Tromsø Ice Domes: How to Visit and Changes for the 2024-2025 Season
Of all the things I wanted to do in Tromso in winter, visiting the Tromso Ice Domes was high up on my list.
I mean, a real-life igloo structure entirely constructed of ice and snow, rebuilt each year in the middle of a frosty valley above the Arctic Circle… what’s not to love?
| ⌛ Planning your Ice Domes trip in a hurry? Here are my quick picks. ❄️ Best Tromsø Ice Domes Experiences $$$$$: Overnight stay package $$: Combination Ice Domes tour and dog sledding $: Day visit to the Ice Domes from Tromsø 🐋 More Unique Tromsø Tours 1. Whale Watching Tour by Catamaran (November-January only) 2. Northern Lights Chase by Minibus (my favorite aurora tour!) 3. Self-Drive Dog Sledding Tour (most fun activity in Tromso!) 🛏️ Best Tromsø Hotels 1. Clarion Collection Hotel Aurora (rooftop Jacuzzi, sauna & more!) 2. Smarthotel Tromso (central & budget-friendly) 3. Thon Hotel Polar (quirky Nordic design in central spot) |
However, there’s one critical factor to keep in mind that may take some people by surprise when planning their visit to the Tromsø Ice Domes, which is that it is most definitely not in the city of Tromsø, but rather a 90-minute drive away.
Being nearly a hundred kilometers away from the Tromsø city center, with no public transit options available, visiting the Tromsø Ice Domes necessitates either renting a car (not recommended) or booking a guided tour (better option) in order to visit this epic snow park in Northern Norway.
At first I was a little stressed on how to plan my trip to the Ice Domes, because there were several options (including different activities) and I wasn’t sure which was the best to choose… but I ended up being happy with my choice.
Luckily, no matter which way you choose to visit the Ice Domes outside of Tromso, it’s very easy to do so. Though it being Norway, be prepared to spend a pretty penny no matter what way you pick!
Table of Contents
What is the Tromso Ice Domes?
Ever heard of the Snowhotel in Sweden, not far from Kiruna and Abisko? This is a similar concept, but Northern Norway’s version!
The Tromsø Ice Domes is a igloo structure made entirely of ice (yes, entirely!) outside of the city of Tromsø… but like I mentioned above, it’s pretty far out, an hour and half’s drive away from Tromsø city center.
It’s a relatively new attraction, as it first opened for the winter 2017-2018 season, but it’s been running like a well-oiled machine since its establishment, welcoming hundreds of visitors a day.
It quickly became one of the must-do winter excursions in Tromso, and with good reason — it’s epic and memorable, even for just a quick day visit. If you have at least three days allocated for your Tromso winter itinerary, I personally think the Tromsø Ice Domes warrant a visit as part of that plan.
Unfortunately, as of the 2024-2025 season, it no longer hosts overnight guests in the igloo hotel itself, but rather in other structures around the property.
How The Tromsø Ice Domes are Formed
One of the coolest things about the Tromsø Ice Domes is that it is constructed every year from scratch. When you visit, you’ll learn how on an information video — shown in their ice cinema, naturally.
Each year, a team of dozens of builders use several thousand tons of ice from a nearby river in order to build the ice structure…. all in the pitch-black embrace of the polar night. It takes about one month to construct the Tromso Ice Domes.
The actual structure is constructed by blowing up giant balloons to create the ‘dome’ structure. After that, then the ice blocks are built up around the balloon dome. They are then melted together in order to create the solid ice structure that you see when you visit. How cool is that?
Another cool thing about visiting the Ice Domes is their art. Each year, they invite different local artists and ice carvers to create ice sculptures for the interior, with a unique theme each year.
But how stable is the Ice Domes? Is it safe to visit? Won’t it melt if the temperature rises too high? Don’t worry — the Ice Domes are built to be sturdy and handle minor, temporary fluctuations in temperature.
