Where to Chill Out in the Cold
Reserve early for these popular ice hotels that provide heart-warming comforts in frigid climes.
Hôtel de Glace
Quebec, Canada
Hôtel de Glace, the only ice hotel in North America, is made of 15,000 tons of snow and 500 tons of ice. It has 19-foot ceilings and furniture carved out of ice blocks. The hotel will likely attract 140,000 visitors this year with its 36 handcrafted, themed guest rooms. An ice candelabra lit by fiber optics hangs in the lobby. In the café, guests sit on ice chairs cushioned with fur and sip hot chocolate. From $199.
Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel
Alta, Norway
Built every year along the banks of the Alta River, this ice hotel offers a cold, crisp taste of Norway. The world’s northernmost ice hotel boasts an ice chapel with frozen benches draped in animal skins, an ice bar that serves bright blue vodka in ice glasses, and huskies for dogsledding. Beds in the 32 guest rooms are covered with reindeer hide. Glimpse the beauty of the fjords’ icy waters aboard a snowmobile. From $343.
Igloo Village
Engelberg, Switzerland
Sweeping views of the Swiss Alps and of dark night skies glittering with stars are some of what make the Igloo Village special. Built by Iglu-Dorf, a company with similar villages across the country, a standard igloo can hold up to six guests. Dip bread into a pot of bubbling Gruyère cheese on the snow terrace. The village rests peacefully in Engelberg, a popular mountain resort town in central Switzerland. From $90.
Icehotel
Lapland, Sweden
First built nearly 20 years ago, the largest ice hotel in the world is constructed from 30,000 tons of “snis,” a mixture of snow and ice, in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden, a small village outside Kiruna with around 900 inhabitants and a thousand dogs. Each year more than 50,000 guests flock to Icehotel to stay in one of the 60 rooms with elaborate interiors carved from Torne River ice. A nighttime dogsledding tour through the city may offer views of the northern lights. From $375, including breakfast, thermal clothing, and morning sauna. Tours for nonguests run $48; free for kids.
You May Also Like
Go Further
Animals
- Octopuses have a lot of secrets. Can you guess 8 of them?
- Animals
- Feature
Octopuses have a lot of secrets. Can you guess 8 of them? - This biologist and her rescue dog help protect bears in the AndesThis biologist and her rescue dog help protect bears in the Andes
- An octopus invited this writer into her tank—and her secret worldAn octopus invited this writer into her tank—and her secret world
- Peace-loving bonobos are more aggressive than we thoughtPeace-loving bonobos are more aggressive than we thought
Environment
- This ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrificeThis ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrifice
- U.S. plans to clean its drinking water. What does that mean?U.S. plans to clean its drinking water. What does that mean?
- Food systems: supporting the triangle of food security, Video Story
- Paid Content
Food systems: supporting the triangle of food security - Will we ever solve the mystery of the Mima mounds?Will we ever solve the mystery of the Mima mounds?
- Are synthetic diamonds really better for the planet?Are synthetic diamonds really better for the planet?
- This year's cherry blossom peak bloom was a warning signThis year's cherry blossom peak bloom was a warning sign
History & Culture
- Strange clues in a Maya temple reveal a fiery political dramaStrange clues in a Maya temple reveal a fiery political drama
- How technology is revealing secrets in these ancient scrollsHow technology is revealing secrets in these ancient scrolls
- Pilgrimages aren’t just spiritual anymore. They’re a workout.Pilgrimages aren’t just spiritual anymore. They’re a workout.
- This ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrificeThis ancient society tried to stop El Niño—with child sacrifice
- This ancient cure was just revived in a lab. Does it work?This ancient cure was just revived in a lab. Does it work?
- See how ancient Indigenous artists left their markSee how ancient Indigenous artists left their mark
Science
- Jupiter’s volcanic moon Io has been erupting for billions of yearsJupiter’s volcanic moon Io has been erupting for billions of years
- This 80-foot-long sea monster was the killer whale of its timeThis 80-foot-long sea monster was the killer whale of its time
- Every 80 years, this star appears in the sky—and it’s almost timeEvery 80 years, this star appears in the sky—and it’s almost time
- How do you create your own ‘Blue Zone’? Here are 6 tipsHow do you create your own ‘Blue Zone’? Here are 6 tips
- Why outdoor adventure is important for women as they ageWhy outdoor adventure is important for women as they age
Travel
- This royal city lies in the shadow of Kuala LumpurThis royal city lies in the shadow of Kuala Lumpur
- This author tells the story of crypto-trading Mongolian nomadsThis author tells the story of crypto-trading Mongolian nomads
- Slow-roasted meats and fluffy dumplings in the Czech capitalSlow-roasted meats and fluffy dumplings in the Czech capital