The original ICEHOTEL has just opened for the 2025 season, celebrating its 35th anniversary by opening ICEHOTEL 35. Making adventure more magical than ever, guests can sleep surrounded by world-class ice and snow art created by 26 artists from 13 countries, including one British design duo
The world-renowned icon is back and cooler than ever. Located in Sweden, ICEHOTEL is not just a hotel, but an art gallery filled with sparkling, ephemeral art – which melts back into the Torne River when spring arrives.
This year, visitors can look forward to falling asleep in a suite featuring a huge rhinoceros in “WHOOPS WRONG ROOM!!”, taking refuge in the immersive art suite “Hideaway,” or being fascinated by Sami craftsmanship in the suite “Áhku Fáhcat,” which means grandmother’s mittens in Sami as well as a kiln, a cozy bird’s nest and a South Korean inspired craftsmanship.
Building ICEHOTEL 35 took six weeks, using 500 tons of ice from the Torne River and 10 Olympic-sized swimming pools of “snis” – a mixture of snow and ice. The creation process started in the spring when ice blocks were harvested and have since been stored at ICEHOTEL’s ice production hall. In recent weeks, a dedicated team of builders, artists, lighting designers, ice production, and artist support team has worked intensely to complete the hotel.
Silent Snowmobile Touring
New for this year, ICEHOTEL has partnered with Vidde Mobility to offer the world’s first electric, circular snowmobiles so that guests can experience a snowmobile tour in silence, in harmony with nature. Guests can also experience ice sculpting and nature-focused activities such as a snowmobile Northern Lights tour, dog sledding, the Jukkasjärvi sauna ritual, and wilderness dining.
Icy flair
In addition to the 12 art suites, there are also 20 ice rooms, a Ceremony Hall filled with icy floral splendour for weddings and events, and the iconic Main Hall, almost 30 meters long, with crystal chandeliers created from 220 handcrafted ice crystals.
In the year-round open part of the hotel, ICEHOTEL 365, there are an additional 18 art and deluxe suites, an ice gallery, and the newly created ICEBAR In Orbit, which takes guests on a space journey. Here the guests can warm up in the crystal-clear cold with a drink while embarking on a unique journey through space. Guests can sip on a drink beside a life-sized ice and snow astronaut, or make a quick exit via a slide carved from ice and snow.
Each year, ICEHOTEL welcomes thousands of guests from all over the world, and besides marvelling at the ephemeral art, they can look forward to local delicacies and dining experiences inspired by the Arctic surroundings, such as a four-course ice menu, with some courses served on ice, and a 12-course Chef’s Table menu at the Veranda.
Make it happen
How: For more information on Discover the World, please see discover-the-world.com or call 01737 428 307
Wallet: Discover the World offers a wide range of Icehotel trips combining stays with Abisko National Park, as well as a city stopover in Stockholm. Prices start from £625 for a 3-night break based on two sharing on a B&B basis including one night ‘sleeping on ice’ and two nights in warm accommodation. Return flights to Kiruna airport via Stockholm from £330 per person.
Photo cred: WHOOPS WRONG ROOM!!, AnnaSofia Mååg, ICEHOTEL 35, ICE KILN, Jaeyual Lee & Daeho Lee, ICEHOTEL 35, Ceremony Hall: Gaia’s Bloom, Lisa Lindqvist & Kate Munro, Storbritannien, photo Asaf Kliger, ICEHOTEL
