Kirkenes, Norway
Snowhotel Kirkenes
Kirkenes is at Norway's far north-eastern edge, near the Russian and Finnish borders. Every winter the Snowhotel is built again from snow and ice.
Rooms have carved walls and beds on raised ice platforms, with thermal sleeping bags. Inside it stays a few degrees below zero. Guests who want a warm night can book one of the timber cabins on the same site.
Most people come this far for more than the room. The hotel keeps its own huskies, and dog sledding, king crab trips on the fjord and northern lights outings are part of the stay. The ice rooms close with the spring thaw.