Looking for a spot to stay during a trip to Scandinavia? Sure, you could rent a summerhouse or stay at a boutique hotel, but there are plenty more weird and wonderful ways to experience the region.
From abandoned cranes to disused planes, these unique hotels provide more than just a place to rest. They provide experiences and access to some of Scandinavia’s most breathtaking natural wonders. With a range in price, there’s something for every traveler.
These are some of the weird and wonderful hotels to stay in when visiting Scandinavia:
Sweden
Tree Hotel Sweden
How much did you long for a treehouse as a child? With the Tree Hotel, this dream can, at last, become a reality. Nestled in the pine forest of Northern Sweden with spectacular views of the Lule River, the Tree Hotel offers a selection of structures to choose from, including the Mirror Cube, the UFO, the Bird’s Nest, and the Dragonfly, which are all accurately named.
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The location is a great spot if you fancy your chances at a northern lights sighting, though it’s also a great starting place for days spent riding a snowmobile, fishing, or even foraging for berries in the Swedish woodland.
All rooms are suspended 4-10 meters above the ground and are accessible by ramp, bridge, or electric stairs. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served at the Treehotel Guesthouse restaurant, which offers refined New-Nordic cuisine inspired by and using local produce.
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Tree Hotel Sweden
Edeforsvägen 2A
960 24 Harads
Sweden
Stars | 4 |
Prices start from | 1150 SEK |
Arctic Bath
Owner Per-Anders Eriksson had the idea of opening a floating sauna back in 2010. This dream came to fruition when he opened the Arctic Bath, a floating circular building and Nordic spa, inspired by the logging heritage of the Lule River.
Outside of the central Spa Nest there are comfortable and warm double cabins floating on the surrounding lake, or slightly more stable cabins on land for the seasick… All of them include a private deck to enjoy a morning coffee on and pellet stoves for charming evenings.
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Apart from a vast range of spa treatments (and yes you can take the bathrobe and spa products home), the hotel offers a wide range of unusual activities.
During winter you can try husky tours, snowmobile safari, cross country skiing, ice fishing, snow biking, and of course northern lights tours. During summer, you can even go bear spotting in the midnight sun, on a moose safari, and horse-riding.
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Arctic Bath
Ramdalsvägen 10
960 24 Harads
Sweden
Prices start from | 4288 SEK |
JumboStay
Perhaps the closest many of us will come to joining the Mile High club. Too déclassé? Well, it’s hard not to consider it given that the JumboStay hotel is built into a 747-212B jumbo jet from 1976. It’s not all filth, the company promises that “it’s exciting for aviation enthusiasts and families with children, as well as for business people. This exhilarating experience leaves no-one indifferent.”
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Astonishingly, this extraordinary experience is a budget one, with dorm rooms coming in at just 450 SEK a night. If you want something a little more luxe, however, there are spacious suites in the black box and cockpit for two guests.
The highlight, however, is the hotel’s cafe and restaurant where they serve breakfast, coffee, cookies, ice cream, sandwiches, and warm meals. It’s delightfully retro, filled with 70s swivel chairs in burnt orange, and will have you yearning to relive Pan Am’s heyday.
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JumboStay
Jumbovägen 4
190 47 Stockholm-Arlanda
Sweden
Stars | 2 |
Prices start from | 450 SEK |
Denmark
The Krane
A one-room hotel in one of the most unconventional spots – the old engine room of a disused coal crane. Featuring modern, minimalist decor with beautiful and functional Danish furniture with an all-black design that creates a sense of intimacy and calm. Guests have exclusive access to two terraces in each direction for both sunrise and sunset views, as well as a small lounge in the old crane operator compartment at the top of the crane.
The hotel is located in Nordhavn, one of Copenhagen’s rapidly developing areas with an industrial heart and beautiful sea views.
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The Krane
Skudehavnsvej 1
2100 København
Denmark
Prices start from | €2,000 |
Sleepin Fængslet
Located in the former Horsens State Prison, Sleepin Fængslet offers unique jail cell rooms with bars over the windows and original graffiti left by former inmates. Don’t worry, your stay won’t be quite the same as the cells’ previous tenants, as each room comes equipped with refreshments and access to a separate toilet (no buckets in the corner!)
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The hotel has an on-site museum where you can learn about the prison’s history. There are also bikes available to use free of charge so you can explore the surrounding area of Horsens, home of many cultural spots and museums.
Sleepin Fængslet is a simple, budget-friendly option for an overnight stay with a story, just remember to be on your best behavior…
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Sleepin Fængslet
Fussingsvej 8
8700 Horsens
Denmark
Prices start from | 517 DKK |
Norway
NAMSEN SALMON & TRAIN EXPERIENCE
Lord knows the Norwegians love a train journey, so much so they turned one into a hotel!
