We check in for a unique Arctic stay at ICEHOTEL, the world-famous hotel and living art exhibition carved annually with ice and snow harvested from the Torne River in Northern Sweden.
FROZEN ICON
The mighty 520-kilometre (km) Torne River is one of the last untouched waterways in Europe.
When winter arrives in Kiruna, Sweden’s northernmost city, the river freezes and becomes part of the snow-covered landscape.
Its high-quality natural ice is harvested and used to construct ICEHOTEL, a unique, world-famous hotel and living art exhibition reborn in a new form every winter.
This magical and fleeting creation then melts back into the river when spring arrives – an eternal cycle.
The unique relationship between ICEHOTEL and the Torne River shows how nature and human creativity can coexist in harmony.
ICEHOTEL was founded in 1989 when Founder, Yngve Bergqvist, opened the doors to Arctic Hall, an art gallery built from ice and snow.
When a group of visitors needed a place to stay but all the cabins in the village were fully booked, Bergqvist suggested they sleep inside the gallery.
Equipped with warm sleeping bags and careful instructions on how to sleep in the cold, they woke the next morning deeply fascinated by the experience.
What started as a simple idea on a cold winter night has since grown into a unique Arctic adventure, reimagined every year with new art, rooms, and experiences for over three decades.
As such, ICEHOTEL draws visitors from around the world to Jukkasjärvi – ‘meeting place by the water’ in Northern Sámi – located 200 km north of the Arctic Circle.
This small Swedish village on the banks of the Torne River is a dream destination for many, where bustling city streets are swapped for vast mountain views, untouched rivers, and the ethereal glow of the Northern Lights.
TRIBUTE TO NATURE
Winter in Jukkasjärvi is when one of the world’s most spectacular building processes begins.
For the team behind ICEHOTEL, construction is more than just a job – it’s a tribute to nature and an exciting challenge that requires flexibility, collaboration, and harmony with the elements.
The process begins in spring when massive blocks of ice, each weighing up to two tonnes (t), are harvested from the Torne River and stored cold during the summer, ready for the hotel’s construction in winter.
In addition to ice, ‘snice’ – a mix of snow and ice – is used to build ICEHOTEL’s floors, walls, and ceilings.
Snice is not only beautiful to look at, but also durable and reliable, ideal for creating the hotel’s impressive structures.
To build ICEHOTEL, moulds are used to give the buildings their proper shape. After a few days, the ice is strong enough to stand on its own and the moulds are removed.
The technical skill involved in constructing the hotel is impressive; corridors and rooms are built in the same way as classic arches, which are incredibly stable.
From start to finish, construction of ICEHOTEL takes just six weeks, a remarkable achievement that combines architecture, art, and natural materials.
It’s not just a building project – it’s a living art installation reflecting nature’s transience and humanity’s ability to create beauty under challenging conditions.
Rooted in the philosophy of living close to nature, the hotel’s activities – from ice art and wilderness adventures to extraordinary culinary experiences – are all designed in harmony with the Arctic environment.
MAGICAL EXPERIENCE
ICEHOTEL is open from December to April every year, allowing guests five months to experience its beauty before melting back into the Torne River.
The hotel houses between 15 and 20 ice rooms, as well as 12 unique art suites, all specially designed and hand-crafted by artists from across the globe.
As temperatures reach around -5 degrees Celsius (°C), the beds are equipped with thick mattresses covered with soft reindeer hides and a sleeping bag to keep guests warm. The rooms also have curtains instead of doors, creating a secluded and inviting atmosphere.
If guests get cold feet or are simply in search of a cosy room for their visit, ICEHOTEL additionally offers warm accommodation, with a choice of traditional hotel rooms or cabins.
For the best experience, it’s recommended that guests spend one night in the cold and a couple in the warm.
Since November 2016, it has also been possible to enjoy this magical experience any time at ICEHOTEL 365, which uses solar-powered cooling to remain frozen year-round.
With 18 art and deluxe suites, an ice bar, an experience room with screenings, and an ice gallery, ICEHOTEL 365 allows guests to enjoy the world of ice art even when they visit during the warmer months.
It therefore offers the same atmosphere and design as ICEHOTEL without melting back into the Torne River.
Instead, in the summer, ICEHOTEL 365 becomes part of the Lapland wilderness, its roof covered in green grass, blending in with the surroundings.
ARTISTIC EXPRESSION
From the beginning, ICEHOTEL has been more than just a hotel – it’s a living art exhibition that changes and renews itself every year, a transient artwork where some of the world’s most creative minds tell a new story each winter, and a place where art and nature meet and interact.
All art at ICEHOTEL is original and protected under trademark law, making it one of the most unique art experiences in the world.
The Torne River’s pure, clear ice is the perfect medium for artistic expression. For many of the artworks, light plays a crucial role in creating the final experience, adding an extra dimension that allows each sculpture to tell its own story.
ICEHOTEL’s lighting designers work side-by-side with the artists who create each hotel room, ensuring the light not only illuminates but also enhances and highlights the art in the most magical way.
It’s a symbiosis between art and light, where every beam helps create the unique feeling that makes each room its own work of art.
At the beginning of each year, ICEHOTEL opens applications for the following winter, inviting creators from all over the world to submit their ideas and concepts.
Around 15 design proposals are selected, with artists ranging from graphic designers and architects to engineers.
Diversity is important, and the jury creates a balance between gender, origin, age, and experience.
The goal is to create a dynamic mix of influences and perspectives, giving each edition of ICEHOTEL its unique character.
This article was produced by the editorial team at EME Outlook and published as part of the Outlook Publishing global network of B2B industry magazines.
Outlook Publishing delivers industry insights, company stories, and sector coverage across manufacturing, mining, construction, healthcare, supply chains, food production, and sustainability.
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