ICEHOTEL
ICEHOTEL, Sweden: ice room or warm room, and who it suits
An arched entrance carved from ice, lit from inside, on the bank of the Torne River in Jukkasjärvi. ICEHOTEL is the ice hotel that started it all, and most guests come for one night on ice. Here is how the ice rooms work, which warm room to pair them with, and who it suits.
Picolo Editorial
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In short: ICEHOTEL
Where: in Jukkasjärvi by the Torne River, about 16 minutes by road from Kiruna Airport.
Best for: couples who want one night on ice as part of a northern lights trip in Swedish Lapland.
Guest rating: 9.0 out of 10 across 900 reviews on Hotels.com.
On site: ice rooms and warm rooms, a restaurant, a bar and a sauna.
Our choice: one night in an ice room and two or three in a warm room or cabin. Check availability and prices at ICEHOTEL
How a night on ice works
The ice rooms are open to visitors as a museum during the day, and overnight guests get access from 6 pm, according to Hotels.com. The ice rooms are built again every winter, while ICEHOTEL 365 has kept ice suites open all year since 2017. You sleep in a thermal sleeping bag and keep your luggage in the warm part of the hotel.
Our advice: book one night on ice, ideally the first or second, and spend the rest of the stay in a warm room. One night is enough for most people.
Which room to book
Ice room (sleeps 2 or 3): a room carved from ice, with a bed on an ice base. One night is the classic choice.
Ice suite (sleeps 2): larger and more elaborate, usually designed by an artist. Book early for the peak weeks.
Warm room, Kaamos (about 28 m², up to 2): a heated room with two single beds, the best base for the rest of the stay.
Deluxe double (about 29 m², up to 2): a heated room with a double bed and a view of the snow.
Arctic cabin (about 33 m², up to 4): a heated cabin for a family or friends, some with a sauna and a view of the river.
Our advice: pair one night in an ice room with a Deluxe double for a couple. A family of four is better off in an Arctic cabin.
An ice room at ICEHOTEL, rebuilt every winter
The northern lights in Jukkasjärvi
Jukkasjärvi is a small village, so the sky outside the hotel is darker than in Kiruna. On a clear night you can watch from the river bank or from a sauna by the water. For even darker skies, Abisko lies about an hour and a half away by road. Check the weather forecast from SMHI each afternoon, and plan at least three nights in the region.
A warm room at ICEHOTEL, the base for the rest of the stay
Getting there from the UK
There are no direct flights from the UK to Kiruna. Fly via Stockholm, which has flights all year, or via Copenhagen between 17 December 2026 and 7 March 2027. From Kiruna Airport, ICEHOTEL is about 16 minutes by taxi or transfer.
Alternatives in Swedish Lapland
Abisko Turiststation
A mountain station by Lake Torneträsk, a minute's walk from the Aurora Sky Station and connected to the railway station. Choose it for the darkest sky in the region. Rated 9.0 out of 10.
Check availability and prices at Abisko Turiststation
Camp Ripan
Chalets with a spa and hot outdoor pools in Kiruna, about 12 minutes from the airport. Choose it for a warm base with a spa. Rated 8.8 out of 10.
Our recommendation
ICEHOTEL: one night on ice, the rest in the warm
ICEHOTEL stands on the bank of the Torne River in Jukkasjärvi, about 16 minutes from Kiruna Airport. Book one night in an ice room for the experience, then sleep in a warm room or cabin, with a sauna by the river to thaw out.
Our verdict
What Picolo would choose: one night in an ice room and two nights in a Deluxe double for a couple. A family of four should choose an Arctic cabin and add one night on ice.
Why: a single night on ice gives you the experience, and the warm rooms and saunas make the rest of the stay comfortable.
The trade-off: there are no direct flights from the UK, so the journey takes most of a day. For the darkest skies, add two nights at Abisko Turiststation.
Frequently asked questions
Is ICEHOTEL worth it?
For most visitors, yes, as long as you book one night on ice and the rest in a warm room. Guests rate ICEHOTEL 9.0 out of 10 across 900 reviews on Hotels.com. The ice rooms are rebuilt every winter, so each season looks different, and ICEHOTEL 365 keeps ice suites open all year.
How cold is it in an ice room?
Cold enough that you sleep in a thermal sleeping bag on a bed with an ice base, and keep your luggage in the warm part of the hotel. Guests get the ice rooms from 6 pm, after the day visitors leave. Most people sleep one night on ice and spend the rest of the stay in a heated room.
How far is ICEHOTEL from Kiruna Airport?
About 16 minutes by road. There are no direct flights from the UK, so you fly via Stockholm all year or via Copenhagen between 17 December 2026 and 7 March 2027. For darker skies, Abisko is about an hour and a half away by road.
Can you see the northern lights from ICEHOTEL?
Yes, on a clear night with an active aurora. Jukkasjärvi is a small village, so the sky is darker than in Kiruna, and the river bank is a good place to watch. The season runs from about September to March. For the best chance, combine ICEHOTEL with two nights in Abisko.
When is ICEHOTEL open?
ICEHOTEL is open all year. The winter ice rooms are built anew each season, while ICEHOTEL 365 has kept ice suites open all year since 2017. December to March is the peak season for the ice rooms and the northern lights, so book early, and choose a rate with free cancellation.
Sources
Room types, sizes, facilities and the guest rating come from Hotels.com. ICEHOTEL 365 and the opening of the ice rooms come from ICEHOTEL. Flights come from Time Out, and the weather forecast is published by SMHI. The room comparison and our choice are Picolo's own. Last checked: 2 November 2026.
Happy aurora hunting
Picolo Editorial