My Unforgettable Stay at ICEHOTEL in Sweden and How To Book It With Points [Review]

^{Choice Hotels provided a complimentary activity as part of this stay, but the author paid for his own lodging. All opinions are the author’s own, and neither the hotel staff nor Choice Hotels had input in any part of this review.}

I spent 2 nights at Sweden’s famous ICEHOTEL in February 2026, and it was incredible. I’ll remember this stay for the rest of my life.

A stay here isn’t cheap, given the cost of food and lodging, but the good news is that you can book some rooms with points. I would easily recommend a stay at the ICEHOTEL to anyone looking for something special.

To be honest, I didn’t know much about the property, but I booked it because I saw some cool pictures. I’m so glad I did. Here’s what I learned from my stay.

Booking the ICEHOTEL

I spent 2 nights at the ICEHOTEL during peak season in February 2026. Standard rooms with 2 single beds started at $481 per night, while rooms with a queen bed cost $516. Room rates jumped quickly for preferred rooms ($552), deluxe rooms ($659), and ice rooms ($830).

The ICEHOTEL participates in Choice Privileges through the Ascend Collection, and you can book it with points. That’s what I did.

Standard rooms (so-called “warm rooms”) were available for 20,000 points per night.

Spending 20,000 points to save $481 meant redeeming Choice Privileges points at 2.4 cents apiece. That’s 4 times higher than our average valuation of Choice Privileges points at 0.6 cents each.

There are many ways to earn Choice Privileges points, from hotel stays to point transfers, including Amex Membership Rewards and Capital One Miles at 1:1 or Citi ThankYou Rewards and Wells Fargo Rewards at 1:2 transfer rates.

Hot Tip:

Guests who want to earn Choice Privileges points from their daily spending and lucrative welcome offers should consider adding the Choice Privileges^® Mastercard^® or Choice Privileges^® Select Mastercard^® to their wallet.

Location of the ICEHOTEL

The ICEHOTEL is in northern Sweden, above the Arctic Circle in the town of Jukkasjärvi, about 15 minutes from Kiruna.

Kiruna has an airport (KRN) and bus station, making it the way most people get to and from the ICEHOTEL. Taxis and city buses are readily available.

Some Rooms Aren’t Ice — and These Are What You Can Book With Points

The ICEHOTEL has standard hotel rooms in buildings — not ice — and points can only be redeemed for these warm rooms.

These rooms are located in buildings around the periphery of the hotel, about a 5 to 7 minute walk from reception.

The room had 2 single beds that could be pushed together or pulled apart, but not much else. Each side of the bed had a lamp and a nightstand. In the corner of the room were 2 chairs and a round table, and opposite the bed were a TV and a desk with a chair.

Bathroom

The compact bathroom had the essentials: a sink, a modest amount of counter space, a large mirror, some shelves, a toilet, and a step-in shower with great water pressure. There was no conditioner, though.

You Can Tour the Ice Rooms (and the Hotel) Without Staying There

I emailed the hotel after booking a room with points to ask about upgrading to an ice room. While it’s possible to pay the difference to upgrade from your room type to an ice room, ice suite, or art suite at the current rate, the hotel told me it’s also possible to tour the ice rooms during the day. For hotel guests, there’s no charge; for nonguests, there’s an admission fee.

Since I could experience touring the ice rooms and artwork without paying for a room upgrade, I was happy to sleep in my standard room at night.

The ice rooms were simply incredible, each having unique features.

The art suites in the ICEHOTEL 365 area were the most impressive (and most expensive for upgrades).

I loved the art featuring people trapped in ice, and a movie about the ICEHOTEL was available.

The entry area to the 2025-2026 setup had a forest theme, with intricate details that truly impressed.

I also loved the chapel and piano I found while walking around.

Part of the Hotel Is Open Year-Round

Before my visit, I was vaguely familiar with the story of the ICEHOTEL being created from snow and ice each year, starting in October and opening to guests in December. I didn’t know there were non-ice rooms until booking my own stay, and I didn’t realize there were ice rooms available year-round until my visit.

The ICEHOTEL 365 experience includes ICEBAR and permanent rooms inside a frozen hangar, and guests can stay here year-round. The warm buildings, bar, restaurants, and reception are also available year-round and don’t melt away in spring, but the hotel’s winter-only parts do.

