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If you’ve ever dreamed about sleeping under the stars and perhaps catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights as they dance around the sky, whilst you’re tucked up under a duvet on a comfortable bed, then an Igloo Hotel may just be the thing for you!
What Is an Igloo Hotel?
Igloo hotels are typically located in cold climates like the Nordic countries. They are also often in dark sky areas so you can really take advantage of the beauty of the dark night sky away from light pollution.
Instead of a hotel room you’re given your own Igloo for the duration of your stay which often has a transparent ceiling allowing you to see straight up to the stars and planets dancing above your head as you settle in for the evening with all the mod cons you would expect from a hotel room.
The 12 Best Igloo Hotels to stay in 2022
Here’s a run-down of the best Igloo Hotels to stay in, what you can expect to find and how to get there.
Artic Fox Igloos, Finland
Courtesy: Artic Fox Igloos
Why the Arctic Fox Igloos
The Artic Fox Igloos in Lapland, Finland offers 20 modern luxury Igloo Villas in the very heart of Father Christmas land next to lake Ranuanjarvi, which is far from the light-polluted cities enhancing your star gazing experience and gives a better chance to spot the infamous Northern Lights.
As well as a double or two separate beds, the Igloos come with their own bathroom and private sauna (how very Scandinavian!). The Igloo villas are very spacious and offer their own kitchen area, seating area, microwave and tea, and coffee-making facilities. Breakfast is included in the overall cost, and if you book direct you can upgrade your stay to include half-board meals too.
The main living section of the cabin is undercover but the bedroom has a full glass ceiling allowing you to be awe-inspired at the night sky view and the thousands of stars you will see – many more than almost every area of the UK.
- Average Cost in October: £370 per night
- Flight Cost in October from London Gatwick to Oulu: £181 per person with Norweigan Air
Aurora Igloos and Suites, Finland
Courtesy: Aurora Igloo and Suites
Why the Aurora Igloo and Suites
The Aurora Igloo and Suites in Pelkosenniemi, Finland has 10 purpose-built Igloos for you to really get the Finnish experience of winter living and star gazing opportunities. The bedroom roof is made of glass giving you wonderful views of the skies. Each igloo has a bathroom and a separate kitchen area.
The hotel has an onsite restaurant and snack bar, and although they offer airport shuttle transfers the costs are very expensive at 500 EUR return (around £450!) so it may be worth looking at car hire quotes or other arrangements from Rovaniemi airport, which is the closest to the Aurora Igloo Suites hotel.
- Average Cost in October: £440 per night
- Flight Cost in October from London Gatwick to Rovaniemi: £243 per person with Finnair
Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel, Norway
Courtesy: Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel Norway
Why the Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel
The Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel in Alta, Norway, is perhaps less of an igloo and more of an ice hotel!
Very unique and very memorable, your bedroom would resemble a real ice igloo. Unlike the other igloo hotels shown so far with all the mod cons, this gets down to basics pretty quickly. Your ice bedroom has two ice beds with bed sheets, a shower, and free toiletries. It’s worth noting that the bathrooms for the ice bedrooms are shared bathrooms, not private.
If you’ve ever wanted to experience an ice hotel this is the perfect hotel and location to do so.
Top Tip: The Alta airport is in close proximity to the hotel, so you will also save on car hire and long and costly hotel transfers
- Average Cost in October: £239 per night
- Flight Cost in October from London Gatwick to Alta: £292 per person with SAS
Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloo, Finland
Courtesy: Arctic SnowHotel and Igloos Finland
Why the Arctic SnowHotel and Igloos
With 30 guest igloos, three restaurants and a bar – as well as beautifully dark skies, free breakfast and free parking (if you decide to hire a car) the Arctic SnowHotel and Glass Igloo complex should have everything you could need. For the price, these igloos have a range of mod cons including a private bathroom and kitchen area with a fridge and kettle.
You can truly sleep under the stars!
Top Tip: The Arctic SnowHotel is situated in Rovaniemi which has a major airport closeby. Considering some Finland igloo hotels provide airport shuttle services for EUR 500 round trip, the fact is relatively much closer to the airport could save quite a bit of money too.
- Average Cost in October: £153 per night
- Flights in October from London Gatwick to Rovaniemi: £243 per person with Finnair
Santa’s Igloos Artic Circle, Finland
Courtesy: Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle
Why the Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle
The aptly named Santa’s Igloos is one of the larger hotel complexes on the list offering 71 individual and private igloo experiences for their guests. As you can see from the photo, the bedroom area looks directly up to the night sky where you can let your mind wander across the cosmos. The hotel offers a restaurant a bar and free breakfast and parking to igloo residents.
- Average Cost in October: £257 per night (or £323 with private sauna)
- Flights in October from London Gatwick to Rovaniemi: £243 per person with Finnair
Phya Igloos, Finland
Courtesy: Phya Igloos
Why the Phya Igloos
If you want to embrace the dark skies and try your hand at catching the Northern Lights in your own private glass-fronted igloo the eco-friendly Phya Igloos in Finland could be just the trip you’re looking for. The Phya Igloos is within a national park that is also used for skiing in the winter with a range of slopes nearby.
