WHY WE LIKE THIS HOTEL
With its breathtaking landscapes and proximity to the northern city of Kiruna, Jukkasjärvi has always been a popular summer destination. However, back in 1989, inspired by the Japanese tradition of ice sculpting, villager Yngve Bergqvist set out to create a wintertime attraction. His ice sculpting workshop on the banks of the Torne River was an instant success. The following year saw the construction of Jukkasjärvi’s first ice structure, a 60 square metre igloo that served as an art gallery, cleverly dubbed ARTic Hall. Year after year, ARTic Hall was built anew, growing to an impressive 250 square metres. Then, one fateful night, a party armed with reindeer skins and sleeping bags asked if they might spend the night inside its icy walls. Thus, Icehotel – the first ice hotel in the world – was born. Now, almost 35 years later, Icehotel is one of the world’s top attractions, drawing visitors from around the globe eager to tick this truly unique experience off their bucket lists.
Icehotel keeps sustainability at the forefront of its development as it continues to grow. The hotel is working towards becoming CO2-negative, utilising sustainable building materials, solar panels to regulate temperature and ice sourced directly from the Torne River – returning to its source as it thaws each spring.
features around 120 rooms in total, divided into about 55 “cold rooms” and the rest of them are “warm rooms”. Icehotel 365 has 18 rooms where guests can sleep in a glacial masterpiece all year round, while the main hotel has 37 cold rooms, which melt back into the Torne River with the arrival of spring. In Icehotel 365, you’ll find the world-famous Icebar, with every detail down to the glasses carved entirely out of ice. Solar panels are used to keep the building perfectly chilled during the warmer months. Icehotel also features a “warm” section, offering all the amenities you’d expect from a four-star establishment. To stay in one of the cold rooms is like sleeping the night inside an art installation. Each detail has been carefully designed and painstakingly crafted, respecting the individual character of the ice blocks and using the lighting to enhance the overall effect. Nevertheless, the design doesn’t trump comfort; guests sleep on high-quality beds topped with reindeer skins and thermal sleeping bags. The average temperature inside is between -5 and -8 degrees Celsius (17-23 ºF). Still, you’re greeted each morning with a warm cup of lingonberry juice and a complimentary sauna session to steam off the morning chill.
