The Ice Hotel or Hotel de Glace in Quebec, Canada is built anew each year based on a different theme. When I visited during the 14th edition, the theme was legends and myths. Rooms were decorated with Viking ships, dragons, and other legendary characters.
These themes were made visible thanks to the sculptors who worked alongside the expert construction workers during the creation of the hotel. Building works usually start early December when the temperatures stay below 0°C for an entire week. Each year it takes 50 people working day and night for about six weeks to finish the Ice Hotel.
It’s the only hotel in America that is made entirely out of ice and snow. 500 tons of ice and 30,000 tons of snow, to be precise. For that, the builders don’t use regular snow, but snow from snow blowers as that is more humid and dense than regular snow, which allows it to become icy and ‘tight’ much quicker.
When it’s finished, the Ice Hotel measures 3000 square meters, taking up more space than two Olympic swimming pools.
What fits into this space? Well, let’s have a look.
First, there’s the reception. Luckily the hotel staff doesn’t have to work here. Check-in is done in another (heated) building, where you’ll also find the cafe, changing rooms and the registration for people who want to go walk the snowshoe trail that’s located near the Ice Hotel.
We didn’t go to that building, though, but instead walked on from the icy reception to the ice bar. This room is pretty large and can be used for receptions and parties.
The 44 rooms are divided into suites, which are all uniquely decorated, and regular rooms, which were ‘just’ rooms of ice. These are also smaller.
Some of the suites:
The killer suite:
A regular room:
Those suites are pretty neat, aren’t they? But the most beautiful part of the Ice Hotel still has to come: the chapel. That’s right, you can even get married here!
During the last edition, there was also a room dedicated to the Disney movie “Frozen”, with a slide made out of ice (of course). It wasn’t as slippy as we’d expected though and Siemen and I bought had to push ourselves forward to get to the bottom.
People who stay at the Ice Hotel usually arrive after dinner. They leave their belongings in the lockers in the changing room and make use of the saunas and hot tubs (Oh I hadn’t mentioned that before, had I? There are saunas and hot tubs!) before slipping into the sleeping bags provided by the Ice Hotel. There’s no sleeping in (then again, could you sleep in at sub-zero temperatures?) as they have to be out of their rooms again before 8 am.
There’s also a sugar shack on the terrain, but unfortunately, that wasn’t open when we were there.
Wait a minute!
This entire explanation and all of these photos but there’s something I haven’t talked about yet. What could it be? Let me see… ice… hotel… sleeping… snow… COLD!
So, was it cold at the Ice Hotel? It actually really was. I’m sure the special sleeping bags provided by the hotel keep you warm at night, but when you’re walking around (especially when you’re not wearing gloves so you can take photos with your camera and phone) it’s pretty freezing cold. A large part of that has to do with that the air at the hotel is pretty humid because of all the ice.
However, I asked our guide what happens when someone’s too cold to spend the entire night in their room and she told me that the Ice Hotel used to reserve a couple of rooms at a nearby hotel in case guests wanted to switch beds during the night. Less than 20% of them did, though, and so they dropped that option. Should someone still want to see some heat during the night, they can always go to the locker building.
Practical information
Address: Rue de la Faune 9300, Quebec City
Getting there: there’s a big free parking lot right in front of the entrance, but we took the 801 bus from the center of Quebec City (check rtcquebec.ca for prices and timetables). It took us about 30-40 minutes to get there.
There are also shuttles going between Place d’Armes in Quebec City and the Ice Hotel, but I wouldn’t recommend taking those. They cost $19,95 (CAD) for a return trip and only leave on certain times of the day.
Entrance fee: $18 from 10 am-6 pm, $14 from 8 pm – midnight (CAD) – These prices are for adults. There are discounts for children, students and others. Check the website for those.
Room prices start at $219 CAD per person. This includes the Nordic sleeping bag, access to the saunas and hot tubs and breakfast in the morning.
Top tip:Dress warm!
Other places to stay in Quebec City
Check Booking.com for an extensive list of options for all budgets and needs.
If you’re looking for an apartment rather than a hotel, I would recommend checking airbnb. Sign up through my link and get a discount on your first stay!
How to get to Quebec
The airport of Quebec welcomes flights from all over the world. Check Skyscanner for an overview of your flight options.
Pin for later
We received complimentary tickets to visit the Ice Hotel and write about it. I’ll always share my honest opinion on comped experiences like this one.
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you book something through them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Charley W says
This place looks amazing! And that chapel – so gorgeous. It’s a photographers heaven for sure. I wonder how the staff do being in the cold all day every day?
