If you're planning a trip to Finnish Lapland, chances are you've seen photos of the Arctic SnowHotel. Sleeping in a room made entirely from snow and ice is one of those bucket-list experiences that looks incredible, but with prices starting from several hundred pounds a night, it's natural to wonder whether it's really worth it.
We spent one night at the Arctic SnowHotel as part of a three-day DIY trip to Rovaniemi, combining it with the hotel's famous Snow Sauna Experience before heading back into the city centre for our second night. It was a trip I took with a friend, proving that Lapland isn't just for families with young children.
In this honest review, I'll share exactly what our stay was like, from checking in and sleeping on ice to breakfast the following morning. I'll also explain who I think it's worth booking for, who might be better off visiting for the day instead, and whether I'd stay here again.
If you're trying to decide whether the Arctic SnowHotel deserves a place on your Lapland itinerary, here's everything we learnt from our stay.
From DIY itineraries and Northern Lights tips to budgeting advice, destination guides and honest reviews of the places we've visited, you'll find everything together in our Lapland Travel Guide Hub.
Just a quick note before we begin. Some of the links in this guide are affiliate links. This means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products, services and experiences we've used ourselves or genuinely believe will help you plan your trip. Thanks for supporting Build a Break.
The Arctic SnowHotel is exactly what it sounds like: a hotel built almost entirely from snow and ice. Every winter it's reconstructed from scratch using snow and blocks of ice taken from a nearby frozen lake, meaning no two hotels are ever exactly the same.
Inside you'll find individually carved snow rooms, an ice bar, an ice restaurant, an ice chapel and beautifully sculpted corridors linking everything together. Although many people visit on a day ticket, you can also spend the night sleeping in one of the snow rooms, wrapped up in specialist Arctic sleeping bags designed to keep you warm.
The wider Arctic SnowHotel resort also includes heated glass igloos, traditional Finnish saunas and restaurants, so guests can choose between a once-in-a-lifetime night on ice or the comfort of a warm room while still enjoying everything the resort has to offer.
We stayed here as part of a three-day DIY Lapland trip, combining the Arctic SnowHotel with the Snow Sauna Experience, Snowman World, Santa Claus Village and a Northern Lights snowmobile safari.
Since then, we've returned to Lapland and revisited the Arctic SnowHotel in 2026, this time taking the guided tour and dining in the Ice Restaurant.
Between our two visits, we've experienced the SnowHotel both as overnight guests and as day visitors, giving us a much better understanding of whether it's worth staying overnight or simply visiting for a few hours.
The Arctic SnowHotel is located in Sinettä, around 30 km (19 miles) from Rovaniemi city centre. Surrounded by forest and away from light pollution, it's a peaceful location and a great place to experience the Arctic landscape.
Although it feels wonderfully remote, it's surprisingly easy to reach. If you're staying in Rovaniemi, you can drive, take a taxi or book the hotel's shuttle bus, which runs between the city centre, Santa Claus Village and the hotel during the winter season.
We stayed at the SnowHotel on the first night of our trip before returning to Rovaniemi for our second night. The hotel shuttle made this really straightforward, dropping us at Santa Claus Village after breakfast so we could continue exploring without needing a hire car.
Whether you're staying overnight or just visiting for a few hours, these guides will help you plan your trip.
❄️ RELATED GUIDES
Our 3-Day Rovaniemi Itinerary (includes our overnight stay at the Arctic SnowHotel)
Our 2-Day Lapland Itinerary (includes our return visit for the guided tour and Ice Restaurant)
Planning to visit the Arctic SnowHotel, book the Snow Sauna, enjoy the Ice Restaurant, or take a guided tour?
Book through GetYourGuide app and use our exclusive discount code BUILDABREAK5 to save 5% on eligible bookings.
We arrived in Rovaniemi from Liverpool at around 8pm and, travelling hand luggage only, were through the airport in no time. We used the Menevä Taksi app to book a taxi on arrival, which cost €81 for the 30-minute journey to the Arctic SnowHotel.
The hotel also operates a shuttle service for €20 per person each way, with pick-up points at Rovaniemi Airport, the city centre and the train station. Unfortunately, we'd landed too late for the final shuttle, so the taxi was our only option. However, we used the shuttle to return to Rovaniemi the following day and found it a much cheaper and more convenient way to travel.
If you prefer, the hotel also offers private transfers for around €110 each way, although for most visitors the shuttle or a taxi will be the better-value option.
Check-in itself was quick and friendly. One thing we really liked was that all overnight guests are taken on a guided tour of the SnowHotel before settling in for the night. Until 10pm, visitors can also join short guided tours, giving everyone the opportunity to admire the incredible snow rooms and ice carvings before the hotel closes to day visitors and overnight guests retreat to their rooms.
After the tour, we collected our Arctic sleeping bags and blankets from the heated locker area. This is also where you'll find heated changing facilities, lockers and a room of bunk beds, which are available throughout the night if you decide sleeping in a room made entirely of snow and ice isn't quite for you.
