Arctic SnowHotel in Rovaniemi: How to Visit, What to Expect, & Tips

I have visited the Arctic SnowHotel six times – most recently one day before updating this post! To be fair, one of these visits was during the fall when I stayed in one of their glass igloos, so the snow hotel wasn’t built yet and only an ice bar stood in its place.

But I have been to the Arctic SnowHotel during various winters, and in this guide, I am going to tell you exactly how to visit the Arctic SnowHotel in Rovaniemi, why you should, and what to expect when you’re there.

At the end of the post, you will see what I recommend wearing and bringing with you… and I will also answer some FAQ.

If you have any questions about taking a day trip from Rovaniemi to the Arctic SnowHotel, please let me know in the comments or send me a message.

I live in Rovaniemi and visit each season, so I am happy to help with the latest updates (as long as they have been released for the upcoming season).

Please also note that while the Arctic SnowHotel and Glass Igloos also offer the glass igloo option in autumn and winter, this post will not primarily discuss it in detail—it will be more about visiting the ice hotel in Rovaniemi instead.

Now, let’s get into things!

About the Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos in Rovaniemi

The Arctic SnowHotel is both a glass igloo resort and a snow hotel located around 26 kilometers (15 miles) from Rovaniemi in a village called Sinetta.

The beautiful snow hotel was opened in 2008 by Heidi and Ville Haavikko, as he was studying snow construction and wanted to put those skills to good use for the public. They later added the glass igloos. Today, they also operate Piparina (formerly Santamus) and Snowman World at Santa Claus Village.

You can visit the Arctic SnowHotel throughout the winter (dates may change from year to year… more about that below) from mid-December until the end of March.

Each year, the Arctic SnowHotel opens with a different theme. The theme for 2025-2026 is ‘Life is an Adventure’. And after just returning from my latest visit, I have to say this was the most impressive year yet in terms of artwork (in my opinion).

The famous Lapland ice hotel has a lot of cool features like the Snow Sauna, Ice Restaurant, Ice Chapel, and Ice Bar.

There are also tons of rooms available… and you can stay overnight in them! This year’s snow hotel offered 10 Snow Suites and 10 Superior Snow Rooms. There are also several corridors with art, and an ice restaurant with multiple rooms, all carved from ice and snow.

Entrance Tickets to the Arctic SnowHotel (2025-2026 Season)

The ticket prices for the 2025-2026 season are €35 for adults and €17 for children. Infants ages 0-1 are free. Tours that include transportation (detailed below) are a different price as they include extras. You can learn more on their official website.

This ticket lasts for the entire day but does not include a drink at the Ice Bar. You can book your ticket ahead of time or just show up and purchase on the spot.

Eating Lunch and Dinner at the Arctic SnowHotel

If you want to dine at the Arctic SnowHotel, they have a few options on-site where you can do so. I recommend booking a reservation ahead for EVERYTHING. Here are your lunch and dinner options:

• Lunch at the Kota Restaurant (12pm until 4pm daily; a la carte menu)
• Dinner buffet at the Log Restaurant (€49 adult, €27 child)
• Dinner with a set menu at the Ice Restaurant (seatings at 5:30pm, 7pm, and 8:30pm and prices are €89 adult, €55 child… does NOT include entrance ticket of €35 adult, €17 child)
• Dinner with a set menu at the Kota Restaurant (7pm and 9pm seatings; €69 adult, €35 child)

How to Visit the Arctic SnowHotel from Rovaniemi (4 Options)

There are four main ways to visit the Arctic SnowHotel from Rovaniemi. They are to take a tour, take one of their shuttles, drive there with a rental car, or get a taxi. I will briefly detail each below.

Taking a Shuttlebus (Cheapest)

I have to be honest, I have never seen this option exist before, so I believe it may be the first year for it. It is brilliant as it makes visiting cheaper and gives you more flexibility to visit on your own terms.

The Arctic SnowHotel has a shuttle bus running on a set timetable, and you can see all the information here on their website. I would recommend booking ahead as much as you can to ensure getting a place.

