Staying in an Ice Hotel? Here's What to Expect!

Imagine this: A vacation in a cozy mountain cabin in the Alps, a stay at a small seaside hotel right on the Baltic Sea, or a getaway at a modern design hotel in the heart of Barcelona - all lovely, but quite ordinary. At least compared to a vacation in an ice hotel. A visit to an ice hotel means diving into a fascinating world of snow, ice, and art - and embarking on a truly unique journey.

Ice hotels are definitely unique accommodations. Those who stay in an ice hotel embark on a journey through artistic ice palaces, into a world full of snow and ice - and low temperatures. However, ice hotels are far from 'normal' igloos. They are true ice palaces that create a special, impressive atmosphere when combined with ice and snow sculptures.

Every winter, artists from around the world get to work to build these hotels from snow and ice. What is needed besides creativity? Persistent freezing temperatures, cold, and a considerable amount of ice and snow. That's why these fascinating frozen hotels are mostly found in colder regions like Canada or Scandinavia. But there are also some top-notch ice hotels in Austria and Germany.

A stay at these hotels is usually possible between December/January and April, as only then are the conditions suitable for constructing these special accommodations. Once the temperatures rise and the sun gains strength, the artistic structures melt away, and the magic is over until next winter. This also means: An ice hotel needs to be rebuilt every year. Each year, the hotels can take on a completely new shape and be designed anew. An ice hotel is therefore something truly unique!

Building an ice hotel usually requires several thousand tons of ice and snow. The necessary snow for construction is usually mixed with water to give it the required firmness, stability, and load-bearing capacity. This also allows it to be shaped better by ice artists. Interestingly, at the Icehotel Jukkasjärvi in Sweden, the ice needed is carved out of the frozen flow of the Torne River and transported to the hotel site.

From the masses of snow and ice, entire hotel complexes emerge. Small and larger igloos with snow beds, snow towers and walls, domes, pointed arches ... the creativity knows (almost) no bounds.

However, there is also much to marvel at inside. The interior design of many ice hotels is lovingly crafted and meticulously planned by ice artists, with light installations creating a fairytale atmosphere. Some ice hotels also feature restaurants, bars, and wellness areas with hot tubs.

Below, we present two popular and especially impressive ice hotels in Europe.

The Icehotel Jukkasjärvi, located 124 miles north of the Arctic Circle, is the mother of all ice hotels. It is the first of its kind and far more than just a snow igloo village. At its core is a sustainable hotel concept that aligns tourism with nature. The idea for an ice hotel originated in 1989 during an art exhibition with ice sculptures. The following year, the exhibition was repeated - but this time in an igloo.

Some visitors back then took a liking to the idea of spontaneously spending the night in the exhibition hall. Their enthusiasm sparked the long and fascinating success story of the Icehotel Jukkasjärvi. The following year, the very first ice hotel was created, featuring a reception, guest rooms, and a bar.

Today, the buildings serve as both a hotel and an art exhibition. The walls, ceilings, and floors are not only shaped from snow and ice but also serve as canvases for artists from all creative disciplines. The Icehotel Jukkasjärvi spreads annually over an area of approximately 59,000 square feet. Up to 30,000 cubic meters of 'Snice' (a blend of snow and ice) and around 1,000 tons of ice are processed for construction.

Snice is a material made from air and water drawn from the nearby Torne River. This special mixture protects the inner ice from melting and ensures that sunlight is reflected. On average, the Icehotel in Sweden features around 65 rooms, about 55 of which are ice rooms - although this number can vary depending on what the artists come up with. Visitors can choose from both group rooms and art suites as well as deluxe suites.

The indoor temperature of the Icehotel Jukkasjärvi ranges from -5° to -8° Celsius, while outside temperatures can go down to -30° Celsius. However, visitors do not have to freeze.

All guests are provided with thermal sleeping bags, which have cotton sleeping bags as an additional layer. Reindeer skins serve as the underlay. Besides the ice rooms, the Icehotel in Sweden also has an ice bar and an ice church. Changing rooms, toilets, and the sauna of the ice hotel are built as non-ice structures.

Nature plays a significant role in the hotel - offering both inspiration and the necessary building materials - as well as numerous recreational activities around the Icehotel Jukkasjärvi. Options include snowmobile tours, dog sledding safaris, and horse-drawn sleigh rides. Or how about an ice sculpting course? Or pack a toboggan and go on an adventure yourself?

It is also possible to build an ice hotel in Germany - and the extraordinary experiences are more popular than ever. The Alpine region offers the best conditions for these frozen accommodations. For example, in the Allgäu at the IgluLodge. Starting from Oberstdorf, take the Nebelhornbahn up to the mountain at 2,000 m above sea level, and into an icy IgluLodge experience of extraordinary nature.

The idea for this cool hotel comes from the team at Allgäu Events. Since 2003, the team has been building igloos for smaller and larger events until the idea arose to create an entire ice hotel in Germany. Since 2009, an artistic ice hotel has been constructed anew on the Nebelhorn each winter - as long as the snow lasts.

How is the ice hotel built? Also with balloons. The inflatable balloons are covered with snow and provide the basic shape of the igloos. The igloos used for overnight stays have a height of about 2.8 m and a diameter of about 4 m. Those who are concerned about whether such an ice igloo is stable enough need not worry. The igloos are highly stable, even so stable that even a snow groomer could drive over them. This is mainly due to the dome structure, which works just like a Roman bridge, and because the snow compacts extremely well.

In addition to the sleeping igloos, there is also a bar that is frequented by skiers looking for mulled wine or other warming beverages. It takes an average of up to 2,000 man-hours to complete the IgluLodge. Those who have seen the artistic ice igloos can already guess how much work the stone masons and sculptors must have invested in the ice hotel.

Each guest who chooses to stay at the IgluLodge in Germany receives an expedition sleeping bag that keeps warm down to -15° Celsius and is lined with an additional (hygiene) sleeping bag. There are both single sleeping bags and combination sleeping bags for couples.

Additionally, a thick insulation layer, a layer of foam, and a reindeer skin are placed on the snow beds. Inside the hotel, the temperature is around freezing point. With the right clothing, a delicious cheese fondue, and a hot drink, however, it's really cozy.

Whether it's an ice hotel in Sweden, Germany, or Switzerland - a stay in an ice hotel is highly recommended for anyone planning a special short vacation and who loves nature. Adventurers and romantics are guaranteed to find joy at an ice hotel.

And: Most visitors assume that it must be quite cold in ice hotels. The answer: Sort of - while the indoor temperature is usually around freezing point, with warm clothing, hot drinks, and expedition sleeping bags, the nights in an ice hotel are cozy warm and not just an adventure for the hardy.