Ice hotels, igloos, and other frosty accommodations to book
Squeeze in a memorable winter overnight in some of the world’s iciest locales.


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

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
Borealis Basecamp
Fairbanks, Alaska

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

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

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

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
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.