About
The Ice Hotel, known in French as the Hôtel de Glace, is a seasonal hotel in Quebec City, Canada. Each winter it is built entirely from snow and ice, and it is taken down again when the season ends, so it exists only for the cold months.
What to expect
Much of the appeal lies in the building itself. The walls, the furnishings and the decorative features are all made of ice and snow, and the rooms are lit so that the translucent material glows. Visitors can also see ice sculptures and an ice chapel, which give the place the feel of an art installation as well as a place to sleep.
- Type of stay: a hotel, so the visit is built around staying overnight.
- Setting: a winter experience, suited to visitors who enjoy the cold and the unusual.
- Highlights: the ice sculptures and the ice chapel.
Planning your visit
Because the hotel is seasonal, check that it is open before you travel, as it is rebuilt only for the winter. Quebec City itself is a good base for the rest of your stay, with its historic streets and the wider city around it to explore during the day.
If you are curious about a stay that is as much an artwork as a bed for the night, the Ice Hotel offers something few other places can match. Dress warmly, arrive with an open mind, and allow time to look around the sculptures before you settle in.