Best Ice Hotels of 2023

When it comes to unique travel experiences, nothing beats spending the night at an ice hotel in a remote area. These seasonal accommodations are usually found in the Northern Hemisphere at high altitudes, and typically last until spring, when they naturally melt away. Ice hotels, and villages, transform a regular snowy setting into an ultimate winter wonderland, complete with art sculptures, one-of-a-kind dining offerings, and guest rooms built out of ice blocks.

The Scandinavian, Austrian, and Canadian properties on our list offer a wide range of amenities and facilities, ideal for adventurous travel seekers. Some even include modern-day conveniences, like saunas and hot tubs, that make for a memorable stay. Check out our guide to the best ice hotels before booking your spot in some faraway winter location.

Best Ice Hotels of 2023

• Best Overall: Icehotel, Sweden
• Best for Activities: Hotel de Glâce, Canada
• Best Artisan: Lapland Hotels SnowVillage, Finland
• Best for Weddings: Hotel Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, Finland
• Best for Families: Snowhotel Kirkenes, Norway
• Best Luxury: The SnowCastle of Kemi, Finland
• Best All-Inclusive: Iglu Village, Kühtai, Austria
• Best DIY: Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel, Alta, Norway
• Best for Foodies: Arctic SnowHotel, Rovaniemi, Finland
• Best for Skiers: Schneedorf Ötztal, Austria
  

Best Overall: Icehotel, Sweden

Key Specs

• Free Wi-Fi: Yes
• Resort Fee: No
• Room Rate: $$
  

Why We Chose It

Icehotel in Sweden is the original—and biggest—ice hotel in the world, and it still sets the standard for guest experience and customer service.

Notable Amenities

Complimentary access to an art exhibition space; sauna; private dining; and ice workshops

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Oldest and biggest ice hotel in the world
• On-site gallery of ice exhibits, including sculptures and art-inspired rooms
• Offers traditional accommodations, as well

Cons:

• Temperatures in ice rooms hover from 15 to 18 degrees Celsius (17 to 23 degrees Fahrenheit)

Hotel Overview

Sitting on the banks of the frozen Torne River at 125 miles above the Arctic Circle, the Icehotel was first built in 1989 and has become one of Sweden's most renowned landmarks.

While booking the on-site traditional accommodations may seem like the "safe" option, seasonal rooms built out of ice blocks welcome guests throughout the winter, starting in December. Rooms boast a wooden platform bed, complete with thermal sleeping bags and a reindeer hide to keep you warm. In the morning, wake to a cup of complimentary hot lingonberry juice and a sauna session.

For a truly unique experience, book an art suite that features ice decor crafted by a commissioned artist. And, speaking of art, the property also has exhibition galleries filled with showstopping ice sculptures that hotel guests can tour for free.

Best for Activities: Hotel de Glâce, Canada

Key Specs

• Free Wi-Fi: Yes
• Resort Fee: No
• Room Rate: $$$

Why We Chose It

When guests book an ice suite at Hotel de Glâce, they have access to an on-site winter playground that includes snow slides, a lighted ice-skating trail, and snow rafting. 

Notable Amenities

Sauna; steam room; spa; digital game room; outdoor winter playground

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• English-speaking and courteous staff
• Meticulously-crafted ice sculptures
• Signature bar drinks are served in ice glasses
• Activities suited to families

Cons:

• Floors in ice rooms are slippery
• Temporary closures during warm winters

Hotel Overview

Located a short 20-minute ride outside Quebec City, Canada's Hotel de Glâce is the only ice hotel in North America. Every year, from January until March, the property draws adventurous travelers looking to spend the night in one of 30 themed ice-sculpted rooms and suites.

The spacious accommodations feature some seriously Instagram-worthy ice carvings and sculptures, a fireplace, lounge areas, and a bed covered in warm blankets and arctic sleeping bags. Guests also have access to a traditional room at the nearby Hôtel Valcartier. (Think of it as your "Plan B" in case you realize sleeping the cold is not your thing).

A welcome drink served in an ice glass is also included in the nightly rate, as well as access to the resort's outdoor winter playground, complete with an ice skating path, lighted snow slides, and snow rafting. There is also an outdoor spa area with hot tubs and public restrooms, shower stalls, and ice bars serving local brews and spirits.

Best Artisan: Lapland Hotels SnowVillage, Finland

Key Specs

• Free Wi-Fi: Yes (in the reception area)
• Resort Fee: No
• Room Rate: $$
  

Why We Chose It

Lapland Hotels SnowVillage's architecture is different every winter, and each room or suite is decorated with spectacular ice sculptures and carvings.