Every winter, the Arctic SnowHotel is rebuilt from scratch, with around 30 rooms carved entirely from snow and ice. Each room has a different theme, so no two are exactly alike, and some are large enough for families or small groups as well as couples.
Before heading to bed, we spent almost an hour exploring the empty rooms. The level of detail was incredible, from the sculptures built into the walls to the lighting used to bring each design to life. My favourite was the rock-and-roll room, although there were so many impressive designs that it was difficult to choose.
Our room was Room 104, which featured a large sculpture of a face behind clasped hands, illuminated with red lighting.
The craftsmanship was amazing, although I’ll admit it looked slightly eerie once the hotel became quiet and dark.
Inside the room, the bed itself was built from ice, with a mattress placed on top. There was no furniture or en-suite bathroom, so we kept our belongings in the heated locker area and only took the essentials into the room with us.
For anyone who loves the idea of staying at the resort but doesn’t fancy sleeping in sub-zero temperatures, the Arctic SnowHotel also has heated glass igloos. These include private bathrooms, underfloor heating and panoramic glass roofs designed for watching the Northern Lights from bed.
Although many people think of the Arctic SnowHotel as a couples' experience, families are welcome too. There are family rooms available, allowing children to experience sleeping in a hotel made entirely from snow and ice, making it a memorable addition to a Lapland family holiday.
One thing that surprised me was just how simple the rooms are. After all, they're carved entirely from snow and ice, so don't expect the usual hotel furniture or home comforts.
Each room contains an ice bed topped with a mattress, reindeer hide and a specialist Arctic sleeping bag, along with a thick blanket to keep you warm throughout the night. There's also a plug socket if you need to charge your phone, although I found the moisture in the room caused my charging port to become damp. If I stayed again, I'd definitely take a power bank instead and keep my phone in a sealed plastic bag whenever I wasn't using it.
Your main luggage isn't kept in the room. Instead, overnight guests are given access to a heated locker room, where you can securely store your belongings, change into warm clothing and use the toilets attached to the building. This is also where you'll collect your sleeping bag and blanket before heading to your room for the night.
Within the SnowHotel itself, you'll also find an Ice Bar, Snow Restaurant and a beautiful ice chapel, all connected by hand-carved corridors and sculptures. We spent ages wandering around before bedtime because every room and carving was completely different.
Although the bedrooms are deliberately basic, that's all part of the experience. You're not really paying for luxury accommodation, you're paying for the chance to spend a night inside a hotel made entirely from snow and ice.
By 10pm, all of the day visitors had left and the hotel became exclusive to overnight guests. It was quite surreal walking back through the corridors knowing we'd have the whole SnowHotel almost to ourselves. Earlier in the evening every room had been full of people taking photos, but now it was completely silent.
Inside the rooms, the temperature stays at around -5°C. That might sound freezing, but you're provided with a specialist Arctic sleeping bag and a thick fur blanket, which do a surprisingly good job of keeping you warm. Before bed, we were advised to change into dry thermal base layers, put on woolly socks and gloves, and even place our snow boots in the bottom of the sleeping bag so they'd stay warm and dry for the morning.
I also tucked HotHands hand warmers inside my gloves and foot warmers inside my socks, and honestly they were absolute lifesavers. I must admit I'm a bit of a wimp when it comes to the cold! I know some people have even slept in just their underwear because the sleeping bags are so well insulated (although that's definitely not what the staff recommend!). I wore pretty much every layer I'd brought with me and could still feel the chill, but it was absolutely worth it for the experience.
One feature I loved was the Aurora Alarm. When you check in, the staff ask whether you'd like to be woken if the Northern Lights appear overnight.
If you say yes, they'll quietly come into your room and gently wake you so you don't miss them.
As the snow rooms don't have doors, just heavy curtains for privacy, it's easy for staff to access the rooms without disturbing everyone else. Despite this, we were surprised by how peaceful the SnowHotel was. Once everyone had settled down, it became incredibly quiet and we barely heard another sound for the rest of the night.
Unfortunately, the sky was too cloudy for us when the Aurora Alarm came, but just knowing we could have stepped straight outside our room to look for the Northern Lights made the whole experience feel even more special.
If you're hoping to see the Northern Lights during your trip, don't miss our Guide to Seeing the Northern Lights in Lapland for Free, and if you're wondering what to pack, our What to Wear in Lapland guide explains exactly what we wear to stay warm in temperatures like these.
One thing that did surprise us was the heated bunk room in the locker building. It's there as a backup if you decide sleeping on ice isn't for you, which I think is a great idea. However, when we went to have a look at around 9pm, every bunk was already occupied by guests who hadn't even attempted to sleep in the SnowHotel. Considering how much an overnight stay costs, I thought that was a real shame. For me, spending the night in a room made entirely from snow and ice is the whole reason for booking the experience, even if you only manage a few hours' sleep.
For us, absolutely, but with one small caveat.
If you're expecting a luxury hotel where you'll enjoy a full night's sleep, this probably isn't it. Sleeping on a bed made from ice is never going to be as comfortable as a warm hotel room, and I think it's important to go into the experience with realistic expectations.