The shuttle bus goes from various places around the city and Santa Claus Village, and the prices range from €22/person one-way from the city center and SCV to €32/person one-way from other parts of the city. Tickets for the snow hotel can be purchased upon arrival at the hotel.

Taking a Tour (Includes Dinner)

A good option for those without a car (or wanting to take the shuttle) is to take a trip there and enjoy dinner in their Ice Restaurant! Upon arrival, you will take a tour of the Arctic SnowHotel, learn about its construction, and have some free time to peruse the place in search of the perfect photo.

You’ll then head into their Ice Restaurant (there are multiple rooms inside this year’s restaurant), where you’ll sit down to enjoy a 3-course menu!

This season’s starter is a mushroom soup with main options of moose, salmon, chicken, and tofu. Dessert is a raspberry-vanilla bavarois with vanilla cream, white chocolate, and muesli. There is also a kids’ menu available where a pasta bolognese can replace the main course.

Dinner times are at 5:30pm, 7pm, and 8:30pm, depending on the tour option you choose (just know that pickup times will be adjusted accordingly).

Do note that alcohol and drinks from the Ice Bar are not included in your tour package. Here are the Ice Bar prices for the 2025-2026 season:

• Ice glass shot (with alcohol): €12.50
• Ice glass shot (non-alcoholic): €6
• Hot drink with alcohol: €13.50
• Glogi: €6
• Hot chocolate: €6

You can pay for your purchase at the Ice Bar with card. The Ice Bar is open from 12pm until 8pm.

By Car

Another way to reach the Arctic SnowHotel is to drive there in a personal car or a rental car.

From Rovaniemi city center, the distance to Arctic SnowHotel is about 26 kilometers (15.5 miles)… and around a 25-30 minute drive. You will just need to head north toward Muonio on Route 79 and take a left on the 83 toward Pello once you pass Sinetta.

There will be a K-Market on your left in Sinetta and once you see that, start looking out for your turn coming up soon (it is where a gas station is).

Continue down that road for about 5 minutes before turning left to the Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos. There are plenty of signs, so you will have no problem finding it.

During the winter months, the road that you will turn onto (from the 83) can be a little icy, so go slow on the approach into the Arctic SnowHotel. Just follow the parking lot to the ‘day trip’ area and it will be free.

Please note that this is a new parking lot and when I last went, it was very small. I hope they have realized this and will expand it a bit throughout the season.

Taking a Taxi

Another option for visiting the Arctic SnowHotel is to take a taxi there! This is not super cheap, but it is a good alternative if visiting in a group.

A one-way taxi with a good service like Meneva is around €60. Do not take a wild taxi in Rovaniemi from the street. Be sure to only take one with an app.

Staying Overnight at the Arctic SnowHotel

I have never stayed overnight at the Arctic SnowHotel. I would like to state that before giving more information about its options. So, I can not tell you how it is and if it is worth it. I live in Rovaniemi and sleep at home (in my warm bed).

This is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience, though, and if you are visiting from somewhere that is not Finnish Lapland or the Arctic, this bucket list stay will surely be worth it!

Prices fluctuate with the season and dates. Here are the accommodation options (click the links to check pricing for your exact dates):

• SnowHotel Double Rooms (sleep 1-2 people)
• SnowHotel Triple Rooms (sleep up to 3 people)
• SnowHotel Family Rooms (sleep up to 6 people)
• Glass Igloos (sleep up to 2 people)
• Family Glass Igloos (sleep up to 6 people)

Breakfast is included in each stay. Each stay, no matter which accommodation you choose, also includes free entrance to the SnowHotel and Snowman World at Santa Claus Village (I have reconfirmed this in 2025).

FAQ

Is the Arctic SnowHotel wheelchair-accessible?

Mostly, yes. You can maneuver around a lot of the hotel, but do note that it is made with packed snow and ice, so it is not always level.

While you can see the corridors, Ice Restaurant (and its four dining halls), Ice Bar, and Ice Cathedral with ease, the rooms are a bit trickier. Many of the doorways are narrow and may be a challenge to get through.

I spoke with the staff at the Arctic SnowHotel, and they confirmed this – so while I think it is a worthwhile activity for those in a wheelchair, please be aware that you may not be able to access every Snow Suite.

