The best time to book a Kiruna Icehotel tour
The Icehotel near Kiruna is open all year, but its winter building only stands from about December to mid-April. Within that stretch the light changes a lot from week to week, and so do the cold and the crowds. Below, how to choose your weeks and which ones to avoid.
Two calendars to know first
Timing a visit starts with which building you want to see. The permanent ICEHOTEL 365 takes visitors in every month. The seasonal building lasts from about December to mid-April by the ticket listing's dates, then melts back into the river.
The guided tours on our site are winter trips that list warm clothing and expect snow underfoot. For both buildings plus the reindeer stop, plan for December to early April. Our comparison of the two buildings explains what each holds.
December and early January, polar night
For a few weeks around midwinter the sun stays below the horizon in Kiruna, a stretch known as polar night. The days are not black. Around midday the sky turns a deep blue twilight for a few hours.
A morning tour such as the 9:30 am Sámi-guided one runs in that blue light, which flatters ice lit from inside. Our reindeer stop guide describes the hour at the camp, which feels calm in the dim light.
The trade-off is little daylight for photos outdoors. The winter building usually opens during December, so check its opening date if you travel early in the month.
Christmas and New Year can be busy, and both guided tours cap groups at eight. Book well ahead if your dates fall in the holidays, since a few full vans close a date quickly.
February and March, when the snow lies deepest
By February the days lengthen fast, and March brings far more light than December. These weeks often have the deepest snow and some of the coldest clear weather, when the air can drop to −30 °C (−22 °F).
The winter building is complete by then, and the tours give you daylight for the village and its old church. February school holidays in Sweden and elsewhere in Europe can make these weeks busy too.
Hard cold calls for proper layers on the walk between buildings. Our guide to dressing for the ice lists them, from thermal base layers to boots with grip.
Clear, cold nights are also when the northern lights can appear over Kiruna. They are never promised and never part of a day tour. Our two-day Kiruna plan keeps an evening free for them.
A late-morning start in the bright weeks
Lights of Vikings starts around 10:00 am with pickup at your Kiruna hotel, then gives an hour to the reindeer and about 1.5 hours to the Icehotel. Groups are small.
Late March to mid-April, when the ice starts to soften
Spring brings bright days and milder temperatures, which makes the walk around Jukkasjärvi easier on hands and feet. Snow usually still lies thick, so warm boots stay on the list.
Near the end of the season the winter building can start to soften, and some rooms may look worn by mid-April. If the art is what draws you, aim earlier. Check the closing date before you book the last weeks.
Summer under the midnight sun, 365 only
From late spring to autumn only ICEHOTEL 365 is open, so you see art suites and the Icebar but no winter building. The midnight sun shines roughly from late May to mid-July, and the light outside lasts around the clock.
The ICEHOTEL Entrance Ticket at ~$33 covers the permanent building in summer. Ask the operators whether their guided tours run outside winter, since the listings we compare describe a snowy day.
The weeks side by side
| Weeks | What you can see | Daylight | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| December to early January | Both buildings, once the winter one opens | Blue twilight, polar night for a few weeks | Holiday crowds |
| February and March | Both buildings, fully built | Lengthening fast | Hard cold, school holidays |
| Late March to mid-April | Both buildings, softening near the end | Long, bright days | The closing date |
| Mid-April to November | ICEHOTEL 365 only | Midnight sun roughly late May to mid-July | No winter halls |
Fitting the Icehotel into a longer trip
Pairing the Icehotel with aurora nights points to February and March. Longer days let you see the ice and the village in daylight, and the evenings stay dark enough for the sky.
If you stay in Abisko, the coach day from there runs in the same winter weeks and takes most of a day. Save it for a date with a poor aurora forecast, so a clear night is not lost to tiredness.
A night in the ice is a separate decision from your dates. Our guide to a night in the Icehotel weighs one cold night against a daytime visit.
When to skip the visit
- The thaw after mid-April, when the winter building has gone and the snow turns to slush
- A single day in Kiruna with a storm forecast, so put the Icehotel early in your stay
- Peak holiday weeks if you cannot book ahead, as the small groups fill
- Summer, if the halls of the winter building are what you came to see
A plan with a spare day protects you from closed roads and cancelled pickups. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours ahead on the guided tours, and our price guide lists what each one includes. Coming from the mountains, see our Abisko day-trip guide.