Notable Amenities

Ice restaurant; ice chapel; a slide; and a large variety of outdoor activities and tours

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Hotel doubles as a museum with guided tours
• Ice restaurant serves a three-course Finnish dinner
• Traditional accommodations offered in a cottage

Cons:

• Some reviewers mentioned uncomfortable beds
• Ice restaurant is almost too cold to enjoy

Hotel Overview

Lapland Hotels SnowVillage is a winter wonderland with an artsy edge. The village consists of a hotel, restaurant, bar, chapel, and exhibition space, all of which are built every winter from more than 44 million pounds of snow and 650,000 pounds of crystal-clear natural ice. The spaces, including the guest rooms and suites, are filled with spectacular ice creations making this ice hotel feel like a museum.

Check-in and check-out are at 10 p.m., giving guests 24 hours to explore the five-acre property. Temperatures in the hotel are kept between -2 and -5 degrees Celsius (28 and 23 degrees Fahrenheit), and staff will gladly lend guests a few extra layers or blankets.

No two rooms at the SnowVillage are alike, but all of them feature large ice beds with warm sleeping bags. The menus in the ice restaurant and bar are heavy on Finnish flavors, so travelers can fully immerse themselves in the local culture.

Best for Weddings: Hotel Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, Saariselkä, Finland

Key Specs

• Free Wi-Fi: Yes
• Resort Fee: No
• Room Rate: $$$

Why We Chose It

Hotel Kakslauttanen hosts fairytale weddings in two chapels, one made of snow and the other of logs. The couple can enjoy a sleigh ride to the chapel site (pulled by reindeer), and a stay in an earth lodge wedding chamber.

Notable Amenities

The largest smoke sauna in the world; apparel rental services; Santa's House

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Many accommodations options to choose from
• Numerous activities and excursions
• Live music every evening

Cons:

• Food offerings are average

Hotel Overview

Explore the Arctic wilderness without compromising on modern amenities in Finland's famous Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Lapland. The property—famous for its dreamy glass-domed igloos perfect for viewing the Northern Lights—also offers stays in seasonal snow igloos.

Guests can spend the night wrapped in down sleeping bags and surrounded by thick snow walls. The igloos maintain a steady indoor temperature of about -4 degrees Celsius (25 degrees Fahrenheit), and travelers can warm up in the morning in one of three smoke saunas.

This resort rolls out the red carpet for those who want to get married under the Northern Lights. Complete with two chapels, wedding chambers, a bride and groom sleigh ride, and plenty of accommodations for guests, this spot delivers an unforgettable destination wedding experience.

Best for Families: Snowhotel Kirkenes, Norway

Key Specs

• Free Wi-Fi: Yes
• Resort Fee: No
• Room Rate: $$

Why We Chose It

Snowhotel Kirkenes offers an array of outdoor activities—from dogsledding to king crab safaris—making it a perfect vacation for active families.

Notable Amenities

Sauna; a "dog yard" with huskies and reindeer; a lounge

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Cross-country skis and snowshoe rentals included in the nightly rate
• Package deals include two Artic adventures
• Restaurant serves a three-course menu made from local ingredients
• On-site dog yard with lots of animals

Cons:

• Busloads of tourists visit the hotel daily
• You have to go outside of the snow hotel to use the bathroom

Hotel Overview

Unlike most ice hotels on our list, the Snowhotel Kirkenes in Norway welcomes visitors year-round. The walls of the ice rooms are covered in fantastical motifs, and travelers get to catch their z’s in an ice bed with a beautifully carved ice headboard.

Beyond that, the resort offers plenty of Arctic adventure to keep families entertained, with snowshoes and skis included in the nightly rate. Also included is access to the resort's dog yard, home to huskies, reindeer, and puppies that you can feed. (The kids will love it!)

The hotel has 20 Gamme cabins inspired by traditional hunting and fishing huts—an excellent accommodation option for the outdoor buffs in the family.

Best Luxury: SnowCastle of Kemi, Finland

Key Specs

• Free Wi-Fi: Yes
• Resort Fee: No
• Room Rate: $$

Why We Chose It

This fortress-like castle features beautiful ice art and boasts pristine accommodations in seaside glass villas with a private sauna.

