The key facts
- Snowhotel 365 (Norway) operates year-round, room temperature is around –4 °C, and 30 tonnes of ice and snow are used annually.
- ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi is rebuilt every winter from ice of the Torne River and operates for five months from December.
- Sorrisniva in Alta is the world's northernmost igloo hotel: 250 tonnes of ice and 7,000 cubic metres of snow annually.
A Winter Fairy Tale Below Zero
Euronews has published an overview of Europe's ice, snow and igloo hotels, where room temperatures hover around zero or below. According to the outlet, many seasonal hotels use ice harvested from nearby rivers and lakes, while others rely on fresh snow to maintain their frozen spaces year-round.
Snowhotel 365, Bjørnevatn, Norway
The hotel on the grounds of Snow Resort Kirkenes in northern Norway offers rooms, each of which is hand-carved by international ice sculptors, so no two rooms are alike. At a temperature of around –4 °C, guests are given thermal sleeping bags and have access to a heated lounge, sauna and showers; the stay includes breakfast and a three-course dinner. Check-in is available year-round, including summer. Every year, 30 tonnes of ice and fresh snow go into maintaining and renewing the hotel; over time the snow turns into dense ice, and the walls, ceilings and sculptures acquire new textures.
ICEHOTEL, Jukkasjärvi, Swedish Lapland
Every winter, when the Torne River freezes, artists and sculptors from around the world create ICEHOTEL anew. From December, for five months, guests can stay in temporary rooms and art suites before the hotel melts and returns to the riverbed. The ice rooms are around –5 °C, and the rooms feature reindeer hides and sleeping bags. The art suites are individually designed by invited artists. Among the restaurant concepts is an 'ice menu', where dishes are served on plates made of river ice.
Arctic SnowHotel, Rovaniemi, Finland
In the capital of Finnish Lapland, the Arctic SnowHotel operates from 15 December until the end of March. Since 2008, a 'new hotel' has been built from ice and snow each season: 20 rooms accommodate up to 70 guests, from double suites to family rooms for six people. In the Ice Restaurant, dishes are served on ice plates, and the Ice Chapel is used for spiritual practices and ceremonies. The hotel employs an 'aurora watcher' who makes sure guests don't miss the northern lights.
Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel, Alta, Norway
Alta is home to Sorrisniva — according to Euronews, the world's northernmost igloo hotel. Ice is harvested from the mountain lake Sieravannet: every year, 250 tonnes of ice and 7,000 cubic metres of snow go into construction, and the interior is decorated to a special theme. The hotel welcomes guests from 20 December until the end of March; each winter, sculptors create ice furniture and compositions in the rooms. Activities include snowmobile safaris across the Finnmark plateau, northern lights hunting, snowshoeing and dog sledding.
Iglu-Dorf Zermatt, Switzerland
In the Swiss Alps, Iglu-Dorf Zermatt is rebuilt every year at an altitude of 2,700 metres on the slopes above the car-free resort. From 19 December to 4 April, guests stay in hand-carved igloos connected by snow corridors, at a temperature of around zero. During the day, the open terrace serves as a communal dining area with Swiss cheese fondue, snacks and drinks. Overnight stays are also available at other Swiss igloo villages — in Davos and Gstaad — as well as at the German Iglu-Dorf on the Zugspitze and in Kühtai near Innsbruck in Austria.
