A hotel built entirely from ice and snow has opened its doors for the winter season, reviving a long‑standing Arctic tradition in Swedish Lapland. ICEHOTEL 36, now in its 36th edition, is located in Jukkasjärvi and opened to visitors in mid‑December, featuring a striking blend of architectural innovation and artistic design.
The hotel is made using ice blocks harvested from the nearby Torne River, cut and shaped into one of the world’s most unusual hospitality structures each year. Walls and ceilings constructed from ice and snice — a locally engineered mix of snow and ice, and when spring arrives, the frozen creation gradually melts back into the river.
ICEHOTEL 36 covers around 2,800 square metres and features 12 individually themed art suites, along with ice rooms, a main hall and a Ceremony Hall. Construction began in March, with 33 artists from 12 countries contributing to this year’s designs. Standout installations include a full-scale grand piano carved from ice and suites titled “Soap Bubbles,” “Spaghettification”, and “Parliament of Owls”.
“I am very proud of everyone who contributed to ICEHOTEL 36. Some of the artists came with years of experience and others never worked in snow and ice before. Thanks to hard work and a positive spirit we managed to get everything ready on time!” said Luca Roncoroni, the hotel’s Creative Director.
Visitors can stay overnight in individually themed suites carved from ice, with beds covered in reindeer hides and thermal sleeping bags. Heated facilities located nearby provide access to bathrooms, changing areas and communal spaces.
Beyond its icy rooms, ICEHOTEL 36 offers a programme of Arctic activities, from dog sledging and snowmobile tours designed to catch the Northern Lights to traditional sauna rituals and wilderness dinners around open fires. The hotel’s restaurant reflects the frozen Arctic setting with a four-course menu using local ingredients such as reindeer, sea buckthorn, cloudberry and roe, with some dishes served on blocks of ice.
Each winter, ICEHOTEL transforms a frozen riverbank into an immersive Arctic wonderland, blending hospitality, art, and winter adventure, and attracting travellers from around the world to Swedish Lapland for a night in a frozen fairytale.
