The Ice Hotel is not just a place to spend the night; it is a breathtaking, ephemeral work of art that is rebuilt every year. When I visited in March 2024, I couldn’t stop wondering how such an incredible place would simply melt away by the end of winter. The level of detail in each room left me full of questions about its construction. How could so much effort go into creating something so beautiful, knowing from the start that it had an expiration date?
A Hotel That Returns to the River Every Spring
Built with ice and snow blocks extracted from the nearest river, the Ice Hotel naturally melts each year with the arrival of spring. In this sense, it follows a cyclical rhythm, much like nature itself. It comes from the river and eventually returns to it after four months. This powerful image makes us reflect on impermanence and the beauty of transience.
Thousands of tourists visit the Ice Hotel in Lapland every winter, knowing that it will vanish when spring arrives. This made me wonder: What does it mean to visit a place that will disappear in just a few months? Unlike historic monuments that have stood for centuries, the Ice Hotel exists only for a season.
My Experience at the Ice Hotel
The original Ice Hotel is located in Jukkasjärvi, a small village in northern Sweden, about 200 km above the Arctic Circle. It is open to visitors from December to April, just before the spring thaw.
Each year, artists from around the world work tirelessly to design and sculpt the hotel’s rooms, beds, lamps, and decorations—all made of ice from the Torne River. This means that no two rooms are ever the same. Every space has a unique theme and atmosphere, captivating thousands of travelers who step inside.
Despite being made of ice, the rooms feature electricity and lighting. Some even include small ice objects with intricate textures and patterns. The beds are covered with reindeer hides to keep guests warm.
However, spending the night there is not entirely comfortable due to the extreme cold inside the hotel. During my visit, I had to wear a snowsuit and multiple layers of thermal clothing to stay warm. While guests receive thermal sleeping bags, the cold remains noticeable.
A Year-Round Ice Experience
For those who want to experience the magic of the Ice Hotel beyond winter, there’s Icehotel 365, a permanent structure that allows visitors to stay in ice rooms even in summer. Thanks to solar-powered refrigeration, this section of the hotel offers a unique experience year-round. It also features a famous ice bar, where drinks are served in glasses made of ice.
The Ice Hotel and the Philosophy of Impermanence
When I left the Ice Hotel, I realized that I would never see it again. Even if I returned next winter, it would not be the same. The fact that it is rebuilt every year with different themes made me reflect on the impermanence of all things.
As Buddhism teaches, nothing is eternal—not joy, nor sorrow. The Ice Hotel is a powerful reminder of this principle. All the ice columns, arches, and sculptures crafted by renowned artists will inevitably return to the river from which they came.
In this way, the hotel’s art becomes a testament to accepting transience. Its fleeting nature is what makes it so beautiful. Unlike historical landmarks that will outlive us, the Ice Hotel is different: we precede it, and we will remember it as something that existed only for a short time.
Just as trees blossom in spring, the Ice Hotel will rise again next winter, ready to enchant new visitors.
Final Reflection: Finding Beauty in the Temporary
As I watched the sun reflect off the ice sculptures, I understood that the beauty of impermanence does not lie in the sadness of loss, but in the intensity of the present moment. The Ice Hotel is not less impressive because it will disappear—on the contrary, its temporary existence makes it even more special.
Perhaps the greatest lesson is to embrace change instead of fearing it.
📌 If you’re interested in Arctic life and experiences, check out my posts on Polar Nights, Stratospheric Clouds, and Working in Lapland.
You can also check out other travelers experience in Trip Advisor