Tromsø Ice Domes is one of the newest additions to the already impressive list of unforgettable things to do in Tromsø in winter.
Surrounded by beautiful mountains in Tamok Valley in Northern Norway just next to the Finnish Border, Tromsø Ice Domes might look like a regular snow igloo at first sight. But appearances can be misleading. The moment you open the door you step into a true winter wonderland…
Tromso Ice Domes were first opened in the winter of 2017-2018, and the project was a big success from the start. The next editions were a big success too, so it looks like it’s there to stay.
The first edition featured a huge igloo complete with two ice bars, an ice restaurant, a cinema, and one hotel room. Later, they added more hotel rooms and turned the Ice Domes into a real Ice Hotel.
READ ALSO: Best tours in Tromsø
Since the Ice Domes have to be rebuilt from scratch every year, they look somewhat different every winter. The focus in the winter season when I visited was on the ice art that reflects the unique bond between local Sami people and nature.
I’ve seen several ice bars and ice hotels before, but I can tell you that none of them even compares to what I found in Tromso. So let me take you on a short tour inside this winter wonderland and inspire you to go and visit Tromso Ice Domes for yourselves (I also included a short video to give you a better idea of what to expect).
Update: Based on the questions and comments I got, I want to clarify that you don’t have to stay in the ice hotel in order to visit it. The tour that I took was just a half-day trip from Tromso and everybody can do it. For the winter bucket list ultimate experience, you may want to stay at the Ice Domes Hotel for a night as well.
I visited Tromso Ice Domes as part of my winter trip in cooperation with Visit Tromsø and would go back in a heartbeat!
Below you can find my review of this unique place and practical tips for your visit. Read on!
Visiting Tromso Ice Domes – What to Expect
I took this Tromso Ice Domes tour with pick-up from Tromso city center. After a 1,5hr drive through spectacular scenery along the fjords, we reached Camp Tamok where the Tromso Ice Domes are located.
We were greeted by a guide who took us on a tour inside the Ice Domes. She told us the story about how the whole Ice Domes project started.
Apparently, the owner had a dream of building the Ice Domes, but couldn’t get a loan from the bank, because you know – who would lend 160,000EUR to build a place that will melt 6 months later. However, he was so passionate about the idea and confident in its success that he decided to sell his own house in order to fund the project.
It took 5 weeks to build the place and apparently most time and money went into the interior decoration of the igloo.
They hired some of the world’s best ice artists from China and the result is simply incredible. Let’s take a look inside.
Ice Bar
The first room we entered was a beautiful ice bar where visitors were offered an ice shot (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options are available).
Just hold your glasses tightly or they will slip out of your fingers because, yes you guessed it… the glasses are made of ice!
While you have a drink and listen to the stories about the local Sami culture, you can admire the stunningly detailed ice carvings on the walls.
And just in case you think you see a Santa Claus here, look closer – it’s actually a Sami person riding a reindeer-pulled sleigh. Now you know where the image of Santa’s reindeer comes from.
Ice Cinema
Our next stop was an ice cinema where we watched a short film showing the beautiful surroundings as well as the construction process of the Ice Domes. It’s really impressive to see how it’s all done!
Ice Hotel
When I visited, Tromso Ice Domes only had one hotel room with plans to expand to 7 rooms. But what a room it was!
Everything is made with so much attention to detail. Who wouldn’t like to spend a night here…. And no, the mattress isn’t made of ice, so you can get a really good night’s sleep.
The price tag of such a stay is really high though, but if you want a real bucket-list experience this fairytale-like ice bedroom can be all yours for one night. You can book a stay at the Ice Domes Hotel here.
And in case you wonder how cold it is, the igloo has a pretty much constant temperature of -5°C (23°F). So nothing to worry about; and they provide you with a good sleeping bag.
Ice Restaurant
The last room we visited was an ice restaurant. You can have a hot meal here (needs to be booked in advance), or order some drinks if you like.
Practical Information for Visiting Tromso Ice Domes
- Tromso Ice Domes are normally open in the winter season from 10 December to 31 March.
- You can visit Ice Domes with this tour that is run by Destination Tromso. It departs from Tromso city center twice a day (in the morning and in the afternoon) and takes about 4-5 hours in total.
- If you are interested, you can also do snowmobiling at the Ice Domes. In that case, you have to take the morning tour and make sure you book your Tromso Ice Domes & Snowmobile Experience in advance!
- You can also visit Tromso Ice Domes individually by car. See the map for the exact location. Please note that it’s a long drive (96km-60 miles) and the roads can be really slippery – they were completely covered in ice when I visited.
- If you decide to go by car, it’s best to call them in advance and inquire about the best times to visit. The entrance price is just a little bit cheaper than taking a tour from Tromso, but not worth renting a car just for that.
More tips for your trip to Tromsø:
- Accommodation: Tromso Hotel Guide
- Winter: Things to Do in Tromso in Winter
- Winter Trip: Tromso Itinerary for 3 Days in Winter
- Auroras: How to See the Northern Lights in Tromso
- Packing: What to Wear in Norway in Summer and What to Wear in Norway in Winter
- Huskies: Dog Sledding in Tromso
- Budget: How Expensive is Norway
More travel inspiration for an Arctic winter wonderland: Svalbard in Winter
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Comments
I’m so happy coming across your post. I’ll definitely book this in my upcoming trip to Tromso mid March this year. Thank you 😊
Happy to hear you found this post useful. We have quite a few more blog posts about visiting Tromso, check it out!
My kids were enraptured by your video of the hotel. Amazing! Thank you for sharing this place. We’re putting it on our list!
Glad to hear that, Mandy. It’s a beautiful place indeed, definitely worth a visit if in Tromso in winter. Would be interesting to see how they decorate it next year, I assume it will be somewhat different every year.
the detailing on those walls in incredible. Still not convinced I could manage -5 sleeping conditions but I’d definitely enjoy a drink at the bar!
Haha, I’m with you on the drinks in the bar, Alex. It was so cool to drink out of those ice glasses and enjoy such beautiful surroundings at the same time. The ice art is truly incredible, it always amazes me how much fantasy people have and how much craftsmanship to make such beautiful carvings.
This place is incredible! I love all the details (the ice carvings on the wall especially) that have gone into building such a unique place. If I happen to win the lottery, this would be somewhere we would be visiting as the experience to stay somewhere like this would be worth the price tag. Thanks for sharing Jurga!
I am sure it would be an unforgettable experience to spend a night in such a beautiful hotel room, Sharee. As I said before, you don’t have to stay here in order to see the place, so it’s also affordable even to those of us who don’t play lottery :).
This hotel looks amazing! I have been to an ice bar in Norway and that was a fun experience, but this looks incredible and cold!
It’s warmer inside the igloo than on the outside in winter. 🙂
How awesome it must be to experience this. I’ve never been in Norway or experienced this at all, but it would definitely be something on my list to do if ever in the area. But then again.. for the cost is another matter haha!
Hi Zoe, yes indeed, staying in an ice hotel is very expensive. But a short tour to visit it is much more affordable. Still, by no means a cheap experience at almost 90EUr/pp for this half day trip from Tromso, but then nothing is cheap in Norway.