ICEBAR Was Super Cool (Literally)

Inside the ICEHOTEL 365 area, the ICEBAR offers a limited set of cocktails and mocktails. The bar setup itself was really cool. This area was popular, and it was also included (with a drink) on the many tours to the hotel during the day.

Drinks were served in ice glasses. The bartender told me they were “given back to nature,” not washed after use.

Seating was available nearby, either behind a partition or closer to the entrance, and you could even come back down by slide if you wanted.

This was the area I enjoyed most, due to the novelty of the whole experience and the space theme.

Aurora Spotting Was Central

While many people come to the ICEHOTEL for its novelty, winter visits also offer the chance to see the northern lights. It’s possible to book tours to go out and look for them, but I found staying at the hotel to watch the sky worked fine.

The hotel sent text messages to guests when the aurora was visible overhead, and I had the best views down near the river.

However, I also had decent views just by stepping out of my building and looking up. I even saw the aurora from the window of my room once.

Activities Were Numerous

The hotel offered numerous activities, ranging from dog sled and snowmobile tours to experiences with Sami nomads and, of course, northern lights-related activities. Many of these cost hundreds of dollars.

I took a 90-minute ice sculpting class. A friendly instructor helped guests turn a block of ice into whatever they imagined. With my poor art skills, I asked what would be easy to make. The answer: a star, heart, or pine tree. And I thought it was great that the hotel later displayed our pieces around the property.

Activities and their prices are available here.

Hot Tip:

I found that booking activities through GetYourGuide or a local tour operator costs less than similar outdoor activities at the ICEHOTEL. You pay extra for the convenience factor.

Food and Drinks Weren’t Cheap

The good news: Breakfast was included for all guests, so you’ll save money in the morning.

Otherwise, prices for meals and drinks weren’t cheap. The isolated location, Sweden’s high cost of living, and the hotel’s popularity with tourists contribute to the higher prices. Expect to spend $50 to $75 per adult on meals.

The main restaurant was located across the street from the reception. It offered 3 meals a day, and I had breakfast here both mornings.

The buffet included hot dishes like eggs and sausages, as well as multiple types of yogurt, cold cuts, cereals, and more. Drip coffee and hot tea were included; espresso-based drinks had an extra charge.

I also had dinner here the first night. Dishes were local, including reindeer, caviar, and even a special ice menu (which had to be requested a day in advance).

Dishes were extremely fresh and flavorful, though service was a bit slow.

Hot Tip:

Drinks at the bar, meals, and activities require payment by credit card at the time of purchase. I was surprised by the inability to charge meals and drinks to my room.

The hotel also offered the Old Homestead restaurant, a 15-minute walk or 5-minute drive from the main property. The restaurant offered traditional Swedish food.

Again, dishes leaned on fresh local fare, such as reindeer soup or moose meatballs. Flavors were excellent.

Staff Members Were Super Friendly

From check-in to checkout, employees were constantly smiling.

At check-in, an enthusiastic employee was happy to hear that it was my first visit to the ICEHOTEL. She gave me information about the property, parking, and my room’s location, as well as meal times, and helped me find vegan options on the menus before making dinner reservations.

She didn’t mention where to meet for my activity the next day, which caused some confusion when I couldn’t find the group, but the overall experience was positive.

At meals and the bar near reception, employees were consistently helpful and friendly. They offered suggestions to customize menu items to make them vegan when needed. I wouldn’t consider the service anything like fine dining, but the servers were good overall. I was surprised that the bar didn’t have any plant-based milks for coffee, though.

However, the 2 employees I liked most were the bartender at the ICEBAR and the instructor for my ice sculpting class. You could tell they wanted people to enjoy their visit to the ICEHOTEL. Their positivity was contagious. They seemed to really understand that this was a bucket list trip for many people, and they worked to make it special.

The ice sculpting instructor was the type of person you’d love to hang out with in your spare time. The bartender at the ICEBAR saw me taking pictures and snapping selfies, so she offered to take a few pictures for me when she’d finished serving other customers. I doubt taking pictures is in her job description, and this gesture was really appreciated.

Final Thoughts

My 2-night stay at the ICEHOTEL in Sweden was truly memorable.

The hotel is a destination unto itself, worthy of a visit at any time of year. I recommend a winter visit, though, braving the cold for the full experience and chances to see the northern lights.

I spent a considerable amount on food, but breakfast was included, which helped defray costs, and booking with points provided considerable savings. In the end, it was worth the effort and costs for this incredible experience.