The Namsen Salmon and Train Experience is a sleeper carriage from the 1960s, held on a railroad bridge in the middle of the Namsen river – one of the best salmon fishing spots in Norway. In the summer, you can sit out on the bridge and watch the salmon dart through the water. If you’re feeling lucky, you can even try your hand at catching a few.
This isn’t just an experience for fishers, as the idyllic surrounds make for a peaceful retreat for anyone. Accompanied with a glass of something nice, this is the perfect spot for taking in the astounding views of Norway and enjoying some fresh air.
Namsen Salmon & Train Experience
Sørsivegen 3314
7863 Øysletta
Norway
Prices start from | 950 NOK |
Kirkeness Snowhotel
The Kirkeness Snowhotel has 20 frosty rooms for those that run warm. Each snow chamber sleeps 2-5 people and has detailed sculptures etched into the snow walls. Rooms hold a temperature of -4C, but thanks to insulated mattresses and thermal sleeping bags you’ll stave off any frostbite with ease.
Not cold enough? The hotel has an ice bar where you can enjoy a few shots of aquavit. For those longing to feel their feet again, head to the hotel’s sauna to warm up.
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Kirkeness Snowhotel has a restaurant and offers many outdoor activities including northern lights tours, King Crab safaris, ice fishing, snowmobiling, and snowshoe walking. There are over 180 husky dogs on site who will happily greet you and show you nearby the area and fjords on a special dog sledding safari.
These dogs will also greet you from the airport, as the hotel can be reached via a husky airport transfer. Although they haven’t yet mastered holding a sign with your name at the exit…
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Kirkeness Snowhotel
Sandnesdalen 14
9910 Bjørnevatn
Norway
Prices start from | 1000 DKK |
Finland
Bengtskär Finland
Spend the night in a 19th Century lighthouse and explore the skerry of Bengtskär, the southernmost inhabited place in Finland. Described as the mother, grandmother, and godmother of all lighthouses, no other has a history quite as dramatic as the Bengtskär lighthouse. The former site of hundreds of shipwrecks, attacked by Russians during the 2nd World War, and rescued from abandonment in the 90s, this site has been home to many an event and even families during its 146-year life.
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The hotel offers various packages that include tours, evening meals, and the use of the property’s sauna. The island itself is wild, with turbulent weather, but a few animals have managed to call it home; you can go seal spotting, birdwatching, and become familiar with its astonishing population of eiders. There’s plenty to do in the lighthouse itself if you’d prefer, including exhibitions and a visit to the purpose-built chapel.
The Bengtskär lighthouse is remote and a stay here is in of itself the entire experience – you won’t easily be able to explore neighboring locations – but it’s a brilliant way to experience part of Finland’s history.
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Bengtskär Finland
Bengtskär
25950 Rosala
Finland
Prices start from | 250 EUR |
Golden Crown Levin Iglut
A trip to the Nordics really isn’t going to be complete without an igloo experience, but it’s understandable that not everyone is keen to sleep under snow. Enter Golden Crown Levin Iglut hotel, an igloo-style glass structure built into the Finnish Lapland. It’s a luxurious way to sleep under the stars and (hopefully) the northern lights. Crucially, it’s very very warm.
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The hotel’s restaurant also has a glass roof, allowing you to dine under the ethereal light display while you eat the offerings of an ambitious kitchen that has been praised as the best in Lapland.
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Golden Crown Levin Iglut
arjatie 4
99130 Levi
Finland
Stars | 3 |
Prices start from | 2200 DKK |
Iceland
Puffin Nest Capsule Hotel
It may look like something from Star Trek, but these sleeper pods bring you as close to the area’s historic volcano and puffins as possible. It’s located in Vestmannaeyjar, an archipelago off Iceland’s south coast that was formed by underwater volcanic eruptions. In 1974, the island was torn in half by a volcanic eruption, devastating the settlement that had formed there. Thankfully, the lava spewed from the Eldfell volcano ended up fortifying the island’s structure and the volcano now sits centrally in the town.
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Nowadays, Vestmannaeyjar is home to the world’s largest population of nesting puffins. Some ten million puffins nest here during mating season! The island also boasts some impressive whale-spotting opportunities, with Fin, Minke, and Humpback Whales seen often in summer, and Orcas throughout the year.
The Capsule Hotel is a budget-friendly, super stripped back way to reach these wonders of the natural world. The snug sleepers fit one person with room for a TV, and there’s access to communal areas including toilets, a kitchen, and a lounge.
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Puffin Nest Capsule Hotel
Herjólfsgata
900 Vestmannaeyjar
Iceland
Stars | 3 |
Prices start from | 400 DKK |
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