Hotels in Luleå, Sweden — Modern, Design & Cabin Stays 2025
Enjoying Luleå on Ice Festival!
Somewhere between Stockholm’s bustle and the Arctic wilderness, Luleå glows quietly on Sweden’s northern coast. In winter, the sea freezes into an ice road, locals skate to work, and the Northern Lights shimmer above the bay. It’s peaceful, real, and a just the right amount of wild — but with great coffee and cozy beds.
Whether you’re here for the aurora, the architecture, or just a slower pace, here are the best Luleå hotels and nearby Arctic stays.
Best hotels in Luleå
How cool is island-hopping on foot!
Clarion Hotel Sense
Luleå’s modern landmark. Big windows, Scandinavian minimalism, and a rooftop spa that looks straight out over the frozen harbor. Breakfasts are legendary, and the location couldn’t be more central.
👉 Check availability on Booking.com
Elite Stadshotellet Luleå
Built in 1897, this grand, historical hotel sits right by the water. Expect chandeliers, high ceilings, and one of the best brunches in northern Sweden. In winter, the square outside turns into a glowing ice rink.
👉 See rooms on Booking.com
Best Western Plus Savoy Luleå
A perfect mix of comfort and value. Close to the train station and minutes from the water. There’s a sauna downstairs, live music on weekends, and one of the friendliest teams in town.
👉 Book on Booking.com
Hotell Amber
Small, personal, and perfectly located. Hotell Amber is a local favorite for its cozy rooms, homemade breakfast, and the kind of welcome that feels genuinely Swedish.
👉 See prices on Booking.com
Did you know?
Each winter, the Luleå Archipelago freezes solid — a chain of more than 1,300 islands locked together by brackish sea ice. Because the water here is part fresh, part salt, it freezes thicker than almost anywhere else in the world.
Locals lace up their skates, rev their snowmobiles, and even drive or walk between islands. It’s one of the few places on Earth where you can literally walk to a coffee place in the middle of the sea!
Hotels & cabins near Luleå
Ok, I got very excited to have a sauna by a frozen lake at our Luleå’s cabin!
Treehotel (Harads)
About an hour northwest of Luleå, the Treehotel is a world-famous design retreat hidden among the pines. Sleep in a mirrored cube, UFO, or bird’s nest high above the snow — one of Sweden’s most unique hotels.
👉 Check prices on Booking.com
Arctic Bath (Harads)
You’ve probably seen it: a floating circular spa on the Lule River. At Arctic Bath, you can plunge into icy water under the stars, then run straight into a wood-fired sauna. It’s splurge-worthy, photogenic, and genuinely relaxing.
👉 Book Arctic Bath on Booking.com
First Camp Arcus–Luleå (Cabins)
A year-round holiday park by the river with heated cabins and a shared sauna. Perfect for families or travelers who want a practical, wallet-friendly base close to the ice road and nature trails.
👉 Check availability on Booking.com
Luleå Village Cabin (Independent Stay)
Quiet and private, this self-catering cabin offers peace, space, and your own Arctic base. Ideal for couples or small groups who want a cozy retreat with the option to cook and relax away from town.
👉 Book this cabin on Booking.com
Best areas to stay in Luleå
Gammelstad is sooo picturesque in winter!
Downtown Luleå — walkable, full of cafés, and home to most hotels. Great for first-time visitors.
Gammelstad Church Town — 10 minutes away, with red cottages and UNESCO charm.
Harads / River Region — perfect for spa retreats and design stays like Treehotel and Arctic Bath.
You’ll also find cool cabins spread around the city. Luleå’s bus system is extremely efficient and easy to navigate, so don’t hesitate to leave the center — you’ll have better chances of northern lights, too!
For more information on what to do in Luleå, how to get there, etc., don’t miss our:
Luleå & the northern lights
What a night in Luleå!
You don’t have to go all the way to Kiruna to see the aurora. From November to March, clear skies often bring bright displays over town — especially from the harbor or frozen ice road.
We can totally confirm this — we saw some of our most intense northern lights in Luleå, 3 nights in a row!
If you’re staying further out (Treehotel or Arctic Bath), the light pollution drops to near zero, making them some of the best places in Sweden for watching the Northern Lights from your own window.
Penguin Trampoline tip:
We use Heymondo on every trip to Lapland — it’s affordable, covers cancellations, and includes winter activities like dogsledding.
Get 5–15 % off Heymondo travel insurance through our link.
Luleå offers the best of both worlds — a real Swedish city with an Arctic heart. It’s also slightly off the beaten track, since most visitors head up north to Kiruna. And that’s also why we love it!
Stay downtown for easy access to cafés, culture, and tours, or venture an hour north for design hotels and silent forests. Either way, it’s a place that feels both remote and welcoming, glowing softly under the Northern Lights.
Planning a trip to Lapland? Check out our guides:
🇸🇪 Winter Travel to Luleå, Sweden — Frozen seas, saunas, and Arctic calm
🌌 Luleå Northern Lights — Ice roads, frozen seas, and aurora skies across Swedish Lapland.
🏠 Best Hotels in Swedish Lapland — Icehotels, glass igloos, and cozy cabins under the northern lights.
🎄 Kiruna, Swedish Lapland — Aurora skies, Sami culture, and the northern edge of cozy.
🧊 Kiruna vs. Rovaniemi: Swedish Lapland vs. Finnish Lapland — Two Arctic capitals, one epic showdown.
❄️ Our Ultimate Arctic Travel Guide — How to explore, survive, and avoid becoming a polar bear’s lunch.
✨ Northern Lights for Dummies — How to actually see the aurora (without freezing your butt off or waiting 12 nights in vain).
🏠 Best Hotels to see the Northern Lights in Europe — Watch the aurora from your bed.
