More than 55,000 people have slept in an ice bed in Quebec’s Hôtel de Glace. Since opening in 2001, the Quebec Ice Hotel has charmed locals and visitors.
Having drink in the bar of the Quebec Ice Hotel is one of the fun activities in Quebec in winter. Sleeping in an ice bed is even more amazing and one of the top things to do in Canada in winter.
Check prices for the Ice Hotel
Hotel de Glace
An architectural wonder built out of ice and snow – precisely 500 tons of ice and 30,000 tons of snow last season – Hôtel de Glace is worth making a trip to Quebec City for between January and March.
Each year students from Quebec’s universities compete to create a theme suite out of ice and snow.
Last winter there were 44 rooms and themed suites.
There’s a Nordic area with hot tubs and sauna, an ice bar, ice slide and ice chapel (it’s a unique venue to tie the knot or renew your vows) vows.
The hotel is redesigned each winter and you can book a room or suite for the night or just pop in for lunch or a cocktail.
If you’re really cold, you can warm in one of the hot tubs or saunas.
Ice Hotel Quebec – Design
Each year’s design is different.
Construction begins in December when the temperature is under – 5 °C.
Snow is made onsite by snow blowers and the deck (or floor) is built first.
The ice hotel in Quebec is unique in North America and a sight to behold.
Metal moulds are used to create the shapes of the buildings and ice blocks weighing 500 tons are used to create the furniture (bar, night tables and chairs), columns, sculptures and ice glasses.
You can take a fascinating behind-the-scenes tour to learn how the Quebec Ice Hotel was constructed.
If you decide to sleep there, you’ll be snoozing in a bed of ice on a comfortable mattress and tucked up in a cosy sleeping bag.
If might be a freezing dash to the heated bathroom in the nearby Celsius Pavilion but the experience is so unique it’ll one you’ll talk about for years!
2011: The Quebec ice hotel is about 10 minutes from Quebec City. Photo: Luc Rousseau.
