20 Real Traveler Photos Of Sweden's Ice Hotel

The Icehotel in Sweden sweeps guests away to a fanciful world of ice and snow. A visit to the hotel is a one-of-a-kind experience since the rooms change with the seasons. Old installations and artwork are exchanged for new creations designed by new artists.

Impermanence is part of what makes this experience so special. Visitors are encouraged to appreciate things in the moment.

Plenty of photos highlighting the hotel’s beauty are already available, but they don’t always depict reality. In this article, we’re going to get real about what the hotel is actually like for people who make the trip to Jukkasjärvi in Swedish Lapland.

Let’s take a look at 20 real traveler photos of Sweden's ice hotel.

This hotel doesn't abandon its theme for one second. Therefore, its Ice Bar can only be expected to have counters, tables, and stools made of ice. However, the menu is an extra surprise. Food and drink options are listed in white on a transparent slate of ice.

19 Clear river ice sparkles like crystal

Part of what makes the hotel so beautiful is the pure water harvested from the Torne. It's what makes this hotel look like a magical winter palace instead of a frosted-over dungeon. For other European destinations with this kind of whimsy, check out some of these tourists’ photos.

18 Artists find other ways to add a little warmth

This guest might have gotten a little homesick after feeling the chill of the winter wind in Sweden. Here in this room warmed by her fire, she looks cozy despite the weather. Scenes like this show the ability of artists to truly transform the hotel through their sculptures.

17 Don't bother asking the bartender to hold the ice

Rather than throw a couple of cubes in a drink, servers at the Ice Bar put the drink in the cube. Everyone knows gloves and mittens are a must when chugging down one of their brews, but this tourist looks like he should’ve brought another layer before leaving his cabin.

16 The restaurant is warm but the dishes aren't

The Veranda restaurant serves cold items on ice blocks that fit the Icehotel theme, according to the Icehotel site. Raw dishes like sushi get the same treatment. However, sizzling T-bone steak and steaming pasta will be served on more ordinary surfaces to keep them deliciously hot.

15 Expect a few adorable roommates

Giant jellies with icicles for tentacles were once part of an Icehotel suite. However, the art changes every year. Guests who book the same room one winter apart will find that nothing looks like it once did. Make sure to take plenty of photos to preserve your favorite pieces.

14 Normal rooms are an option

Warm rooms in cabins out back are available for those who would rather enjoy the art in the day time and sleep in conditions they’re more used to at night. The Icehotel site recommends spending at least one day in the cold before moving back to the warmth.

13 The temperature at check-in may be deceptive

Judging by the contrast in clothing between the receptionist and guest, the Icehotel reception room is far less chilly. It offers guests a rest before they plunge into the cold of the hotel. Just don’t get too comfortable if you’re planning to spend your entire trip sleeping on ice.

12 Blankets thrown on top of a block of ice won't do much

Fur blankets are well-suited to hotel design, even if they won’t actually be keeping anyone warm. This bed is cute for a few quick photos when you’re bundled up in winter clothes, but sleeping here can get rough. Luckily, the hotel provides sleeping bags, according to the Icehotel website.

11 Praise the snowflake at the Ice Chapel

Anyone who has seen a wedding location like this in their dreams can make it a reality at the Icehotel. The chapel is set up with pews covered in fur blankets and delicately carved chandeliers up above. An ice chapel wedding will be memorable for everyone who attends.

10 Ambitious designers reach higher every year

Visiting a kingdom of ice is already an otherworldly experience, so adding these two astronauts into the mix only seems appropriate. Creative lighting and realistic sculpting put this piece in direct contrast with the camping scene shown earlier. It makes the range of the artists quite clear.

9 Blocks in storage keep things running year-round

Most of the icy blocks used to build the hotel are actually harvested in spring, according to Icehotel. This gives architects and artists enough time to build the hotel up completely before the winter season comes. In the meantime, a consistent collection is hosted in the Icehotel 360 gallery.

These two chose to take their adventure to the Icehotel together, and it definitely seems like it was the right decision for them. However, solo travelers may enjoy the tranquility of a hotel positioned in absolute seclusion. Anyone who wants some time to themselves will find plenty of it here.

7 Start off with their rendition of an igloo

Icehotel is clear with what it wants to achieve. It takes a traditional winter shelter and makes it luxurious. However, while visiting Sweden there are many other hidden gems to stop by to make more unexpected discoveries. The sites on this list are also equally accessible in summer.

6 Electric elements are all solar-powered

You won’t find many electric components in the Icehotel, but anything that does require energy is solar-powered, according to Icehotel. A good deal of this energy goes into keeping the Icehotel an ice hotel when the summer months come. Stored power translates into an un-thawable fortress.

5 Experts aren't the only ones making art

After mastering the basics in the Icehotel’s carving classes, students are free to sculpt whatever they can dream up. Or at least try to. If the masterpiece on your mind happens to be a giant kidney bean like this guest's, no one will dare to interrupt your vision.

4 Elegant installations are visible from the start

This hallway is one of the first things you’ll be seeing upon entering the Icehotel. When this photo was taken, Thor, the god of thunder, waited at the end to greet new guests. Since the hotel is rebuilt every year, there’s no way of knowing what could be waiting today.

3 Snow-packed halls feel like massive deep freezers

They also look like freezers. The kind that have been left alone long enough to start developing thick layers of frost. Previously, we showed a more elegant hall that leads to special rooms like the bar and chapel. This one delivers guests to suites on either side.

2 Arrive at the hotel the old-fashioned way

Dog sledding is available throughout the trip with reservations, according to Icehotel's website. However, an even better option is to book a hotel transfer for the end or beginning of your trip. Hopping off the plane and onto a sled puts guests right into the winter wonderland mood.

1 Every corner presents a photo opportunity

We don’t know what went wrong, but somehow this tourist has ended up frozen in a block of ice! Jokes aside, this is what everyone thinks will happen when they enter the Icehotel for the first time. In reality, people check in and out of the hotel just fine daily.