{"id":37162,"date":"2019-03-06T15:21:59","date_gmt":"2019-03-06T22:21:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bucketlistjourney.net\/?p=37162"},"modified":"2025-07-01T11:07:33","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T18:07:33","slug":"sorrisniva-igloo-hotel-ice-hotel-in-norway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bucketlistjourney.net\/sorrisniva-igloo-hotel-ice-hotel-in-norway\/","title":{"rendered":"Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel: The Coolest Ice Stay in Northern Norway"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I used to be one of those gals who would spend most of the winter daydreaming of warm getaways to the tropics, never giving the chilly season a fair chance to captivate me. But, traveling to Northern Norway with Visit Norway<\/a> changed all that. From dog sledding amongst the snow covered trees to a very unique home stay with a sami reindeer herder<\/a> to a once-in-a-lifetime visit to the Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel, the countries cold weather captured my heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the recent years ice hotels are snagging a place on many bucket lists<\/a> (mine included!), and for good reason\u2013albeit cold, just imagine sleeping on a bed made entirely of ice in a room with ice walls!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel: The Coolest Ice Stay in Northern Norway<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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About Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Located just 20 minutes from the Alta city center, Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel is the northernmost ice hotel in the world, as well as the largest one in Europe. It started modestly in 1999 and has been built up from scratch every year since, which is exactly what allows for it to operate with an ever-changing theme for each winter. Typically, the sculpture and room motifs are related to the culture of the arctic world, though during my visit the decorated rooms were fairytale related (think Alice in Wonderland, Alladin and Snow White).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It truly is a luxury location amidst the ice that not only boasts approximately thirty bedrooms and decorated suites, but also an ice bar, intricate ice sculptures and even an ice chapel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How would you like to get married here?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Though Sorrisniva is specifically known for being an igloo hotel, it offers many other amenities on premise, like a delicious farm-to-table restaurant, relaxing sauna and a warm main lodge where the fire is always blazing and the wifi connection is surprisingly strong (plus free!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sleeping in an Ice Hotel<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Rooms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

From the entry into the ice cave, there are two long corridors to the left where each side is lined with rooms. The doors are simple reindeer hides hung like a curtain. You won’t find much in the quaint rooms, but what you do find is built entirely from ice! That includes everything from the bed to the walls to any tables and chairs. The single rooms are modest with only a bed, whereas the two-room suites may have a bench and table added to the mix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I spent the night in the Snow White suite where one room had a long bench seat with a table on one side and an ice plaque on the other that had a famous quote from the movie: “Mirror mirror on the wall who’s the fairest of them all.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rest of the facilities, such as bathrooms, are located in a separate warm service lodge. This is done not only to ensure the comfort of the guest, but for practical reasons as well. You can\u2019t exactly have a hot shower in a room made of ice, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Sorrisniva<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Sorrisniva<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What to Expect During the Night<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Although the temperature of the igloo hotel is always in the negative degrees (-4\u2103  to -7\u2103 ), there is no need to worry about staying warm. You\u2019ll feel plenty comfortable with the natural reindeer hide mattress and two down sleeping bags\u2013or at least I was during my stay! I even woke up in the middle of the night and had to shed a layer. However, it is recommended to bring along some woolen underwear to wear during the night, this should provide you with maximum comfort and be beneficial just in case you need to use the restroom in hours of darkness!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A morning sauna is also included in your booking, and it is a nice treat to be consumed by all of that heat after a night spent in the cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Insider Tips:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n