All Articles Ice hotels, igloos, and other frosty accommodations to book

Ice hotels, igloos, and other frosty accommodations to book

Squeeze in a memorable winter overnight in some of the world’s iciest locales.

By Terry Ward27 Feb 2023 3 minutes read
Exterior of Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos in Finland
Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos in Finland
Image: Courtesy of Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos

There’s only one way to truly experience the cold in the chilliest spots on earth: embrace it. In wintry destinations like Romania, Alaska, Norway, and Switzerland, there’s an art in carving out a piece of beauty and solace in snowscapes—sometimes quite literally. From majestic ice hotels in Swedish Lapland to eco-conscious snow domes nestled in the Alaskan tundra, read on to discover accommodations around the world that turn frigid conditions into cozy odes to winter.

Note: many of the ice hotels are disassembled come mid-April, so your booking window for this season is tight—but plenty of the icy accommodations are already booking for fall/winter 2023.

The Ice Hotel

Quebec, Canada

The only ice hotel in North America, Hôtel de Glace is a 30-minute drive northeast of Quebec City. Each of the property’s 30 rooms and suites are decked out with cozy, insulated bedding to keep you warm for the night, with fireplaces included in select suites. Don’t skip off to bed too early, though—there’s an ice skating path and a Nordic-inspired wellness area on the hotel grounds with a sauna and hot tubs set under the stars, perfect for an evening soak before you retreat to your icy digs.

Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos

Sinettä, Finland

Guest room at Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos
Guest room at Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos
Image: Courtesy of Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos

Less than 30 minutes north of Rovaniemi, in Finnish Lapland (home to the Santa Claus Village that’s open year round), you’ll find Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos. Here, you can sleep atop a bed of ice draped in reindeer skins, or bundle up in heated glass-domed hideaways where you might be able to see the aurora borealis from bed. In true Finnish style, the hotel offers traditional saunas and an outdoor jacuzzi: one sauna overlooks frozen Lake Lehtojärvi, and there’s a second “Snow Sauna” with snow-covered walls and a dreamy, fog-like steam effect.

What one reviewer said of the Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos

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"The best feature is the aurora alarm, which actually woke us up at around 1 a.m., and we could see the northern lights through the glass igloo window in the comfort of our reclining bed."

Borealis Basecamp

Fairbanks, Alaska

Northern Lights over Borealis Basecamp
Northern Lights over Borealis Basecamp
Image: Courtesy of Borealis Basecamp

Just 25 miles from Fairbanks, Borealis Basecamp makes a convenient resting place for Northern Lights viewing. Amid the boreal forest, fiberglass domes that can accommodate up to three people are positioned to the northeast for prime viewing of the aurora borealis. The domes are inspired by accommodations used in Arctic expeditions, with plenty of choice upgrades, such as a rainfall showerhead, heated towel bars, plush bedding, and 12-foot ceilings.

Whitepod Eco-Luxury Hotel

Les Giettes, Switzerland

Guest room at Whitepod Eco-Luxury Hotel
Guest room at Whitepod Eco-Luxury Hotel
Image: Courtesy of Whitepod Eco-Luxury Hotel

From Geneva, take a scenic 1.5-hour drive around Lac Leman (a.k.a. Lake Geneva) to arrive in the tiny Swiss hamlet of Les Giettes, then settle in for an extraordinary and snowy stay at Whitepod Eco-Luxury Hotel. Roughly 4,900 feet above sea level, you can settle into luxurious semi-spherical domes set on platforms for incredible views of the surroundings. The resort’s Pod Suites are among the most decadent, with private saunas and baths, while other suites feature cozy hammocks, pellet stoves, and Japanese-inspired beds. The hotel also offers plenty of cold-weather activities including dog sledding, starlit hiking, and curling.

Balea Lac Ice Hotel

Sibiu, Romania

Set in central Romania's Faragas Mountains about three hours from Bucharest, the 10-room Balea Lac Ice Hotel (also known as the Hotel of Ice) is only reachable by cable car. The property, located 2,000 feet above sea level, is rebuilt each winter from blocks of ice cut from the frozen Balea Lake. Transylvanian specialties like smoked trout and wild berries are served on carved-ice tableware in the onsite restaurant, and you can venture out for ice tubing, trekking to local ice caves, and other wintry pastimes.

Iglu-Dorf Kuhtai

Kuhtai, Austria

Iglu-Dorf Kühtai in Kuhtai, Austria
Iglu-Dorf Kühtai in Kuhtai, Austria
Image: Courtesy of Iglu-Dorf Kühtai

Kuhtai, under an hour’s drive west of Innsbruck, is one of the most picturesque Austrian ski towns (among a slew of snowy contenders). At Iglu-Dorf Kuhtai, you can sleep inside snowy suites that feature carved ice artworks and private whirlpools. The hotel is built anew every winter, so the art is always changing. Use of the sauna, a fondue dinner featuring cheese from the local mountains, and nighttime snowshoe walks are all included in your stay.

ICEHOTEL

Jukkasjärvi, Sweden

Bar at Sweden's ICEHOTEL
Bar at Sweden's ICEHOTEL
Image: Asaf Kliger/Courtesy of ICEHOTEL

It’s impossible to talk about snow and ice hotels without mentioning Sweden’s famed ICEHOTEL, situated on the banks of the frozen Torne River in the hamlet of Jukkasjärvi. Open since 1989, the hotel is rebuilt from frozen ice blocks each year and is known for its intricate hand-carved suites created by renowned artists (not to mention its big-screen cameo in the Bond film Die Another Day). Hotel guests can sip cocktails from carved ice glasses, settle in for an “ice menu” feast at the heated onsite restaurant, enjoy a private sauna ritual, or head out for an overnight snowmobiling adventures.

What one reviewer said of ICEHOTEL

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“This holiday lived up to all our expectations: from the amazing ice sculptures and great service at the hotel to the incredible scenery and wildlife and many exciting outdoor activities. Without a doubt, one of the best short breaks we’ve ever experienced."

GLØD Aurora Canvas Dome

Alta, Norway

Perched at the northern end of Norway above the Arctic Circle, GLØD Aurora Canvas Dome offers an iced-in experience about as close to the North Pole as you can get in mainland Europe. With most of its roof transparent, these sturdy canvas domes are ideal for viewing the night sky (and a chance at spotting the northern lights). The sounds of nature can often be heard through the dome’s insulated canvas walls, but inside you’ll be toasty warm with a pot belly stove and a fluffy duvet to snuggle under.

Terry Ward
Florida travel writer Terry Ward has been pushing send on stories from the road since 2001 and has published her travel articles online and in print in such outlets as CNN, National Geographic, Afar, Conde Nast Traveler, The Washington Post, and Scuba Diving Magazine. She's the co-creator of FloridaBeyond, a blog about travels beyond the expected in Florida, and loves showing her two young kids the world beyond their backyards.