ICEHOTEL
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Hotel Details
Location
ICEHOTEL · Jukkasjärvi, Sweden
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Key Highlights
- ✓1. Overall Rating & Sentiment: Excellent and Unforgettable
- ✓Exceptional Service: Staff are frequently lauded for being "friendly and helpful" and providing "excellent customer service," contributing significantly to the overall positive experience.
- ✓ICEHOTEL Restaurant: Serves traditional cuisine in a warm and inviting setting. The breakfast buffet receives high praise for being "tasty with a good selection" and "simple but excellent."
Expert Review: ICEHOTEL
A Chillingly Unique Masterpiece: A Comprehensive Review of ICEHOTEL, Jukkasjärvi, Sweden
The ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden, a Michelin Key Selected property, stands as a testament to ephemeral art and an unparalleled Arctic experience. Renowned globally as the world's first and largest hotel made of ice and snow, it offers guests a stay that is both remarkably unique and deeply connected to its natural environment.
1. Overall Rating & Sentiment: Excellent and Unforgettable
Guests consistently rate ICEHOTEL as an "excellent" and "amazing unique experience." With an average rating of 9.0 on Booking.com from over 2,000 reviews and a "Wonderful" 9.0 on Hotels.com, the general consensus is overwhelmingly positive. Visitors are captivated by the sheer artistry and the novelty of sleeping within a constantly evolving ice sculpture.
2. Key Highlights: Art, Adventure, and All-Season Wonder
The ICEHOTEL's most celebrated aspects revolve around its extraordinary concept and the rich array of activities it offers:
- Sculpted Art & Unique Design: Annually rebuilt using ice from the Torne River, the hotel is a living art exhibition. Each cold room and suite features individually themed, hand-carved ice furnishings by international artists, transforming the hotel into a magnificent museum.
- Arctic Activities: Beyond the accommodation, guests revel in diverse Arctic experiences such as dog sledding, snowmobile tours, reindeer excursions, and ice sculpting classes. River rafting, hiking, and fishing are also available, particularly during the warmer months.
- ICEHOTEL 365: A groundbreaking, solar-powered section, ICEHOTEL 365, maintains its icy suites and Icebar year-round, allowing guests to experience the magic even in summer.
- Natural Phenomena: Its location 200 km above the Arctic Circle provides prime opportunities to witness the mesmerizing Northern Lights in winter and the enchanting Midnight Sun in summer.
- Exceptional Service: Staff are frequently lauded for being "friendly and helpful" and providing "excellent customer service," contributing significantly to the overall positive experience.
3. Room Quality: Icy Art Meets Cozy Warmth
ICEHOTEL offers two distinct types of accommodation:
- Cold Rooms (Ice Rooms & Art Suites): Maintained at a chilly -5 to -8 degrees Celsius (20-25 Fahrenheit), these rooms are the heart of the ice experience. Each is a spacious, beautifully designed art installation with beds made of ice, topped with reindeer hides and equipped with thermal sleeping bags for a comfortable night's sleep. Guests are provided with lockers for their belongings to prevent them from getting too cold.
- Warm Rooms (Nordic Chalets & Traditional Hotel Rooms): For those seeking traditional comfort or staying longer than one night in the cold, the resort also provides warm accommodation in permanent wooden structures. These rooms are described as "clean and spacious," "comfortable," and often feature a cozy, "sauna vibe" with wood paneling. They come equipped with modern amenities, including flat-screen TVs and private bathrooms.
4. Dining Experience: Local Flavors and Unique Settings
Dining at ICEHOTEL is considered an "essential part of the experience," with a focus on "delicious, well-prepared dishes" made from locally produced ingredients.
- ICEHOTEL Restaurant: Serves traditional cuisine in a warm and inviting setting. The breakfast buffet receives high praise for being "tasty with a good selection" and "simple but excellent."
- Icebar: A must-visit, offering cocktails served in glasses carved from ice. Guests can even enjoy the unique custom of throwing their finished ice glass against a wall.
- Warm Lounge: A cozy spot to relax with hot drinks and snacks.
5. Service & Staff: Highly Commended Hospitality
The staff at ICEHOTEL consistently receive high ratings for their hospitality, with scores reaching 9.2 on Booking.com and 9.3 on Momondo. Guests frequently highlight the staff's friendliness, helpfulness, and excellent customer service. The entire operation, from the hotel's design to its grounds and restaurants, is noted for being "very well-thought out" and efficiently run.