Notable Amenities

Sauna with a lounge and terrace; on-site spa; seaside glass accommodations; icebreaker cruises; a tube slide

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Warm, luxury glass villa accommodations
• Private saunas and hot tubs
• Gourmet restaurant serving modern, Arctic fare

Cons:

• Does not offer snow or igloo accommodations

Hotel Overview

Finland's SnowCastle is the largest snow-and-ice exhibition in the world and is reminiscent of a scene in Disney’s "Frozen." First constructed in 1996, this fortress-like property is rebuilt each winter using ice blocks from the Gulf of Bothnia, the northernmost part of the Baltic Sea.

Open from mid-January to mid-April, the hotel welcomes travelers for overnight stays in luxury seaside villas with glass roofs, crafted in typical Finnish design. During the right time of year, you can view the Northern Lights from bed. The villas boast private saunas, and you can reserve the seaside sauna lodge, complete with a sitting area and hot tub, for private groups.

If you’re looking to make a lifelong commitment, the resort also has a romantic snow chapel. It also houses the Seaview Restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner using local ingredients.

Best All-Inclusive: Iglu Village, Kühtai, Austria

Key Specs

• Free Wi-Fi: Yes
• Resort Fee: No
• Room Rate: $$$

Why We Chose It

Your booking at Iglu Village includes a complimentary breakfast, an all-you-can-eat fondue dinner, a morning tea, a snow hike, a sauna, and an overnight stay in a snow igloo.

Notable Amenities

A lounge bar; complimentary breakfast; sauna

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Activities, sauna use, and meals are included in the room rate
• Nestled in the mountains
• Rooms are decorated by international ice artists

Cons:

• Some reviewers rate food as average

Hotel Overview

Tucked away in the Tyrolean mountains 6,562 feet above sea level, Iglu Village is a once-in-a-lifetime experience in one of Austria's most beautiful regions. The hotel is open from December until April and features six overnight igloos that accommodate up to 22 guests. Each igloo is outfitted with warm furs and beautiful snow and ice artwork.

Your stay here starts in the late afternoon with cocktails and a fondue dinner at the village's ice restaurant, followed by a snowshoe hike. Then, travelers can warm up in the sauna before heading to their igloos for the night. And, bonus—the entire experience is included in the booking price.

Best DIY: Igloo Hotel at Sorrisniva, Alta, Norway

Key Specs

• Free Wi-Fi: Yes
• Resort Fee: No
• Room Rate: $$$

Why We Chose It

At Igloo Hotel at Sorrisniva, each ice suite is decorated by a local artist, and guests can try their hand at ice carving in a two-hour workshop led by artisans.

Notable Amenities

Sauna; restaurant and bar; hot tub; gift shop

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Offers numerous excursions, including dog and reindeer sled rides and DIY ice carving
• Two world-renown, gourmet restaurants serving local fare
• Each igloo suite is designed by an artist
• Traditional accommodations are also offered in the Arctic Wilderness Lodge.

Cons:

• Male showers are shared and open-air

Hotel Overview

Overlooking the beautiful Alta River in the Arctic, Sorrisniva is a remote wilderness resort that offers year-round accommodations in a luxury lodge, along with a seasonal igloo hotel that opens at the end of December.

Here, every ice suite is designed by an ice sculptor with a unique theme in mind. Beautiful lighting is also incorporated into the interiors, creating an enchanting ambiance. The beds are covered in insulated mattresses, reindeer skins, and warm sleeping bags to keep overnight guests warm.

During the day, travelers can explore the Arctic on a snowmobile, join a dogsledding tour, or cruise the Alta River on a boat. You can also book an ice sculpting experience, where an expert artisan teaches you the methods, and introduces you to the tools used in carving an ice sculpture. Then, you can try your hand at carving your own.

A delicious meal at one of the two locally-inspired restaurants, and a little time in the sauna, is the perfect ending to a fun-filled day.

Best for Foodies: Arctic SnowHotel, Rovaniemi, Finland

Key Specs

• Free Wi-Fi: Yes
• Resort Fee: No
• Room Rate: $$

Why We Chose It

Arctic SnowHotel offers three unique dining and drinking experiences, the Ice Restaurant, serving local fare, the Ice Bar, with specially-crafted cocktails, and Kota Restaurant, with its glow-fried salmon fillet.