For me, the Arctic SnowHotel is all about the experience rather than the sleep itself. Exploring the beautifully carved rooms after the day visitors have gone home, spending the night surrounded by snow and ice, and waking up somewhere completely unlike anywhere else we've ever stayed is something I'll never forget.
Would I stay for two nights? Probably not. The hotel themselves don't recommend more than 2 nights.
One night felt like the perfect amount of time. It gave us the full experience without sacrificing too much comfort, and by moving into a warm apartment in Rovaniemi for our second night, we got the best of both worlds.
If you're travelling on a tighter budget, I'd also say you don't necessarily have to stay overnight to appreciate the Arctic SnowHotel. Since returning in 2026, we've revisited as day guests, taking the guided tour and eating in the Ice Restaurant. You still get to admire the incredible ice carvings and experience the atmosphere without paying for an overnight stay.
Ultimately, it comes down to your budget and what you want from your Lapland trip. If sleeping in a hotel made entirely from snow and ice has always been on your bucket list, I'd absolutely recommend doing it at least once. It's one of those experiences you'll still be talking about years later.
The Arctic SnowHotel is much more than just somewhere to sleep. Whether you're staying overnight or visiting for the day, there are plenty of facilities to explore around the resort.
The Ice Bar is included with both overnight stays and day tickets. Even if you don't fancy a drink, it's worth stepping inside to admire the intricate ice carvings and enjoy a cocktail served in an ice glass.
The Snow Restaurant is one of the most unique places we've ever eaten. Every winter it's rebuilt with a completely new design, making each visit slightly different. We returned in 2026 to dine here as part of a second trip to Lapland.
Tucked away inside the SnowHotel is a beautiful ice chapel. Like the rest of the hotel, it's rebuilt every winter with a completely new design and is even used for weddings during the season.
One of the highlights of our stay was the Snow Sauna Experience. We started in a traditional Finnish sauna before stepping into the world's only snow sauna, followed by a relaxing soak in the outdoor hot tub overlooking the forest. It's an experience you don't need to stay overnight to book, and it's one I'd happily do again.
If sleeping in a room made entirely from snow sounds a little too adventurous, the resort also has heated glass igloos. These offer all the comforts of a hotel room while giving you the chance to stay in the same peaceful surroundings.
After a surprisingly comfortable night's sleep, we were up early and ready for breakfast by 7am.
I wasn't expecting much, but breakfast was actually one of the surprises of our stay. There was a generous buffet with plenty of hot and cold options and, after spending the night at -5°C, I think I managed three plates!
Once we'd finished breakfast, we spent some time exploring the hotel grounds in daylight. We'd only seen the SnowHotel illuminated the evening before, so it was nice to wander around properly and see everything in a completely different light.
The resort sits right beside a frozen lake and there was plenty to keep us entertained before we left. Guests can book additional activities directly through the hotel, including snowmobile safaris and other winter experiences, although we'd already arranged ours with another company for later in the trip.
What we did make the most of were the free sledges and snow tubes dotted around the grounds. We spent far longer than we'd planned racing down the snowy hill towards the frozen lake, and it turned out to be one of those simple activities that ended up being great fun. There are also reindeer in the hotel grounds, which are lovely to see as you wander around.
At 10.30am, we had booked the Snow Sauna Experience, something we'd been looking forward to for months. After finishing in the outdoor hot tub overlooking the snowy forest, we collected our luggage and boarded the hotel's €20 shuttle bus at around 1pm, which took us back into Rovaniemi to continue the rest of our Lapland adventure.
For us, absolutely.
The Arctic SnowHotel isn't somewhere I'd book for a week's holiday, but for one night, it's one of the most memorable places I've ever stayed.
Yes, it's expensive. Yes, you'll probably get a better night's sleep in a warm hotel room. But that's not really why people book it.
You stay here for the experience of sleeping in a room carved entirely from snow and ice, exploring the hotel after the day visitors have gone home, waking up beside a frozen lake and saying you've ticked something truly unique off your bucket list.
Would I do it again? Probably not as an overnight stay, simply because we've now experienced it. However, I would happily return as a day visitor for the Snow Sauna, Ice Restaurant or to show friends and family around the hotel.
If you're trying to keep costs down, I'd recommend doing exactly what we did. Stay one night at the Arctic SnowHotel, then move into accommodation in Rovaniemi for the rest of your trip.
It gives you the best of both worlds and keeps your overall budget much more manageable.
If, however, sleeping in a hotel made entirely from snow and ice has always been on your bucket list, I don't think you'll regret it.
Whether you decide to stay overnight or simply visit for a few hours, I think the Arctic SnowHotel is one of the most unique experiences in Finnish Lapland.
Since our overnight stay, we've returned to visit the hotel again as part of another trip to Rovaniemi, and I'd happily recommend it either way. If you're deciding how to fit it into your itinerary, I'd suggest allowing at least half a day to explore the SnowHotel, enjoy the surroundings and, if your budget allows, book the Snow Sauna or Ice Restaurant too.
Copyright © Build a Break | Website by Furness Media
