Visit the Icehotel in northern Sweden this winter – Lonely Planet
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Every November, when the temperatures drop and the northern lights dance overhead, a new one Ice hotel takes shape in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden, 200 km (125 miles) north of the Arctic Circle in Swedish Lapland. Then, when temperatures rise in the spring, the Icehotel melts back into the Torne River, from which its ice was harvested. While it lasts, the Icehotel is much more than just a place to stay. It’s a stunning wintery art gallery with themed spaces carved in ice by artists from around the world. Each art suite is unique and only lasts as long as the winter season of the year.
Icehotel 33 opened December 16, making the 33rd annual incarnation of this exciting concept, featuring 12 themed art suites created by 24 artists from 10 countries, along with 24 smaller ice rooms, a ceremony hall and a grand hall with 40 ice columns. Overnight guests receive free entry to the entire hotel during the day; if you don’t want to stay overnight, you can buy an entrance ticket to see the ice art as a day visitor.
Even if you travel to Sweden during the warmer months, you can still see some ice art and experience a night in the cold. In addition to the annually remodeled structure – Icehotel Winter, open December to April– there is a year-round facility called Icehotel 365, which uses solar energy to keep its ice rooms frozen year-round. Here you will find 18 ice suites and the Experience Room, which tells the story of the Icehotel and preserves some of the ice art created in previous years.
Jukkasjärvi is a village with about 900 people just east of Kirunathe largest city in Swedish Lapland. It’s quick and easy to get to the Icehotel from Kiruna Airport by taxi or rental car – but if you’re arriving in winter, we recommend the atmospheric dog sled ride, a 90-minute journey that can be booked directly with the hotel.
Sweden’s far north is one of the best places in the world to see the northern lights (Northern Lights). If you visit during the fall and winter, while you wait for the night sky to light up with magical color, there plenty of outdoor activities to keep you occupied, including dog sledding, ice fishing, snowmobiling, snowshoe hiking, cross-country skiing or try your hand at ice sculpting. In summer, the brilliant midnight sun lights up arctic Sweden, with long days spent hiking, fishing, rafting, camping or simply enjoying a meal over a cozy campfire. Many guided activities can be booked directly through Icehotel. Don’t miss the chance to experience the 10-step Jukkasjärvi sauna ritual, which includes relaxation in a traditional sauna, a roll in the snow, a dip in the icy Torne River and a dip in a heated outdoor tub.
Jukkasjärvi is also a good place to learn about the culture of Scandinavia’s indigenous people, the reindeer-herding Sami. Nutti Sámi Siida is a Sami-owned local tourism company in Jukkasjärvi that offers a variety of cultural and outdoor activities.
Eat
In the Icehotel’s main restaurant (heated), you can choose from a regular menu with local ingredients – or pre-book a multi-course “ice menu”, with dishes served on plates made of ice from the Torne River. At Verandan, a tasting menu inspired by the eight seasons of the Sami year is a good way to taste the flavors of Swedish Lapland. At the Old Homestead, a cluster of 18th-century wooden buildings that also houses a museum, you can dine on casual fare like pizza and barbecue in what was once the village schoolhouse.
Alternatively, book a tour that includes a wilderness lunch along with a seasonal outdoor activity. Depending on the season, you can have lunch around a campfire or in a cabin surrounded by wild nature.
If you are interested in immersing yourself in the traditional food culture of arctic Sweden, book Nutti Sámi Siidas Arrange dinner in Jukkasjärvi, a six-course dinner with Sami dishes rarely found in restaurants, accompanied by stories about the food and traditional Sami song called yikes. Or try Camp Ripan in Kiruna, whose creative menu reflects the region’s three cultures: Swedish, Sami and Tornedal Finnish.
Drink
In a hotel made of ice, there is of course a bar made of ice as well. Located in the year-round part of the hotel, the Icebar is redesigned every year by international artists and maintains a constant temperature of around -5°C (23°F). Everything is made of Torneälv’s ice, from the bar counter and walls to the furniture and even the glass your drink is served in. There is also a lounge behind the hotel reception, open from December to April, serving light meals, hot drinks, beer and wine.
Stay
All ice rooms and suites have ice bed frames, each with a wooden base supporting a thick mattress covered with reindeer skin, pillows and a warm sleeping bag. The room temperature is between -5 and -8 °C (18 ° to 23 °F). At the Icehotel Winter, the rooms have thick drapes over the doorways for privacy; while there are no bathrooms or storage for personal belongings – you literally just sleep there – all guests have access to facilities in the heated reception area. Icehotel 365, on the other hand, has luxurious ice suites with doors, heated bathrooms and space for luggage. Traditional warm hotel rooms and cottages are also available. The hotel recommends spending one night in an ice room and the rest of your stay in a warm room.
If you are looking for something different before or after your stay at the Icehotel, Nutti Sámi Siida’s Reindeer cabin has accommodation inspired by the Sami lifestyle, from forest cabins to traditional and modern tents. In Kiruna, Camp Ripan also has four bright cabins with different room configurations, as well as a gorgeous spa with year-round indoor and outdoor facilities.