-tronaut?) before exiting by way of an ice slide.
("Yesterday's Tomorrow" art suite at Sweden's Icehotel in 2024 | Design by Corban Warrington and Daniel Afonso; photo by Asaf Kliger)
The interior of the Icehotel is kept around -5 degrees Celsius (41 degrees Fahrenheit). At bedtime, guests cocoon themselves in thermal sleeping bags on thick mattresses topped by reindeer hides. If that doesn't sound appealing, the permanent part of the hotel has heated rooms and cabins not made of ice.
("Give Us a Kiss" art suite at Sweden's Icehotel in 2024 | Design bt Carl Wellander and Malena Wellander; photo by Asaf Kliger)
In operation since 1989, the Icehotel has developed several culinary experiences and wilderness activities, too.
You can sample Arctic cuisine, try your hand at ice sculpting, ride a snowmobile in search of the northern lights, and warm up with a sauna ritual.
Overnight stays are pricey as well as icy, with rates starting around 5,000 Swedish kronor ($500). Go to Icehotel.com for more information or to make a reservation.
Check out the website's photo gallery to behold the incredible, ephemeral decor without freezing your tuchus off.
("Come Warm Up" art suite at Sweden's Icehotel in 2024 | Design by Isabelle Gasse and Joelle Gagnon; photo by Asaf Kliger)
Your sole option for sleeping at an ice hotel in North America is Québec's Hôtel de Glace, scheduled to open for the season on Saturday, Jan. 4. For the lowdown on what that place is like, we refer you to the report filed by your Frommer's correspondent after a chilly night spent there a few years ago.