Notable Amenities

Restaurant with ice table and chairs serving arctic specialties; a snow sauna; an outdoor hot tub

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Three on-site gourmet eating and drinking establishments
• Snow sauna and cold dip wellness experience
• Snow hotel, as well as glass-domed accommodations

Cons:

• Open-air showers without curtains
  

Hotel Overview

Situated above the Arctic Circle in Lapland, this snow hotel sleeps 70 guests in beautiful glass-domed accommodations and snow igloos. Each December, the rooms are designed with icy decor, vibrant lighting, warm reindeer furs, pillows, and sleeping bags.

One of the most unique amenities of this hotel is its snow sauna, an intimate space with ice walls and a bench filled with steam. Those who feel adventurous (and can stand the cold) can combine this one-of-a-kind experience with a cold water dip—the ultimate arctic wellness ritual. Then jump in the jacuzzi, and enjoy the quiet landscape with a hot drink in hand.

Arctic SnowHotel is also known for its three separate dining and drinking experiences. The Ice Restaurant serves a hearty buffet of traditional Log (bacon-wrapped hashbrowns), and the dinner menu includes roasted elk and braised Arctic Slamon. At the Ice Bar, enjoy your favorite cocktail in an ice glass. (Make sure to wear mittens!) And, don't miss out on Kota Lodge's glow-fried salmon or sautéed reindeer entree.

Best for Skiers: Schneedorf Ötztal, Austria

Key Specs

• Free Wi-Fi: No
• Resort Fee: No
• Room Rate: $$

Why We Chose It

Schneedorf Ötztal is located near the ski resort Hochoetz (a family-friendly ski area with 13 chairlifts) and makes a great overnight experience to add to your ski vacation.

Notable Amenities

Off-site spa; outdoor jungle course; proximity to winter sports facilities; a dining igloo

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Main igloo serves fondue dinner and drinks at the snow bar
• Offers romantic candlelight packages for couples
• Heated toilets
• On-site thermal baths and saunas

Cons:

• Expensive

Hotel Overview

During the winter days, Austria's Tyrolean mountains are abuzz with winter sports enthusiasts, but once the lifts shut down, silence reigns. And there's no better—or unique way—to experience the area's silence than spending the night in a snow igloo in the Ötztal valley.

Schneedorf Ötztal, a seasonal ice hotel, offers packages for families and couples that include a welcome drink (opt for traditional glühwein), a guided hike, a fondue dinner, and an insulated double sleeping bag to keep you toasty during the night. A snow bar, a warm-up room, and shared heated bathrooms complement the amenities.

The area is packed with exciting activities for the whole family, such as an outdoor parkour course, a luxe spa, and sledding. And the family-friendly ski resort, Hochoetz, is located nearby and is considered one of the ten sunniest ski resorts in Austria.

Final Verdict

We chose Sweden's Icehotel as our top pick for the best ice hotels due to its elaborate ice suites and striking ice installations. The property is surrounded by untouched wilderness and lush forests illuminated at night by the aurora borealis. Here, you can book an art suite crafted by a commissioned artist, and browse a gallery of breathtaking ice sculptures. Icehotel also offers traditional accommodations for those opting for a warmer sleep.

What to Know Before Choosing an Ice Hotel

Room Type

If you have doubts about lasting the entire night in a cold igloo, choose an ice hotel that also offers traditional accommodations (most do) and book a warm room just in case. With another room on reserve, you have the option to move in the middle of the night if you get too cold.

What To Wear

It's essential to come well-dressed when visiting an ice hotel. Wear wool or synthetic long underwear (as opposed to cotton) to keep you warm during your overnight stay. Wear shoes that are easy to take on and off because the icy floors are usually not covered in rugs, and shared restrooms are typically located outside the guest rooms. Also, don't forget your down jacket, mittens, hat, and scarf. You may need to sleep in these items of clothing if you are easily chilled.

Traveling With Children

If you decide to bring your children along, check with the hotel's minimum age requirement for overnight stays. While almost all ice hotels are kid-friendly, there may be specific age recommendations for both health and safety reasons. Also, some resorts—complete with spas, saunas, and hot tubs—may cater to couples looking for privacy and romance and may not welcome children for this reason.

Methodology

We researched several ice hotels in various locations before coming up with our list of the best. We considered each property's reputation and quality of service, accessibility, location, and notable amenities. We chose stays with on-site saunas and hot tubs, giving guests the option to warm up after a cold night in their room. And we chose hotels with on-site dining options, including some locations with ice bars and world-class offerings made with local ingredients. We also factored in the available experiences and excursions, choosing properties near ski resorts, as well as those that offered dog sledding, snow parks, and ice sculpting workshops.