They even have a barbecue hut, that can be hired for free by gusts to cook your own food in the warmth of a log cabin
- Average Cost in October: £167 per night
- Flight Cost in October from London Gatwick to Rovaniemi: £243 per person with Finnair
Revontuli Resort Glass Igloos, Finland
Courtesy: Revontuli Resort Glass Igloos
Why the Revontuli Resort Glass Igloos
Situated close to the lakes, the panorama windows of the glass igloos at Revontuli give you a wonderful year-round changing seasons view – although if you want to take advantage of dark skies, Northern Lights, and star gazing opportunities then staying between Autumn and Spring would be better.
The Revontuli resort is quite large with an on-site golf course and bowling too. There are 8 glass igloos to choose from each offering panorama views and a magical experience. Your igloos come with a kitchenette, seating area, flat screen TV as well as blackout windows for privacy and long summer sun hours.
- Average Cost in October: £271 per night
- Flight Cost in October from London Heathrow to Tampere: £193 per person with Finnair
Igloo Are, Sweden
Why Igloo Are
Igloo Are resort of igloos is a smaller more intimate resort with 8 igloos for guests. These are closer to staying in real ice igloos rather than modern more comfortable dwellings. You will have access to one of the two spa tubs as well as the sauna and restaurant. Availability can be difficult due to the number of igloos available so you may need to book early to save disappointment.
- Average Cost in October: £140 per night
- Flight Cost in October from London Heathrow to Ostersunde: £186 per person with SAS
Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, Finland
Why Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort
The Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort may be one of the most recognizable igloo hotels on the list. Featured in a number of TV shows and adverts, the resort has over 240 guest chalets, igloos, rooms, and houses available to guests. The resort is huge with a number of activities including dog sledding across the snow.
- Average Cost in October: £250 per night
- Flight Cost in October from London Heathrow to Ivalo: £261 per person with Finnair
Wilderness Hotel and Igloos, Finland
Courtesy: Wilderness Hotel and Igloos Finland
Why the Wilderness Hotel and Igloos
The Wilderness Hotel and Igloos resort offered one of the better value night stays at just under £120 per night for two people within a standard room at the hotel, and that also includes breakfast and free parking. The Aurora Cabin is also available for an upgrade fee, offering you the chance to watch the Northern Lights whilst in bed.
Skiing, snowboarding, and hiking are all close by. The Ivalo airport is the closest airport to the Wilderness Hotel and Igloos and is approx. 25 miles away, so you will need to either arrange transport or hire a car.
- Average Cost in October: £238 per night (Aurora Cabin)
- Flight Cost in October from London Heathrow to Ivalo: £261 per person with Finnair
Star Arctic Hotel, Finland
Courtesy: Star Arctic Hotel
Why the Star Arctic Hotel
The Star Arctic Hotel is situated at the top of a mountain! – Well away from the light-polluted cities providing an astronomer or star gazers dream. If you really want to make use of the dark skies and the igloo feel then you will want to stay in the Aurora cabin, which features a glass dome above the bed as well as a mountain view. Simply stunning.
You’ll also have access to a mini bar, kitchenette, and sitting area. air purifiers and comes with free breakfast too. Free parking is also available for those wishing to hire a car whilst you’re there and explore.
- Average Cost in October: £169 per night (Aurora Cabin)
- Flight Cost in October from London Heathrow to Ivalo: £261 per person with Finnair
Northern Lights Village, Finland
Courtesy: Northern Lights Village Finland
Why the Northern Lights Village
The glass-topped roofs of the igloos at the Northern Lights Village, in the heart of Lapland country, allow you to really immerse yourself in nature and surroundings.
Each of the cabins or igloos comes with a private bathroom, mini bar, free WiFi, and a garden view. Dinner is included in the price as well as breakfast, which is a nice touch, and the only igloo hotel on our list to offer dinner within the standard price. You’ll also have access to a mini bar, kitchenette, and sitting area. air purifiers and comes with free breakfast too. Free parking is also available for those wishing to hire a car whilst you’re there and explore.
- Average Cost in October: £254 per night (Aurora Cabin)
- Flight Cost in October from London Heathrow to Ivalo: £261 per person with Finnair
Amenities in an Igloo Hotel
The amenities you will find in an Igloo Hotel do depend on the hotel chain but many of them are comparable to a normal hotel room, with tea and coffee making facilities, bathroom, heater or log fire, and all the comforts you’d expect in a cozy retreat.
This selection of hotels is not intended to be Ice Hotels (with the exception of the Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel) where amenities can be very basic. Igloos often are modern and purposefully built to help you withstand the elements whilst providing the comforts you’ve come to expect from large hotel chains.
Best Time of The Year to Stay in an Igloo Hotel
The best time of year to visit an Igloo Hotel will be in winter between October and March. As Igloo Hotels are found mainly in Nordic countries such as Finland, they are usually positioned very high up in the North of the country where during summer months the sun sometimes does not set at all.
The midnight sun is amazing to experience but it’s not good for star gazing or aurora watching. If we use the Star Artic Hotel for example in Saariselka, Finland, the sun doesn’t rise at all between the 5th of December and the 6th of January. An entire month of darkness.
This may not suit everyone of course but for stargazers, this could be a really exciting trip. By around 20th January there are 21 hours of darkness and just 3 hours of daylight, so if you’re looking for similar UK winter sun hours then I’d suggest looking to travel either October, November, February, and March.