Ishotelet: The Ice Hotel

A short drive from Kiruna is 1 Jukkasjärvi, home to the famous ice hotel. The ice hotel is built of ice blocks from the local river, which runs very clear and makes really wonderful clear ice for sculptures. Every year the ice hotel gets built, and then decorated by artists who propose designs/themes for each of the suites. There is also an ice bar (scotch or vodka ‘on the rocks’ means in a glass made of ice) and an ice chapel where many people get married each year. It is about -5C inside, which when we went in the first week of April was about the same as the temperature outside. In the depths of winter, -5C inside would feel like a cozy shelter compared to the blowing wind and snow that there can be outdoors. If this weren’t included in the trip I might have thought it a little bit too touristy, but I am really glad I went. As an example of ephemeral art (it all melts in a few months!), it is both beautiful and thought provoking.