How about spending a night in a room made entirely of ice and snow?

The Coldest Places in the North – Guaranteed

Temperatures in the North can vary considerably throughout winter. But there is one place where you can count on sub-zero temperatures: the ice hotels built across different parts of the Nordics each year.

Made from ice and snow, many of these hotels are rebuilt and redesigned every winter. They have individual rooms and suites, reception areas and even bars. The main difference from a traditional hotel is rather obvious: everything is frozen.

You’ll find them in destinations including Kiruna, Kirkenes, Levi-Ylläs and Rovaniemi, making them easy to combine with a longer Arctic journey.

An icy blue ice suite features carved translucent ice sculptures, a fur-covered bed, and stacked pillows inside a tunnel-like frozen room.

How Does It Work?

There is no need to worry too much about the cold. Spending a night in a room made from ice and snow may sound extreme, but the experience is designed to keep guests comfortable throughout the night. Guests are provided with everything they need and shown how to prepare for the night ahead.

The ice rooms typically remain at around −5°C (23°F), regardless of how cold it gets outside. The beds are comfortable and well insulated from the ice, often with warm reindeer hides adding another layer between you and the frozen surroundings. Guests sleep in specially designed sleeping bags suitable for Arctic conditions and temperatures down to −25°C (−13°F).

And while the bedroom may be frozen, the entire hotel is not. Toilets, showers, changing facilities and luggage storage are located in heated areas, so guests can change and get ready for bed in comfort before heading into their ice room for the night. In the morning, it is only a short walk back to the warmth.

Snow-covered arctic ice hotel entrance with arched doorway beneath green aurora lights in the night sky.

A woman in winter clothing carves a block of ice with a chisel in a blue-lit icy environment.

Experiences Surrounded by Ice

An ice hotel can be much more than somewhere to spend the night. We can arrange private experiences that make the surroundings part of the experience itself.

Dinner on ice. Dressed warmly for the occasion, guests can enjoy a private dinner surrounded by ice and snow. Depending on the hotel, the menu may feature warming dishes made with king crab or other Arctic ingredients.
Private tours & drinks. Not everyone needs to spend the entire night on ice. We can arrange a private guided visit, giving guests the opportunity to explore the hotel, its rooms and ice art before continuing to warmer surroundings.
Art Suites in Kiruna. At Icehotel in Kiruna, selected suites turn the room itself into an art installation. Artists and designers from around the world are invited to create new Art Suites, with the ice and snow forming both the architecture and the artwork.

An ice bedroom features a translucent ice bed with fur bedding, carved wall details, and glowing geometric lights in a blue-lit frozen chamber.

An ice building with a rounded snow-covered entrance stands beneath a vivid green aurora in a starry night sky.

Combine It With the Festive Season

Finnish and Swedish Lapland, as well as Northern Norway, are ideal for a Christmas or New Year journey built around the Arctic winter.

As a leading pan-Nordic luxury DMC, Arctic Signature can combine an ice hotel stay with private luxury chalets, Northern Lights experiences, husky sledding and other private Arctic activities, all tailored to your clients.

Christmas and New Year are among the most requested periods of our winter season, so we recommend starting the planning early to secure the best accommodation and experiences.

Scroll below to see a sample day-by-day itinerary.

Aurora borealis over a snow-covered tipi camp with conifer trees at night.

An Extraordinary Christmas in Finnish Lapland

Day 1: Arrival to Finnish Lapland, VIP Arrival Service & host with car on disposal for your entire stay. Private transfer to your luxury chalet (private chef with full board).
Day 2: Private dogsledding in the Finnish wilderness, including lunch over the bonfire
Day 3: A private VIP meeting with Santa Claus at his secret hideaway

Day 4: Private snowmobile safari, with wilderness lunch. Aurora hunting with car in the evening.

Day 5: Ice sculpting class before you spend the night at the Icehotel

Day 6: Private transfer to the airport and VIP departure service

A snowmobiler rides through a snow-covered forest at dusk with the headlights glowing against a blue and orange winter sky.

Next steps

Get in touch to start planning your clients' adventure

As the leading pan-Nordic luxury & ultra-luxury DMC, we are ready to tailor an amazing escape.

Arctic Signature

design@arcticsignature.com