Put simply, it’s not going to fall apart after a few days above zero. Structurally, the ice is 3 meters thick on the outer walls and about a meter thick at the top (you don’t want the ceiling to fall in, after all!).
Despite how it may initially sound, the Tromso Ice Domes are actually an incredibly roomy structure. It’s not a cramped igloo-like structure at all, but very spacious on the inside, with several rooms to wander around. My friend who has claustrophobia was able to visit without any issues at all.
On the interior, basically every single thing is made of ice! Yes, basically everything from the chairs and tables in the restaurant to the ice bar itself to the rooms. Of course, no one expects you to sit on ice: seating surfaces are covered in reindeer pelts, Sámi-style, in order to keep you warm.
At the end of each winter season, the Ice Domes are purposely demolished at the end of winter for safety’s sake. Though being made entirely of ice, they would just melt away as summer set in, so it’s basically a zero-footprint endeavor!
For the upcoming winter season for 2024-2025, the Tromsø Ice Domes are open from December 10, 2024. They will likely close on April 9, 2025, but the exact closing dates will also depend on the weather this winter season.
How to Get to the Tromsø Ice Domes
The most popular way to visit the Ice Domes is via a guided tour, going via a daily shuttle bus which departs from Tromsø city center. This is the exact tour I took, which I highly recommend — aside from my dog sled tour, it was the definite highlight of my trip.
If you want to make the most of your time, you can also combine a visit to the Tromso Ice Domes Snow Park with an activity like dog-sledding!
For the best time, I’d suggest this combination Ice Domes tour with reindeer visit and dog-sledding tour.
Dog sledding is my absolute favorite winter activity when I visit the Arctic. I’ve actually gone four times, in Abisko, Alta, Tromso, and Rovaniemi… that alone should tell you how much I like it!
For people who are afraid of dogs or don’t enjoy doing animal tourism activities for personal or ethical reasons… or for those who simply have a need for speed!… you can opt for this Ice Domes tour with a snowmobile add-on!
These activities booked through the Ice Domes are organized via Camp Tamok, an adjoining Arctic winter activity center that hosts activities like husky sledding, reindeer farm visits, and snowmobiling.
If you have a short trip to Tromsø and want to fit in as much as possible, doing a combo tour is a great way to combine two bucket list Tromso activities into one day out. Personally, I think dog sledding is the most fun and most unique activity to do, so that’s what I would pick. I went snowmobiling a lot while I was visiting Svalbard this last winter, and while I enjoyed it, nothing beats the rush of running with dogs!
What You’ll See at the Tromso Ice Domes: My Experience
Wondering what a tour of the Ice Domes is like? Here’s my brief rundown of the itinerary based on my visit. I only did a site tour, not a combined tour, as I had already booked other excursions in Tromsø.
The tour of the Tromsø Ice Domes lasts about 3.5 hours, and you’ll start off in their Ice Cinema, watching a brief but fascinating mini-documentary about how the Ice Domes are constructed.
It’s quite a way to start the tour: the Ice Cinema is a gorgeous introduction to the site. It’s a lovely, beautifully-lit amphitheater-style room made entirely of snow and ice… with the exception of reindeer pelts to sit on.
Learning about the effort involved in constructing the Ice Domes while sitting inside of the fruits of that intensive labor is a really cool (pardon the pun) experience!
Following the video presentation and a quick briefing of what’s to come on the Tromso Ice Domes tour in the Ice Cinema, you’ll visit the rest of the site, starting in the ice bar/restauarant. Here, you’ll enjoy a welcome shot to bring you into the Ice Domes in style!
When I went, either an alcoholic or non-alcoholic option was provided, but as of my 2024 update, I see now that they only offer non-alcoholic options as per the website. It was really fun to drink up in a cup made entirely of ice from the ice bar, while sitting at a table made of ice, sitting on ice chairs! (How many times can I fit ice in a sentence? A lot, apparently.)
