Holiday Adventure: Chilled Getaways in Ice Hotels for a Frosty Christmas Retreat

In search of the perfect festive escape? Look no further than our #RadarList of ice hotels with cool design and convivial service to keep your Christmas spirit high and meet all your hotel needs.

– Cover image credit: Facebook/Village Vacances Valcartier –
Photo credit: Facebook/Sorrisniva

Sorrisniva

Luxury crafted from 250 tonnes of ice and 7,000 m3 of snow, The Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel presents a uniquely “cool” experience in Alta, Norway.

Photo credit: Facebook/Sorrisniva

Annually, a team of skilled ice sculptors assembles to craft themed igloo rooms and suites from scratch, exclusively available from December 20 to April 7. For those who prefer a visual feast over an overnight stay in the igloo, guests can opt to visit the Ice Bar and enjoy a cosy stay at Sorrisniva’s Arctic Wilderness Lodge instead.

Photo credit: Facebook/Village Vacances Valcartier

Hôtel de Glace

Imagine the comfort and luxury of a traditional hotel experience, but add a zero-degree setting and ice furniture that literally make everything “cooler” — that’s Hôtel de Glace. This seasonal hotel, located in Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier, Québec, Canada, is crafted entirely from ice and operates only from January to March each year. We recommend opting for the Premium Suite with Fireplace and Private Hot Tub to keep things cool and cosy all at once.

Photo credit: Facebook/ICEHOTEL and Asaf Kliger⁠

ICEHOTEL

Feel the chill at ICEHOTEL. Nestled in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden, this hotel offers a unique stay for thrill-seeking hotel hoppers. The ICEHOTEL Winter, open from December to April, is a masterpiece crafted entirely from ice and snow, featuring new designs and art decors each year.

Photo credit: Facebook/ICEHOTEL and Asaf Kliger

Can’t make it in winter? No worries. ICEHOTEL 365 ensures a year-round ice hotel experience with solar energy wonderfully maintaining the venue at a temperature of -5°C.

Photo credit: Facebook/Snowhotel Kirkenes

Snowhotel Kirkenes 

Whether it’s winter, summer, or spring, Snowhotel Kirkenes in Norway welcomes guests to experience the ice stay in all 365 days thanks to the state-of-the-art cooling system.

Photo credit: Facebook/Snowhotel Kirkenes

Beyond the unique ice accommodations, the hotel offers a variety of exhilarating activities, including king crab fishing, snowmobile tours, ice fishing, and snow yoga to ensure your escape to Norway remains cool and jolly.

Photo credit: Facebook/Hotel of Ice Romania

Hotel of Ice Romania

A winter wonderland nestled in the Făgăraș Mountains, the Hotel of Ice in Romania sits 2,000 meters above sea level and is accessible only by cable car, exciting!

Photo credit: Facebook/Hotel of Ice Romania

Each year, the hotel is rebuilt out of ice blocks cut from the frozen Bâlea Lake. Guests will find delight in the igloos, ice restaurant, and even a church, all meticulously hand-carved by local ice sculptors.