6. Location & Accessibility: Arctic Wilderness, Easily Reached
The ICEHOTEL is situated in Jukkasjärvi, a small village about 15-20 minutes' drive east of Kiruna city in Swedish Lapland. This remote Arctic location is surprisingly accessible:
- Air Travel: Direct flights are available from Stockholm Arlanda to Kiruna Airport (a 90-minute flight), and during winter, direct charter flights also run from London Heathrow. Kiruna Airport is only a 15-minute drive from the hotel.
- Train Travel: An overnight train from Stockholm offers a scenic 14-hour journey to Kiruna Train Station.
- Local Transport: From Kiruna, guests can take a taxi (approx. 500 SEK), bus (number 501, approx. 54 SEK), or arrange for the hotel's shuttle bus. For an adventurous transfer, dog sledding from Kiruna Airport is also an option.
- Nearby Attractions: Jukkasjärvi Church and the Sami Open Air Museum are within easy reach.
7. Value & Pricing: A Premium for a Peerless Experience
Staying at ICEHOTEL is a premium experience, with average prices around $461 per night, though rates can vary significantly, sometimes dropping to $132 depending on seasonality and room type. Despite the cost, the "value for money" is rated a decent 8.4, reflecting that for many, the unparalleled nature of the stay justifies the investment. It's often considered a bucket-list destination.
8. Common Complaints: The Realities of Ice Living
While overwhelmingly positive, some recurring points of feedback include:
- The Cold Factor in Ice Rooms: While expected, some guests find the constant cold in the ice rooms "uncomfortably cold" for extended periods, potentially diminishing the enjoyment of the intricate art. Condensation forming in sleeping bags and the inconvenience of using a warm bathroom at night are also noted. For health reasons, it's generally recommended not to sleep more than one night in the cold rooms.
- Dining Service Pace: Some guests have experienced slower service in the restaurant, with multi-course meals and even receiving the bill taking a considerable amount of time.
- Privacy Concerns in Some Cold Rooms: Certain ice room designs, particularly in the older sections or standard ice rooms, may offer less privacy compared to traditional hotel rooms due to open layouts or temporary barriers.
In conclusion, ICEHOTEL offers an extraordinary and memorable stay that is highly recommended for those seeking a truly unique Arctic adventure and an immersive art experience. The combination of its innovative design, array of activities, and dedicated staff ensures a trip unlike any other.
Sources
Points to Consider
- •8. Common Complaints: The Realities of Ice Living
Google Reviews
5,021 reviews
Recent Guest Reviews
Douglas Livingston
Just back from a short Feb half-term stay at the hotel. Can't really fault it. The staff were lovely - helpful and friendly. Our cabin was simple but cosy. The breakfast across the road is outstanding! Such a variety of produce. It certainly sets you up for the day and should not be skipped. Although we didn't stay in an Ice Room, you can still see them all during the day and appreciate the effort...
Helaine Moesner
We arrived before check in time and had to wait 3 hours to get settled into our locker area for the night in the ice room. We toured the ice rooms etc which was nothing short of stunningly magical. Our locker was very small but others had larger closets. The food was superb. Hotel staff were great. The ice room for me: an experience of one and done. Glad I did it, once. The loaned clothing was ve...
Tara Tuomela
What an absolutely unforgettable experience. Sleeping in a room made entirely of ice, wrapped warmly in thermal sleeping bags laid over soft fur blankets, felt surreal yet surprisingly comfortable. It’s cold, yes but magical! Drinking whisky from a glass carved out of ice at the ice bar was amazing. A unique, once in a lifetime stay that I highly recommend.
SH
A truly unique and unforgettable experience in Kiruna. The Icehotel is absolutely stunning, with incredible ice art and beautifully detailed sculptures that showcase amazing craftsmanship. Every room feels like a piece of art, and simply walking through the hotel is an experience on its own. The place is very visitor-friendly as well. There’s a kids’ play area, a cozy lobby where you can sit down...
Jonathan Leverenz
It was fun to see, the ice hotel area was okay, but the ice bar and rooms in that section were much nicer! The ice bar was pretty family friendly and had a cool ice slide for the kids and adults. The ice bar and hotel exploration took about 2 hours to get a full experience. We went for new years and the lantern release was a little unorganized but extremely fun.
Amit Kinger
The Icehotel is truly a must-see experience. Yes, it’s very cold — no surprise there — but it’s completely worth it. We chose to stay one night in a warm cottage instead of an ice room, and that was definitely the right decision for us. The ice rooms looked beautiful, but they were extremely cold, and during our visit I didn’t see a single one occupied overnight. Being able to explore them during...