Plus, there are some really cool decorations in the ice bar. The year I went, there was a very Instagrammable ice throne which everyone got really excited to take pictures in.
Insider Tip: From my experience visiting, I suggest waiting to take photos of the ice bar/restaurant until you have free time to explore the Ice Domes Snow Park! That way, you’ll have fewer crowds to contend with versus when you’re in a group on the tour, and it’ll be far easier to get some good photos here.
Next after the ice bar area came the part I was the most curious about — the ice hotel bedrooms themselves! As with the rest of the property, the rooms are made entirely of ice as well, right down to the bed.
However, since they’re no longer building accommodations in the 2024-2025 season, I’m not sure how they will adjust that. They may still build some ‘rooms’ but not offer overnight stays. Please update me if you visit!
As of the 2024-2025 season, when you book the day tour, you’ll get to experience a tutorial in campfire crafting (complete with grill-your-own sausages, served alongside soup and warm blueberry juice), enjoy activities like tandem ski racing, and of course, visit the Tromsø Ice Domes Snow Park, complete with ice sculptures, a snow maze, and two domes you can walk through.
You’ll also have a chance to briefly visit and feed the reindeer their favorite treat – some sweet, sweet lichen – should you want to while you’re visiting the Ice Domes! There are also huskies are Camp Tamok that you can meet as well.
They’re so adorable and friendly, and they’re definitely domesticated and acclimated to interacting with humans so little ones (and animal lovers in general) will be psyched at their interest.
This is a great way to tick meeting reindeer off your bucket list if you don’t have time to go reindeer sledding or visit a Sámi reindeer farm.
However, I still highly recommend those activities, as it’s a great way to learn about Sámi culture, which is unfortunately glossed over on many other Tromsø activities despite Sámi being Indigenous to these Arctic lands.
After your free time, it’s back to the bus, where you’ll head back to Tromso via some of the most beautiful roads you can imagine… truly! I’ve never minded a 90-minute commute less than on my way to and from the Ice Domes.
Can You Stay Overnight at the Tromso Ice Domes?
Unfortunately, as of the 2024-2025 season, you can no longer stay in the Tromso Ice Domes as an ice hotel itself. The Domes are still constructed, but you can only stay in standalone buildings now. There are three options: Arctic Glamping, an Aurora chalet or a Char cabin. You can check out the different packages here.
While you can’t stay the night in the ice hotel, it’s still worth a stay if you want to see the Northern lights out in nature. The location is set way out in the Tamok Valley where the Northern lights often roar overhead, far from light pollution… which is why it still is on my list as one the best Northern lights hotels in Norway!
If you do opt for the overnight experience, you’ll leave Tromsø at 5 PM, enjoy an evening activity and meal, have an overnight stay in your accommodations of choice, have breakfast, enjoy a daytime activity at Camp Tamok, have lunch, then tour the Tromsø Ice Domes Snow Park, and then leave to return to Tromsø.
The evening activities include either a snowmobiling tour, a reindeer sledding excursion, or a Northern lights mission. For daytime activities, you can pick between either dog sledding and snowmobiling, a reindeer sledding and Sámi cultural experience, or a snowshoe hike.
How to Book Your Tromso Ice Domes Visit
On a budget? The basic guided tour plus transfers is the way to go, starting around $127 USD per person for a day tour including lunch.
Want to add a little adrenaline to your day and make your trip a bit more memorable? Opt for the dog sledding add-on and Ice Domes visit for a special experience, or a snowmobile ride and Ice Domes visit! These are priced at $354 USD and $296 USD respectively, including transport and lunch.
And for the most memorable experience of all, an overnight stay that includes one nighttime activity and one daytime activity can be booked here, with prices starting at $1,058 USD for two, with prices increasing depending on what activities and overnight accommodations you choose.
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016, visiting 75+ countries in total. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. As a former educator, she merges her writing and educational experience to encourage ethical, sustainable travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and TBEX. Her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. When she’s not on the road, she lives in Bangkok, Thailand.
