See the beautiful ice hotel like in a fairy tale

Phi Dan• December 10, 2018 14:39

This hotel in Sweden is made entirely of ice. In the summer, the entire structure melts in the sun, only to be reborn with a different appearance when winter comes.

Yngve Bergqvist was the one who came up with the idea of a hotel made entirely of ice based on the Japanese art of ice sculpture. He then invited artists to start implementing this bold idea in 1989, marking the first milestone for the world's first ice hotel. Photo:Getty.

The hotel is located in Jukkasjarvi, a small village in Sweden, where the Torne River flows through. This river is the source of the ice used to build the hotel. In winter, tons of ice and snow are harvested for building materials. When summer comes, the hotel's ice melts and returns to the Torne River. In the Sami language, Jukkasjarvi also means "meeting place by the water". Photo:Asaf Kliger.

At the ice hotel, no two rooms are alike. Each decorative element is meticulously designed by artists who come to the site with the desire to turn their ideas into reality. Photo:Ice Hotel Jukkasjärvi.

Every year, hundreds of designs are sent to the hotel from many different artists wishing to participate in the construction of this unique work of art. After careful selection and the weather is cold enough, the artists with the chosen designs will come to Jukkasjarvi to work for many months. Photo:Ice Hotel Jukkasjärvi.

In the summer, when the sun is out 24/7 for several months, the ice hotel melts and floats down the Torne River. Visiting the melting hotel with its empty corridors of water and ice is also a very interesting experience for tourists. Photo:Asaf Kliger.

Since 2016, the Jukkasjärvi ice hotel has built a separate building called IceHotel.365. This is a year-round structure that does not melt thanks to a solar-powered cooling system. Photo:Ice Hotel Jukkasjärvi.

The hotel also offers a Warm Room, a normal room with heating for those who want to visit the hotel but do not want to stay in the Cold Room. Photo:Johan Broberg.

The hotel bar is also rebuilt every year and is made entirely of ice, including the glasses. Photo:Asaf Kliger.

The hotel’s restaurant has a Michelin-starred chef, serving sumptuous dishes like other luxury hotels. The hotel prioritizes regional specialties and uses local ingredients such as salmon, reindeer, elk, etc. Photo:Ice Hotel Jukkasjarvi.

Jukkasjarvi Hotel also has a large ice hall for couples to hold their wedding ceremony or take romantic wedding photos like in a fairy tale. Photo:Asaf Kliger.

The hotel is built in a traditional Nordic style. One of the hotel's goals is to follow nature. They let the hotel melt and return to the Torne River every year instead of trying to find solutions that would harm the landscape. The building materials are also minimalist and they take advantage of solar energy to operate the hotel. Photo:Getty.

When you check in at the hotel, the staff will give you a certificate that you have stayed there. It clearly states the time of your stay and the temperature of your room. This is a lovely souvenir to remember your unique experience. Photo:The Points Guy.

The magical beauty of the ice hotel under the aurora sky is the result of nature and man. The Jukkasjarvi Ice Hotel is also named one of the 7 wonders of Sweden. Photo:The Guardian.