Sofie says
They wear ski gear:) also there’s not a lot of staff at the hotel during the day as visitors can wander around freely. We did have a guide and I believe you can book one, but it’s not compulsory.
Sand In My Suitcase says
It’s cool to know Canada (our home country) has an ice hotel :-). We’d love to see it (and maybe warm up at its bar on a spiked hot chocolate). But we probably would find it too darn cold to sleep there overnight! Great photos, BTW…
Sofie says
I don’t think the bar serves hot chocolate as the glasses are actually made out of ice as well. I’m guessing things would get messy if it did :D
Thanks on the photos!
Jennifer says
Hahhah! Love it. I’ve been wanting to try this for years but haven’t although it’s only a few hours away from home!
Sofie says
Oh you should totally go! You don’t even have to spend the night. You can just go and visit as well if you like.
The Guy says
I must admit to being quite envious of you here Sofie. I’ve always fancied trying one of these in Scandinavia so am pleasantly surprised to see them in North America too.
Sleeping bags for sleeping sounds sensible. But are you sleeping on a hard surface? I guess mattresses won’t work in that cold temperature climate.
I love the slide too, it looks like fun.
BTW I see you’ve been tinkering with the design again on the site, it keeps looking better and better. Keep up the great work.
Sofie says
They actually do have mattresses. You’re not sleeping on solid ice, that’s for sure:)
I actually haven’t changed anything about the design anymore. What did you think looks different?
Sonja at Breadcrumbs Guide says
Cool post! (sorry for the pun) Seems odd they want you out by 8am especially with mosts guests arriving late. Don’t they want people to stay longer or is it just too cold?
My Dad and sister just went to an ice bar in Argentinean Patagonia and they gave everyone warm hooded capes and booties to stay warm. I’ll have a post on my blog about it at some point!
Sofie says
I love the pun:-)
It’s because the day-time visitors can come pretty early and so they want to tidy up the rooms and all before those people arrive.
Either way I don’t think you could really sleep in (as in, long) there.
That’s so nice that they gave out warm clothes! But “booties”? You mean boots? ‘Cause I ain’t ever seen anyone handing out a bootie :D
Sonja at Breadcrumbs Guide says
Ha! Yes, they were like boots. Not the kind of booty you were thinking!
Sofie says
Of course not:p
Susan Moore says
It looks beautiful! I have been contemplating a stay at the ice hotel in Quebec for a while now, perhaps this winter season I will make it happen. I am from Canada but living in Austin TX for many years I believe I have acquired an allergy to winter :)
Sofie says
Well, you’ll never know until you try! :)
And surely you don’t want to regret not having visited later?:)
the paper boat sailor says
Beautiful photos and architecture. There’s a similar place in Dubai of all cities, though it makes so much more sense for an ice hotel to be located in an Arctic zone!
Sofie says
I’m wondering what they DON’T have in Dubai :D
Giulia says
When have you been there? I was in Quebec City a few days ago but was told it was closed :( I wanted to visit the hotel as I have never seen an ice hotel before and it sounds cool (in every sense!)
Anyway I wouldn’t sleep there because I like warm cozy bedrooms :)
Also, I like that they have Ancient Egyptian drawings on the wall of a suite :)
Sofie says
I was there in March this year. As I’ve said, the hotel is built again each year beginning of December, so I’m afraid you went a bit too early to visit it :(
I was super glad that I could visit it without having to sleep there :D
The sculptures at the Ice Hotel are really impressive. Especially when you know that when we went, they’d already been there for four months and so many people had already touched them.
Clelia says
Oh Lord!! Ok, it LOOKS awesome, I love the pictures, the whole idea is awesome but the idea of sleeping in a freezer and pay for the privilege it’s not appealing to me :)
I hate the cold, I barely survive on temperatures below 22 degrees… but I know a few people who would love to sleep in there!
Sofie says
Haha, I’m with you on the freezer sentiment!
Maybe you should send those people this post? It might make them go for it!
Badtunna says
WOW It’s magnificent. Really, I love it, and it’s such a special place to go! Sofie, I’m glad you shared these photos, they’re so great! How wonderful! Thanks!
Sofie says
Thanks so much Badtunna! I’m happy you like them:)
Leyla Giray Alyanak says
I LOVE this! I lived in Canada for years (in Montreal) and for some reason I wasn’t aware of this… or perhaps it was built after I left… I’m thinking of returning to Canada for a visit and now I want to spend the night here. I had hoped to do this in Scandinavia but that hasn’t happened – so Canada it will be. It really does look stunning – and I won’t be visiting the locker room to keep warm!
Sofie says
Hi hi hi :)
If you go, please come back here and let us know how it was to sleep there!