How cold is it sleeping in the ICEHOTEL?

The rooms are maintained at -5°C to -8°C. You sleep on an ice bed covered with reindeer skins inside a thermal sleeping bag rated to -30°C. Despite the temperature, most guests report sleeping surprisingly well. The key is following the staff's preparation advice: empty your bladder before bed, keep the sleeping bag loosely closed, and wear the provided hat.

Can you see the northern lights from the ICEHOTEL?

Not from inside your ice room (no windows in most designs), but stepping outside puts you on the banks of the frozen Torne River with excellent aurora viewing conditions. The ICEHOTEL also offers guided aurora excursions and photography workshops. At KP 2, aurora is frequently visible from the hotel grounds.

When does the ICEHOTEL open?

The seasonal ICEHOTEL typically opens in December and runs through April. ICEHOTEL 365 (the permanent ice section) is open year-round. For aurora viewing combined with the full seasonal hotel experience, January through March is ideal.

How much does the ICEHOTEL cost?

Prices vary by room type and season. Ice rooms start from about 2,500-3,500 SEK per person per night. Individually designed art suites can cost 5,000-8,000+ SEK. Warm rooms (also available) are priced separately. Many visitors book one ice night and additional warm nights. Packages including activities are often the best value.

Northern Lights Destination

Northern Lights in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden

Sleep in a room made entirely of ice, then step outside to watch the northern lights dance above the frozen Torne River - Jukkasjarvi's ICEHOTEL is a bucket-list experience.

Updated January 15, 20258 min read

Jukkasjarvi: Aurora at the ICEHOTEL

Jukkasjärvi is a tiny Sami village of about 900 people on the Torne River, 17 km from Kiruna. The village has been transformed by the ICEHOTEL, which has operated here since 1989 and is rebuilt each winter from ice blocks harvested from the very river that flows past its door. Artists from around the world create individually designed ice suites, sculptures, an ice bar, and even a chapel where couples can marry surrounded by ice art.

At 67.85°N, Jukkasjärvi needs only a KP index of 2 for aurora activity. The village's small size and riverside location mean dark skies are immediate - step outside your ice room door and you may see the aurora dancing above the frozen river. The ICEHOTEL offers guided aurora experiences, photography workshops, and dog sled excursions that combine Arctic adventure with aurora viewing.

The combination of sleeping in ice and watching aurora makes Jukkasjärvi one of the world's most unique winter experiences. Check the aurora forecast and prepare for an unforgettable night.

Aurora Viewing at Jukkasjarvi

ICEHOTEL River Front: The frozen Torne River in front of the ICEHOTEL provides a wide, open viewing corridor. Walk onto the ice for unobstructed panoramic views. The ICEHOTEL building itself creates an atmospheric foreground when lit from within.

Warm Rooms Terrace: The ICEHOTEL's warm accommodation section has outdoor areas and terraces facing the river. Some rooms feature aurora viewing windows. The combination of warmth and aurora access makes these rooms popular alternatives to the ice rooms.

Jukkasjärvi Church: A historic 17th-century Sami church, one of the oldest buildings in the area. Its wooden architecture and churchyard create a cultural foreground for aurora photography. The church is about 500 meters from the ICEHOTEL.

Surrounding Wilderness: Guided snowmobile, dog sled, and reindeer excursions take visitors into the surrounding wilderness for aurora viewing. The vast forests and frozen lakes beyond the village offer pristine dark-sky conditions.

When to Visit Jukkasjarvi

The aurora season runs from September through March. The ICEHOTEL has two versions:

ICEHOTEL (Seasonal): Opens in December (once the ice is harvested and the hotel built) and operates through April. This is the original experience with rooms rebuilt each year by invited artists. Peak season is January-March.

ICEHOTEL 365: A permanent ice section kept frozen year-round by solar-powered cooling. This means you can sleep in ice rooms during aurora season as early as September, when the seasonal hotel hasn't yet been built.

Best Aurora Months: February and March combine the full ICEHOTEL experience with optimal aurora conditions. The equinox effect in March often brings enhanced geomagnetic activity. January offers the deepest darkness but can be very cold.

Getting to Jukkasjarvi

Getting There: Fly to Kiruna Airport (KRN, 15 minutes drive). The ICEHOTEL arranges airport transfers. Bus service from Kiruna also serves Jukkasjärvi.

Sleeping in Ice: Rooms are kept at a constant -5°C to -8°C. You sleep on an ice block bed covered with reindeer skins inside an expedition-grade sleeping bag rated to -30°C. A warm changing room with lockers is available for personal items. Most guests spend one night in ice and additional nights in warm rooms. It's genuinely comfortable if you follow the staff's instructions.

Ice Art: Each winter, around 30 artists from around the world are invited to create individual art suites using ice and snow as their medium. No two rooms are alike, and the artistry ranges from the whimsical to the profound. Even if not staying overnight, day visits to admire the ice art are available.

Activities: Dog sledding on the frozen Torne River, snowmobile safaris, Sami cultural experiences, ice sculpting workshops, Northern Lights photography tours, and the Ice Bar (serving drinks in glasses made of ice). Many activities are included in ICEHOTEL packages.

Plan the trip

Getting to Jukkasjarvi

Aurora trips need three things booked together: a flight into the right airport, somewhere dark to stay, and usually a car, because the sky you get is the sky above wherever you can drive to that night.

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Live fares into Kiruna Airport (KRN), the closest airport to Jukkasjarvi.

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Frequently Asked Questions

: The rooms are maintained at -5°C to -8°C. You sleep on an ice bed covered with reindeer skins inside a thermal sleeping bag rated to -30°C. Despite the temperature, most guests report sleeping surprisingly well. The key is following the staff's preparation advice: empty your bladder before bed, keep the sleeping bag loosely closed, and wear the provided hat.
: Not from inside your ice room (no windows in most designs), but stepping outside puts you on the banks of the frozen Torne River with excellent aurora viewing conditions. The ICEHOTEL also offers guided aurora excursions and photography workshops. At KP 2, aurora is frequently visible from the hotel grounds.
: The seasonal ICEHOTEL typically opens in December and runs through April. ICEHOTEL 365 (the permanent ice section) is open year-round. For aurora viewing combined with the full seasonal hotel experience, January through March is ideal.
: Prices vary by room type and season. Ice rooms start from about 2,500-3,500 SEK per person per night. Individually designed art suites can cost 5,000-8,000+ SEK. Warm rooms (also available) are priced separately. Many visitors book one ice night and additional warm nights. Packages including activities are often the best value.