Europe’s Ice Hotels or how to have a luxurious winter adventure

Staying in an Ice Hotel is a once in a lifetime experience. You get to live something out of the ordinary, adventurous, and somehow luxurious at the same time. It is a combination of elements that is just perfect, in my opinion.

Each ice hotel is also an art exposition, with creative ice designs made by artists worldwide. Every year, the seasonal hotel and all the sculptures inside it are rebuilt. Their temporary nature makes the experience unique and so precious at the same time. In most locations, you will also find an Ice Church, an Ice Bar, and all kinds of ice creations for different brands or events. Quite impressive, I might say.

This is one of my bucket list activities that I haven’t had the chance to do yet. I made a list of all the Ice Hotels in Europe to check out if you happen to have the same wish as I have: to have an out-of-the-ordinary winter experience, nurture your curiosity, and try something totally new and different.

1. ICEHOTEL Jukkasjärvi, Sweeden

Location: Marknadsvägen 63, 981 91 Jukkasjärvi, Sweeden

This hotel dates back to 1989, and it is the first one that was ever created in the world. It is also the largest to this day. The snow and ice needed to build the seasonal winter hotel come from the Torne River. This is one of Sweden’s purest waters and a national river.

The winter hotel is available from December to April. Starting with 2006, the hotel also has a section available all year.

It has around 150 warm and cold beds, an ice church, an ice bar, an ice sculpting studio, and a pillared hall.  

Photo credit : ICEHOTEL Jukkasjärvi, Sweeden

2. Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel, Norway

Location: Sorrisniva 20, 9518 Alta, Norway

The hotel was the second in the world and the northernmost ice hotel. It started with 6 rooms in 1999. Today there are over 26 rooms that offer a whole Nordic experience for their guests. It is situated next to the Alta River and has an ice bar and chapel. It opens its gates for visitors from December 20^th until April 7th.

To stay year-round, you can check in at the Arctic Wilderness Lodge, a premium 24-room accommodation that offers top-notch services, like fine dining and a panoramic lounge.

Photo credit: Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel

3. Snowhotel Kirkenes, Norway

Location: Sandnesdalen 14, 9910 Kirkenes, Norway

This amazing hotel is situated in Northern Norway, right next to the border with Russia and Finland and 8 km away from Kirkenes town. Kåre Tannvik founded the hotel in 2005, and since then, it has offered its guests one-of-a-kind Arctic Adventure. Spending a few nights here is an unforgettable experience.

The hotel has a restaurant, sauna, ice bar, parking, and one of the largest husky kennels in Norway, which is not less than 180 Alaskan huskies. The year’s high season starts on the 1^st of December and will last until the 30^th of April.

4. Arctic Snowhotel & Glass Igloos, Finland

Location: Lehtoahontie 27, 97220 Sinettä, Finland

Situated next to Lake Lehtojärvi, the Arctic Snowhotel is a family business that started in 2008. It also received Tripadvisor’s Traveler Choice award in 2020. The location is right on the Arctic Circle, next to Rovaniemi in Finland.

This fine hotel has an ice restaurant, an ice bar, and a church.

5. Hotel of Ice, Romania

Location: Balea Lac, 117040 Cîrţişoara, Romania

This is the only ice hotel in South-Eastern Europe. It was first built in 2005. It lies near the glacial lake Balea, up in the Carpathian mountains at over 2000 meters in altitude.  You will find beautiful ice sculptures in the rooms, which are different each year depending on the theme.

Moreover, the location of this beautiful accommodation is exceptional. The guests can reach the hotel only by cable car, and it is very close to the Transfagarasan Road, one of the most epic mountain driveways in Romania. This road is closed to cars during wintertime, but the views are pretty amazing.

There are 16 rooms available in this hotel, including an ice bar, a restaurant, and a church.

Photo credit: Hotel of Ice, Romania

6. Iglu Lodge, Germany

Location: Nebelhorn 1, 87561 Oberstdorf, Germany

Situated at 2000 meters above sea level, the Iglu Lodge in Germany has been built yearly since 2009. It is located right next to the paragliding area in Allgäu. This means that you can try tandem paragliding over the ice-frozen Alps if you choose to stay at this hotel, among other activities. :)

Here you will find 10 igloos, 2 suites, an ice bar, an ice restaurant, and an ice church.

Photo credit: Iglu Lodge, Germany

7. Hunderfossen Snow Hotel, Norway

Location: Hunderfossen Adventure Park,Fossekrovegen 22, 2625 Fåberg, Norway

Situated in a Winter Adventure Park in Norway, this is the perfect place for children to explore a winter fairyland. This is Scandinavia’s southernmost snow hotel. When you arrive at this destination, you literally enter a world where fairies and trolls are walking among you.

The ice hotel has the capacity to accommodate 24 visitors. They will be amazed to see the beautiful ice sculptures inside the rooms and the colorful lights surrounding them, creating this fairytale atmosphere. The location also has an ice cathedral and an ice bar for a complete winter experience.

8. Tromso Ice Domes, Norway

Location: Tamokveien1386, 9334 Øverbygd, Norway

Entirely surrounded by mountains in the beautiful Tamok Valley, this ice hotel is probably Europe’s newest built. It was created for the first time in the 2017/2018 season. There are two available Ice Bars, an Ice Restaurant, an Ice Cinema, and hotel rooms.

I was so impressed by the ice sculptures’ level of detail here; it looks pretty amazing!

Photo credit: Tromso Ice Domes, Norway

BONUS:

Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, Finland

Location: Kiilopääntie 9, 99830 Saariselkä, Finland

This resort is not exactly a classical Ice Hotel, but it was too awesome not to share it with you. :). You will find it on the road to the Arctic Sea, right near the Urho Kekkonen National Park, the largest National Park in Finland.

The Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort is famous for its emblematic Glass Igloos. If you arrive at this location, you must see the Igloos village. The village is made of hemispherical tents like those built by the Eskimos. Some are built using snow, and some are made of wood and concrete but with a glass roof.

The underground glass igloos have thermo-glass ceilings so that you can enjoy a unique view of Finland’s northern lights. All 40 igloos are built far apart, so you feel completely alone in the wilderness. Just imagine how it feels to spend a night in such an incredible setup.

You will also find Santa’s home here, which is open to the public. Santa’s Celebration House, Finland’s largest log building, can accommodate over 250 guests.

Photo credit: Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, Lapland, Finland

If you wonder what all these beautiful places have in common, probably it would be that they offer you a complete winter experience, rather than just an accommodation service. There are so many activities that you can try in each of these locations, which make your visit even more memorable.

Have you ever visited any of these places? Let me know in a comment below.