In the remote village of Jukkasjärvi, 200 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle, Sweden’s iconic Icehotel rises each winter—only to vanish by summer. Carved entirely from ice and snow harvested from the nearby Torne River, this ephemeral masterpiece has been rebuilt from scratch every year since 1989, making it the world’s original—and most temporary—hotel.
The process begins in March, when crews collect 5,000 tons of ice and 30,000 tons of snow. Artists and architects from around the globe then transform these frozen blocks into themed suites, ice chapels, and even ice bars where drinks are served in glasses made of ice. Guests sleep on ice beds topped with reindeer hides, bundled in thermal sleeping bags at a cozy -5°C (23°F). But come May, rising temperatures reduce the hotel to a slushy memory, its components returning to the river in a poetic full-circle moment.
The Icehotel’s fleeting existence is part of its charm. Each iteration features new designs—think ice-carved dragons, crystalline chandeliers, or minimalist Arctic chambers. One year, a suite glowed with LED-lit ice; another recreated a frozen jungle. The hotel even hosts ice-sculpting workshops where visitors can try (and fail) to carve their own frosty art.
But don’t pack your parka just yet. In 2016, the Icehotel expanded with a permanent structure, Icehotel 365, kept frosty year-round via solar power. The original seasonal version, however, remains a tribute to impermanence. Locals joke that rebuilding it is Sweden’s version of Groundhog Day—except with more ice axes and fewer rodents.
Staying here isn’t for the faint of heart. Morning alarms include hot lingonberry juice delivered to your icy doorstep, and bathrooms are strategically located in heated buildings. Yet thousands flock here annually, lured by Northern Lights views, dog sledding, and bragging rights to surviving a night in a room colder than their freezer.
So, if you’re itching for a vacation that literally melts away, book a stay between December and April. Just don’t get too attached to your ice suite—by July, it’ll be a puddle with a view. And if you miss it? Don’t worry. Like a frosty phoenix, it’ll rise again next winter, proving that some things are worth freezing for.
