Sweden 🇸🇪 Hidden Aurora Gem: The Ice Hotel ❄️🌌

Northern Europe’s aurora season is here! Most people head to Finland, Norway, or Iceland for aurora hunting, but if you’re in Sweden during peak aurora time, don’t miss Kiruna—a small town in Swedish Lapland, right inside the Arctic Circle. It may not be as famous, but the chance of spotting the Northern Lights is still very high! Plus, you can experience the one-and-only Ice Hotel in the world. How to Get There & Local Bites 🛬🍔 It takes just 1 hour and 15 minutes to fly from Stockholm to Kiruna. As soon as you land, you can rent a car— the rental desk is right where you pick up your luggage! On our way, our Swedish friend took us to a local hotspot for reindeer meat sandwiches. It’s in a huge tent, and that sandwich was easily the most unique one I had on this trip! The sauce was rich, sweet-sour, and totally suited Chinese taste buds 😋. The meat was super tender too— the owner said it’s a mix of moose and reindeer meat! The fries were crispy and fragrant, too. If you go, you have to try it! There’s a fire inside to keep you warm, and pairing the meal with an iced cola? Hands down the best Western food I had in Sweden! (Look for a big Tentipi tent and a plain food truck by the street— that’s the spot!) All About the Ice Hotel 🏨 The Ice Hotel has two types of rooms: wooden cabins and rooms made entirely of ice. We booked both this time! Staying in the pure ice room means using a special sleeping bag, and let me tell you—it’s freezing (around -6°C ❄️). Since it wasn’t the coldest part of winter yet, the hotel built an artificial Ice Hotel so visitors can experience it year-round. When winter hits its coldest, they use river water outside the hotel to build the “real” ice rooms— a process that takes about 6 weeks! These real ice rooms melt in spring, and each year’s design has a new theme. Every room’s ice sculptures are created by ice artists from all over the world— it’s such a unique experience! Even if you don’t stay in an ice room, you can still visit. I’ve seen plenty of ice sculptures before, but an ice hotel? That was a first! We were assigned to Room 312, a “sauna-themed” room (you can’t choose the theme— it’s like a blind box! 🎁). Bonus: my sauna room even had an en-suite! Useful Info for Visitors ✅ Check the official website beforehand: To stay in the natural ice rooms, you need to visit during the coldest winter months. Wooden cabin price: €300-€400 (window-side cabins are perfect for photos 📸!). Ice room price: €800-€2000 (varies by size and whether it has an en-suite bathroom). Non-guests need to buy tickets to visit, and there are time limits— some booked rooms may not be open for viewing (check opening hours first!). Before sleeping in an ice room: No hot showers or face-washing/moisturizing for 2 hours. Ice rooms come with or without en-suite bathrooms. If you want to take photos during your visit, skip wearing the hotel’s robes. Pro 穿搭 tip: Wear white-toned clothes (they look great against the ice!). People from all over the world come here for this experience. If you’re chasing the Northern Lights but worried about going home empty-handed, give this town a try— at the very least, the Ice Hotel will give you unforgettable memories! #Artwork #Sweden #NorthernLights #IceHotel #PhotoSpot #NorthernEurope