The tour I mentioned above is wheelchair-accessible, and the transport that is included will accommodate you. Do let them know beforehand so they can make your journey as comfortable as possible.

When can you visit the Arctic SnowHotel in Rovaniemi?

The Arctic SnowHotel is open from December 15 until March 31 annually. If these dates change, I will make a note of it at the beginning of the season.

When is the best time to visit the Arctic SnowHotel?

If you’re looking to visit with the fewest crowds, go between 2 and 4pm. You can also visit from 11am until 4pm but the 2-4pm slot is the most optimal time. It is busiest at night and during dinner service.

Please note that this varies with the season. February tends to be very busy (random, I know).

Are there other ice hotels in Rovaniemi?

No, this is the only snow hotel (or ice hotel) in Rovaniemi currently. Snowman World, also owned by Arctic SnowHotel, has some ice sculptures inside, but this is our only ice hotel.

The next one is 2.5 hours away in the Kittila area (Lapland Hotels Snow Village), which is a better day trip from Levi than Rovaniemi.

Tips and Things to Know Before Visiting Rovaniemi’s Arctic SnowHotel

Here is a quick list of some things to know before visiting the Arctic SnowHotel:

✅ If you’re doing a DIY visit, you will need to purchase your entrance ticket at reception and they’ll hand you a map and a wristband. You can then head to the ticket check-in inside the ice hotel where you’ll show them your wristband and you can proceed.

✅ The best time to visit to avoid the crowds is from 2-4pm. You can also stop by from 11am-4pm and it is still considered good, but 2-4pm is optimal. Later in the evening, it is bustling with the dinner crowd, so I would avoid it unless you’re enjoying dinner there yourself! Weekends are busier than weekdays.

✅ On-site, you can also go kick-sledding and tubing down the hill by the lake. This is also a great place to check out the northern lights at night if they are active (and the skies are clear).

✅ Be respectful of others when visiting – take your photo and exit the room so others can have a chance to do the same.

✅ Stop in for a coffee at the reception cafe after your visit! It is a great place to warm up and relax before carrying on back into the city. They have a new addition to this in 2025 so you can check it out and warm up.

✅ The ground can be quite slippery (there is actual ice underneath the snow and it kicks around, leaving the ice a bit exposed). Feel free to wear your ice spikes inside the ice hotel (but remove them asap when you enter the visitor center).

✅ If you are searching for another activity nearby… you can stop by to see Pia and the reindeer at Local Lifestyle! Her programs are affordable and she is located right next door! It is a way to do two activities on the same day.

You can read about my time at Local Lifestyle Rovaniemi here.

What to Bring and Wear on Your Visit

The temperature inside the snow hotel stays between -5C and 0C (23F and 32F), so it will be cold. But it shouldn’t get colder than that no matter what the temperature outside is! Here are some things I think you should wear and bring with you:

• Parka
• Base layer
• Sweater
• Snowboots or warm shoes
• Mittens/gloves
• Hat
• Hand/feet warmers (if you bring rechargeable ones, make sure to pack them in your carry-on and now checked luggage)
• Mobile power bank

There is not much to bring with you for the trip except your camera (and a power bank if you’re going to use your phone for photography). Mobile phones have gotten increasingly better over the years, but they can still drain faster in cold weather than in warmer temperatures.

Photographing inside the Snow Hotel can be a bit challenging for first-timers. Expect to use low-light photography settings with a higher ISO. Drones are not permitted, so leave them at your hotel.

Is the Arctic SnowHotel in Rovaniemi worth visiting?

If you have never visited an ice hotel before, yes, I think it is worth the stop when you’re on a trip to Rovaniemi. If you have visited one before, I would say it is up to you and whether you can squeeze it in on your trip or not.

I have been to every ice hotel in the Nordics and the Arctic SnowHotel is a great place to visit for first-timers, as it is accessible compared to others and the value for money is pretty good (even if you take the tour from the city that includes dinner).

Have questions about visiting the Arctic SnowHotel in Rovaniemi? Let me know in the comments… or send me a message!

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